Meal Plan: Affordable Recipes

Struggling to plan meals that are quick, high-protein, and vegetarian? These weekly meal plans are designed to save the day (and your dinner table). Each week includes four dinners and one breakfast idea, plus a grocery list you can take to the store with you.

🍽️ On The Menu This Week

This week, we’re keeping it budget-friendly with recipes that pack a ton of flavor without breaking the bank. Each dish is made with simple, affordable ingredients you likely already have on hand!

• Dinner 1: Coconut Kidney Bean Curry pair it with naan and cucumber raita
• Dinner 2: Bean & Cheese Tacos pair them with Mexican street corn salad
• Dinner 3: Thai-Style Curried Chickpeas pair them with roasted baby bok choy or Thai cucumber salad
• Dinner 4: Vegan Shawarma pair it with tabbouleh or a lemony quinoa salad
• Breakfast: Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes pair them with a fresh fruit salad

👉 How To Use This Meal Plan

I’ve included four vegetarian dinners in this meal plan to leave some days for leftovers or eating out. I’ve also included a breakfast idea, which can be enjoyed on any day!

1. Print or save the Meal Plan and Grocery List below.
2. Head to the recipes (the QR codes will take you to them). You can click “jump to recipe” at the top of each post, or read the post to learn about substitutions and variations. You can print these recipes or save them on your phone.
3. Check the grocery list, crossing off any ingredients you already have, or that are for recipes you don’t want to make.
4. Grocery shop. I’ve sorted the list by section in the grocery store to make it quick! I personally prefer scheduling a pickup or delivery for Sunday morning so I can prep my meals for the week on Sunday evening.
5. Cook and eat! Feel free to drop any questions about recipes in the comments section below each recipe (or just to leave a review on how it went – this helps our community tremendously!).

🗓️ Grab The Meal Plan

📝 Grab The Grocery List

💪 Meal Prep Tips

You can prep these things in advance to make cooking throughout the week even easier:

• Coconut Kidney Bean Curry: Chop the onion, garlic, and ginger. Pre-measure the spices and store them in a small jar so you can quickly dump them in. Cook a batch of rice and store it in the fridge so it’s ready to reheat and enjoy!
• Bean And Cheese Tacos: Shred the cheese and prep the beans so you can just scoop and spread on taco night!
• Thai Curried Chickpeas: Dice the pepper and onion, mince the garlic, and store everything in the fridge. Pre-measure the curry paste and spices, and prep a batch of jasmine rice to reheat when you’re ready.
• Vegan Shawarma: Press and shave the tofu, then store the slices in a container. Prep the sauce and keep it in the fridge so it’s ready to slather on. Chop any toppings, storing them separately for quick assembly when you’re ready!
• Buttermilk Pancakes: Pre-measure the buttermilk and vanilla extract into a jar or container. Mix the dry ingredients in a container so you only have to combine them with the wet ingredients in the morning!

🌱 Why Meal Plan?

Meal planning isn’t just about organization…it’s about freeing up your mental space and making cooking more fun! A few reasons we swear by meal planning:

1. Save That Cash
With a plan in place, you’ll skip the temptation of random aisle wandering and stick to a purposeful list.

2. Win Back Your Evenings
Gone are the “What’s for dinner?” debates! Meal planning means less time stressing and more time enjoying. (Bonus points if you prep ingredients ahead!)

3. Get Healthier (Without The Effort)
Not only does meal planning help you avoid the temptation of takeout, but you can sneak in extra veggies and control portion sizes more effortlessly when you have a plan in place.

4. Goodbye Food Waste
You know those sad veggies wilting in the fridge? With meal planning, you’ll actually use everything you buy!