Cooking for a Family of Four? This P3,000 Weekly Meal Plan Only Uses 30-Minute Recipes
Cooking for a family is no easy feat. Picky eaters aside, a home cook must shop smart and cook smart to make the most of his or her weekly grocery haul. We cross-checked prices among several grocery stores in Manila (we have tips on where to find the cheapest prices!) to come up with a nutritious, delicious meal plan to get you through the week.Â
Choose your cuts of meat well: splurge on the essential sirloin and tenderloin cuts for super-quick stir-fried dishes, but save money on cheaper cuts of pork belly and fish fillets, too.Â
Here is a weekly meal plan that covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner using only 30-minute recipes. A quick tip for prepping breakfast: either make it the night before, or maximize a large loaf of bread and get creative with toast toppings! Can you believe we kept this meal plan under P3,000, too?Â
MONDAY
Breakfast: Bangus Salpicao
You can whip up this flavorful breakfast in only 15 minutes!Â
Cost for 4 servings: P223.00
Lunch: Pepper Steak Stir-Fry
No time to marinate? Flavor your stir-fried dishes with lots of spices and pepper.Â
Cost for 4 servings: P256.00
Dinner: Pan-Fried Sole Fillets
Keep dinner light with quick and easy pan-fried fish fillets.
Cost for 4 servings: P190.00
TUESDAYÂ
Breakfast: Avocado Toast
This breakfast is packed with carbs, protein, and healthy fat. Power through the day!Â
Cost for 4 servings: P167.30
Lunch: Fried Calamansi Pork Chops RecipeÂ
Squeeze calamansi over your chops for a quick but effective marinade.
Cost for 4 servings: P152.50
Dinner: Chicken with Tausi Sauce Recipe
Looking for creative ways on how to use black beans? Make a sauce out of them.Â
Cost for 4 servings: P150.00
WEDNESDAYÂ
Breakfast: Dulong Omelet Recipe (Tortang Dulong)
This breakfast packs a flavor punch because of the salty fish.Â
Cost for 4 servings: P144.75
Lunch: Pan-Fried Chicken with Calamansi Sauce
There's nothing quicker than putting together a pan-fried dish! Plus, who doesn't love fried chicken?
Cost for 4 servings: P188.80
Dinner: Fried Pork Adobo Recipe
This adobo doesn't need hours to come together on a stove. All this needs is a quick fry over the stovetop.
Cost for 4 servings: P186.00
THURSDAY
Breakfast: Cinnamon French Toast Rolls
Looking for a fun way to serve breakfast? Make these French toast rolls!
Cost for 4 servings: P113.00
Lunch: Liempo with Garlic Honey Marinade Recipe
Here's a tip: you can keep the meat marinated in a bag in the refrigerator up to 3 days before you need to cook it.Â
Cost for 4 servings: P185.80
Dinner:Â Pinoy-Style Crispy Fried Chicken
One whole chicken can feed up to 4 to 6 people and doesn't cost much, either.Â
Cost for 4 servings: P159.50
FRIDAY
Breakfast: PB & J Toast with Apples
Keep breakfast simple. Apples add a refreshing crunch to toast and sandwiches.Â
Cost for 4 servings: P118.90
Lunch: Chicken Teriyaki with Sweet Corn Rice Recipe
This recipe is baon-friendly because of the sweet chicken marinade.Â
Cost for 4 servings: P188.40
Dinner: Pork and Scallion Stir-Fry Recipe
Keep your Friday night dinner quick, simple, and tasty. Pork tenderloin makes a great option for stir-fries because the meat stays soft even when cooked over high temperatures.
Cost for 4 servings: P219.00
Pantry Staples:
Salt (500 g) =Â P11.50
Ground black pepper (16 g) =Â P16.00
Cooking oil (620 ml) =Â P56.00
White vinegar (200 ml) =Â P40.00
Soy sauce (1 L) =Â P49.50
Total Estimated Cost: P2,812.95
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