I decided to do this challenge after seeing all these food stamp challenges. I also wanted to know if I could create a 2 week meal plan that would allow me to stick to a $40 budget to include 3 meals and snacks for 2 weeks. Of course, this would only work if I had a few staples already in the house. I also would have to pay attention even more to serving sizes and meal plan, meal plan, meal plan! This challenge is posted after I completed it to show what I spent.
What Did I Already Have?
Oatmeal – A container of oatmeal has 11 servings (depending on what size you buy) if you eat the serving size which is 1/2 cup of dry oats. I already had a container in my cupboard and had only eaten 3 servings during my 7 Day Challenge so that left me with 8 servings. Since I don’t want to eat the same thing every day for breakfast, I will probably alternate. With 8 servings to eat, I can eat oatmeal 4 times out the 1st week and 4 times out the second.
Grits- I saw two containers of grits in my cupboard during the start of the 7 Day Challenge and thought I was good to go for the week. Then I found out that one of the containers was practically empty and the other one was about to be. I had to buy a bag of grits a week before I started this challenge which allowed me to mark this off my grocery list.
Three Cheese Sharp Shredded Cheese- I’m not even sure what I originally bought this for, but I still had it in the fridge and it doesn’t expire until September of this year. I plan on using this in my Black Bean and Corn Quesadilla
Real Bacon Pieces (Low Sodium)- my Aunt told me about this quick easy breakfast which involves grits, real bacon pieces and cheese. Real bacon pieces is cheaper than turkey bacon so there is savings there. Besides, I only eat bacon in my grits anyway.
Kraft Light Sour Cream
Rice Pilaf (2 boxes)- I got this at Wal-Mart during the 7 Day Challenge, it was marked down to $1 a box.
Cereal
Popcorn
Turkey Patties- leftover from the 7 Day Challenge
Pancake Mix
Light Ranch dressing
Jelly
Taco Seasoning
Hash browns
Chips- I am trying not to eat chips, but since I have 5 bags of chips, in the event I get hungry at work, I’ll grab one
Staples: Eggs, mayo, sweet relish, light margarine, peanut butter
Grocery List
- Farmers Market (First Visit)
- 4 Bananas- I like to eat bananas in my oatmeal. I only need 8 bananas to go with my 8 servings of oatmeal. Well, technically 4 because only half a banana is needed in oatmeal, but you get the picture. However, since I don’t like my bananas really ripe, I bought 4 from the Farmer’s Market and at the top of the 2nd of week, I bought another 4
- 4 Baked Potatoes – there’s something about having a potato with fish, whether its mashed or baked. Hopefully I can find 4 really good ones for a great price
- 1 zucchini
- 1 squash
Total Spent: $3.24
- Farmers Market (Second Visit)
1. 4 Bananas
2. 2 Plum Tomatoes
Total Spent: $1.40
Total Spent at the Farmers Market: $4.64
Notes: I definitely could’ve gotten more squash and zucchini on my first visit considering the price at the Farmers Market, but once I slice these two veggies up, it spreads very well so only 2 are needed. Never again will I buy produce from a supermarket. I normally spend $4 on 4 microwave-ready potatoes. Here at the market, I didn’t even spend $4 on everything I got.
- Wally World (Wal-Mart- First Visit)
- Bag of Salmon (I bought this during the 7 Day Challenge for only $3.25. This week, it was $3.97)
- 1 bag of broccoli florets
- 1 pack of English Muffins (12-count) (I could’ve gotten a 6-pack of whole wheat bagels for less, but I chose the English muffins because its lower in calories)
Total Spent: $7.69
- Wally World (Second Visit)
1. Salad Mix
Total Spent: 1.48
Note: I couldn’t find the bag for .99 that was for 2 servings so I had to buy the 4 serving bag.
Total Spent at Wally World: $9.17
Save-A-Lot (I prefer Save-A-Lot over Aldi only because they give you bags, lol)
- 1 can of black beans
- 1 can of whole kernel corn
- 1 jar of Mild Salsa
- 1 pack of whole wheat tortillas (10 count)
- 1 package of Sandwich cheese
- Bacon bits (this is actually for my baked potato since I’m using real bacon pieces for my grits)
- Cream of Mushroom soup
- Crackers
- 1 can of spinach
- 1 can of green beans
- 1 can of collard greens
- Yogurt (4)
- Pinto Beans (2 cans)
- 1 loaf of whole wheat bread
- 2 packs of Tyson Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (3 breasts each)
- 1 pack of chicken drumsticks
Total Spent at Save-A-Lot: $25.79
What Did I Spend?
I spent a total of $39.60. While I intended to show copies of all my receipts, I accidentally threw away the receipts to the Farmers’ Market and to Wally World on my second visits.
Farmers Market (First Visit)
Save-A-Lot
Wally World (First Visit)
Meal Plan (Week One)
Sunday 06/07/2015
Breakfast: Oatmeal, 1 banana, 1 toasted English muffin with 1 tbsp of light butter
Lunch: 1 chicken drumstick, 1 serving of rice pilaf, 1/2 cup of spinach
Dinner: Moe’s Grill to support the Theta Eta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho’s fundraiser (EEE-YIP!)
Monday 06/08/2015
Breakfast: 1 serving of grits, 1 tbsp of Real Bacon pieces, and 1 slice of sandwich cheese, and 1 toasted English muffin with 1 tbsp of light butter
Snack: Yogurt
Lunch: 1 chicken drumstick, 1 serving of rice pilaf, 1/2 cup of spinach
Dinner: 4 oz of salmon, baked potato with butter, bacon bits and sour cream, 1 cup of broccoli florets
Tuesday 06/09/2015
Breakfast: Oatmeal, 1 banana, 1 toasted English muffin with 1/2 a tbsp of light butter
Snack: Yogurt
Lunch: 1 chicken drumstick, 1 serving of rice pilaf, 1/2 cup of spinach
Dinner: 4 oz of salmon, baked potato with butter, bacon bits and sour cream, 1 cup of broccoli florets
Wednesday 06/10/2015
Breakfast: 1 serving of grits, 1 tbsp of Real Bacon pieces, and 1 slice of sandwich cheese and 1 toasted English muffin with 1 tbsp of light butter
Snack: Yogurt
Lunch: Shredded Chicken with brown rice, cream of mushroom soup and 1/2 cup of collard greens
Dinner: 4 oz of salmon, baked potato, 1 cup of broccoli florets
Thursday 06/11/2015
Breakfast: Egg Muffin Sandwich ( 1 English Muffin with 1 egg, 1/2 tbsp of butter, and 1 tbsp of bacon bits)and 1 banana
Lunch: Shredded Chicken with brown rice, cream of mushroom soup and 1/2 cup of collard greens
Snack: Yogurt
Dinner: 4 oz of salmon, baked potato, 1 cup of broccoli florets
Friday 06/12/2015
Breakfast: 1 serving of grits, 1 tbsp of Real Bacon pieces, and 1 slice of sandwich cheese and 1 toasted English muffin with 1 tbsp of light butter
Snack: Yogurt
Lunch: Shredded Chicken with brown rice, cream of mushroom soup and 1/2 cup of collard greens
Dinner: 1 broccoli and cheese baked potato and 4 Chicken Nuggets from Wendy’s
Saturday 06/13/2015
Snack: 1 banana
Breakfast: 1 serving of grits with butter, slice of cheese and 2 turkey patties and 1 English Muffin with butter
Lunch: Black Bean and Corn Quesadilla (Check out the recipe here!)
Dinner: Shredded Chicken with brown rice, cream of mushroom soup and 1 cup of California Style Vegetable Mix (leftover from the 7 Day Challenge)
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Meal Plan (Week Two)
Sunday 06/14/2015
Breakfast: Egg Muffin Sandwich ( 1 English Muffin with 1 egg, 1/2 tbsp of butter, and 1 tbsp of bacon bits)
Lunch: Black Bean and Corn Quesadilla
Dinner: 4 oz of boneless skinless chicken breast, 1 cup of cooked/sliced zucchini+ squash mix, 1/2 cup of pinto beans
Monday 06/15/2015
Breakfast: Oatmeal and 1 banana, 1 toasted English muffin with 1 tbsp of light butter
Lunch: 4 oz of boneless skinless chicken breast, 1 cup of zucchini/ squash mix, 1/2 cup of pinto beans
Snack: Yogurt
Dinner: Black Bean and Corn Quesadilla
Tuesday 06/16/2015
Breakfast:2 Black Bean and Corn Burritos (I made burritos with the leftover mix versus quesadillas)
Lunch: 4 oz of boneless skinless chicken breast, 1 cup of zucchini/ squash mix, 1/2 cup of pinto beans
Snack: Crackers and Peanut Butter
Dinner: 1 drumstick, 1/2 cup of pinto beans, 1 serving of rice pilaf, 1/2 cup of green beans
Wednesday 06/17/2015
Breakfast: Oatmeal and 1 banana, 1 toasted English muffin with 1 tbsp of light butter
Lunch: Shredded Chicken with brown rice, cream of mushroom soup and 1/2 cup of collard greens (leftovers!)
Snack: Crackers and Peanut Butter
Dinner: 1 drumstick, 1/2 cup of pinto beans, 1 serving of rice pilaf
Thursday 06/18/2015
Breakfast: 2 sausage burritos and 2 hash browns from McDonalds’ (I was running late and had a cheat meal)
Lunch: 1 drumstick, 1 serving of rice pilaf, 1/2 cup of pinto beans
Dinner: Chicken Salad (1/4 of the salad mix with baked chicken, tomatoes, eggs, and light ranch dressing)
Friday 06/19/2015
Breakfast: 1 banana, 1 serving of grits, 1 tbsp of Real Bacon pieces, and 1 slice of sandwich cheese
Lunch: Chicken Salad (1/4 of the salad mix with baked chicken, tomatoes, eggs, and light ranch dressing)
Dinner: 1 drumstick, 1 serving of rice pilaf, 1/2 cup of pinto beans
Saturday 06/20/2015
Breakfast: No breakfast this morning. I slept in
Lunch: Chicken Salad (1/4 of the salad mix with baked chicken, tomatoes, eggs, and light ranch dressing)
Dinner: My uncle treated me to a cheat meal at Ryan’s.
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Now that I’ve found the perfect combination for my black bean patties, I decided to share my recipe. I hope it comes out good for you like it did for me.
There are a total of 128 ounces of water in each gallon. Yes, that is a lot and yes, you will have frequent trips to the bathroom. While this particular 7 Day Challenge only requires you to drink 6 or more bottles, I’m used to drinking a gallon of water from the original 7 Day Challenge I completed. 
Simply Vogue 