$50 Weekly Menu Plan Help: Easton, PA

This weeks $50 Menu Plan Help across the USA is spotlighting Easton, PA.

Bonnie Wrote, “Help, help, please help ! We live in Easton, PA. Zip code 18045. We have a newly reduced food budget of 100/week to feed a family of 6 and it is just about to do me in!! Grumpy kids because we don’t have all the things to choose from that we usually do, grumpy mom because I feel bad about it.”

It sounds like Bonnie has been working diligently to reduce the family grocery budget- which is frustrating when everyone in the family isn’t on board. Kids get frustrated easily with changes, even minor ones. Easing the transition is a bit easier if they have something to look forward too- like snacks that taste great! Since Bonnie is cooking for a larger family of 6, we really recommend that she follow the guidelines in our eBook for purchasing meat at a discount. By the way, the eBook is available FREE for download this weekend only Saturday and Sunday (10/13 & 10/14).

Aldi Deals from This Weeks Flyer
Sweet Potatoes $1.29 (3lbs)
Apples $1.99 (3lbs)
Zucchini .99 (24 oz)
Pumpkins $3.49 each
Pineapple .99
Eggs .78 dozen
Priano Stuffed Shells $1.99
Evaporated Milk .65
Baking Powder .99
Baking Cocoa $2.49

Aldi Everyday Low Prices
Milk $3.18
Bell Peppers $1. (or less)
Artisan Lettuce $1.99
Celery $1.29
Cucumbers .99-1.29
Frozen Veggies .79-.99 bag
cream cheese $1.09
Mandarin Orange Segments .59
Cereal $1.59
Flour $1.59 bag
Sugar $1.59
2lbs Rice .99
Diced Tomatoes .69 can
Fresh Spinach $1.69 bag
Hot Dog Buns .79

Giant Foods Deals from This Weeks Flyer

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast $1.88
Chicken Leg Quarters .79
Eye Round Steak $3.99 lb
Tomatoes $1.99
Jumbo Oranges 10/$10
Artichokes 2/$4
Pillsbury Flour $2
Giant Canned Beans .65

Redners Deals from This Weeks Flyer

Ham Steak 2/$4
Boneless Pork Loin $1.78
Wheat bread .99
Chicken Breasts 1.88
Bananas .44
Barilla Pasta 1. box

Wegmans Deal fromThis Weeks Flyer

Wegmans Whole Pork Shoulder $1.29
Roasting Chicken .99lb
Spaghetti .89
Rigatoni .89
Mac& Cheese .39 box
Pasta Sauce .99
Wegmans Peanut Butter 1.99
Tuna .99
Giant Bread .99
Greek Yogurt .89
Washington Bartlett Pears .99

Weis Markets Deals fromthis Weeks Flyer

5 #’s apples 4.99
8#’s Oranges $4.99
Pork Loin $2.29 (or Roast)
Cantaloupe $2.99
Kiwi 8/$2
Broccoli Crowns $1.69
Squash .69 lb
Jumbo Red or Green Peppers $1 ea
Mangoes or Avocados $1 ea
Navel Oranges, Pink Grapefruit, Tangelos $1 ea

Keep in mind this menu plan is actually for a family of 6 rather than 4- and assumes the family has Very Little in the pantry (no flour, sugar, potatoes, etc)- so rather than using items on hand, we’re assuming they’ll need to be purchased.

Potential Grocery List & Plan: A= Aldi ~ ~ G= Giant ~ R = Redners ~ W= Weis ~ WM= Wegmans

(A) Milk $3.18
(A) Bell Peppers $1. (or less)
(A) Artisan Lettuce $1.99
(A) Celery $1.29
(A) Cucumbers .99-1.29
(A) Frozen Veggies .79-.99 bag (1 bag peas/carrots), 1 bag frozen spinach = $1.78
(A) Ground Turkey $1.69 (2) $3.38
(A) Flour $1.59 bag
(A) Sugar $1.59
(A) Eggs $0.78
(A) 2lbs Rice .99
(A) 10# Bag Russet Potatoes $2.50
(A) Apples .69 lb ($1.99 – 6#) $3.98
(A) Sweet Potatoes $1.29 (6lbs) $2.58
(A) Zucchini .99 (24 oz)
(A) Jam $1.00
(A) Diced Tomatoes .69 can
(A) 8oz pkg Whole Sharp Cheddar Cheese $1.79
(A) Bananas 3lb .44 x3 = $1.32
(A) Baby Carrots .99
(R) Chicken Breasts 1.88 x 2lbs = 3.76
(W) Broccoli Crowns $1.69
(WM) Wegmans Whole Pork Shoulder $1.29 x 8lbs = $10.32
(WM) Tuna .99 x2 = 1.98
(WM) Washington Bartlett Pears .99x 2lbs – $1.98
(G) Chicken Leg Quarters .79 x 5 = $3.95
(G) Giant Canned Beans .65
(R) Ham Steak 1 = $2.00
(R) Bread $.99 Loaf
(R) Barilla Pasta $1. per box (2 Box Rotini/1 Box Elbow) = $3.
———————————————————————————–
Total Spent $65.02

Breakfast Ideas:

• Toasted Biscuits w/jam
• Bagels
• South of the Border Doughnuts
• Jam Breakfast bars
• Banana Bread Slices or Muffins
• Just Middles
• French Toast or Pancakes

Lunch & Dinner Ideas:

• Pork Roast with Roasted Carrots/ Potatoes, (Premeditated leftovers- 2 nights later serve leftover Roasted pork with gravy over steamed rice with salad
• Chipotle Sticky Chicken (Using 4 lbs Leg quarters), Savory Sweet Potato Fries, Salad
• Chipotle Chicken wraps from leftover chicken
• Chinese Fried Rice & Chinese Chop Suey (use meat from 1 lb chicken leg quarters)
• Pizza Pasta with Garlic Butter, Garlic Parmesan Swirl Biscuits
• Fall Harvest Casserole , salad
• Ham Mac & Cheese, Salad (Leftovers lunch) (Use the ham steak)
• Evacuation Tuna Pasta Salad– great for lunches
• Grilled Chicken Pesto Chicken Kebabs (use chix/Zucchini/onion/1/2 bell pepper), Working Womans Grilled Taters
• Egg Salad (18 variations) Wraps or Sandwiches

Other Side Dish & Snack Ideas:

• Tater Tots
• Twice Baked Potatoes
• Toaster Oven Apple Pie
• Muffins
• Chewy Granola Bars
• 7 Minute Potato Chips
• Bananas or Banana Bread or Banana Muffins
• Pears, (Roasted, Poached or raw)

Farmers Market:

Here are some additional resources in your area that you might not have been aware of, but may offer really decent deals on fresh local produce and other goods:

• Allentown Farmers Marketoffers over 65 merchants, Meats, poultry, produce, deli, baked goods, gourmet shops, seafood, candy, snacks, flowers, restaurants, and much more at prices you won’t believe! Location: 17th & Chew Streets, Allentown, PA 18104 website

• Clear Spring Farms– Offers farm fresh cage free brown eggs Location: 206 Garr Road Easton, PA 18040 website

• Cock-a-doodle- Ewe Farm – Offers grass fed heritage Shetland Sheep for both fiber and meat Location: 50 Stouts Valley Road Easton, PA 18042

• Easton Farmers Market– offers a huge variety of fresh fruits, veggies, baked goods Location: ~Website ~ FB

• Elias Farmers Market– offers a variety of items Location: 3131 Linden St Bethlehem, PA 18017

• Hunter Hill Farm– heirloom veggies, fruit & cultured mushrooms Location: 901 Frost Hollow Road
  Easton, PA 18040

• Keepsake Farm & Dairy- Offers Certified Raw Milk; Cheeses & Yogurts; Farm Fresh Ice Cream; Free Range Brown Eggs; Pasture Raised Beef Rose Veal Location: 703 W High St Nazareth, PA 18064 website

• Klein Farms-offers raw milk, farm fresh brown eggs, beef, and farmstead artisan cheeses; all natural Yogurt website

• Pearly Baker’s Alehouse- Offers eco-friendly cleaning products & methods Location: 11 Centre Square Easton, PA 18042

• Reeder Farms, LLC- Offers U-Pick Pumpkins, etc Location: 4450 Richmond Road Easton, PA 18040 Website

• Sam’s Farmers Market– Offers a variety of fresh cheese, produce, fruits, nuts and middle eastern foods at reportedly low prices Location: 536 N Front St Allentown, PA 18102

• Season Harvest Farm– Offers local in season vegetables, Location: 3 Long Rd Lenhartsville, PA 19534 Website

• Shooting Star Farms- Offers locally grown fruits and veggies & free range laying chickens Location: 3500 Morgan Hill Rd Easton, PA 18042 website

• Thaler Farmers– Offers fresh tomatoes, carrots, beans, peppers, cukes and more Location: 390 stouts valley rd easton , PA 18042

• Tilghman Street Farmers Market– offers a variety of middle eastern foods, produce, cheeses Location: 189 W Tilghman St Allentown, PA 18102

• Wildacre – Offers free range chickens Location: 340 Paxinosa Road West Easton, PA 18040

Additional:

If you happen to be from this area and know of additional inexpensive resources, please feel free to list them in the comments below so that others can enjoy them as well!

If you haven’t already, check out our eBook, “The 2012 Family Guide to Groceries under $250 a Month” for additional money saving tips and recipes for reducing your grocery bill!

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