BC Meal Plan: 5 Family Dinners for Under $152

Key Facts

• The total ingredient cost for this five-dinner meal plan in British Columbia is $151.89. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
• The average cost per serving across all five dinners is approximately $3.70. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
• The most affordable meal in the plan is Chicken Burgers, costing just $3.00 per serving. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
• Key ingredients for this plan are priced low, such as Extra Lean Ground Chicken at $9.00 at Your Independent Grocer. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
• British Columbia shoppers can find significant deals this week, like Trident Sockeye Salmon for $17.13 (regularly $26.25) at Your Independent Grocer. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
• Summer BBQ essentials are on sale, with Stubb's Original Bar-B-Q Sauce at a 52-week low price of $2.99 at FreshCo. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)

This guide breaks down a full five-day dinner plan designed for British Columbia families, offering a mix of quick weeknight meals and slightly more involved weekend-style dishes. We provide a complete grocery list with itemized prices, a detailed look at where to find the best deals, and practical tips to save you time in the kitchen. The average cost per serving for these dinners comes to just $3.70, proving that home cooking remains the most powerful tool for managing your grocery budget amidst rising food costs.

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This Week's 5-Day Dinner Plan for BC Families

This five-day dinner plan is designed to provide variety, utilize fresh ingredients, and keep your per-meal costs low. The total cost for all ingredients to make these five recipes is $151.89, yielding a total of 41 servings, which allows for generous portions and potential leftovers for lunch. This brings your average cost per dinner plate to an impressive $3.70.

The plan leverages current prices across British Columbia grocery stores including Real Canadian Superstore, Safeway, FreshCo, and Your Independent Grocer. For breakfast and lunch, we recommend utilizing pantry staples like oats, eggs, and bread, along with leftovers from these dinners, to maximize your budget.

Meal Plan Summary & Cost Breakdown

Note: The Salad Mix can be prepared once and served as a side dish throughout the week.
Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026

Monday: Seafood Pasta

You can start your week with a comforting and quick Seafood Pasta. This recipe yields eight generous servings at a cost of only $3.75 per person. It’s a creamy, satisfying dish that comes together in about 15 minutes, making it perfect for a busy Monday night. The primary protein, Shrimp & Surimi Balls, is priced at $7.99 at Loblaws, providing an affordable seafood option.

The sauce is a simple and flavourful Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo, which you can find for $5.99 at Your Independent Grocer. Paired with Durum Wheat Semolina Penne Rigate ($4.00 at Your Independent Grocer), this meal feels indulgent without the high price tag. By making a large batch, you ensure there are likely leftovers for one or two lunches, further stretching your food budget.

Tuesday: Chicken Burgers

Tuesday's dinner is a guaranteed family-pleaser: Chicken Burgers. At just $3.00 per serving, this is the most economical meal in the plan. The recipe makes eight burgers, ideal for a larger family or for having extra patties to freeze for a future meal. The key ingredient, Extra Lean Ground Chicken, is priced at $9.00 at Your Independent Grocer.

These burgers are seasoned with Poultry Seasoning ($3.50 at Loblaws) and bound with mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese, creating a juicy and flavourful patty. You can find Compliments Real Mayonnaise for $2.49 and Kraft Light Parmesan for $8.99, both at CHALO! FreshCo on 120 St & 72 Ave. Serve these on your favourite buns with a side of the large-batch Salad Mix you'll prepare.

Wednesday: Shrimp Stir-Fry

Mid-week calls for a fast, fresh, and vibrant Shrimp Stir-Fry. This recipe serves six and has a higher cost-per-serving of $6.24, but it delivers a restaurant-quality experience at home. The total prep and cook time is minimal, making it another excellent weeknight option. The recipe uses the same Shrimp & Surimi Balls ($7.99 at Loblaws) from the pasta dish, ensuring no ingredients go to waste if you buy a larger pack.

The stir-fry is packed with vegetables, including a Compliments Vegetable Stir Fry mix ($3.49 at FreshCo) and Sliced Water Chestnuts ($1.50 at Loblaws). The sauce combines Reduced Sodium Teriyaki Sauce, Zesty Italian Salad Dressing, and Ground Ginger, creating a complex and delicious flavour profile. This meal is a great way to get a variety of vegetables into your family's diet.

Thursday: Asian Burgers

To change things up from the classic burger, Thursday features Asian-style Burgers. This recipe makes five burgers at a cost of $7.03 per serving. The higher cost is driven by the use of lean ground beef and a flavourful mix of spices and sauces. You can find Lean Ground Beef for $11.19 at Your Independent Grocer.

The unique taste comes from a blend of Hoisin Squeeze Sauce ($2.98 at FreshCo), Chinese Five Spice ($6.50 at Your Independent Grocer), and Crushed Red Pepper for a bit of heat. These ingredients give the beef a sweet, savoury, and aromatic quality that pairs wonderfully with crisp lettuce and a soft bun. It's a creative twist on a classic that will impress your family.

Friday: Salad Mix (Large Batch Side)

To accompany your meals throughout the week, this large-batch Salad Mix is both economical and healthy. The recipe makes a massive 14 servings for a total cost of $25.32, which breaks down to just $1.81 per serving. You can prepare this salad at the start of the week and use it as a side for the burgers or even as a light lunch base.

The mix includes crisp Romaine Lettuce (one bunch for $3.49 at CHALO! FreshCo 120 St & 72 Ave), Red Cabbage, Radishes, and Green Onions. It’s a versatile and crunchy salad that holds up well in the refrigerator for a few days. By having a healthy side dish ready to go, you make weeknight dinners simpler and more balanced.

Complete Grocery List and Price Breakdown

To execute this five-day dinner plan, you will need to purchase the ingredients listed below. This comprehensive list aggregates every component from the five recipes. The total cost is $151.89. By targeting the specified stores for each item, you can secure the lowest possible price for your weekly shop. This may involve visiting a couple of different banners—a strategy known as "split-shopping"—to maximize savings.

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026

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Where to Shop in British Columbia for the Best Prices

Based on the ingredients for this meal plan, your savings strategy will benefit from visiting a few key stores. According to eezly's real-time price tracking, the lowest prices for this specific basket of goods are spread across Your Independent Grocer, FreshCo (including the CHALO! FreshCo banner), Loblaws, and Costco. While a single trip to one store might be more convenient, you could leave significant money on the table.

Your Independent Grocer is the best source for many of the core ingredients this week, including the Lean Ground Beef, Extra Lean Ground Chicken, and several pantry items. Loblaws offers the best price on the Shrimp & Surimi Balls and Poultry Seasoning. Meanwhile, FreshCo and its banner store CHALO! FreshCo provide the lowest prices on several sauces, produce items, and dairy. For bulk items like Green Onions and Skim Milk, Costco offers the best value if you have a membership and can use the larger quantities.

To optimize your shopping, group your list by store. This "split-shop" approach ensures you are paying the lowest price for every single item. Before you head out, you can use a tool like the eezly app to create and optimize your shopping list, confirming prices and checking for any last-minute flyer deals at BC grocers like Safeway, Real Canadian Superstore, and Walmart.

Prep Tips and Time-Saving Strategies

A little preparation at the beginning of the week can dramatically reduce your cooking time on busy weeknights. Your goal is to make dinner assembly as quick and seamless as possible. Here are some strategies tailored to this meal plan.

Sunday Prep Session

Set aside about 60-90 minutes on Sunday to get ahead.

• Wash and Chop Vegetables: Prepare the entire Salad Mix. Wash and chop the romaine lettuce, red cabbage, radishes, and green onions. Store them in a large airtight container with a paper towel at the bottom to absorb excess moisture. This will keep the greens crisp for several days.


• Make the Burger Patties: You can prepare both the Chicken Burger and Asian Burger patties in advance. Form the patties, place them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper, and separate layers with more wax paper. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days, or freeze them for later in the week (or next week). This turns burger night into a simple matter of cooking the patties and assembling.


• Mix Your Sauces: For the Shrimp Stir-Fry, you can pre-mix the teriyaki sauce, Italian dressing, and ginger in a small jar. Shake well and store it in the fridge. When it's time to cook, you just need to pour it over the stir-fry.

Using Leftovers Wisely

This meal plan is designed to create leftovers, which are key to a frugal grocery strategy.
* Seafood Pasta: The eight servings of pasta will likely provide lunch for two people the next day. It reheats well in the microwave.
* Chicken Burgers: With eight patties, a family of four will have four extra. You can have a second burger night, or crumble a cooked patty over a salad for a protein-packed lunch.
* Salad Mix: The large-batch salad is your go-to side for the entire week. Serve it with both burger nights. You can also add a can of chickpeas or some of the leftover chicken to it for a quick and filling lunch.

By thinking of your meal plan as a system rather than five isolated meals, you can leverage every ingredient and every minute of your prep time to save both money and effort. For more ideas on creating efficient meal plans, explore the eezly meal planning tool.

This Week's Top Grocery Deals in BC

Beyond the ingredients for your meal plan, savvy shoppers can find extra savings on other weekly essentials. Here are some of the top deals in British Columbia this week, as identified by eezly's price tracking database.

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026

These deals highlight opportunities to stock your pantry or freezer. The Trident Sockeye Salmon at a 35% discount is a fantastic price for high-quality fish. Likewise, stocking up on pantry items like spices or sauces when they are on a deep discount, such as the Club House Ground Cinnamon at 41% off, is a smart financial move that pays off in the long run.

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