Quebec Weekly Meal Plan: Feed Your Family for $78.09

July 10, 2026 · 14 min read · QC

Key Facts

According to eezly's real-time tracking of 196,000 products across 2,700 Canadian grocery stores, you can purchase all the ingredients for this week's family meal plan in Quebec for a total of just $78.09 at Provigo as of July 2026. Managing your household food budget in the face of rising costs is a significant challenge for many Quebec families. This guide provides a practical, data-driven solution: a complete seven-day meal plan with delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes, a full grocery list, and a detailed breakdown of where to shop to get the lowest prices.

This plan is designed to take the guesswork out of your weekly grocery run. Instead of wandering the aisles and making impulse buys, you will have a clear strategy to feed your family well while keeping your spending in check. By leveraging price intelligence, you can make informed decisions that lead to substantial savings, week after week. This article will walk you through the entire process, from the daily menu to the optimized shopping list that saves you money.


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This Week's Quebec Meal Plan: A Delicious, Budget-Friendly Menu

A successful weekly meal plan balances nutrition, taste, and budget. This menu for a Quebec family does just that, focusing on summer-friendly meals that are quick to prepare and leverage seasonal ingredients. The total cost for the primary ingredients in this seven-day dinner plan is exceptionally low, demonstrating how strategic shopping can dramatically reduce your grocery bill. While this plan focuses on dinners, we have included budget-friendly suggestions for breakfast and lunch to round out your week.

Here is a day-by-day breakdown of your dinner menu:

* Monday (American): Bunless Burgers. Kick off the week with a simple and satisfying classic. These Bunless Burgers are perfect for a warm July evening, served on a bed of crisp Boston lettuce with fresh tomatoes. This low-carb option is both healthy and quick, taking only 20 minutes to prepare. The cost per serving is just $6.44.
* Tuesday (Indian): Lentil and Vegetable Curry. For your second meal, explore the flavours of India with a hearty and inexpensive lentil curry. Use seasonal vegetables like zucchini and bell peppers, simmered in a coconut milk base with classic curry spices. Serve with a side of rice. This meal is not only plant-based and nutritious but also excellent for leftovers.
* Wednesday (Mediterranean): Greek Chicken and Salad. Enjoy a light and refreshing Mediterranean meal. Marinate chicken pieces in lemon, oregano, and garlic before grilling or pan-frying. Serve alongside a classic Greek salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese. This meal is vibrant, healthy, and comes together quickly on a weeknight.
* Thursday (Chinese): Asian Burgers. Put a new spin on burger night with these flavourful Asian Burgers. Made with lean ground beef, shallots, and a hint of Chinese five-spice and hoisin sauce, they offer a delicious departure from the traditional. At $6.42 per serving, it's an affordable way to introduce new tastes to the dinner table.
* Friday (Thai): Thai Green Curry with Tofu. Welcome the weekend with a fragrant and creamy Thai green curry. This versatile dish works beautifully with tofu or chicken and can be packed with your favourite vegetables. The complex flavours come together surprisingly fast, making it an ideal Friday night dinner that feels special without the high cost of takeout.
* Saturday (Chicken): Chicken with Mushroom Gravy. This recipe is perfect for a more relaxed weekend dinner and serves a large group of eight, making it ideal for family gatherings or for planning leftovers. Tender chicken is smothered in a rich and savoury mushroom gravy. At only $5.00 per serving, it provides exceptional value. Serve it with mashed potatoes or egg noodles and a green vegetable.
* Sunday (Italian): Pasta with Homemade Tomato Sauce. End the week with a comforting Italian classic. A simple homemade tomato sauce made from canned tomatoes, garlic, and herbs is both cheaper and more flavourful than most jarred sauces. Toss with your favourite pasta for a meal that pleases everyone. You can add ground meat or lentils to the sauce for extra protein.

For breakfasts, consider cost-effective options like oatmeal, eggs, or yogurt with seasonal fruit. Lunches can be efficiently managed by planning for leftovers from the previous night's dinner, which saves both time and money.

Your Complete Grocery List: What to Buy and What It Costs

Having a detailed list is the most critical step before you head to the grocery store. It keeps you focused and prevents budget-breaking impulse purchases. The list below includes all the key ingredients needed for the featured recipes in this week's meal plan. The prices shown are the lowest available prices found across major Quebec grocery banners, including Maxi, Metro, IGA, and Provigo, according to eezly's real-time price database.

By targeting these specific items at the identified stores, you can build your weekly basket for the lowest possible cost. Note that this strategy, known as "cherry-picking," requires visiting multiple stores but yields the highest savings. In the next section, we will explore different shopping strategies to fit your lifestyle.

IngredientQuantity/SizeBest PriceStore
Lean Ground Beefapprox. 1 kg total$9.91 + $10.00Metro & Maxi
Chicken Breast Nuggets1 package$13.99Canada inc.
Marble Cheddar Cheese1 block$1.79Metro
Boston Lettuce1 head$3.99Maxi
Kumato Tomatoes1 container$6.49Iga
Dill Pickles1 jar$3.50Maxi
Shallots Onions1 bag$4.39Iga
Chinese Five Spice1 jar$6.00Maxi
Crushed Red Pepper1 jar$2.79Maxi
Sauce Hoisin1 bottle$9.00Maxi
Crimini Mushrooms1 container$5.99Metro
Campbell's Butter Chicken Soup284 ml can$2.69Canada inc.
Black Pepper1 container$6.49Maxi
Garlic Powder1 container$6.49Maxi
Subtotal for Priced Recipes$93.51Multiple Stores

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

The subtotal above reflects the cost if you were to purchase each specific ingredient at the store where it is cheapest. This represents the absolute lowest cost for these items but requires shopping at several locations. To build a complete weekly list, you would add staples such as:

* Pantry: Pasta, rice, oatmeal, cooking oil, canned tomatoes, lentils, flour.
* Dairy & Protein: Milk, eggs, yogurt, tofu.
* Produce: Onions, garlic, potatoes, seasonal fruits (berries, peaches), and vegetables (zucchini, bell peppers, cucumbers).

Adding these staples will increase your total grocery bill, but by applying the same price-comparison principles, you can ensure you are still paying the lowest possible amount for your complete weekly shop. For a more comprehensive and personalized list, you can use a tool like the eezly meal planner, which generates shopping lists based on your chosen recipes and finds the cheapest store for your entire basket. Explore more options on the eezly meal plans page.


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Where to Shop in Quebec for Maximum Savings This Week

The single biggest factor in reducing your grocery bill is choosing where you shop. Prices for the exact same products can vary significantly between banners like Maxi, Super C, IGA, and Metro. According to eezly's analysis of this week's meal plan grocery list, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive shopping option is a staggering $67.88. This means your choice of store directly impacts your wallet.

Here are your shopping strategy options for this week's meal plan in Quebec, from most convenient to most cost-effective:

Strategy 1: The One-Stop Shop (Maximum Convenience)

For many busy families, visiting multiple grocery stores is not practical. The good news is you can still achieve significant savings by choosing the single cheapest store for your entire basket.

* Best Option: Provigo. This week, you can purchase the entire 27-item grocery list for this meal plan at Provigo for a total of $78.09.
* Savings: By choosing Provigo over the most expensive single-store option for this basket ($145.97), you save $67.88.

This demonstrates that even without cherry-picking deals, simply running your list through a price comparison tool to find the optimal single store can cut your bill by nearly half. This is the most efficient strategy for those who value time and convenience but still want to secure major savings.

Strategy 2: The Two-Store Split (Balanced Approach)

If you have a bit more flexibility, splitting your shopping between two stores can unlock additional savings without requiring a complex shopping itinerary.

* Best Combination: Metro and Provigo. By visiting these two stores, you can lower your total bill to $84.53.
* Savings: While slightly more expensive than the single-store Provigo option in this specific analysis, this combination still saves you $61.44 compared to the priciest option.

Often, a two-store trip allows you to capture a key sale on a high-cost item (like meat or produce) at one store while getting the rest of your items at another competitively priced banner. This is a great middle-ground for savvy shoppers.

Strategy 3: The Multi-Store "Cherry-Picker" (Maximum Savings)

For those dedicated to achieving the absolute lowest grocery bill, visiting multiple stores to "cherry-pick" the best deals on each item is the ultimate strategy.

* Best Combination: Maxi, Metro, Provigo, Super C, and Valu-Mart. A five-store trip results in a total basket cost of $85.36 for this specific list.
* Savings: This approach saves you $60.61 compared to the most expensive option.

Interestingly, for this week's specific basket, the one-stop shop at Provigo proved to be the cheapest overall strategy. This highlights a critical insight: the "best" strategy changes weekly based on flyer deals and fluctuating shelf prices. It is not always the case that more stores equal more savings. The key is to use real-time data to identify the optimal route for the specific items on your list. To see the top deals across all stores in your area, you can visit the eezly deals page.

Recipe Spotlights: Easy Summer Dinners

To help you get started, here is a more detailed look at the three fully-priced recipes from the meal plan. These dishes were selected for their value, simplicity, and appeal to a wide range of tastes.

Bunless Burgers on Lettuce

This recipe is a fantastic low-carb, high-protein option for a quick weeknight dinner. By skipping the bun, you save on costs and carbs, focusing instead on fresh, flavourful ingredients.

* Servings: 4
* Prep Time: 20 minutes
* Cost Per Serving: $6.44
* Total Cost: $25.77
* Ingredients & Best Prices:
* Lean Ground Beef: $10.00 at Maxi
* Marble Cheddar Cheese: $1.79 at Metro
* Boston Lettuce: $3.99 at Maxi
* Kumato Tomatoes: $6.49 at Iga
* Dill Pickles: $3.50 at Maxi
* Instructions: Form the ground beef into four patties and season with salt and pepper. Grill or pan-fry to your desired doneness. In the last minute of cooking, top each patty with a slice of cheddar cheese to melt. Wash and separate the Boston lettuce leaves to create "buns." Slice the tomatoes and pickles. Serve each patty on a lettuce leaf, topped with tomato and pickles.

Chicken with Mushroom Gravy

A comforting and hearty meal that is surprisingly affordable, this dish can feed a crowd or provide ample leftovers for lunches. It serves eight people, bringing the cost per person down to just $5.00.

* Servings: 8
* Prep Time: 10 minutes
* Cost Per Serving: $5.00
* Total Cost: $40.04
* Ingredients & Best Prices:
* Chicken Breast Nuggets: $13.99 at Canada inc.
* Shallots Onions: $4.39 at Iga
* Crimini Mushrooms: $5.99 at Metro
* Campbell's Canned Soup (Butter Chicken): $2.69 at Canada inc.
* Black Pepper: $6.49 at Maxi
* Garlic Powder: $6.49 at Maxi
* Instructions: Cook the chicken breast nuggets according to package directions. While the chicken is cooking, sauté the sliced shallots and mushrooms in a large pan until softened. Stir in the Campbell's soup, black pepper, and garlic powder. Add a half-can of water or milk to create a gravy consistency and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the cooked chicken to the gravy and toss to coat. Serve immediately over mashed potatoes or noodles.

Asian Burgers

For a break from the ordinary, these Asian-inspired burgers are packed with umami flavour from hoisin sauce and a gentle warmth from Chinese five-spice and crushed red pepper.

* Servings: 5
* Prep Time: 10 minutes
* Cost Per Serving: $6.42
* Total Cost: $32.09
* Ingredients & Best Prices:
* Lean Ground Beef: $9.91 at Metro
* Shallots Onions: $4.39 at Iga
* Chinese Five Spice: $6.00 at Maxi
* Crushed Red Pepper: $2.79 at Maxi
* Sauce Hoisin: $9.00 at Maxi
* Instructions: In a bowl, gently mix the ground beef, finely chopped shallots, a teaspoon of Chinese five-spice, a pinch of crushed red pepper, and two tablespoons of hoisin sauce. Do not overmix. Form into five patties. Grill or pan-fry until cooked through. These burgers are delicious served on buns with a sriracha-mayo sauce or bunless with a side of steamed rice and vegetables.

For more recipe inspiration tailored to your budget, check out the eezly recipes section.

Meal Prep Strategies and Time-Saving Tips

A great meal plan becomes even more powerful when combined with smart preparation habits. A little work upfront can save you significant time and stress during a busy week.

Embrace Batch Cooking: On Sunday, take an hour to prepare components for the week's meals. You can cook a large batch of rice or quinoa to use as a side for multiple dinners. You could also prepare the Lentil and Vegetable Curry in its entirety, as its flavours often improve the next day. The Chicken with Mushroom Gravy is another excellent candidate for making ahead.

Pre-Chop Your Vegetables: One of the most time-consuming parts of daily cooking is chopping vegetables. After your grocery shop, wash and chop items like onions, bell peppers, and shallots. Store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator. This "mise en place" approach means you can start cooking immediately when you get home from work.

Leverage Your Leftovers: Design your meal plan with leftovers in mind. The portion sizes for the Chicken with Mushroom Gravy are intentionally large to serve this purpose. Leftover Greek chicken and salad can be packed into a wrap for a quick and delicious lunch. The Lentil Curry is also a perfect next-day lunch. This "cook once, eat twice" strategy is fundamental to frugal living.

Use an AI-Powered Planner: Manually planning meals, finding recipes, creating a grocery list, and then comparing prices across flyers is an incredibly time-consuming task. AI-powered platforms like eezly automate this entire process. You can select recipes or a pre-made plan, and the technology instantly generates an optimized shopping list showing you where to buy each item for the lowest price, saving you both time and money.


Compare grocery prices in real time across every major Canadian banner with eezly.

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Comparison

DayMealFeatured RecipeEst. Cost Per Serving
MondayAmericanBunless Burgers$6.44
TuesdayIndianLentil and Vegetable Curry(Varies based on veg)
WednesdayMediterraneanGreek Chicken and Salad(Varies based on sales)
ThursdayChineseAsian Burgers$6.42
FridayThaiThai Green Curry with Tofu(Varies based on sales)
SaturdayChickenChicken with Mushroom Gravy$5.00
SundayItalianPasta with Homemade Tomato Sauce(Varies based on sales)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest grocery store in Quebec this week?

For the specific 27-item basket in this week's meal plan, Provigo is the cheapest single grocery store, with a total cost of $78.09 as of July 2026. However, the cheapest store can change weekly based on flyer deals, so it is always best to compare prices for your specific list before shopping.

How much can I really save by shopping at multiple stores in Quebec?

The potential savings are significant, but it depends on the week's deals. For this meal plan, the one-stop shop at Provigo was the most economical choice. However, in many cases, visiting two or three stores to capture major sales on meat and produce can save you 15-30% on your total bill. eezly's data for this basket shows a potential savings of up to $67.88 by choosing the right store(s).

How can AI help me save money on groceries?

AI-powered platforms like eezly automate the time-consuming process of price comparison. Instead of you manually checking multiple flyers and websites, the AI scans prices for over 196,000 products across 2,700 stores in Canada. It can then generate an optimized shopping list showing the cheapest store for your entire basket or for each individual item, ensuring you get the lowest possible price.

Can I substitute ingredients in this meal plan?

Absolutely. This meal plan is a template. If your family prefers chicken to beef, you can easily substitute it in the burger recipes. If a different vegetable is on sale, like broccoli instead of bell peppers, feel free to swap it into the curry or stir-fry. The key to saving money is flexibility and buying what is currently on sale.

What are some cheap breakfast and lunch ideas for a family in Quebec?

For breakfast, oatmeal is one of the most cost-effective and filling options. You can buy it in bulk and top it with seasonal fruit. Eggs are another excellent, protein-rich choice. For lunch, relying on leftovers from dinner is the most frugal strategy. Making sandwiches, wraps, or large salads at home is also significantly cheaper than buying lunch out.

Where does eezly get its price information?

eezly is Canada's AI-powered grocery price intelligence platform. It tracks 196,000+ products across 2,700 stores and 27 banners, processing 40 million price points per week. This data is collected in real-time from publicly available sources to provide the most current and accurate price comparisons for Canadian shoppers.

Is it worth driving to another store to save a few dollars?

This depends on your personal circumstances, including the distance to the store and the value of your time. For a small savings of one or two dollars, it may not be worth the extra fuel and time. However, when the savings are substantial, like the $67.88 identified in this plan, an extra stop can be highly worthwhile. A good strategy is to plan your shopping trips along routes you already travel for work or errands.

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