Reading · the eat goood newsletter

new here? hit subscribe to keep getting recipes right to your inbox 👇

100% free posts every Sunday and Wednesday, paid subscriber posts on Fridays

If you’re new here, I give you the grocery list and weeknight dinner recipes; you get your ingredients and follow along! By the end, you’ll use up every single item on the list with no waste and have delicious meals at just $3 a serving all week.

Paid subscribers get early access to each grocery series, along with ad-free recipe PDFs you can use on your phone, or print out, plus a prep day plan that breaks down veggie and component prep to make the week of meals even easier. Head here for the premium grocery series resources.

This time around, we’re giving the week a back-to-school theme. This season brings a big change in schedule, and dinner might be stressing you out. That’s where this week’s budget meal plan comes in.

The list is $60 total (not including pantry staples, like oil and spices) and each of the five recipes is designed to make four hearty servings, giving you 20 meals total. While I did shop at Trader Joe’s for this, you can shop anywhere! Just know the price may vary.

I know $60 for all of these meals feels crazy. In 2026?! Unheard of really, but I was determined to make a $60 budget work because I know it seems like eating well, and enough, on a budget isn’t possible these days, but it’s a puzzle I love to solve.

Leaning on simple pantry staples so you don’t have to buy any crazy one-off ingredients! Nearly all the pantry staples and spices are used in at least two recipes this week.
Switching up the proteins, using cheaper cuts, like bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, and incorporating alternative sources of protein.
Overlapping ingredients so everything gets used up and gets put to work. This week you’ll see yogurt, broth, marinara sauce, spinach, kale, herbs, and more used across multiple recipes to bring down the cost per serving and keep the list short.

Shop the list: Copy and paste the grocery list or download the color-coded PDF on your way out to the store.
Make the recipes: All five recipes are included below, just click the recipe title. By the end of the week, every drop of broth, grain of rice, and ounce of baby spinach will be used up—it’s the ultimate low-waste week.

Cooking for a family of four? Your dinners for the week are done! If you’re a household of one or two, follow the full week and use leftovers for lunch or bulk up your freezer stash. You can also choose 2-3 meals to make this week instead of all 5. Check out the color-coded grocery list to help you shop for only what you need.

Every kitchen tool you need to make the recipes this week is included in today’s post too!

Speaking of kitchen tools, Material Kitchen is currently running a 20% off sale! Their best-selling MK Free Board—one of my kitchen favorites for easy prep and cleanup—is 20% off! This cutting board is a true do-it-all prep tool made of easy-to-clean, plant-based material (forever chemical & microplastic-free!). I especially love that I can throw the board in the dishwasher after cutting raw meat on it and it comes out looking brand new. Also on sale: the smaller MK midi board, colorful steak knives, & 8-inch chefs knife.

✨ Use code SUMMERSALE through 8/23 for 20% off, and my new code JENNEATSGOOOD after 8/23 for 20% off sitewide for back-to-school season!

*Thank you Material Kitchen for supporting the eat goood newsletter.*

This year for back-to-school season, educators can get 50% off(!!) a paid subscription—that’s $30 for a year of monthly breakfast & lunch prep plans, bonus recipes, and three new dinner plans each month, complete with color-coded grocery lists, prep day guides + more!

eat goood educator discount

Here are all five meals for the week! Keep scrolling for the grocery list.

Each recipe includes storage and reheating instructions, as well as swaps and subs. If you have a question, leave a comment! Or, let me know if you try out one (or all five) recipes!!