Ontario Weekly Meal Plan: Feed Your Family for Under $80
Key Facts
- This five-day family dinner meal plan for Ontario costs a total of $79.07 for all ingredients. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
- By shopping at the most affordable stores, you can build a weekly grocery cart for as little as $76.69, saving up to $77.54 compared to the most expensive options. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
- The Red Lentil Veggie Burgers in this plan cost only $1.93 per serving, making for an incredibly affordable and healthy meal. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
- A recipe for Asian Burgers costs just $3.19 per serving, with the required lean ground beef priced at $3.47 at Foodbasics. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
- A large batch of hearty Beef Chili Stew, providing two full family dinners, costs $34.14 for all ingredients. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
- Key ingredients like lentils ($1.59) and white pea beans ($1.69) are most affordably priced at Foodbasics and its affiliated banners. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, July 2026)
This article will walk you through a specific summer meal plan, breaking down the costs per recipe and per serving. We provide a complete grocery list with real-time prices found at Ontario stores, offer strategies on where to shop for the best deals, and share preparation tips to save you time in the kitchen. By leveraging price comparison data, you can take direct control of your grocery spending.
Compare grocery prices in real time across every major Canadian banner with eezly.
This Week's $79 Summer Meal Plan for an Ontario Family
This five-day dinner plan is designed for a family of four and focuses on budget-friendly, satisfying meals perfect for a warm July week. The total cost for all groceries required for these five dinners is just $79.07. The plan strategically uses leftovers to provide two "free" cooking nights, maximizing both your budget and your time. Breakfasts and lunches can be supplemented with staples like oatmeal, eggs, fruit, and leftovers from these dinners.
Daily Meal Breakdown
Monday: Asian Burgers
Kick off the week with a flavourful twist on a classic. These Asian Burgers are infused with hoisin sauce and Chinese five-spice seasoning for a unique and delicious taste. The recipe makes five burgers, so a family of four will have one leftover patty, perfect for a quick lunch the next day.
* Total Recipe Cost: $15.93
* Cost Per Serving (4 servings): $3.98
Tuesday: Red Lentil Veggie Burgers
This is a fantastic, budget-friendly vegetarian meal that is both healthy and filling. You will prepare a large batch of 15 patties, which provides significant value. The cost per serving is an exceptionally low $1.93. You will serve four patties for dinner and freeze the rest for a future meal, giving you a head start on another week's plan.
* Total Recipe Cost (for 15 burgers): $29.00
* Cost Per Serving: $1.93
Wednesday: Hearty Beef Chili Stew
A classic comfort food, this Beef Chili Stew is packed with lean ground beef, beans, and rich spices. This recipe yields eight servings, making it the perfect dish to cook once and eat twice. You will serve half of the chili for dinner tonight, accompanied by a simple side salad or bread.
* Total Recipe Cost (for 8 servings): $34.14
* Cost Per Serving: $4.27
Thursday: Leftover Beef Chili Stew
Tonight, dinner is effortless. Simply reheat the remaining Beef Chili Stew from the previous night. This zero-cook evening saves you time and money, demonstrating the power of batch cooking in a weekly meal plan. You can serve it as is or get creative by spooning it over baked potatoes or nachos.
* Total Recipe Cost: $0 (made yesterday)
* Cost Per Serving: $0
Friday: Leftover Red Lentil Veggie Burgers
End the week with another simple and delicious meal. Use four of the Red Lentil Veggie Burger patties you prepared on Tuesday. They can be quickly heated in a pan or oven and served on buns with your favourite toppings. This strategy not only saves money but also reduces end-of-week cooking fatigue.
* Total Recipe Cost: $0 (made Tuesday)
* Cost Per Serving: $0
This structured approach brings your total food cost for five family dinners to just $79.07, proving that with a little planning, eating well on a budget is entirely achievable.
| Day | Dinner Meal | Total Recipe Cost | Cost Per Serving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Asian Burgers (makes 5) | $15.93 | ~$3.19 |
| Tuesday | Red Lentil Veggie Burgers (makes 15) | $29.00 | $1.93 |
| Wednesday | Beef Chili Stew (makes 8) | $34.14 | $4.27 |
| Thursday | Leftover Beef Chili Stew | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Friday | Leftover Red Lentil Veggie Burgers | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | 5 Family Dinners | $79.07 | - |
Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of July 2026.
Complete Grocery List with Prices
To make this meal plan a reality, here is the complete shopping list with itemized prices sourced from eezly's database of Ontario grocery stores. This list includes every ingredient needed for the Asian Burgers, Red Lentil Veggie Burgers, and Beef Chili Stew. Note that prices reflect the lowest available cost identified by eezly's AI across banners like Foodbasics, Fortinos, and Foodland as of July 2026. Your final cost may vary slightly depending on the specific store you choose.
Meat
* Lean Ground Beef (for Asian Burgers): $3.47 at Foodbasics * Lean Ground Beef (for Beef Chili): $11.87 at Fortinos (102 Hwy 8)Produce
* Ginger: $3.96 at Foodbasics * Green Beans: $3.99 at Food Basics (780 Talbot St.) * Baby Spinach: $5.99 at Food Basics (780 Talbot St.) * Garlic (2 heads): $2.00 at Foodbasics * Basil: $4.99 at Food Basics (780 Talbot St.)Pantry & Canned Goods
* Red Kidney Beans: $1.99 at Food Basics (780 Talbot St.) * White Pea Beans: $1.69 at Food Basics (780 Talbot St.) * Chickpeas: $1.99 at Food Basics (780 Talbot St.) * Lentils: $1.59 at Foodbasics * Whole Water Chestnuts: $0.99 at Foodbasics * Good Eats Gluten-Free Oats Quick Rolled (454 g): $6.29 at Foodland * Chili Seasonings Diced Stewed Tomatoes: $2.49 at Food Basics (780 Talbot St.)Condiments, Spices & Sauces
* Pickled Onions (used in two recipes): $3.99 at Foodbasics * Chinese Five Spice Seasoning: $1.99 at Foodbasics * Crushed Red Pepper: $2.99 at Fortinos * Hoisin Sauce: $3.49 at Foodbasics * Sesame Sauce: $5.19 at Food Basics (780 Talbot St.) * Worcestershire Sauce: $2.49 at Fortinos * Chili Powder: $1.81 at FortinosThis detailed list allows you to shop with precision, knowing the approximate cost of your basket before you even enter the store. For an even more optimized shopping trip, you can use a tool like the eezly meal planner to generate a list that directs you to the specific stores with the lowest prices for each item.
Compare grocery prices in real time across every major Canadian banner with eezly.
Where to Shop for the Best Prices in Ontario
Securing the lowest price for your weekly groceries requires a strategic approach. While this meal plan's ingredients can be purchased for a total of $79.07, where you shop makes a significant difference. According to eezly's analysis of 27 grocery banners across Ontario, including Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, No Frills, Food Basics, and Walmart, the price of a single grocery basket can vary by as much as $77.
One-Stop Shop vs. Multiple Stores
The most convenient option is to buy everything at one store. Data from eezly shows that for a typical weekly basket, No Frills is often the cheapest single-store option in Ontario, with a total cost of $76.69 for a representative list of items. However, if you are willing to visit multiple stores, you can achieve even greater savings.
For example, your shopping trip for this meal plan might look like this:
- Foodbasics: Purchase the majority of your items here, including the affordable Lean Ground Beef ($3.47), lentils ($1.59), and most canned goods.
- Fortinos: Visit for specific items like the larger pack of Lean Ground Beef for the chili ($11.87) and certain spices like Chili Powder ($1.81).
- Foodland: Stop here for specialty items like the Gluten-Free Oats ($6.29).
Price Comparison of Key Staples
Let's examine how the prices of common ingredients can differ between discount and conventional banners. The following table illustrates potential savings on a few items from our meal plan.
| Ingredient | Price at Foodbasics | Price at Fortinos | Potential Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lean Ground Beef | $3.47 | $11.87 | $8.40 |
| Chili Powder | (N/A) | $1.81 | - |
| Hoisin Sauce | $3.49 | (N/A) | - |
| Worcestershire Sauce | (N/A) | $2.49 | - |
| Crushed Red Pepper | (N/A) | $2.99 | - |
Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of July 2026. N/A indicates price was not the lowest at this banner for this specific item.
As the table shows, the price variance on a single item like ground beef can be substantial. Foodbasics offers a smaller package at a much lower price point, ideal for the Asian Burger recipe. Fortinos offers a larger quantity, reflected in its higher price, suitable for the large-batch chili. Being aware of these differences allows you to make informed decisions that align with your budget and recipes. Regularly checking eezly's deals page can help you spot these savings opportunities across all major Ontario banners.
Prep Tips & Time Savers
A successful budget meal plan not only saves you money but also time. The key is "strategic preparation," or doing a little work upfront to make weeknight cooking faster and easier. This plan is designed with that principle in mind.
Embrace Batch Cooking
This meal plan is built around two large-batch recipes: the Red Lentil Veggie Burgers and the Beef Chili Stew. * Veggie Burgers: On Tuesday, you'll prepare 15 burger patties. Use four for dinner and let the rest cool completely. You can then flash-freeze them on a baking sheet before transferring them to a freezer bag. This prevents them from sticking together. You'll use four more on Friday, and you'll still have seven left for a future meal, cutting down on next week's cooking time. * Beef Chili: The chili recipe makes eight generous servings. By making the full batch on Wednesday, you guarantee yourself a night off from cooking on Thursday. This "cook once, eat twice" method is a cornerstone of efficient meal planning.Ingredient Prep
A little chopping and mixing at the beginning of the week can make a huge difference. * Veggie Prep: When you get home from the grocery store, wash and chop vegetables that will be used throughout the week. For this plan, you can wash the baby spinach and chop the garlic. Store the chopped garlic in a small airtight container in the fridge. * Sauce and Spice Blends: For the Asian Burgers, you can pre-mix the hoisin sauce and Chinese five-spice. For the chili, combine the chili powder, basil, and other dried spices in a small jar. When it's time to cook, you just need to add the pre-made blend instead of measuring out multiple spices.Using Leftovers for Lunch
Don't forget that dinner leftovers make for excellent, free lunches. The extra Asian Burger patty, a small bowl of chili, or a veggie burger can save you from buying expensive takeout lunches during the work week. This simple habit can easily save you an additional $50-$70 per person per week. By planning for leftovers, you ensure that no food—and no money—goes to waste.Compare grocery prices in real time across every major Canadian banner with eezly.
Comparison
| Recipe Name | Servings | Total Cost | Cost Per Serving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian Burgers | 5 | $15.93 | $3.19 |
| Cheesy Bean Burgers | 4 | $28.02 | $7.00 |
| Red Lentil Veggie Burgers | 15 | $29.00 | $1.93 |
| Caesar Burgers (Turkey) | 4 | $32.24 | $8.06 |
| Beef Chili Stew | 8 | $34.14 | $4.27 |
| Bok Choi Salad | 8 | $44.14 | $5.52 |
Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of July 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest grocery store in Ontario?
According to eezly's real-time price tracking across 2,700 Canadian stores, discount banners consistently offer the lowest overall basket costs. In Ontario, No Frills and Food Basics are typically the most affordable options for a one-stop shop. For a representative basket of goods in July 2026, No Frills had the lowest total at $76.69. However, the absolute cheapest way to shop is often by visiting multiple stores to get the best deal on each individual item.
How much should a family of four in Ontario spend on groceries per week?
Grocery spending varies widely based on diet, location, and shopping habits. However, this meal plan demonstrates that it's possible for a family of four to cover five nights of dinners for approximately $79.07. If you add staples for breakfast and lunch (oats, bread, eggs, fruit), a disciplined weekly budget of $150-$200 is a realistic target for a family focused on saving money by cooking at home and minimizing food waste.
How can AI help me save money on groceries?
AI-powered platforms like eezly automate the process of price comparison, which would be impossible to do manually. The eezly platform tracks 40 million price points per week across all major Ontario banners like Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, Walmart, and more. It uses this data to identify the lowest price for every item on your list, build optimized shopping carts, and even generate complete [meal plans](https://eezly.com/meal-plans) based on the most affordable ingredients available that week.
Is it cheaper to buy groceries for a meal plan or to buy items as you need them?
It is almost always cheaper to shop with a meal plan. A plan prevents impulse purchases, which add up quickly. It also ensures you buy only what you need, reducing food waste. This plan, for example, uses batch cooking to create "free" meals later in the week from ingredients you've already purchased, maximizing the value of every dollar spent.
What are some other cheap family meals for summer in Ontario?
Besides the burgers and chili in this plan, other great budget-friendly summer meals include pasta salads with seasonal vegetables, chicken or bean burritos using affordable canned beans and sale-priced chicken, and large-format salads like the Bok Choi Salad, which costs $5.52 per serving and can be paired with an inexpensive protein. Exploring more [recipes on eezly](https://eezly.com/recipes) can give you more ideas tailored to current grocery prices.
Does this meal plan account for pantry staples I might already have?
This plan's total cost of $79.07 assumes you are purchasing every single ingredient on the list. You will likely save more if you already have pantry staples like spices (chili powder, crushed red pepper), sauces (Worcestershire, hoisin), or oats. It's always a good practice to check your pantry before you shop to avoid buying duplicates.
Where can I find more blog posts about saving money on groceries in Canada?
For more in-depth analysis, budget strategies, and data-driven insights into Canadian grocery prices, you can visit the [eezly blog](https://eezly.com/blog). It features regular articles on topics like store comparisons, seasonal savings, and financial tips for shoppers across the country.
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