How to meal plan on a $70/week grocery budget

Eating well on a tight budget isn't about clipping coupons — it's about a plan you can repeat every week. Here's a simple system that keeps a household fed on around $70 a week.

1. Anchor on a few cheap proteins

Protein is usually the most expensive part of a meal, so start there. Pick two or three affordable proteins for the week and build around them. Dollar-for-dollar, these tend to go furthest:

• Eggs and canned beans for breakfasts and lunches
• Chicken thighs or whole chicken instead of breasts
• Ground turkey or pork for batch-cooked dinners

2. Plan around shared staples

Buy ingredients that show up in multiple meals so nothing goes to waste. A bag of rice, a dozen tortillas, and a few vegetables can become bowls, wraps, and stir-fries across the same week.

3. Cook once, eat twice

Double a recipe and you've got lunch tomorrow for the cost of a few extra ingredients. Soups, chilis, and grain bowls reheat especially well.

4. Shop the list, not the store

The fastest way to blow a budget is to shop without a plan. Walk in with a single combined grocery list and stick to it. This is exactly what Grovio automates — you give it $70 and a goal, and it builds the week's meals and the list for you.