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How to Feed a Family of Four for $100 a Week

A real shopping list, sample week, and three batch recipes that feed a family of four healthy meals on a strict $100 weekly budget.

By MealWise TeamMay 12, 20268 min read
Budgeting8 min readUpdated May 2026
Family of four eating a budget-friendly home-cooked dinner

$100 a week for a family of four is roughly $3.57 per person per day. Tight, but absolutely doable with whole-food staples and a repeatable weekly plan.

The shopping list

Whole chicken, 2 dozen eggs, 1 kg dried lentils, 1 kg oats, 2 kg brown rice, 1 kg frozen mixed berries, 1 kg frozen spinach, 1 kg carrots, 1 kg onions, 1 kg bananas, peanut butter, canned tomatoes, milk, plain yogurt, and seasonal produce specials. Total: ~$95–100.

The week in meals

Roast chicken on Sunday, soup with the carcass Monday, lentil chili Tuesday, fried-rice with leftover veg Wednesday, breakfast-for-dinner Thursday, pasta with frozen spinach Friday, build-your-own bowls Saturday. Breakfasts rotate oats and eggs; lunches are leftovers.

Make the budget hold

Plan before you shop, cook once and eat twice, and protect the freezer as your overflow buffer. MealWise can scale any plan to a household and surface the weekly cost up front.

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MealWise Team

MealWise provides smart meal planning, grocery organization, nutrition guidance, and healthy eating resources designed for busy families and professionals.

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