Budget Meals: Harris Teeter at Hastings Market Place

Keeping your family meal plan healthy and affordable is easier than you think as long as you have a plan.

Each week local grocery stores compete by putting out their weekly specials, which are helpful in providing an easy, healthy dinner plan for your family.

This week we planned our grocery store trip around the savings advertised at the new Harris Teeter at Hastings Market Place: Not only are there fantastic deals on meats and veggies, but there are over 40 separate items advertised as "BOGO"—that's "buy one, get one"....for free! All items ring up for half price, so if you are a smaller household and don't need the extra item then this is a perfect way to save money.

The plan? Two dinners and two lunches for  two people for $20, that comes out to be $5 for each meal, $2.50 per person. And the best part is it's healthy for you. 

Here's a list of  items purchased this week at Harris Teeter:

• One pack of (6) Chicken Leg Quarters @ $0.99lb - $6.29
• One 5 lb bag of potatoes @ $2.99 a bag
• One bunch of celery @ $1.99
• 2 packs of Green Giant Frozen Veggies @ $1 each - $2.00
• 2 cans of Bumble Bee Solid White Tuna @ $0.97 each - $1.95
• 1 loaf of bread @ $2.00
• 1 bag of Doritos @ $2.00
• 1 lb of Farmers Market Apples @ $1.29 (3 apples)

Total: $20.51 before tax.

Here is the dinner recipe using purchased items:

Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters w/Oven Baked Fries & Green Peas

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Clean and rinse chicken. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and italian seasoning. Bake in oven for 20 minutes, remove from oven and cover with foil. Turn oven down to 350 degrees and cook chicken for another 20-25 minutes.

While your chicken is cooking slice up 4 potatoes so that they are the size of a big french fry, 2-4 inches long by 1/4 inch thick, toss with olive oil and season with same ingredients for chicken. Place on a baking sheet, if you have parchment paper to line the sheet that would be ideal and would prevent sticking.

You can place the potatoes in the oven while your chicken is finishing up, crank up the oven to 400 degrees once chicken is done, you want the potatoes to cook for about 25-35 minutes. For the last 3-5 minutes turn the broiler on high to brown the tops of the fries. Prepare peas (or veggies of your choice) according to package instructions. Dinner is done.

Harris Teeter's specials come out every Wednesday and run until the following Tuesday. You can check out their weekly ad at www.harristeeter.com and sign up for extra coupons. They are even doubling coupons this week up to $1.98 face value, giving you a discount of up to $3.96.

Helpful Hints

• Who doesn't love the taste and soft crunch that a perfectly fried french fry has to offer. Baking them in the oven is a perfect and healthier alternative to the fried version.
• When chicken is priced this cheap and you have some extra cash, take advantage and stock up. What you don't eat right away you can freeze. Chicken will hold in the freezer for up to 6 months and it will be fine.
• Veggies too! At $1 a box get a bunch!
• CHECK YOUR EXPIRATION & BEST BUY DATES!  Grocery stores are a business just like anywhere else, they will strategically place older packs of meat towards the front of display so you choose those first, do a little digging and you are sure to discover something with a longer shelf life.