Most families don’t have time to make multiple grocery runs every week—and let’s be honest, each extra trip usually leads to extra spending. That’s why creating a one-week meal plan built around a single grocery trip can save both time and money. It keeps your meals intentional, your fridge organized, and your budget on track.

The key to success? Choose versatile ingredients that work across multiple meals, embrace leftovers, and make the most of what’s in season. With a clear plan in place, you’ll head into the week knowing what’s for dinner (and lunch and breakfast), all without scrambling for forgotten items midweek.

Start by building your meal plan around a few affordable staples—think rice, beans, pasta, eggs, oats, and whatever fruits and vegetables are in season. Layer in a couple of proteins, like a whole chicken or ground turkey, and let those stretch across several dishes. For example, roasted chicken one night becomes chicken quesadillas the next. Ground turkey might show up in tacos on Tuesday and get stirred into marinara for a Friday pasta night.

A sample week might look like this:

• Breakfasts: Overnight oats with apples, scrambled eggs with toast, smoothies using frozen fruit
• Lunches: Lentil soup, veggie wraps, or leftovers from dinner
• Dinners:
• Monday: Sheet pan roasted chicken with potatoes and carrots
• Tuesday: Black bean tacos with avocado and corn
• Wednesday: Pasta with sautéed zucchini and garlic
• Thursday: Stir-fried rice with frozen vegetables and egg
• Friday: Homemade pizza with whatever veggies are left
• Saturday: Slow cooker chili using canned beans and ground turkey
• Sunday: Breakfast-for-dinner—pancakes, fruit, and eggs

This approach works especially well if you’re shopping with a specific store or budget in mind. You can plan meals based on weekly sales and digital coupons, then layer in cashback tools for extra savings.

Apps like Ibotta and Rakuten offer rebates on common grocery items like cheese, produce, or condiments. And with Fluz gift cards, you can purchase a digital gift card for your grocery store of choice—think Kroger, Target, or Walmart—and earn instant cashback when you use that card at checkout. It’s an easy way to stack savings without changing your shopping routine.

After you shop, stick your meal plan on the fridge or keep it in your phone. The more visible it is, the more likely you’ll follow it. And if something changes midweek? No problem—just shift things around and make it work with what you have. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s building a system that supports your schedule and budget without adding stress.

A one-trip meal plan gives you control over your kitchen and calendar. By planning ahead, buying intentionally, and using tools like Fluz to stretch your dollars, you’ll feed your family well for the week—and save yourself from unnecessary midweek grocery dashes.