If you’re feeding a family of four on a weekly budget, you already know the struggle: you plan carefully… then prices change overnight. 😅
This is a realistic ₱5,000–₱7,000 weekly budget meal plan designed for Filipino families — busog, balanced, and practical for busy moms. It’s also built to keep everyone happy (yes, even the picky eater) while minimizing food waste.
And since this is meant to be real-life helpful, I included:
- a 7-day menu
- a grocery shopping list
- a printable meal plan format
- “if prices increase” alternatives (super important in 2026)
What This ₱5,000–₱7,000 Meal Plan Includes
This weekly plan assumes:
- Family of 4 (2 adults + 2 kids)
- Mostly home-cooked meals
- 2–3 snack options (simple, budget-friendly)
- Smart “repeat” ingredients (para walang tapon)
- Mix of ~70% Filipino dishes and ~30% international for variety
Budget Breakdown: Where the ₱5,000–₱7,000 Goes
Your budget will vary depending on location and brand choices, but this is a helpful guide:
- Proteins (₱2,000–₱2,800): chicken, pork, eggs, tofu, canned tuna/sardines
- Vegetables & fruits (₱900–₱1,500): leafy greens, squash, carrots, bananas, seasonal fruit
- Rice, bread, noodles (₱700–₱1,100): rice, pandesal, pasta/noodles
- Dairy & pantry (₱900–₱1,300): milk, oil, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic/onion, seasonings, canned goods
Tip: If you’re closer to ₱5,000, lean more on:
- eggs, tofu, monggo, sardines, tuna
- seasonal veggies
- “1 big meat ulam stretched into 2 meals”
7-Day Budget Meal Plan (Family of 4)
Each day includes Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner. Lunch can be leftovers to save time and money (the true secret weapon 😄).
Day 1 (Monday)
Breakfast: Pandesal + scrambled eggs + banana
Lunch: Chicken adobo + rice + sautéed pechay
Dinner: Ginisang monggo with malunggay + tinapa (or fried tofu)
Day 2 (Tuesday)
Breakfast: Oatmeal (or champorado) + milk
Lunch: Leftover adobo + cucumber tomato salad
Dinner: Sinigang na baboy (use more gulay: kangkong, labanos, okra)
Day 3 (Wednesday)
Breakfast: Garlic fried rice + egg + sliced tomatoes
Lunch: Leftover sinigang
Dinner: Tuna pasta (garlic, oil, canned tuna, a bit of cream or evap) + steamed veggies
Day 4 (Thursday)
Breakfast: Peanut butter sandwich + banana
Lunch: Chicken tinola (sayote/papaya + malunggay)
Dinner: Tortang talong + ensaladang talong (or cucumber) + rice
Day 5 (Friday)
Breakfast: Lugaw with egg (add tokwa if you want)
Lunch: Leftover tinola
Dinner: Pork giniling with potatoes & carrots (stretch with more veggies) + rice
Day 6 (Saturday)
Breakfast: Pancakes (or hotcake mix) + fruit
Lunch: Leftover giniling (or make giniling omelette)
Dinner: Stir-fry chopsuey + tofu (or chicken strips)
Day 7 (Sunday)
Breakfast: Corned beef + egg + rice (or sardines if budget is tight)
Lunch: Creamy mushroom chicken (budget version) + rice
Dinner: Filipino-style spaghetti (sweet style) + garlic bread (simple)
Snacks (Budget-Friendly Options)
Choose 2–3 for the week:
- Saging na saba / banana
- Kamote cue (air-fry/less oil option)
- Popcorn (super tipid!)
- Peanut butter pandesal
- Homemade gulaman / sago’t gulaman
- Yogurt (if budget allows)
Grocery Shopping List (₱5,000–₱7,000)
Adjust quantities depending on your kids’ appetite.
Proteins
- Chicken (1.5–2 kg)
- Pork (1–1.5 kg)
- Eggs (2 trays if possible, 1 tray minimum)
- Tofu (4–6 blocks)
- Canned tuna (2–4 cans)
- Sardines or tinapa (2–4 pcs/cans)
Vegetables
- Garlic + onions (1 week supply)
- Tomatoes (6–8 pcs)
- Pechay / kangkong / talbos / malunggay (choose what’s cheap)
- Eggplant (6–8 pcs)
- Sayote or papaya (2–3 pcs)
- Carrots (4–6 pcs)
- Potatoes (4–6 pcs)
- Cabbage (1)
- Monggo (½ kilo)
Fruits
- Bananas (lakatan/saba depending on budget)
- Seasonal fruit (1–2 kinds only)
Pantry & Carbs
- Rice (5kg or top-up)
- Pandesal or loaf bread
- Pasta (spaghetti + macaroni if needed)
- Soy sauce, vinegar, oil (top-up)
- Evaporated milk or fresh milk
- Seasoning basics: pepper, salt, patis, sugar, bouillon
If Prices Increase: Smart Alternatives (Super Tipid Swaps)
When meat prices go up, don’t panic—swap wisely:
Protein Swaps
- Chicken/pork → eggs + tofu
- Pork giniling → tokwa giniling (tofu crumble + carrots + potatoes)
- Fresh meat → canned tuna/sardines + extra gulay
- Chicken strips → mushrooms or tofu
Ulam Extenders (Para Mas Dumami)
- Add sayote, carrots, cabbage, potatoes to stretch ulam
- Add egg to giniling (giniling omelette)
- Turn leftovers into new meals:
- Adobo → adobo fried rice
- Giniling → giniling lumpia / omelette
- Tinola → tinola arroz caldo
Budget Veggie Rule
Buy what’s cheapest that week, not what’s “ideal.”
Your best friends: pechay, kangkong, repolyo, carrots, kalabasa, talong.
Tips to Make ₱5,000 Work (Without Feeling Deprived)
- Cook 1 big ulam that becomes 2 meals (lunch leftovers = lifesaver)
- Rotate 2 budget ulam days (monggo/tortang talong/itlog + gulay)
- Keep snacks simple (bananas/popcorn/kamote)
- Avoid “one-time ingredients” that you won’t reuse
There’s something comforting about having a plan—even if the week is chaotic.
A budget meal plan isn’t just about saving money. It’s about:
- less “anong ulam?” stress,
- fewer last-minute fast food runs,
- and more peace when you open your wallet.
