Family Preferences
Each family’s food list from the idea book—the raw material the meal plan is built from.
Table of Contents
This is the master list of what each family eats and likes, straight from the idea book. Use it when shopping, when a kid is being picky, or when planning next time.
Zuelke Family
2 adults, 2 kids
- PB&J sandwiches (grape and strawberry)
- Hot dogs
- Watermelon
- Mac & cheese
- Bacon · eggs · hashbrowns
- Variety-pack chips
- Sweet corn on the cob
- Honeycrisp apples
- Bread · smooth peanut butter
- Corned beef · turkey
- Cheese
- Brats · carrots
- Beer
Best fit in the plan: hosts the Wed arrival cookout (dogs & brats) and a big Thursday breakfast (bacon/eggs/hashbrowns).
Harris Family
1 adult, 2 kids
Breakfast & dairy
- Vanilla yogurt cups (Great Value)
- Malt-O-Meal (bag) · Fruity Pebbles · Honey Nut Cheerios
- Cinnamon-swirl bagels · strawberry cream cheese
- Pillsbury cinnamon rolls
- 2% milk · scrambled eggs
Lunch & snacks
- PB&J (creamy PB, strawberry/grape — no fruit chunks)
- String cheese (mozzarella) · grilled cheese
- Cheez-Its · goldfish · baked Lays · Cheetos · Doritos (nacho cheese)
- Cinnamon applesauce
Fruit & veg
- Bananas · grapes · apples
- Peas · green beans · broccoli
Dinners & drinks
- Hamburgers · hot dogs · mac & cheese
- Chicken thighs · bacon · ham
- Sprite · Dr Pepper · water
Best fit in the plan: hosts Burger Night (Thu); their cereal/bagel/fruit list anchors the everyday breakfasts and kid snacks.
Older Smiths
2 adults
- Hamburgers · brats/hot dogs · chicken thighs
- Pulled pork · beans
- Mashed potatoes · rice
- Spaghetti · salad
- Green beans · cold veggies (carrots, celery, etc.)
- Chips
- Dinner out one night (maybe pizza — Backroads Pizza & Grill or a local spot)
Best fit in the plan: leads the July 4 BBQ (pulled pork + chicken + beans) and hosts Spaghetti Night (Sun).
They flagged a pizza night out. A good option is a mid-week dinner in Troy (~10–15 min away) to give the cooks a night off—see Day Trips.
Younger Smiths
2 adults, 1 kid
The signature trick: pre-cooked meats vacuum-sealed in sauce, finished the last 10–20% after thawing — steak, chicken, pork in Mexican, tikka masala, Korean, Italian, etc. (See Meal Prep.)
- Eggs · bacon · pancakes · biscuits & gravy
- Lunch-meat / tuna / egg sandwiches · Hawaiian bread · tortillas
- Nutella · chips · spam
- Rice (almost every meal) · ramen
- Mashed potatoes from dehydrated flakes (just add boiling water)
- Roasted chicken · hot dogs · sandwich bread
- Fruit (apples, bananas) · carrots
- Cereal (Cheerios)
- Coffee · water · milk · soda · beer
Best fit in the plan: hosts Taco Night (Fri) with the pre-seasoned meats and brings the dehydrated mashed potatoes for Monday’s grill-out.
Cross-Family Crowd-Pleasers
These show up on almost everyone’s list—stock plenty:
- PB&J (grape & strawberry, smooth PB)
- Mac & cheese
- Hot dogs / brats
- Bacon & eggs
- Chips (all kinds)
- Chicken thighs
- Watermelon, apples, bananas, grapes, carrots
- Coffee (for the grown-ups), milk (for the kids)