Fourteen days of dinners and lunches for a family of four, all while sticking to a strict budget and catering to a picky eater. This plan focuses on high-protein, bone-free meals using only five approved vegetables: potatoes, carrots, capsicum, peas, and corn.

The 14-Day Picky Eater Fortnight Plan

This plan provides 28 unique meal setups (14 lunches and 14 dinners). Each recipe is designed to yield 4 standard portions, perfect for two people where one has a larger appetite, plus leftovers for the next day. By focusing on versatile staples like beef mince, chicken breast, and potatoes, you can keep the grocery bill low without sacrificing variety.

Dinner 1 — Shepherd’s Pie

Classic comfort food with a hidden carrot boost for extra nutrition.

1. Brown 500g beef mince and finely diced carrots in a large pan.
2. Add 1 cup of beef stock and 200g of peas and corn; simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.
3. Transfer to a baking dish, top with mashed potatoes, and bake at 200°C for 20 minutes until golden.

Dinner 2 — Chicken Breast Skewers

Grilled chicken chunks served with crispy homemade potato wedges.

1. Dice chicken breast and capsicum into chunks and thread onto bamboo skewers.
2. Cut potatoes into wedges and toss with oil and salt.
3. Roast skewers and wedges at 200°C for 25 minutes until the chicken is charred and potatoes are crispy.

Dinner 3 — Sausage & Mash

A filling family favourite using budget-friendly precooked sausages.

1. Boil 800g of peeled potatoes until soft, then mash with a little milk and butter.
2. Pan-fry 500g of sausages until browned and heated through.
3. Serve the sausages over the mash with a side of boiled peas and corn.

Dinner 4 — Beef Mince Pasta

A rich, hearty tomato-based pasta that's perfect for batch cooking.

1. Cook 250g of spiral pasta in salted boiling water.
2. Brown 500g beef mince with half a diced green capsicum.
3. Stir in 500g of pasta sauce, simmer for 5 minutes, and toss through the cooked pasta.

Dinner 5 — Chicken Fried Rice

A quick one-pan meal that uses up leftover rice and frozen veg.

1. Cook 300g of rice and allow it to cool completely.
2. Stir-fry 400g diced chicken breast with diced carrots and 200g of frozen peas and corn.
3. Add the cold rice and 2 tbsp soy sauce; move to the side and scramble an egg in the pan before mixing everything together.

Dinner 6 — Beef Tacos

Soft wraps filled with seasoned beef and crunchy capsicum.

1. Brown 500g beef mince with taco seasoning.
2. Dice half a green capsicum into small pieces.
3. Heat wraps in a dry pan and fill with the beef and capsicum.

Dinner 7 — Sausage & Potato Bake

An easy one-tray dinner that saves on washing up.

1. Chop 500g sausages, 600g potatoes, and half a red capsicum into bite-sized chunks.
2. Toss everything in a roasting tray with oil and salt.
3. Roast at 200°C for 30-35 minutes until the potatoes are tender.

Dinner 8 — Chicken Curry & Rice

A mild and creamy curry using a budget-friendly recipe base.

1. Cook 300g of white rice.
2. Dice 500g chicken, potatoes, and carrots.
3. Simmer in the curry base sauce until the vegetables are soft and the chicken is cooked, then serve over rice.

Dinner 9 — Beef Burgers with Wedges

Homemade beef patties served on toasted white bread to save on bun costs.

1. Form 500g of beef mince into four flat patties and pan-fry until cooked through.
2. Cut 500g of potatoes into wedges and roast at 200°C until crispy.
3. Serve the patties between toasted slices of white bread.

Dinner 10 — Chicken & Corn Pasta Bake

A cheesy, bubbly pasta dish that's great for reheating.

1. Cook 250g spiral pasta and mix with 400g cooked chicken and 200g corn.
2. Stir through 1 cup of white sauce and top with 250g grated cheese.
3. Bake at 180°C for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is golden.

Dinner 11 — Beef & Potato Hash

A crispy fry-up of mince and potatoes that works for any meal.

1. Par-boil 500g of cubed potatoes for 5 minutes, then drain.
2. Fry 500g beef mince and diced red capsicum until browned.
3. Add the potatoes to the pan and fry on high heat until everything is crispy.

Dinner 12 — Sausage & Pea Risotto

Using standard long-grain rice for a budget-friendly take on risotto.

1. Cook 300g rice by gradually adding 3 cups of stock, stirring frequently.
2. Stir in 500g of sliced precooked sausages and 200g of peas in the last 5 minutes of cooking.
3. Finish with a knob of butter or a sprinkle of cheese.

Dinner 13 — Chicken & Corn Chowder

A thick, warming soup that uses potatoes as a natural thickener.

1. Boil 400g of potatoes in stock until very soft.
2. Mash some of the potatoes directly in the pot to thicken the liquid.
3. Add 400g cooked chicken, 200g corn, and 1 cup of milk; simmer gently for 10 minutes.

Dinner 14 — Loaded Baked Potatoes

Crispy potato skins stuffed with seasoned beef and melted cheese.

1. Bake 4 large whole potatoes at 200°C for 1 hour.
2. Slice open and top with 500g cooked mince, diced capsicum, and corn.
3. Top with 100g cheese and return to the oven for 5 minutes to melt.

Shopping List

• Protein: NZ Beef Prime Mince (3kg total), Pams Precooked Sausages (2kg), Chicken Breast (approx 3kg from Webbers).
• Fresh Produce: Pams Washed Potatoes (5kg), Pams Washed Carrots (1.5kg), Green Capsicum (2), Red Capsicum (2).
• Chilled & Frozen: McCain Peas & Corn (1kg), Pams Size 7 Eggs (12-pack), Pams Value Cheese (1kg).
• Pantry: Pams White Rice (1kg), Pams Spirals Pasta (500g), Dolmio Pasta Sauce (500g), Pams White Wraps (16-pack), Pams Value White Bread (4 loaves), Maggi Curry Base (1 sachet), Pams Bamboo Skewers.

Cooking Tips & Prep Hacks

• The Potato Secret: Cook a giant batch of potatoes on Sunday. Use some for mash, some for salad, and leave some whole to be turned into quick wedges or hash later in the week.
• Rice Rules: Always cook your rice a day in advance for the Chicken Fried Rice. Cold rice grains separate better and won't turn into mush in the pan.
• Mince Multiplier: You can grate carrots into every single beef mince dish. It bulks out the meal (making it cheaper per serve) and adds a sweetness that picky eaters usually enjoy.
• Freezer Friend: If you find you have too many leftovers, most of these dinners (especially the Shepherd’s Pie, Pasta, and Curry) freeze and reheat perfectly.

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated per serving: 450-650 calories, 25-40g protein, 15-30g fat, 40-65g carbohydrates. Values vary based on specific meal selection.