A Week of Family Dinners for Four Under CHF 90

Feeding a family of four every evening for under CHF 90 a week is absolutely doable in Switzerland — even with today's prices at Coop, Migros, and Lidl. The trick is pairing seasonal vegetables with affordable proteins and leaning on a few versatile pantry staples. These seven dinners are tested, kid-approved, and come with a complete shopping list.

How much does a family of four spend on food in Switzerland?

According to the Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS), Swiss households spent an average of around CHF 1'050 per month on food and non-alcoholic drinks in recent years — roughly CHF 260 per week for a family of four. That figure covers all meals, but dinner is typically the biggest spend. Cutting dinner costs to CHF 90 per week while keeping quality high is a meaningful saving.

Discounters Lidl and Aldi consistently price staple goods 15–25% below Coop and Migros, according to Comparis price surveys. Mixing shops — proteins from Lidl, loyalty-card deals from Coop's Supercard or Migros Cumulus — can stretch the weekly budget further without sacrificing variety.

What are the seven dinners?

Each meal below costs an estimate per family of four, based on standard Swiss retail prices in spring 2026. Costs assume mid-range brands; switching to M-Budget or Prix Garantie lines trims each dish further.

Total: approximately CHF 81.50, leaving headroom for a bag of salad or a dessert. See cheap salad ideas to fill that gap without blowing the budget.

Which Swiss supermarket gives the best value for a family shop?

There is no single winner — it depends on what you are buying. Lidl and Aldi lead on dry goods, tinned food, and fruit and vegetables. Denner is strong on meat and wine. Coop and Migros reward loyalty through Supercard and Cumulus points, which can offset costs over time. For bulk staples like pasta, rice, and oil, Aligro or Prodega offer wholesale prices if you have access.

A practical approach: do one main shop at Lidl or Aldi for the week's staples, then grab fresh items mid-week at whichever Coop or Migros is convenient, scanning Supercard or Cumulus at checkout. Eini's shopping view surfaces the current week's deals across stores so you can spot where the chicken fillet or mince is cheapest before you leave the house.

How do you keep kids happy without spending more?

Two tactics work reliably. First, involve kids in choosing one or two meals per week — they eat what they helped pick. Second, build meals around familiar textures: pasta, rice, potato. The seven dinners above all pass the kid test because they use recognisable base ingredients with sauces and sides that adults enjoy too.

Waste is the silent budget-killer. The BLV (Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office) and foodwaste.ch estimate that Swiss households throw away roughly one third of food purchased — a staggering loss. Planning meals before shopping (rather than shopping and then planning) is the single biggest lever. Eini's meal planner generates a shopping list from your weekly plan, so you buy exactly what you need.

For younger children, check budget-friendly toddler meals for portion guidance that avoids over-buying.

What goes on the shopping list?

Below are the core items for all seven dinners. Quantities are approximate for four people with normal appetites. Pantry staples (olive oil, salt, spices) are assumed to already be at home.

• 500 g beef mince
• 400 g pasta (e.g. M-Budget penne)
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes + 1 tube tomato puree
• 4 large baking potatoes
• 2 tins tuna in brine
• 200 g cream cheese or Quark
• 600 g chicken breast
• 200 g basmati rice
• Mixed stir-fry vegetables (frozen bag, Lidl or Migros)
• 300 g red lentils
• 1 loaf sourdough or rye bread
• Pizza dough or flour + yeast
• 125 g mozzarella
• 100 g salami
• 4 Cervelat or 4 Bratwurst
• 800 g floury potatoes (for rösti)
• 4 salmon fillets (~120 g each)
• Seasonal vegetables: carrots, courgette, leeks, onions
• Garlic, ginger (fresh or tube)

Total shop: approximately CHF 78–85 depending on store and brand choices. Buying the salmon at Coop with a Supercard deal or at Migros on a weekly promotion regularly brings it below CHF 5 per fillet.

Can meal planning really save a Swiss family money?

Yes — and the data supports it. Caritas Switzerland notes that food costs are one of the largest variable expenses for lower- and middle-income families, and that planned shopping consistently reduces impulse purchases. Eini's approach is to show you the weekly deals first, then help you build a meal plan around them, rather than the other way around. That reversal — deals first, meals second — is where the real saving happens.

Families who plan five or more dinners per week typically report spending 15–20% less on evening meals than those who shop without a plan, according to estimates cited by foodwaste.ch. On a CHF 260 weekly food budget, that could mean CHF 35–50 back in your pocket each week.

If you have teens who eat significantly more, see how to feed hungry teenagers without the budget blowout.