For delivery on Tuesday, February 10th, order by Wednesday, February 4th at 11:59 pm EST

  

< Back to Meal Plans

Paycheck To Paycheck Meal Plan (Feb 10th)

Free Shipping ($75 Value) for Healthy, Clean, Convenient Meals Delivered to Your Door.

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE UP TO 20%!

Weekly Price: $165.00 (Save 20%) BEST VALUE!
One-Time Price: $218.00

12 Meals – You pick ‘em. We cook ‘em. You pretend you had your life together all along.

0 out of 12 Meals

Purchase One Time or Subscribe
Choose purchase type

Life Saving Nutrition, For Those who carry an empty wallet.

Because Your Wallet Called a Mayday… and It Lost.

Look, we get it. You want to eat clean. You want real food. You want to stop living off gas station protein bars and spite…

But your bank account is currently in critical condition.

So welcome to the Budget Meal Plan — the 12-meal rescue operation for people who still want premium, firefighter-approved nutrition… without taking out a second mortgage just to afford chicken.

This is for the heroes doing their best out here:
Bills stacked, life chaotic, and dinner still somehow your problem.

It’s basically the Mayday Box… just with fewer reinforcements because capitalism is a bitch.

WHAT’S INSIDE (CHEAP… BUT NOT SAD):

  • 12 Meals – Same mission, smaller crew. Still saves your ass.

  • Ingredients You Can Actually Pronounce – No lab-made nonsense, even on a budget.

  • Scratch-Made, Never Frozen – Because frozen food is just depression with ice crystals.

  • New Menu Every Week – Variety, even when you’re financially humbled.

  • No Bland Bullshit – Budget doesn’t mean boring. We’re not a school cafeteria.

  • Organic Ingredients – Still real. Still clean. Still grown in dirt, not a factory.

  • No Seed Oils – We feed humans, not engines.

  • 100% Grass-Fed & Pasture-Raised Meats – No hormones, no chemicals, no sketchy meat behavior.

  • Wild-Caught Seafood – Ocean-approved. Not farm-tank tragedy fish.

  • Less Stress, More Survival – Because cooking after work is a hate crime.

  • Our 100% Commitment – You’re still getting treated like a damn priority.

  • No Plastic – Microplastics are not a side dish.

  • Free Delivery – We pull up like dinner EMTs.

A cardboard meal plan box labeled Fire Dept. Meals by Firefighters is placed on a doorstep next to a black door with glass panels.

We only use the highest-quality ingredients.

Our firefighters use only the highest-quality ingredients to deliver the freshest, healthiest, cleanest, and most nutritious meals. Our food is:

  • 100% Grass-Fed & Pasture Raised Meats
  • Wild Caught, Never Farmed Seafood
  • Hormone & Antibiotic-Free
  • Additive & Preservative-Free
  • Fresh Locally-Sourced Produce
  • Fresh Organically Sourced Spices
  • Small Batch Homestyle Cooking
  • Allergen Restriction Compatible

Grit, Grind, and Meals That Don’t Suck: A Message from the Chiefief

Let’s get something straight right out of the gate:

This isn’t a luxury plan. This isn’t some influencer “wellness journey.” This is real food for people living real life — the ones grinding through long weeks, short paychecks, and grocery prices that feel like they were set by a criminal mastermind.

If you’re out here doing the paycheck-to-paycheck shuffle, welcome to the club.

But listen closely…

Being broke doesn’t mean you should eat like you’ve given up.

Somewhere along the way, America decided cheap food should be fake, affordable meals should be processed, and if you’re struggling financially, you apparently deserve dinner that tastes like wet cardboard and comes with a side of preservatives.

Most “budget meal companies” will proudly serve you:

  • Meat Product™ (not chicken, not beef… just a protein-shaped rumor)

  • Enriched something-or-other (stripped down, then sprayed with vitamins like air freshener)

  • Seed oils and chemical sauces (industrial lubricant with seasoning)

  • Ingredient lists that require a PhD to pronounce

Ask yourself: why does the affordable option always come with a hidden health bill later?

That’s why we made the Budget Box.

Not to lower our standards — but because life is expensive enough already.

Rent is up. Gas is up. Everything costs more. And some weeks, you’re just trying to survive without eating ramen for the fifth night in a row.

This box is for the people still showing up:

  • Working doubles

  • Raising families

  • Paying bills

  • Doing their best even when it’s tight

And you still deserve food that fuels you — not food that punishes you.

Let me be clear: Fire Dept Meals doesn’t do “cheap garbage.”

Budget Box is not frozen mystery trays, preservative sludge, bland hospital food, or microwave sadness with a barcode.

It’s still what we stand for:

  • Scratch-made meals

  • Clean, simple ingredients

  • No seed oils

  • No artificial junk

  • Real portions that actually support your body

Because struggle meals don’t build strong people.

When life gets stressful, food becomes the first thing people let go. Suddenly it’s:

“I’ll just grab fast food.”
“I’ll just skip meals.”
“I’ll just eat whatever’s cheapest.”

And that’s how you end up running on fumes, brain fog, and regret.

Your body doesn’t care that payday is Friday. It still needs fuel.

Budget Box is simple: real food, real nutrition, less stress, no nonsense.

Even when money is tight… you still deserve to eat like someone who plans on being around for a long time.

Stay gritty. Stay grinding. Stay fed.

— The Chief

What’s in Your Box of Financial Sanity

  1. 12 perfectly portioned meals (your choice)
  2. Prepared weekly, scratch made, never frozen
  3. Ingredients you can pronounce without Google Translate
  4. No bland “cafeteria casserole” energy
  5. Organic ingredients where it matters
  6. No seed oils
  7. Clean proteins free from hormones, antibiotics, and chemical garbage
  8. Wild-caught seafood options
  9. Less stress, fewer excuses
  10. Our 100% commitment to you
  11. Free delivery — because you’ve got enough going on

Need help choosing meals? Call us.

But if you say, “I’ll just grab fast food, it’s cheaper…”
I’m sending you a coupon for vegetables and a lecture you didn’t ask for.

Meal Box Subscribers, please note:

  1. Your initial order is charged, and your first renewal order is billed the Thursday of the week following.
  2. We automatically bill for your meal box subscription on Thursdays at 8:00 am.
  3. Every week, you should plan to update your meal selections by Wednesday at 11:59 pm. We will remind you, but if you miss the deadline, our chief will pick a variety of meals that match your box, considering your dietary restrictions.

Subscription Renewal and Delivery Schedule

Join DateFirst Order Delivery/PickupFirst Auto-BillSecond Order Delivery/Pickup
TodayTuesday, February 10thThursday, February 12th at 8:00am ESTTuesday, February 17th
Thursday, February 5thTuesday, February 17thThursday, February 19th at 8:00am ESTTuesday, February 24th
Friday, February 6thTuesday, February 17thThursday, February 19th at 8:00am ESTTuesday, February 24th
Saturday, February 7thTuesday, February 17thThursday, February 19th at 8:00am ESTTuesday, February 24th
Sunday, February 8thTuesday, February 17thThursday, February 19th at 8:00am ESTTuesday, February 24th
Monday, February 9thTuesday, February 17thThursday, February 19th at 8:00am ESTTuesday, February 24th
Tuesday, February 10thTuesday, February 17thThursday, February 19th at 8:00am ESTTuesday, February 24th

We understand if you need to cancel or you might want to switch boxes. You can cancel anytime by calling us at 407-347-9441, emailing us at support@firedeptmeals.com, or by using our contact form to request a subscription cancellation. If you want to pause your subscription, you can do that anytime by going to the “Subscriptions” tab under “My Account”.

For Oven: (Recommended)

  • Pre-Heat Oven to 350 degrees for 15 minutes
  • Remove Film and transfer meal into an oven safe dish
  • Remove any sauce cups if included
  • Add a Little Water** and cover with foil
  • Place in the oven for 10 – 15 minutes or until the desired temperature is reached
  • Serve

For Stove Top: (Recommended)

  • Remove the Film and Transfer to a Pot
  • Remove any sauce cups if included
  • Add a Little Water**
  • Heat on low to medium, until the desired temperature is reached.
  • Serve

For Microwave:

  • Remove Container Lid
  • Remove any sauce cups if included
  • Add a Little Water** and Cover with Paper Towel
  • Place the container in the microwave
  • Heat 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until the desired temperature is reached
  • Serve

** If a meal is saucy or like a soup/stew, there is no need to add additional liquid

These are recommendations, and heating may vary based on your personal preferences.

First, all meals are packaged refrigerated not frozen. However, if you are outside our hand delivery area, your meals were packaged with dry ice. 

So during the shipping period, the dry ice will freeze the meals to ensure they come to you fresh and with no chance of being warm. We have tried all different refrigerants, which do not last with weather/heat and any chance of delays with UPS. The last thing we want are meals showing up warm or spoiled due to weather/time. If you have received meals from other companies with gel packs, we can pretty much guarantee they were frozen when they went in the box.

We are required by the Department of Health and the FDA, to keep the meals at 40 degrees or below to meet all food safety guidelines.

We can assure you that your meals are made fresh just a day or sometimes a few hours before going out the door. Just take the meals, place them in the fridge and they will be perfectly fresh to enjoy.

Central Florida delivery times do vary depending on the number of local orders placed during the week. You can expect to receive an email on Monday morning with your delivery times (please make sure you check your junk/spam folder). Now, we will clarify, that we do our best to reach your delivery location at the designated time, however, traffic and weather can cause delays.

We also wish to make you aware, that if you live within the $6.00 HAND DELIVERY AREA, you must be home at time of delivery OR provide a cooler OR provide an alternate delivery location. Our meals are fresh and never frozen, delivered in temperature controlled vans so they are cold but cannot be place on your door step for a long period. You can provide your own cooler with refrigerant, but we cannot be responsible if they damage the packaging.

For our Family receiving their meals via UPS (those outside the $6.00 delivery area), we are limited to shipping times regulated by UPS. Everything we ship will have no longer than 3 days maximum and your are not required to be home. Our boxes are packed with refrigerant (dry ice) and are well insulated. *Note: your meals may arrive frozen due to the dry ice, remove from box and place in the fridge they will defrost and be good as new.

Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Yes, with our meal delivery plan, you have free range to pick which meals sound best. We update our menu weekly, so while we do choose which meals we’re preparing that week, you get to decide which meals and sides you’d like delivered. Our recipes contain ingredients and flavors from various cultures and traditions, so there’s sure to be something for everyone. They’re delivered fresh and never frozen.

First, we are truly sorry that this has happened. As much as we stress our concerns with UPS management there is not much we can do.

We personally take your package (with extreme care) to the UPS facility, were it is handed over and into their care. Beyond that we have no control of what happens next and therefore can not be financially responsible for any damage.

Please make your claim with UPS and if you do happen to need any information from us, to assist in recovering your loss,  we are more than willing to provide the information (if available).

First, we apologize that your meals did not arrive when they should have. This is a tough answer and one you’re mostly likely not going to be happy with. Accountability in any business is important and we really don’t believe in pointing fingers, however once we have delivered your package/shipment to the shipper, they are now in control and believe us we wish we could be.

When we were hand delivering all of our meals, we were in control. If your meals arrived damaged, warm or with any issue we would refund part or all of your order without question. As we grow, we rely on others to do their part, as if it were us and unfortunately that is not always the case. As a small business relying on much larger businesses, with the resources get things done, we have to trust it will get done correctly.

Now since you’ve asked this question, it means they didn’t and the shipping company has failed. As much as we would like to refund money for the mistakes of others, we are a small business with a lot less capital than those that have made the issue. We advise anyone who has had this experience to take pictures of inside the box, record the date you received it and file a claim immediately with UPS.

Yes, because everything we cook/serve is prepared fresh and never sees a preservative. Your meals stay fresh for 7–10 days in the refrigerator. We do, however, have a disclaimer on salads. Due to the nature of greens, we shorten the shelf life to 3–4 days in the refrigerator. Our meals do freeze well and this a great option, if you can’t eat all you bought.

Absolutely. You can freeze your meals, especially if you do not intend to eat them within the 7-day “best if used by” date. That said, fresh is always the best. Please remember when heating from frozen, additional time is required from the time stated above.

Fire Dept. Meals would strongly advise against freezing meals that contain uncooked greens, like salads.

Not only can you heat your meals in the oven, but this is how we typically reheat our meals! We have changed our packaging and they area no longer oven-safe, so you will need to transfer the meals to an oven-safe dish. We would recommend 10 – 15 minutes in a preheated oven at 350 degrees or until the desired temp is reached. Heating instructions are on the label. These are recommendations and heating may vary based on your personal preferences.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.