*Feed Your Family $10 A Day Challenge*(AT HOME)

[gasperdam]

Subscribing....
Love the ideas on this great thread!

 

[kileybeth]

wow! you guys rock. I freely admit I am not a very good meal planner but in the interest of saving for Disney we have been doing much better!

loved that last comment about Asian cultures as I have a 20 year old college Junior in Cambodia for a year and a half (doing missions work). When he left, he stood at just over 6'1" and weighed in at around 260 pounds. After 5 months eating traditional Asian foods (yes, rice and rice noodles nearly every meal) he has lost a bit of weight but he also no longer drives, he bicycles or walks, and when he splurges on (very expensive) American imports it is usually carbs, cheese, or take out pizza!

ah well, back to who I feed here. DH, myself, DS14, DD12, DS4, and DD2

I always try to keep dinner under $10 a day and I thought I was doing good with that! I do average it out tho as someone mentioned those spaghetti nights help (altho I add fresh cucumber and mini carrots on the side or a bagged salad on sale) We also do soup and salad or soup and homemade bread nights or yes, tomato soup and grilled cheese too! Love breakfast casserole dishes for dinner too or waffles or pancakes with a breakfast meat. Other than that we grill a lot. meat and fresh veggies.

lunch is a grab bag that usually comes in under $5 a day. yogurts on sale, sandwhiches, soup, chips and cheese. DH loves leftovers if we have any left he can take with him. kiddos and I also like leftovers for lunch.

breakfast is eggs, toast, oatmeal for 4 of us and usually $1 Walmart waffles
( or left over and frozen pancakes or waffles from Dads Sat/Sun breakfast fest) or dry cereal (purchased on super sale) , kiddos drink milk w/ b.fast
I guess breakfast can vary a good bit but prob.$3-6 is about right.

snacks is a question best left unanswered no, I have done so much better not buying prepackaged stuff lately. the kids are enjoying lots more fruit, fresh veggies and homemade bars or cookies. there favorite treat is rice krispy treats made with store brand cereal, marshmallows and butter! super fast, super cheap. at least $1-2 a day tho.

so there you have it, I should have started the $20 a day post I guess!

my biggest budget breakers:drinks! 8-10 gallons of milk a week and my horrendous addiction to Diet Coke (no flames please) . Other than that kids drink mostly koolaid (1/2 the sugar of juice) and water. And DH and I drink a good bit of water too. Dh drinks homemade tea (no additives) and generic coffee that he claims is better than most fancy stuff he gets out and about?!

 

[DawnM]

We typically stick to $70 per week, sometimes even less.

We have a wonderful overstocks grocery store here that I go to once a month.

I also use AngelFoodMinistries.com at least every other month.

My parents gave us a very nice stand up freezer when we moved here and it has been a godsend!

Keeping my eye on this thread. Love new ideas!

I may add some more of my own once I get some sleep!

Dawn

 

[ceecee]

We are a family of three and eat a lot of fresh veggies and fruit. We also watch the fat and sugar (packaged mac & cheese wouldn't be acceptable here) so there is no way to do it on $10.00.

 

[littlele]

It is entirely possible to eat a healthy diet inexpensively! There are so many dishes which are cheap, yet high in protein and vitamins.

Admittedly, fresh fruits and veggies are VERY pricey this year because of the late frosts; however, most vegetables can still be purchased for $1.00 per bag frozen. They are almost as healthy as the fresh ones. If you can stomach canned veggies, they are even cheaper.

Beans are among the best foods for you and they are dirt cheap...especially if you buy them dry and soak them yourself (and they taste better that way too!)

You could feed a family of 4 on $10 a day and it could be very healthy. For example:
~ eggs for breakfast
~ various combinations of beans and veggies (supplemented with rice and small amounts of chicken, ham, beef, etc.) for lunch and dinner
~ inexpensive, healthy snacks

Cheap, easy, healthy...it CAN be done without processed foods.

You're right-it can be done. But this kind of menu just would never work for us. So I say 'kudos' to those who can pull it off, but for this household it wouldn't happen. Just eggs for breakfast wouldn't cut it, nor would the beans and veggies for lunch and dinner. Since we eat fresh fruit and veggies at every meal, that's the killer. You are exactly right when you say that all of those are insanely expensive right now. I swear sometimes it would be cheaper to buy an apple at Disneyland than at the grocery store now. What is wrong with that picture?

 

[flying_babyb]

I manage on less than ten a day but its only me:

Breakfast-
leftovers (whatevers in the fridge)

Snack
Popcorn (about .10 a bag)

Lunch:
Whatever they have for hot lunch at the schools(aka, I eat for free) (or leftovers from the previous day's hot lunch if im home)

Dinner:
Popcorn (or leftovers, or junk food (provided by g-ma)

 

[faindrops27]

Feeding a large family for $10 a day is certainly doable. We eat well but cheaply at our house. I do massive amounts of stocking up at good sales (ex. Meijer runs a stock up sale twice a year and all thier canned veggies, fruits, spagettios(okay these arent so healthy) and mac n cheese are 25 cents) we buy carts full, stock the cans away and freeze practically everything else from Milk to meat. I buy milk when it is $1.88 a gallon and freeze away. I cook with powdered milk and even make my own cream of "whatever" soup for cooking. My friend makes her own soy milk for 50 cents a gallon and gives me the soy protein leftover from the beans and it serves as an egg substitute for recipes. I havent been grocery shopping since April and we are still alive! I read the "Tightwad Gazette" and it changed my thinking on a lot of things. We dont have much by way of income and I want to be a SAHM so sacrifices are made on little things for the things I really care about to be possible. We also dont have cable Tv and I put my son in cloth diapers. I know the horror, right?!
The best grocery week for me will be free dining in September!

You are my new hero. I am so very impressed, by your post. I want to cut corners, so badly. But, it just seems as though, when I have money I spend, spend, spend. I will have to read the tightwad gazette. Because. I do need to make changes. As I read everyone here can feed thier families for 10 dollars a day. This would be a task I could never imagine. But, hopefully, one day soon i will get a good hold of my food budget!

 

[shortbun]

I live in a competitive area and there are 3 of us. No way could I do every day on $10!!! I'm happy when dinner is under $10, lol! That is my goal, dinner for less than $10. We always have a couple fresh veggies on the menu and lean protein as well as a high fiber carb. If you meet the healthy criteria, it's almost impossible to eat cheap. I know we could eat cheaper but we likes our fresh veggies!!! We do have days when we eat beans and brown rice, refried burritos with salsa and guac. or bean soup with tortilla chips and cut fruit. These are some of our favorite meals. I'm out of the house by 6am and don't get back til 6pm. Don't have time to soak my own beans and make milk out of powder.
Hey, I don't have time to do all the dishes that kind of preparation would take!!! lol!

Are you guys gonna drum me out of the Budget Board? I feel like I'm saving money by just eating at home. It would be so much easier to eat out every night! I do sit down and plan two weeks menus ahead. I'm inspired, I'm going to cut our eating expenses by 10% but my husband would kill us all if he had to drink powdered milk! lol!

 

[K&KsMom]

My grocery bill for a family of four is $194-200 per week. I don't know how people can eat for $10 a day. Our family eats a low carb, low fat sugar free diet for 90% of our meals. Plus with the price of fresh fruit and veggies the grocery store is killing me!

 

[punkin]

Are you guys gonna drum me out of the Budget Board? I feel like I'm saving money by just eating at home. It would be so much easier to eat out every night! I do sit down and plan two weeks menus ahead. I'm inspired, I'm going to cut our eating expenses by 10% but my husband would kill us all if he had to drink powdered milk! lol!

Not all of us live on mac n cheese with a side of rice and beans, you know. I tried powdered milk once (YUK!!!!), howecer, I do use it in cooking and no one notices.

I figure, you have to cut a little at a time and make sure it stays healthy. I like the way we are eating now. I could cut another $25 per week (maybe) but that would mean whiny children and an upset husband. Who needs that?

 

[mommiepoppins]

here is for today. (now weekends are very relaxed and I do not make major meals and follow the recomended school lunch guidelines because I do it all week)

b fast. free box go lean =0
freebox kashi= 0
Milk for both cereals 60Cents
1 bagel for 2 kids +20 cents
penutbutter on top =25 cents
100% apple juice 50 cents ( entire bottle 99 cents)
= 155 for bfrast


snack entire box popcicles 1$
entire box of little debbie brownies 1$
4 apples that were donated to me from day care parents=0
Drinks with snacks water+0
snacks for the entire day
= 2.00
Lunch
left over salid from last night= 50 Cents
salid dressing= 50 cents
mozzerella cheese in salid 1.50
rolls 50 cents
butter 50 cents
drink water=0
= 3.50

Dinner
Hot dogs on the grill with buns 1$
mustard 50 cents
can of green beans 50 Cents
can of corn 50 cents
apple juice 50 cents
=3.00

total is 9.55

 

[nrsldy]

I have not really thought how much I spend per day on food. This topic sure has given me alot to think about. I have not been on a food budget for a long time.
I am going to track and see where my $120.00 plus a week is going.
Thanks!

 

[formernyer]

here is for today. (now weekends are very relaxed and I do not make major meals and follow the recomended school lunch guidelines because I do it all week)

b fast. free box go lean =0
freebox kashi= 0
Milk for both cereals 60Cents
1 bagel for 2 kids +20 cents
penutbutter on top =25 cents
100% apple juice 50 cents ( entire bottle 99 cents)
= 155 for bfrast


snack entire box popcicles 1$
entire box of little debbie brownies 1$
4 apples that were donated to me from day care parents=0
Drinks with snacks water+0
snacks for the entire day
= 2.00
Lunch
left over salid from last night= 50 Cents
salid dressing= 50 cents
mozzerella cheese in salid 1.50
rolls 50 cents
butter 50 cents
drink water=0
= 3.50

Dinner
Hot dogs on the grill with buns 1$
mustard 50 cents
can of green beans 50 Cents
can of corn 50 cents
apple juice 50 cents
=3.00

total is 9.55

I'd guess you're actually a bit lower than that amount...peanut butter, mozzerella cheese, butter, and mustard $$ amounts are probably all overstated here!

 

[Belle5]

When my kids were little I had a lot more control over the food situation and frankly had a little more time to put into couponing, etc. I've always been pretty big on fruits and vegetables, whole grains etc. Those are major budget busters. Honestly, our food budget is so outrageous y'all would just die. Take a look: Son 20, Son 19, Son 17, Son 14, Son 9, Son 3. The only two that would eat within the description of the OP's family would be the last two. My 17 year old who referees soccer and plays soccer (SKINNY as a rail) say, "Mom, I need more meat! I need more protein! I feel so weakl!" I am happy if I keep our dinner meal under $20.

 

[punkin]

I'd guess you're actually a bit lower than that amount...peanut butter, mozzerella cheese, butter, and mustard $$ amounts are probably all overstated here!

You are right. It is overstated. I would figure a little below $9.

My meals for today:

Bfast: cereal w/ milk; strawberries. Iced coffee. $2.75
Lunch: Leftover soup from last night (gotta count that as free). Baguette w/ garlic butter. homemade ice cream. $$2
Dinner: We are going to bed early today (Hershey park tomorrow) so I am just going to make a tuna casserole. Nothing fancy: $3.50
Snacks: Juices and fruit: $2.50

Total: $10.75

 

[Sorsha]

Now, see, I am just opposite of you guys... weekends are when we are likely to have our much more expensive meals, unless we are away from the house doing something.
Today, we are working on our bathroom (we are re-doing it and it is stretching into a MUCH larger project than i had anticipated ) and the kids are playing outside in the wading pool and riding bikes and playing with the neighbor kids... its going to be a GORGEOUS day. I would ditch the bathroom and go to the lake if the price of gas wasn't so DANG high.
Anyhow, breakfast this morning will be hashbrowns ($1.25 for a bag), over-easy eggs (99 cents a dozen), maybe a lb of bacon ($2.50) and toast (bread from the day-old store), also bananas and juice and coffee. Ketchup or salsa as well.
After that big of a breakfast we probably won't eat again till dinner, although the kids may snack on fruit or crackers or popscicles.
DH is slow-cooking ribs on the BBQ for dinner. We picked up a really nice family-pack of bone-in beef ribs for about $8. He will slow-roast them on indirect heat on the BBQ with a nice sauce all afternoon. I am making a pot of homemade mac-n-chees to go with (macaroni $1, cheese about $4, butter, flour, and milk to make the sauce) and tossing a big salad - lettuce about $1, baby carrots $1.50 a bag, and local greenhouse tomatoes (my splurge) about $4 for 4 of them... but they just taste so much better!! Add in croutons and salad dressing, also more expensive than normal cause I buy Annie's Naturals - no MSG. I think I WAY overshot $10 a day today! Oh well, Saturdays only come once a week.

 

[sameyeyam]

Please don't flame me, I'm always looking for ways to save money. But my first thought when I read most of these posts was how unhealthy they sounded. Not that I don't eat some of those things. I know that was just a sample menu, but I always try to build my meals around veggies. I shop the produce section first and fill up the cart there, trying to avoid the middle aisles as much as possible. We eat whatever veggies are on sale. Also, this time of the year local Farmers Markets are a great way to get produce at a very reasonable price.

I know a lot of people say produce is expensive. One day I was in the grocery store in the winter and was buying a watermelon. One gentlemen commented how he loved watermelon, but wasn't going to pay 75 cents/lb. for it. I looked in his cart and said, if you put the chips & soda pop back, you will more than pay for the watermelon! He laughed, said you're right, took them out and put the watermelon in! Most veggies & fruit cost less per pound than meat, they are better for you and fill you up.

Saving grocery money is great, but saving money and getting lots of produce is even better!

 

[mtblujeans]

We raise our own beef so we may eat more red meat than the average household. It is very lean as we don't care for marbling. We don't eat pork. I haven't been buying much chicken in the last year, now that I think about it. We didn't have a garden last year but we have a much bigger one this year and the veggies are already coming up.

After reading the comments on this board, I realize that our lives have become so hectic in the last couple of years that we are eating more packaged or prepared foods than we should and I need to get back to spending a little more time in the kitchen! Or, maybe, alot more time in the kitchen...

I don't know how I could break down some of the costs of meals to add to this thread but I like the ideas and suggestions made here, too.

 

[Sorsha]

Not flaming you, cause I think you are absolutely correct! I would love to be able to do that!
BUT!
My family WILL NOT eat that way. I can tell them they should and point out the health benefits till I am blue in the face and their response would still be the same - where's the meat.
My kids, like a lot of kids, do not LIKE most veggies. They DO have to have a little bit of what we are eating, a few bites, before they leave the table. But I refuse to turn each meal, when we should be enjoying time as a family, into an all-out battle. They will happily eat corn, and salads, and carrots, and to a lesser extent, peas. But any other veggie than that and I have to do a lot of wheedling, bribing, and even some threatening to get them to eat it. I can only imagine the all-out rebellion that would occur if their whole meals were built around veggies every day!
DH is nearly as bad... he enjoys nearly all veggies and will eat them all, but he expects them to be a *side dish*. He is a meat-and-potatoes guy, and quite happy to be that way. his favorite quote re: veggies? "That's not food! That's what food eats!"
In short, I always try to hit that "5 a day" mark for fruits and veggies, but I know my family. I do my best to cook healthy but still cook what they will eat. After all, I am not saving money or being budget-conscious if I am buying things that I will just throw out cause no one eats them.

 

[punkin]

Not flaming you, cause I think you are absolutely correct! I would love to be able to do that!
BUT!
My family WILL NOT eat that way. I can tell them they should and point out the health benefits till I am blue in the face and their responce would still be the same - where's the meat.
My kids, like a lot of kids, do not LIKE most veggies. They DO have to have a little bit of what we are eating, a few bites, before they leave the table. But I refuse to turn each meal, when we should be enjoying time as a family, into an all-out battle. They will happily eat corn, and salads, and carrots, and to a lesser extent, peas. But any other veggie than that and I have to do a lot of wheedling, bribing, and even some threatening to get them to eat it. I can only imagine the all-out rebellion that would occur if their whole meals were built around veggies every day!
DH is nearly as bad... he enjoys nearly all veggies and will eat them all, but he expects them to be a *side dish*. He is a meat-and-potatoes guy, and quite happy to be that way. his favorite quote re: veggies? "That's not food! That's what food eats!"
In short, I always try to hit that "5 a day" mark for fruits and veggies, but I know my family. I do my best to cook healthy but still cook what they will eat. After all, I am not saving money or being budget-conscious if I am buying things that I will just throw out cause no one eats them.

Unfortunate but somewhat true.

DH was raised on no or little veggies. Canned string beans as a side dish. Yuk. No wonder all he wants are meat and potaoes. We have been trying to do better and he has improved. I have been trying lately to make meat like a condiment. However, I try not to use too much processed starches to compensate. It is very difficult and time consuming (where is that thread on what SAHMs do all day?) not to mention more expensive.

I don't have that much trouble with the kids because they were raised on fruits and veggies. We have almost no crap snacks in the house and they tend to gravitate towards good food.