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

[mom2dea0813]

My husband is 6'5", weights 210 and is pure muscle. He's handsome too, smart and gentle and nice. He works hard, physically hard every day. He wears a size 34 pants with a 35 inch inseam and has no rear end. He probably burns more calories climbing ladders carrying heavy equipment all day than most people eat in a few days. He rides bikes, runs marathons and often swims laps at night. My son plays basketball, soccer and runs almost daily. He rides his bike, swims laps and is pure muscle. He's 5'3, weighs 114 and is prounounced a fit and healthy specimen by his pediatrician. No extra fat on him, he works it off. The rest of his diet consists of fruit and vegetables, he's a vegetarian. He's smart too! Very active people can eat a lot and stay healthy. I am NOT that active and do not eat like they do. If I try-I'm sorry as my metabolism is not nearly as fast as theirs and I gain weight.

I would say that on occasion, my husband has skipped lunch. My son grazes through the day after breakfast and I can often identify no specific lunch for him either but he does eat. Our dinner meal is often late so it is high protein, high fiber veggies and mostly water.

Neither my son nor my husband drink a lot of soda or juice-empty calories. They mostly stick with protein, high fiber carbs and fruit. The example I stated of my husband being able to eat a whole Shepherd's pie in one sitting was exactly that. I would never feed him that much red meat. He wouldn't eat it. Baked potatoes are more his fare and meat is lean with veggies being more raw or al dente.

My point? Are these kids who eat so very little just sitting around, not moving? Active children need calories and healthy food. Mine son is more active than most but even a normally active child needs healthy, nutritive calories with fiber and C,D,E,A,B vitamins.

Thank you for explaining this to me as I was really thinking WOW. Yes my kids are active but I do have younger kids so I think that has alot to do with what I feed my kids . Hopefully when my kids get bigger my husband also gets higher pay so we can afford to have the amount of food they NEED in the house .
We do a budget cause honetly you guys we have too ! Its not a choice unless I go back to work and we belive as a family that its = important for me to be home with the kids .

Anyways I am prob done posting meal plans here for a while but I am liking all the resipes you all share .

Sarah

 

[mommiepoppins]

Breakfast
Rice crispy’s 179
Milk=65
Apple 24 cents
= 268
Lunch
Kids=0 eat at VBS
Cherry’s=3$
Oat meal =15 cents
= 315

Dinner
French toast and omelets
25 cents (entire loaf is 45)
Syrup= 50 cents (bottle is 99)
Eggs = 0 my brother has chickens and gives them to me free
Tomatoes =25 cents
Broccoli (¼ of a bag) 30 cents
Cheddar = 70
Milk= 60
260 for dinner

Snacks
Cherry’s=0
Rice crispy treats home made
Marshmallows=50 cents
Apple slices 44
Crackers=50 cents
= 144

987 for the day and the kids had free lunch

 

[disneymom3]

In all seriousness try fresh fruit and veggies with all meals make them raw like if your gonna have your cereal eat a whole banana or a 1/2 cup of raw sliced strawberries with it. Or if your gonna have bagels try eating an orange or a grapefruit with it or even 4oz of grapefruit juice (don't get the sweeten that will cause hunger when the sugar added works off) What i did with my kid was this, with his Doctor's direction.. Let me state that first
Ok have your bagel now eat this plate of fruit drink a glass of water 8oz and if your still hungry come back for more. With in a week he went mom i'm not as hungry as i use to be.
Now for lunch he eats sandwiches or hot dogs or what ever but always has a plate (salad plate size) of fruit and veggies and at lunch he's allowed 1 glass of crystal light. And if still hungry must have 8oz of water first. Before he asks for a sandwich he eats veggies and fruit. Now if he's out all day playing football or baseball or riding his bike and asks at 4 for a sandwich he will probably get it because he's hungry but gets half on whole grain with 1tbs of peanut butter. Also Our doctor told us try water first sometimes people mistake especially kids hunger for thirst.

This is all good advice and is totally what I would suggest to someone as well. What I neglected to tell you is that all of my kids, especially this one drink a LOT of water. He actually has a plastic water bottle deal that he refills throughout the day. It holds two Cups at a time and I would say he refills it at least 4 times. More if he is playing outside and he is hot. Both his ped and his urologist are thrilled with that. And if you look at my menu below, he also gets lots of whole grains and whole, raw fruits and vegies. My kids as a general rule have milk at breakfast and dinner and water for lunch. I only buy whole grain breads too. (I had an alternative medicine guy tell me once "The whiter the bread, the quicker you're dead" and it has really stuck with me. Last time we had white bread around here, I can't even remember.)

I also really liked your suggestion of smoothies, dawn. I had sort of forgotten about those and will mix them back into my plan.

At any rate, there are some good ideas on this thread and I have gotten some great recipes. Beth, I hope I am not one of the posters who has been perceived as creating a problem as that was not my intent at all. I simply need to figure out how to budget for my bottomless pit of a child and that is what I was looking for.

I keep trying to do the challenge and DS keeps throwing me off. Today, for example they were having english muffins with cream cheese, a banana and milk for breakfast. I had figured that at about $2. Then DS is still hungry so he has some oatmeal. And then some cottage cheese. And then some grapes.....You get the idea. Lunch same thing--peanut butter and honey on whole wheat tortillas(9 grams of fiber!! ) a whole nectarine each and then carrots, broccoli and dip. Again around $2. Then DS needs another whole roll up. Okay. And some yogurt, and another nectarine. And some crackers. Seems like he ate something else too. This is after eating ALL the rest of the carrots in the bag BTW. I mean, I love that the kid eats healthy, but holy cow!

 

[Plantlady]

I just came across this blog: Cheap Eats.

Although, this person is only feeding themselves, they are doing it very cheaply, with great variety.

It has photos of the food, and a breakdown of the cost, and a recipe, all with a sense of humor.

I thought I would share, for all those who want to attempt cheaper meals, but are running out of ideas.

 

[dawn1967]

Breakfast
English muffins and eggs .55

Lunch
Ground turkey taco salad all left overs or from the garden so free.

Dinner
BBQ Hot Dogs and Hamburgers
Baked Beans
Home made mac salad
All left over from camping Free

Snacks the usual garden stuff except no cherries they are done

Wow total .55 should send hubby camping more often with his dad and brother.

 

[dawn1967]

Plantlady;19827165]I just came across this blog: Cheap Eats.

Although, this person is only feeding themselves, they are doing it very cheaply, with great variety.

It has photos of the food, and a breakdown of the cost, and a recipe, all with
a sense of humor.

I thought I would share, for all those who want to attempt cheaper meals, but are running out of ideas.

I been to that site and it has great ideas also I got this site from them also as an ad. http://www.miserlymoms.com/MOMfrecipes1.htm She has really great ideas and also breaks down the cost of the recipe. Alot of her recipes are with process food but if your creative you can change that like anything else. Here is a sample recipe My Sicilian grandmother would turn over in her grave but would understand if i needed to save a few bucks to lol.

Easy Lasagna Recipe

This is a simple, delicious, and less expensive way to make lasagna. My family likes it better than "real" lasagna. Total cost $7.00 for at least 9 servings. Leftovers reheat very well. You can substitute low fat ingredients with good results, too.

12 oz. bag egg noodles (.49)
1 lb. ground beef (about $2.00 on sale for extra lean)
1 - 28 oz. jar spaghetti sauce ($1.29)
24 oz. cottage cheese ($1.59)
16 oz. sour cream (.99)
4 oz. shredded mozzarella (.64 on sale)

Brown ground beef and drain if necessary. Cook egg noodles until just done; drain. Mix noodles, cottage cheese, sour cream and ground beef. In a 9 x 13 pan, spread a layer of spaghetti sauce. Spread a layer of beef/noodle mixture.

Alternate until all ingredients are used, ending with sauce layer. Top with shredded cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 until heated through, about 45 min. to 1 hr. I usually uncover the last 10 minutes.

 

[mommiepoppins]

I been to that site and it has great ideas also I got this site from them also as an ad. http://www.miserlymoms.com/MOMfrecipes1.htm She has really great ideas and also breaks down the cost of the recipe. Alot of her recipes are with process food but if your creative you can change that like anything else. Here is a sample recipe My Sicilian grandmother would turn over in her grave but would understand if i needed to save a few bucks to lol.

Easy Lasagna Recipe

This is a simple, delicious, and less expensive way to make lasagna. My family likes it better than "real" lasagna. Total cost $7.00 for at least 9 servings. Leftovers reheat very well. You can substitute low fat ingredients with good results, too.

12 oz. bag egg noodles (.49)
1 lb. ground beef (about $2.00 on sale for extra lean)
1 - 28 oz. jar spaghetti sauce ($1.29)
24 oz. cottage cheese ($1.59)
16 oz. sour cream (.99)
4 oz. shredded mozzarella (.64 on sale)

Brown ground beef and drain if necessary. Cook egg noodles until just done; drain. Mix noodles, cottage cheese, sour cream and ground beef. In a 9 x 13 pan, spread a layer of spaghetti sauce. Spread a layer of beef/noodle mixture.

Alternate until all ingredients are used, ending with sauce layer. Top with shredded cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 until heated through, about 45 min. to 1 hr. I usually uncover the last 10 minutes.

great web site. I can not wait to try the tamale pie. forr dd who hates meat . I just will not put ground beef in it

 

[punkin]

Easy Lasagna Recipe

This is a simple, delicious, and less expensive way to make lasagna. My family likes it better than "real" lasagna. Total cost $7.00 for at least 9 servings. Leftovers reheat very well. You can substitute low fat ingredients with good results, too.

12 oz. bag egg noodles (.49)
1 lb. ground beef (about $2.00 on sale for extra lean)
1 - 28 oz. jar spaghetti sauce ($1.29)
24 oz. cottage cheese ($1.59)
16 oz. sour cream (.99)
4 oz. shredded mozzarella (.64 on sale)

I cannot get these kind of prices. Really!!!

Noodles: $.99 on sale
Spaghetti Sauce (OK, it's the expensive one my family likes): $1.50 on sale for 15 oz.
24 oz of cottage cheese is almost double what you list.
$.64 for shredded mozzarella - never saw it go on such good sale.

I am frustrated.

 

[mommiepoppins]

I cannot get these kind of prices. Really!!!

Noodles: $.99 on sale
Spaghetti Sauce (OK, it's the expensive one my family likes): $1.50 on sale for 15 oz.
24 oz of cottage cheese is almost double what you list.
$.64 for shredded mozzarella - never saw it go on such good sale.

I am frustrated.

I have never seen Mozzarella that cheep .
spag sauce . I make my own so I could do it for about 50 cents
cottahge cheese I could buy for 190-210
noodles I have bought for 49 cents
the lean ground beef I could get for 2$ on a mark down and if I hit it just at the right time

 

[punkin]

I have never seen Mozzarella that cheep .
spag sauce . I make my own so I could do it for about 50 cents
cottahge cheese I could buy for 190-210
noodles I have bought for 49 cents
the lean ground beef I could get for 2$ on a mark down and if I hit it just at the right time

I am telling you, everything here is so much more expensive.

 

[disneymom3]

I cannot get these kind of prices. Really!!!

Noodles: $.99 on sale
Spaghetti Sauce (OK, it's the expensive one my family likes): $1.50 on sale for 15 oz.
24 oz of cottage cheese is almost double what you list.
$.64 for shredded mozzarella - never saw it go on such good sale.

I am frustrated.

punkin--you and I need to move to Central NY. We could live by mommie and she can teach us how to shop. I have managed the pasta for 99c but otherwise our prices are higher too. Bummer.

A gripe on saving money. I got a free vacuum sealer when we bought our freezer. I was totally excited and got right to using it sealing up ground beef from Sam's. Now the gripe is not about the sealer--it is great. I think my favorite thing is that as it defrosts, no blood leaks out of the bag. However, I was vey upset about my ground beef. It claimed to be 93% lean and there was so much fat in that pan I could not believe it! And of course, I don't have the packaging because I used the vacuum sealer to freeze it. Grrr. The ground beef at Sam's is at least $1 per lb less and now I think I know why!

 

[tonilea]

12 oz. bag egg noodles (.49)
1 lb. ground beef (about $2.00 on sale for extra lean)
1 - 28 oz. jar spaghetti sauce ($1.29)
24 oz. cottage cheese ($1.59)
16 oz. sour cream (.99)
4 oz. shredded mozzarella (.64 on sale)

Egg noodles - I can sometimes pick up for .69 - usually $1
Ground beef - usually under $2/lb sometimes as low as $1.50
Spaghetti Sauce - I would make my own - it is cheap, easy and I like it better- probably about .75
Cottage cheese - often on sale 2/$3 sometimes even less
Sour Cream - regularly on sale for .99
Mozzerella Cheese - lately I have been able to get an 8 oz bag of shredded mozzerella for .99

 

[dawn1967]

punkin;19829826]I cannot get these kind of prices. Really!!!

Noodles: $.99 on sale
Spaghetti Sauce (OK, it's the expensive one my family likes): $1.50 on sale for 15 oz.
24 oz of cottage cheese is almost double what you list.
$.64 for shredded mozzarella - never saw it go on such good sale.

I am frustrated.

those aren't my prices. and look at the portion size. of the cheese.( 4 oz. shredded mozzarella (.64 on sale)) That is 1/4 cup of cheese. I buy 1 lb ball of mozzarella 16oz for 2.79 divide that in to 4 1/4c portions it would be .69 the cottage cheese i can get that cheap. But unlike you i live in oregon not washington dc but if i lived in portland or sanfransico i know i couldn't get it that cheap. Spaggitti sauce serious not sure what that cost because i make my own. and noodles are around .59 to 1.59 depending on what i want but i can make them for a fraction of that cost, which i do, and i don't buy ground beef i use turkey ground for .88 lb.

 

[mommiepoppins]

those aren't my prices. and look at the portion size. of the cheese.( 4 oz. shredded mozzarella (.64 on sale)) That is 1/4 cup of cheese. I buy 1 lb ball of mozzarella 16oz for 2.79 divide that in to 4 1/4c portions it would be .69 the cottage cheese i can get that cheap. But unlike you i live in oregon not washington dc but if i lived in portland or sanfransico i know i couldn't get it that cheap. Spaggitti sauce serious not sure what that cost because i make my own. and noodles are around .59 to 1.59 depending on what i want but i can make them for a fraction of that cost, which i do, and i don't buy ground beef i use turkey ground for .88 lb.

If I am cooking with Mozzarella and dh and I are eating to we use a block..
fyi i went into a local food store for one certin item that they have... The milk was 369 per gallon for store name brand . Aldi just raised there Milk to 269.
you would hate to live in Central Ny.. It snows TONS and it dose it until late April early May. It is cold summer and winter. It takes 20 min to get to a mall with 10% sales tax..

when dh and I first were married and moved here. There was only 1 food store and it was $$$$. It would cost 99cents for a box of Craft Mac and cheese and that was 15 yeras ago. We were so poor and we were STUCK haveing to shop..

one more thing we pay more in Gas here than people do an hour away..ok enough . I am stuck here because I can not afford food , house, school any where else. This is where God has placed me for now

 

[Plantlady]

If I am cooking with Mozzarella and dh and I are eating to we use a block..
fyi i went into a local food store for one certin item that they have... The milk was 369 per gallon for store name brand . Aldi just raised there Milk to 269.
you would hate to live in Central Ny.. It snows TONS and it dose it until late April early May. It is cold summer and winter. It takes 20 min to get to a mall with 10% sales tax..

when dh and I first were married and moved here. There was only 1 food store and it was $$$$. It would cost 99cents for a box of Craft Mac and cheese and that was 15 yeras ago. We were so poor and we were STUCK haveing to shop..

one more thing we pay more in Gas here than people do an hour away..ok enough . I am stuck here because I can not afford food , house, school any where else. This is where God has placed me for now

Our milk at aldi is 3.69. My jaw dropped.

While we were on vacation, I had to do some grocery shopping in several places, one being Moab, UT, and the other Ogden, UT. I couldn't stand it. The prices were 2-3x the amount I was use to spending. I am very thankful that here, in central KS, I am able to feed my family so cheaply.

 

[KKB]

those aren't my prices. and look at the portion size. of the cheese.( 4 oz. shredded mozzarella (.64 on sale)) That is 1/4 cup of cheese. I buy 1 lb ball of mozzarella 16oz for 2.79 divide that in to 4 1/4c portions it would be .69 the cottage cheese i can get that cheap. But unlike you i live in oregon not washington dc but if i lived in portland or sanfransico i know i couldn't get it that cheap. Spaggitti sauce serious not sure what that cost because i make my own. and noodles are around .59 to 1.59 depending on what i want but i can make them for a fraction of that cost, which i do, and i don't buy ground beef i use turkey ground for .88 lb.

look on the package. Shredded cheese says 2 c./ 8 oz. Therefore 4 oz. is 1 c., or half a bag of shredded.

Actually, these prices compare to the midwest (though I SWEAR groceries go up everytime I go shopping! And the sales have been PRETTY rotten lately!)

Fav store (NOT the warehouse store or Walmart)
Noodles...25/12 oz. fairly regularly (though we eat whole wheat which I watch for .99 and I usually have a coupon too)
Prego... .99 often on sale, and usually a coupon
Cott cheese/Sr cream often .99 on sale (though these you can't stock up on much!)
Burger...1.99 to 2.49 for 93% lean or lean gr. turkey for same (sale,again)
Shredded cheese...regularly 1.25/8 oz.

The beauty is that other than the dairy, it is very easy to stock up on these items when they are on sale!

I must say prices seem to have gone up SO much on so many items in the last year...I suppose it is gas prices...I even had to resort to Walmart this week for a huge grocery trip...I am NOT a Walmart fan (many reasons, business practices being the main one), but we are talking 35% cheaper on many items. I HATE how they put small town stores out of business when they move in...yeah, I know, the citizens do it by shopping there, but those little stores cannot compete w/ those prices!

Hey, SuperTarget opens in 10 days! WOOHOO!

 

[punkin]

That's it. I am thoroughly depressed. I'm giving up for today. I am going to go out for dinner!!! I have nothing defrosted anyway and the beans and rice I was going to serve will keep 'till tomorow.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Have a great dinner out!

Wish I had a Super Target....

 

[Plantlady]

That's it. I am thoroughly depressed. I'm giving up for today. I am going to go out for dinner!!! I have nothing defrosted anyway and the beans and rice I was going to serve will keep 'till tomorow.

That was us last night.

Exactly us. The rice and beans is currently reheating in the oven now, for dinner tonight.

 

[Swimnoid]

I am really enjoying everybody's posts. Although I am not trying to stay under $10 each day, my goal is to really use up all the food/leftovers with careful planning to cut costs. There are only 2 of us unless DD is home from college. DH and I are concentrating on not eating lunch out (big saver) and using up what we have in the freezer. (I have tons of meals in there and just need to remember to defrost) So all I really have to buy is fresh veggies and fruit and milk and bread when I am planning correctly.

For instance the other day while shopping for fresh stuff I picked up a rotissierie chicken which we had that night, then the next day we each had chicken sandwiches for lunch and then chicken & rice & gravy for dinner. So not bad for 5.99. Everything else included in any of those meals was already in the house except two tomatoes. So YAY for me You all are rubbing off on me! Now tonight I bought 2 pizzas from pizza hut because I have a weird schedule so that cost big time but it will feed us for at least 2 and more likely 3 meals. Baby steps!