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

[dawn1967]

Breakfast

Toast with homemade blackberry jelly .25

Lunch
Tuna and tomato and lettuce with carrots .75

Dinner
spaggitti and bread and salad (we didn't have this last night )

Snacks
Home made blackberry cobbler (can you tell what we picked last night) .25 for the butter and sugar and flour doesn't require much or any of it.
Fruit and veggies free
otter pops 1.00

total 2.25

 

[mom2dea0813]

yes we pick tons and ton of U-pick strawberry's , apples , grapes and we used to pick blueberry's but I have not found a place here for them yet . As far as canned veggies . The only canned veggies we use are green beans (Dh HATES frozen and fresh and will not eat them at all ) also I hate peas so I just brought a can for the beef stew. Also I buy no salt in the canned veggies .

Sarah

 

[dawn1967]

yes we pick tons and ton of U-pick strawberry's , apples , grapes and we used to pick blueberry's but I have not found a place here for them yet . As far as canned veggies . The only canned veggies we use are green beans (Dh HATES frozen and fresh and will not eat them at all ) also I hate peas so I just brought a can for the beef stew. Also I buy no salt in the canned veggies .

Sarah

Ok is it ok for canned or frozen I feel it's up to the individual when they feed my family then I'll comment but I did learn in my nutritional classes at school that eating canned or frozen is healthier then eating some market fruits and veggies especially if you buy fruit out of season from chili. Reason When you get it from the market say a peach in January it took at least 2 weeks from the market to your store shelf. After first 48 hrs all the nutrition are leaving the fruit and veggie, then when you finally buy that peach after two weeks it might be sweet and tender but it's no better for you then candy.
When you buy frozen and canned it is picked sent to packing house with in 6hrs and packed that same 24hrs. So is can healthier over frozen i don't' know not gonna get into that it's like organic versus non organic up the the person. Just thought i share what I'm learning in my dietitian class.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Two days of information

Yesterday, Tuesday

Breakfast

I made peach pancakes for the family, $0.67 peaches, $0.24 3 eggs, $0.25 dry goods
coffee etc $0.83
(Out of juice, bad mommy)

Lunch

Kids and dh packed leftovers including salad.
Dd7 had leftovers and a peach $0.33
I just had a peach $0.33 and a sick headache from the fresh asphalt outside (our street is being repaved) combined with the excessive heat and humidity--I spent an hour outside early in the day working on my garden.
sun tea, $0.20 for the day

Dinner

An unusual night for us----dh had his church mens group meeting here last night as it was his turn for "canteen duty" and it was much easier to have the guys here than schlepp everything over to the parish center.
Dh did the shopping at Coscto since I was feeling too to look at food.

Our family's portion:
hotdogs (not our favorite, but good to feed a crowd!) with buns, $2.00
salad, $1.00 (no more lettuce from the garden until the fall crop)
chips, $0.50
steamed green beans, garden, free
prepared potato salad, $1.00
milk, 3 kids, $0.75
more sun tea for me

Snacks
I had a frozen lemonade which helped settle my tummy, $0.19

Total for yesterday: $8.29


Today's plan

Breakfast

I made a coffeecake this morning (gee, who needs to go grocery shopping for breakfast items ), $0.75
oj, prices went up at Costco, $0.88 for 1/3 carton
coffee etc $0.90

Lunch

Kids packed cheese $0.50/4oz cheddar and wholegrain crackers $0.50, chips from last night, a peach each $0.67, and a handful of organic baby carrots each (Costco purchase), $0.25
Dh packed leftovers from last night's shindig.
Dd7 and I will have leftover salad, the rest of the potato salad, a peach each $0.67 and either a hotdog OR some cheese (?) with tortillas (?)

Dinner

Still up in the air. I think we'll grill some chicken breast ($2.00 for about a pound), probably marinated in some dressing ($0.10) w/ additional garden herbs
salad, lettuce from last night w/ tomatoes from the garden
probably zucchini, though I haven't picked veggies yet, could be green beans instead---or both!

It's just so hot even with the a/c on that no one really feels like eating much!

Will update totals later.

 

[jordansmomma]

Breakfast~
Me- cereal- .50, blueberry ice tea- 0 I still have money left on my card.
Kids- 6 muffins- .70, 4 scrambled eggs- .51, juice- 0
total- 1.71

Lunch-
me- left over spaghetti & garlic bread- free (from yesterday)
kids- 2- will have the rest of the tuna, needs to be eaten today.
tuna- free
bread- .14
pita chips- .75 (the whole bag, i am sure they will snack on them today)
the other one will have left over spaghetti-free
juice- free
fruit- .50
total- 1.39

Dinner-
Grilled pork steak- 5.89 (there are 7 in the package, either my cousin will come over and eat or there will be left overs for tomorrow)
grilled potatoes, mushrooms, onions- 2.00
steam green beans- 1.00 (farmers market today)
gravy - .48
rolls- 1.50
tea, milk- 1.00
total- 11.87
snacks-
pita chips
tuna

days total- 14.97
I still have the extra kid, and I will either have left overs to make steak salad tomorrow or I will be feeding 6 people tonight.

 

[kmchar1]

I was wrong on my dates yesterday when I posted. Here is today's proposed menu (can be changed on a whim!) LOL

Breakfast:
DH: free at work
Me and DS (6 years old): Ate at McDonald's. DS and I go out for a small breakfast once a month. His pick of restaurant. $8.00
*total: 8.00

Snack:
DS: yogurt (.25)
*total: .25

Lunch:
DH: free at work
Me and Ds: Leftover chili and cornbread
*total: free

Snack will be:
Cheap popsicles for all. It's soooo hot out! (.30)
*total: .30

Dinner Will be:
All: Grilled Chicken (3.50), grilled veggies (leftover fresh veggies I froze, free), rice (1.00), whole wheat buns (1.00)
*total: 5.50

Grand Total: 14.05

 

[dawn1967]

Two days of information

Yesterday, Tuesday

Breakfast

I made peach pancakes for the family, $0.67 peaches, $0.24 3 eggs, $0.25 dry goods
coffee etc $0.83
(Out of juice, bad mommy)

Lunch

Kids and dh packed leftovers including salad.
Dd7 had leftovers and a peach $0.33
I just had a peach $0.33 and a sick headache from the fresh asphalt outside (our street is being repaved) combined with the excessive heat and humidity--I spent an hour outside early in the day working on my garden.
sun tea, $0.20 for the day

Dinner

An unusual night for us----dh had his church mens group meeting here last night as it was his turn for "canteen duty" and it was much easier to have the guys here than schlepp everything over to the parish center.
Dh did the shopping at Coscto since I was feeling too to look at food.

Our family's portion:
hotdogs (not our favorite, but good to feed a crowd!) with buns, $2.00
salad, $1.00 (no more lettuce from the garden until the fall crop)
chips, $0.50
steamed green beans, garden, free
prepared potato salad, $1.00
milk, 3 kids, $0.75
more sun tea for me

Snacks
I had a frozen lemonade which helped settle my tummy, $0.19

Total for yesterday: $8.29


Today's plan

Breakfast

I made a coffeecake this morning (gee, who needs to go grocery shopping for breakfast items ), $0.75
oj, prices went up at Costco, $0.88 for 1/3 carton
coffee etc $0.90

Lunch

Kids packed cheese $0.50/4oz cheddar and wholegrain crackers $0.50, chips from last night, a peach each $0.67, and a handful of organic baby carrots each (Costco purchase), $0.25
Dh packed leftovers from last night's shindig.
Dd7 and I will have leftover salad, the rest of the potato salad, a peach each $0.67 and either a hotdog OR some cheese (?) with tortillas (?)

Dinner

Still up in the air. I think we'll grill some chicken breast ($2.00 for about a pound), probably marinated in some dressing ($0.10) w/ additional garden herbs
salad, lettuce from last night w/ tomatoes from the garden
probably zucchini, though I haven't picked veggies yet, could be green beans instead---or both!

It's just so hot even with the a/c on that no one really feels like eating much!

Will update totals later.

What a great idea with coffee cake Think I'll try that hubby doesn't usually eat breakfast since he's up before the sun and then he skips lunch most time and when 12hrs later he gets home he's starving. At least i can stick something in him before he goes to work.

 

[mom2dea0813]

OK how did you make the frozen lemonade .... also coffee cake ???

Thanks for any help .

Sarah

 

[mickeyfan2]

Ok is it ok for canned or frozen I feel it's up to the individual when they feed my family then I'll comment but I did learn in my nutritional classes at school that eating canned or frozen is healthier then eating some market fruits and veggies especially if you buy fruit out of season from chili. Reason When you get it from the market say a peach in January it took at least 2 weeks from the market to your store shelf. After first 48 hrs all the nutrition are leaving the fruit and veggie, then when you finally buy that peach after two weeks it might be sweet and tender but it's no better for you then candy.
When you buy frozen and canned it is picked sent to packing house with in 6hrs and packed that same 24hrs. So is can healthier over frozen i don't' know not gonna get into that it's like organic versus non organic up the the person. Just thought i share what I'm learning in my dietitian class.

But now it is not coming from Chili but from the farmer down the road. I get my corn on the cob and from picking to eating can be under an hour. Same for many other veggies. The apples are just coming in now and taste so good.

 

[mom2dea0813]

OK maybe I am clueless but do you go to the farmers market daily or every other day to get fresh fruit and veggies ? I WILL NOT take 3 kids and 1 on the way out daily to a place like that or even a store . we go to the farmers market 1 time a week and to the grocery store 1 time every other week and DH stops at Publix for WIC every 4-6 days depending . My point is I can not go get fresh veggies every day or other day .

However with all that said we are picking apples and grapes on the 18th and can not wait . we are going to the picking place two times this season if the baby works with us . But this is not just the fruit but a family time up in the mountains hand picking apples and grapes and last in OCT we will go back to get apples and pumpkins . We get Tons and make about 20 dozen muffins for the freezer , jam ,butter , pies , mini breads , apple crisp and all sorts of stuff to freeze and can for the year . Can you tell I can not wait

Sarah

 

[mommiepoppins]

Bagels= 19 cents
Spray butter=5 cents
Apple juice=50
=74
Lunch
Left over zucchini with parmesan cheese=0
Tomatoes slices=0
Salad=99 cents... hardly needed any due to all the tomatoes.
Milk=60
Dressing=45 cents
=204
Snacks
Peaches=98 cents
Crackers= 15 cents
Popcorn=15 cents
Cookies=20 cents
=148

Dinner
It is so hot I am really not trying to cook

Tuna sandwiches

Tuna=36
Mayo=50
Bread=25 cents
Apple slices=44 cents
Salad=0
Tomato slices=0
Juice=50
205

=631 I thinks that is a record for me

 

[dawn1967]

But now it is not coming from Chili but from the farmer down the road. I get my corn on the cob and from picking to eating can be under an hour. Same for many other veggies. The apples are just coming in now and taste so good.

Some of us aren't that lucky though to have that farmer down the road or like me growing in my back yard. And for some I know personally can corn .30 feed family of 4 while 2.00 for four ears of corn (corn is selling her .50 an ear at the upicks). they will take that .30 and bag of black beans and bag of rice with the 1.70 left over. And eat for a week on black beans corn and rice. I think it's just where we live and what we choose to live on I love canned beets with butter cook them fresh from the garden is nasty to me.

 

[dawn1967]

OK maybe I am clueless but do you go to the farmers market daily or every other day to get fresh fruit and veggies ? I WILL NOT take 3 kids and 1 on the way out daily to a place like that or even a store . we go to the farmers market 1 time a week and to the grocery store 1 time every other week and DH stops at Publix for WIC every 4-6 days depending . My point is I can not go get fresh veggies every day or other day .

However with all that said we are picking apples and grapes on the 18th and can not wait . we are going to the picking place two times this season if the baby works with us . But this is not just the fruit but a family time up in the mountains hand picking apples and grapes and last in OCT we will go back to get apples and pumpkins . We get Tons and make about 20 dozen muffins for the freezer , jam ,butter , pies , mini breads , apple crisp and all sorts of stuff to freeze and can for the year . Can you tell I can not wait

Sarah

Where are you that apples are ready to pick?
Here it's pears and peaches and last of the grapes and blackberries. Strawberries and blueberries what's left aren't that great.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Well you did eat lunch out and when ever I eat any meals out even just snacks its over 10.00 and sometimes its WAY over .

But yes in general it looks like your foods are costing more .
I will say we visited NYC for 4 day a few yrs back and could NOT believe 99% of the prices they wanted us to pay for things .

Also is that the price of just one piece of chicken ?

Yes, that is the price of one piece of chicken when I buy the Bell and Evans brand. It was 6.99 for 3 breasts at Whole Foods. If I buy Purdue out by my parents house in NJ I can get it for less $$ - but I don't often get out there. I won't buy generic raw chicken, as I am just not comfortable with the quality assurance risk, and supermarkets in NYC are VERY expensive with very little on special.

In terms of eating out, I work 8-6:30 (or later) every day and always eat breakfast and lunch at my desk. I usually bring breakfast and try and bring lunches - but often time just grab something in the area. Supermarkets are not much cheaper than buying per meal around here.

 

[mickeyfan2]

OK maybe I am clueless but do you go to the farmers market daily or every other day to get fresh fruit and veggies ? I WILL NOT take 3 kids and 1 on the way out daily to a place like that or even a store . we go to the farmers market 1 time a week and to the grocery store 1 time every other week and DH stops at Publix for WIC every 4-6 days depending . My point is I can not go get fresh veggies every day or other day .

However with all that said we are picking apples and grapes on the 18th and can not wait . we are going to the picking place two times this season if the baby works with us . But this is not just the fruit but a family time up in the mountains hand picking apples and grapes and last in OCT we will go back to get apples and pumpkins . We get Tons and make about 20 dozen muffins for the freezer , jam ,butter , pies , mini breads , apple crisp and all sorts of stuff to freeze and can for the year . Can you tell I can not wait

Sarah

Yes I get mine every day for that nights meals. I also blanch and freeze some veggies.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Bagels= 19 cents
Spray butter=5 cents
Apple juice=50
=74
Lunch
Left over zucchini with parmesan cheese=0
Tomatoes slices=0
Salad=99 cents... hardly needed any due to all the tomatoes.
Milk=60
Dressing=45 cents
=204
Snacks
Peaches=98 cents
Crackers= 15 cents
Popcorn=15 cents
Cookies=20 cents
=148

Dinner
It is so hot I am really not trying to cook

Tuna sandwiches

Tuna=36
Mayo=50
Bread=25 cents
Apple slices=44 cents
Salad=0
Tomato slices=0
Juice=50
205

=631 I thinks that is a record for me

How many people are you feeding with 36 cents worth of tuna? And 25 cents worth of bread.

 

[dawn1967]

Yes, that is the price of one piece of chicken when I buy the Bell and Evans brand. It was 6.99 for 3 breasts at Whole Foods. If I buy Purdue out by my parents house in NJ I can get it for less $$ - but I don't often get out there. I won't buy generic raw chicken, as I am just not comfortable with the quality assurance risk, and supermarkets in NYC are VERY expensive with very little on special.

In terms of eating out, I work 8-6:30 (or later) every day and always eat breakfast and lunch at my desk. I usually bring breakfast and try and bring lunches - but often time just grab something in the area. Supermarkets are not much cheaper than buying per meal around here.

What about trying to cook a few meals on your day off or just one main meal and then breaking it up in those glad ware containers that freeze. Or even buying everything you want to eat homemade and asking a friend that maybe stays home with her kids to cook it and then paying her like a little catering. I do that on occasion for some friends that work in retail during the holiday season.

 

[mom2dea0813]

Yes I get mine every day for that nights meals. I also blanch and freeze some veggies.

WOW do you have kids to cart around with you ??? We do not even leave our house daily in the summer . With Gas prices its just not worth it . WOW I am shocked you go out daily to get veggies . Thats great but wow

Sarah

 

[mom2dea0813]

Where are you that apples are ready to pick?
Here it's pears and peaches and last of the grapes and blackberries. Strawberries and blueberries what's left aren't that great.

I am not sure if there are any U-pick corn , peaches , or pears here although I would love to find them . We never did find blueberrys and we are not picking strawberrys anymore .

As far as apples and grapes we went to this place last yr http://www.skytoporchard.com/ and they open on Aug 10th . We will go the 18th for the whole day and get Apples and grapes and come home and cook alot of it and also eat them . Then after this baby is born (sept) we will go back in Oct and pick agian and also get pumpkins as well at that point and come home to cook more and eat more

Sarah

 

[frndshpcptn]

What about trying to cook a few meals on your day off or just one main meal and then breaking it up in those glad ware containers that freeze. Or even buying everything you want to eat homemade and asking a friend that maybe stays home with her kids to cook it and then paying her like a little catering. I do that on occasion for some friends that work in retail during the holiday season.

Thats a good idea and I actually do cook on Sundays and use that for Monday - Wednesday dinners pretty often. But my base ingredients are actually still considerably higher than what I've seen posted here.

It's pretty rare to see canned tuna (I buy Bumble Bee White Albacore) for less than 1.25 a can (can get it for .99 cents sometimes on sale out in NJ when i travel there). But I saw someone post earlier that thier tuna was 36 cents!

In terms of friends who stay at home with kids - well - at 29 I have only two friends with a child. One does stay home, but she cooks even less than me!