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

[punkin]

Here's a recipe (I vary it by ising V-8 sometimes, sauce sometimes)

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. uncooked rice
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 sm. onion, sliced
oil for sauteeing onion
2 1/2 c. tomato juice

Combine ground beef, rice, salt and pepper. Form into small balls about 1 1/2" in diameter. Place in baking dish. In a skillet, brown onions in oil. Add tomato juice. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour over meat balls. Cover baking dish. Bake in moderate oven at 350 degrees about 1 hour or until visible rice is very tender.

One pound of beef is plenty for a family of 4. I do not like these as leftovers because the rice soaks up all the sauce and you get tomato beef and rice mush.

 

[smfritz03]

punkin--don't bow out! I love reading the different things you feed your family!!! I can't hit the $10 a day either---not even going to try because it's impossible!! But I still love reading the various meal combos people put together!

 

[mickeyfan2]

Maybe a thread not about $10/family but meals for $1/person for those of us who like to try other stuff and not break the bank doing it.

 

[punkin]

Maybe a thread not about $10/family but meals for $1/person for those of us who like to try other stuff and not break the bank doing it.

For me $20 per day averages out to under $1 per person per meal usually (less for breakfast and lunch, more for dinner). I am much more comfortable with the $20 mark as I can feed my family quite well on it. I do ocasionally splurge. For example (I bought lox today-we will have that for breakfast on the weekend really upping our totals). But overall, as you can see by my posts we make it under $20 no problem.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Maybe a thread not about $10/family but meals for $1/person for those of us who like to try other stuff and not break the bank doing it.

I like that! I love trying new stuff, and hearing about what everyone else fixes.

My family hated brown rice to begin with, but we started using it half and half with hamburg, and seasoning (cumin, garlic, tumeric) in burritos, and tacos. It broke them in gently!

 

[MzDiz]

Someone needs to tell me how to manage this without buying anything with high fructose corn syrup, msg, or hydrogenated oils. Now that we cut them out, we're all really sensitive to it, especially the msg.
Tonight we're having pasta (1.00) with chicken (2.19 on sale), peppers (3.00) and onions (.50) in homemade spicy tomato sauce (2.00 for two cans of organic tomato sauce and assorted ingredients) That's 8.69 just for dinner. That doesn't even include salad and iced tea.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Someone needs to tell me how to manage this without buying anything with high fructose corn syrup, msg, or hydrogenated oils. Now that we cut them out, we're all really sensitive to it, especially the msg.
Tonight we're having pasta (1.00) with chicken (2.19 on sale), peppers (3.00) and onions (.50) in homemade spicy tomato sauce (2.00 for two cans of organic tomato sauce and assorted ingredients) That's 8.69 just for dinner. That doesn't even include salad and iced tea.

Now, I probably would have cut the peppers out this time, and added something else. I slice, blanch a freeze things like peppers when they are on sale, but it helps that I've the large freezer.

I also manage to justify meal cost when I can send some with DH the next day for lunch. With his diabetes, he has problems when he has to eat out everyday. Does much better with homemade.

I'd love to see your tomatoe sauce recipe, though! I'm bored with mine!

We also buy a lot from the co-op! You might look for one around you.

 

[grlpwrd]

Yesterday wasn't too bad (sort of, but I can't get anywhere near $10 even with leftovers) I took DN8 strawberry picking and we got over 5 lb for $10 ($1.89 per lb) and that does not count what we ate in the field.

I also bought some fresh youg rhubarb ($1.99) and I have been making pies (and freezing them). My house smells devine.

Anyway:

Breakfast: waffles, cereal, milk. $2
Lunch: DN8 and I had broiled fish ($3.50), DD8: challah w/ butter, cheesits, apple, carrots ($1.50). DD14: farmer cheese and jelly on challah, apple.($1.50). DH ate out because he wouldn't wait for me to make lunch in the morning nor would he make it himself.
Snacks: avocado w/ lemon and salt, cheesits, strawberries ($1.75)
Dinner: leftover chicken schnitzel, mashed potatoes, salad, strawberry rhubarb pie. ($4.75)
TOTAL: $15

I think I will have to bow out of this thread. I cannot keep up. Either my groceries cost A LOT more than the others posting or I just feed my family things that others find too extravagant.

Let's try today:

Breakfast: waffles and milk. frozen bagel $2
Lunch: Leftover fish for me and grilled cheese for DN8. $1 DD8: whole wheat bread w/ butter, potato chips, carrots, chocolate pudding, apple. $1.50. DD14 whole wheat breat w/ farmer cheese and jelly, apple. $1. DH has lunch work meeting-FREE.
Snack: I don't know but probably around $2 for the gang
Dinner: Hedghog meatballs w/ salad. Strawberry pie. $5.50

TOTAL: $13 and this is a VERY cheap day for me.

Please continue posting.... I know the cost of living is higher where you live and I see that your meals include a lot of fiber, produce, and variety (which I think is good for kids so they grow up enjoying different foods).

You're investing in good health.

 

[MEM]

For me $20 per day averages out to under $1 per person per meal usually (less for breakfast and lunch, more for dinner). I am much more comfortable with the $20 mark as I can feed my family quite well on it. I do ocasionally splurge. For example (I bought lox today-we will have that for breakfast on the weekend really upping our totals). But overall, as you can see by my posts we make it under $20 no problem.

And actually, the OP said she would like to see a $20 a day thread, too, for those of us living in more expensive areas of the country. On my very best days (weekends), I manage $15 but $20 is more common. I work outside the home and DH is a SAHD who can't cook! I get a lot of great meal ideas from here - I used to make porcupine meatballs in my crockpot...seems like its time to have them again.

 

[punkin]

Please continue posting.... I know the cost of living is higher where you live and I see that your meals include a lot of fiber, produce, and variety (which I think is good for kids so they grow up enjoying different foods).

You're investing in good health.

That is so sweet. I'm glad to know someone appreciates my effort. My kids just get angry that they can't have fast food and takeout pizza on a daily basis like their friends. DH is no help either. He wouldn't mind eating out all the time (but that's another thread).

 

[joha]

Did you know that Braum's milk doesn't have BGH in it? The beef is a different story! I don't know if you have a Braums near you??

Hi Tink!

I have addicted to this thread! I'm also trying to feed my family in a budget, but I don't think I'm as good as many of you are.

Publix here in FL and also GA also has rbst free milk:


Publix Milk goes rbST-Free


LAKELAND, Fla., April 30, 2007 — Publix Super Markets Inc. announced that beginning May 1, 2007 its private label brand milk, including whole, reduced fat, low fat, fat free, chocolate and low-fat chocolate, in all sizes, will be rbST (recombinant bovine somatotropin) free*. Traditionally, rbST is a bioengineered hormone that is injected into cows to increase the cow's milk production.

"As a retailer devoted to customer satisfaction and highest quality of products, we wanted our customers to enjoy the wholesome goodness of milk, without added hormones," said director of media and community relations, Maria Brous. "Our Publix brand milk is Grade A - pasteurized, certified Kosher and contains Vitamins A&D."

Publix also has their private label organic milk.

Tink, best of luck on your vacation, I think you'll have a great time.

 

[mommiepoppins]

Did you know you can go to a local dairy farm and purchase milk that doesn't have the hormones in it as well? Gallons of milk in the store cost $3.00+ here, we just go down to the dairy farm and pay $2.00 a gallon and no hormones added.
You can do the same w/ beef. You can buy local cows w/ no steroids injected--you can buy half or a whole cow for WAY less than what the stores sell.

no flames
my brother test milk and he tells us to stay away from Fresh farm milk.
now I have a dear friend that gets her milk straight from the cow and has had no problems.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Fair enough. We don't drink pasturized milk. We buy it from the same people who sell to the milk company, so it is the same milk, uncooked.

 

[ogreenlee]

Someone needs to tell me how to manage this without buying anything with high fructose corn syrup, msg, or hydrogenated oils. Now that we cut them out, we're all really sensitive to it, especially the msg.
Tonight we're having pasta (1.00) with chicken (2.19 on sale), peppers (3.00) and onions (.50) in homemade spicy tomato sauce (2.00 for two cans of organic tomato sauce and assorted ingredients) That's 8.69 just for dinner. That doesn't even include salad and iced tea.

Exactly! We use real maple syrup and just enough for a plate of pancakes for three on the weekends will use up close to $2 worth of the $6 -$7 bottle.


I think we do manage the $20 limit on most days... well, except my husband eats lunch out every day.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Exactly! We use real maple syrup and just enough for a plate of pancakes for three on the weekends will use up close to $2 worth of the $6 -$7 bottle.

That is where bulk buying comes in the most handy, imo. We buy grade B, which we like because of its stronger maple taste for about $17 a gallon. It lasts forever.

We also buy local honey for $22 a gallon. Supposedly it should help with local allergies, but we haven't had that play out yet!

 

[mickeyfan2]

no flames
my brother test milk and he tells us to stay away from Fresh farm milk.
now I have a dear friend that gets her milk straight from the cow and has had no problems.

Around here many farms sell raw milk. There have been many people getting sick on that raw milk.

 

[ogreenlee]

I just saw that post about Publix. YAY. That's my store. I haven't noticed. Maybe b/c I go straight to the organic section and grab what's on sale.

I'll look today! Thanks for that heads-up!!

 

[meandtheguys2]

Around here many farms sell raw milk. There have been many people getting sick on that raw milk.

Really? Do you have any information about this? What sort of illnesses? We are in the midst of a milk battle here in Ohio, and I am very much for choice. We've found most of the propoganda of the dairy industry to be unsubstantiated, and based on profit rather than health.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Really? Do you have any information about this? What sort of illnesses? We are in the midst of a milk battle here in Ohio, and I am very much for choice. We've found most of the propoganda of the dairy industry to be unsubstantiated, and based on profit rather than health.

It was in the paper a few weeks ago. Sorry I don't remember any details.

 

[meandtheguys2]

It was in the paper a few weeks ago. Sorry I don't remember any details.

Thanks anyway. When there is a battle raging, it is hard to find real info, sometimes!

eta: Sorry for going off topic!