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

[mickeyfan2]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I want to try these...do you use white or brown rice? And is it instant (like minute rice) or regular? Thanks!

I used regular white rice. Not sure how brown rice would work.

 

[Accentuate+]

This may be OT but I thought that people interested in this thread would find it interesting.
A link to a TIME photoessay showing families from around the world, in their kitchen with the amount of food they would eat in a week displayed around them. Below the picture is listsl the cost of the food (in local currency and converted to US dollars). The difference in amounts and costs is amazing sometimes.

Very interesting - be sure to spot the coke or pepsi that appears in all but the most remote places.

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519_1373664,00.html

 

[mickeyfan2]

This may be OT but I thought that people interested in this thread would find it interesting.
A link to a TIME photoessay showing families from around the world, in their kitchen with the amount of food they would eat in a week displayed around them. Below the picture is listsl the cost of the food (in local currency and converted to US dollars). The difference in amounts and costs is amazing sometimes.

Very interesting - be sure to spot the coke or pepsi that appears in all but the most remote places.

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519_1373664,00.html

Interesting. The African family was so sad. All the other families had so much more food.

Wow the German family liked beverages. Total - $500/week!!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Actually now that I think about it, from I-75N you wouldn't have to go all the way down to the Branch Forbes exit, you can get off on McIntosh Rd, the exit before Branch Forbes, turn right and go down to Hillsborough (92) and make a left. Take that to Tanner Rd (which is before you get to Branch Forbes), make a right and the farm is on the left, but closer to where Tanner Rd. meets MLK. About a mile from 92 i'd say, but that's a guess. not too far.

Thanks for the directions. I'm not familiar with all the roads around here, but my DH is. I'll ask him how far it is. Hopefully, it won't too far. We only live about a mile from I-75.

My DH said it wasn't that far, & thinks it a great idea. How often can you order a basket? Also, how do you know in advance what will be included, so you know if there's something you don't like? Thanks again

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

This may be OT but I thought that people interested in this thread would find it interesting.
A link to a TIME photoessay showing families from around the world, in their kitchen with the amount of food they would eat in a week displayed around them. Below the picture is listsl the cost of the food (in local currency and converted to US dollars). The difference in amounts and costs is amazing sometimes.

Very interesting - be sure to spot the coke or pepsi that appears in all but the most remote places.

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519_1373664,00.html

Anyone else notice the can of Pringles with the family of Saudi Arabia?

They all eat so much more produce than we do.

 

[neatokimmo]

Very interesting!

And embarrassing that I can't keep to a $40 a week 1 person budget.

This may be OT but I thought that people interested in this thread would find it interesting.
A link to a TIME photoessay showing families from around the world, in their kitchen with the amount of food they would eat in a week displayed around them. Below the picture is listsl the cost of the food (in local currency and converted to US dollars). The difference in amounts and costs is amazing sometimes.

Very interesting - be sure to spot the coke or pepsi that appears in all but the most remote places.

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519_1373664,00.html

 

[neatokimmo]

I noticed that too. It looked like they cooked from scratch more.

They all eat so much more produce than we do.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

Thanks for the directions. I'm not familiar with all the roads around here, but my DH is. I'll ask him how far it is. Hopefully, it won't too far. We only live about a mile from I-75.

Just adding that you'd take I-75 south from where you are and then I-4 East to Mcintosh. the rest of the directions are right. Enjoy!

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

My DH said it wasn't that far, & thinks it a great idea. How often can you order a basket? Also, how do you know in advance what will be included, so you know if there's something you don't like? Thanks again

I'm pretty sure you can order as often as you like. They are closed on Sundays and Mondays though. I actually just got my first basket this weekend and loved it, but I'm not sure how often the veggies and fruits change. I will PM you with the phone number and you can speak with Mr. Parkes directly to answer questions, he was there this weekend signing folks up.

if you want to send me your email address, I can send you a picture of the small basket. Although it's embarrassing to admit I took a photo, haha..

 

[punkin]

I used regular white rice. Not sure how brown rice would work.

I use regular long grain white rice. I think brown would probably work if you baked them longer.

 

[sk!mom]

How do you use a quarter of the bag for 6 people??? We use a whole bag for my family of 5 each time we sit down to dinner. I really am amazed with how little some people seem to eat.

This is what I keep thinking as I read this thread. How is this enough for a family of 6? DH, DD11, and I use an entire bag of salad at a meal.

Also several children sharing 1 apple as a snack?

I'm not trying to argue just wondering at how little some eat.

We eat lean meats (chicken breast or 93/7 ground beef) and lots of fresh produce and probably average $15 per day for only 4 people. We eat 3 meals a day at home. DH, DD, and I all pack on work/school days.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I use regular long grain white rice. I think brown would probably work if you baked them longer.

I would probably add more juice or maybe water it down a little. I find that brown rice takes 50 minutes vs 20 minutes for white rice.

 

[dawn1967]

This is what I keep thinking as I read this thread. How is this enough for a family of 6? DH, DD11, and I use an entire bag of salad at a meal.

For me a bag salad two apples meat and a bag of veggies will feed 4 to 6 if i have the kids friends over because i always have a loaf of whole wheat bread with most dinners. I never kept track of what others ate until i became a stay home mom and first thing cut was the food budget. If you follow the serving guidelines a bag of salad is suppose to feed 8 at least the bag i buy. I find for me portion control with certain items is great we have to watch cholesterol in our house and fat so no more then 3oz of animal protein in a meal if it says 1/4 for rice that's what someone gets if they are still hungry after they eaten what's on there plate at any time breakfast lunch or dinner we always have yogurt and a tray of carrots and broccoli and homemade ranch on the table at lunch and dinner. And for a snack at night they love air popped popcorn or crackers with pbj. Also doing the portion control my my hubby and i have lost the weight we were carrying and my kids actually make the right choices in the school lunch line they pick salad over French fries. It really doesn't look like a lot of food when plated out but if you serve the salad first then the veggies and meat and starch or backwards sometimes i do salad last. you would be amazed how full you really are.

 

[mommiepoppins]

TUESDAY
b- oat maeal 15 cents
rasin bread with butter and sugar =25 cents
My kids hate this bread I am going to have to give it to the birds
grapfruit juice my mom gave us=0
=40 cents

L. ziti=50 cents
spag sauce=1$
crushed tomatoes=50 cents
mozzerella cheese 150$
salid=50 cents
milk 25 cents
=425

s= apple slices=25
pretzels =25
=50 cents

D= left over mac and cheese from last night=0
or left over ziti from lunch=0
salid=25 cents
dinner rolls =50 cents
milk =60 cents
135

s= pudding 30 cents
milk 60 cents
oreo cookies 1$
cool wip =72 cents
cake 75 cents
frosting 1$
= 447

10.97 for the day
Big left over and quick lunch day. My kids have events for the day and latter at night

 

[Todd&Copper]

I thought there was no way I could do this, but I was wrong. I try to avoid most carbs (rice, bread, cereal, oatmeal) and my dinners are largely salad/veggies and meat. I split the bag of lettuce (when I buy that, as opposed to a head of leaf or Romaine lettuce, which can be cheaper in season) between the two of us (DH and I) for 2 dinners (4 servings total), which are basically the salad and lean/skinless chicken, pork or steak, sometimes fish, shrimp or scallops if they are on sale or if I have a rebate. I eat a lot more fruit and veggies, but I have a few veggie plants in my garden this summer (4 tomatoes, bell pepper, lima beans and zucchini) which should help a bit with the budget.

For today, my cost would be:

B: coffee 0.20
milk (DH Is lactose-intol. so we have to get the expensive kind) 0.50
sweet & low .02
oatmeal (DH) 0.15
low-carb bar (me) 1.00
TOTAL = 1.87

L: Slim-Fast Optima shakes (DH & me) 1.67
2 apples (DH & me) .80
diet coke (me) .17
coffee (DH - from 7-11) 1.00
TOTAL = 3.64

D: head of leaf lettuce from Amish market 1.69
can of albacore tuna 1.00
salad dressing 0.50
mushrooms 0.40
carrots 0.20
2 slices wheat bread .20
TOTAL = 3.99

DAILY TOTAL = $9.50

But, I might have another coke at dinner, and I don't know if DH will be satisfied with the tuna for dinner - he is picky about tuna it HAS to be albacore and it HAS to be certain brands. If he won't eat that, we'll have omelettes, which would be:

[Alternate dinner]
6 eggs 0.24 [huge sale this week - 2 doz for $1!]
cheddar cheese 0.50
mushrooms 0.40
frozen spinach 0.50
2 slices wheat bread (DH) 0.20
hot sauce 0.05
(and for a snack later, cottage cheese for me 0.38 and yogurt for DH 0.40)
TOTAL = 2.67
TOTAL FOR THE DAY under this scenario = 8.18

Of course, I had some exceptional sales this week. And I am only cooking for 2, which makes the challenge a lot easier. And, even though I work in a city, I don't buy lunch out, where a salad could easily cost almost $10 itself!

 

[dawn1967]

Breakfast- home made bread with pbj for kids .75
eggs and bacon and toast for hubby 1.25
me coffee and an orange .15 (coffee was free dad bought me a can on sale) Total 2.15

Lunch bread and sandwich meat (bought on sale for .10 a package bought 30 we use 1/2 per person it's one of those budding meat things. )
Lettuce and tomato slices .35
Mayo and mustard were free bought them with a gift card i won at the local canned food outlet.
carrots and ranch .25
Total 1.3
snack of home made pumpkin bread and cream cheese .75

Dinner chicken, salad, peas, bread, and homemade rice a roni total 3.75
and cantalope wedges.

snack popcorn .15
pbj crakers .45

Grand total 7.5

We drink Lots of water and milk i got free with a coupon when i bought eggs and we drink koolaid or crystal lite depending on price of sugar i buy don't laugh 25lbs a sugar at a time when under 9.00 and put in recycle gallon pickle jars. so i can't even tell you what koolaid costs but i buy the packs for .10 each or less at times.

 

[sk!mom]

This is what I keep thinking as I read this thread. How is this enough for a family of 6? DH, DD11, and I use an entire bag of salad at a meal.

If you follow the serving guidelines a bag of salad is suppose to feed 8 at least the bag i buy. I find for me portion control with certain items is great we have to watch cholesterol in our house and fat so no more then 3oz of animal protein in a meal if it says 1/4 for rice that's what someone gets if they are still hungry after they eaten what's on there plate at any time breakfast lunch or dinner we always have yogurt and a tray of carrots and broccoli and homemade ranch on the table at lunch and dinner.

I am careful about portion control in my house. Since we are a small family I buy bagged salads that feed 3 or 4. Yesterday it was caesar with three portions I added one large grilled chicken breast and we had dinner for three.

I still question the figures and amounts, if I was buying a bag for 8 then 1/4 of the bag would be enough for 2 people not 6? I also question what bagged salad can be bought for $1.00 per bag. The poster said they used .25 worth for a family of 6. If it was a large bag and not the smaller bags that I buy, I don't find large bags for $1.00 around here. My bag of caesar for 3 was $2.38. Now granted I could get iceberg for 1/2 that but it would still be a small bag and I could chop my own lettuce for less still but posters have been reporting bagged salads for that cheap.

Not tyring to argue, I just don't see how truly healthy eating for a large family can be accomplished for so little expense unless you put in the work to grow your own fruits and veggies and eat little meat.

 

[dawn1967]

I am careful about portion control in my house. Since we are a small family I buy bagged salads that feed 3 or 4. Yesterday it was caesar with three portions I added one large grilled chicken breast and we had dinner for three.

I still question the figures and amounts, if I was buying a bag for 8 then 1/4 of the bag would be enough for 2 people not 6? I also question what bagged salad can be bought for $1.00 per bag. The poster said they used .25 worth for a family of 6. If it was a large bag and not the smaller bags that I buy, I don't find large bags for $1.00 around here. My bag of caesar for 3 was $2.38. Now granted I could get iceberg for 1/2 that but it would still be a small bag and I could chop my own lettuce for less still but posters have been reporting bagged salads for that cheap.

Here Dole puts out a ice berg lettuce with carrots and cabbage all chopped for .99 a bag it serves 8 i buy this, for me salad is a filler if i was serving as a vegatable then it would not be this product. It would be like you said romaine which right now here in season for .59 a head. But i would also use fresh baby spinach and basil and arugla for the salad if it was counting as the veggie.

 

[WeLuvDiznee]

I know I can feed my fam of 4 for under $10 for dinner,but I doubt the whole day! I can feed them for under 10 if it's in a crockpot.

 

[punkin]

Slightly OT, but today was horrible on the budget. I took the girls out for lunch and hit Ikea and "color me mine."

DD8 has an overnight camping trip with her school, so DN8 was moping that she will be bored, so I took her and DD14 (no school-finals and she has no tests today) to "color me mine". Ikea cost $90, Lunch cost $22, color me mine was $60. At least dinner will be cheap: I'm making tuna casserole and a salad: $5.25 Breakfast was $2.25. DD8's lunch and snack was $2 (they will feed her dinner and smores and lunch tomorrow included in the $20 fee for the trip) DH had lunch left over from yesterday (coworker took him out-or so he says)