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

[kmchar1]

I might as well propose tomorrow's menu plan since I won't be on here.

Breakfast:
All: Pancakes (I can make a huge batch for 1.50), pkg of turkey bacon (1.00 on sale), milk for DS (.25)
*total: 2.75

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

Lunch:
All: Probably leftovers from the previous night (spaghetti, salad, etc) (free)
*total: free

Snack/Dinner:
We are going to Animal Kingdom tomorrow afternoon/evening. We will probably take our own Brita water bottles. Dinner Will probably be at Tusker House and we'll probably spend about $20 after the cast discount. DS will probably want an ice cream or popcorn (2.50)

Grand Total will probably be well over $25.00 but will be well worth it!

 

[wovenwonder]

First of all, I do Once a month cooking (usually I do about 2-3 months at a time). This is a huge time and money saver. I can cook 40 dinners for under $200 a month. We eat very well, no prepackages foods, no hot dogs etc. My last menu had pinwheel flank steaks, cherry pork chops, homemade spaghetti sauce, chicken curry, a dish I can't remember the name but it was boneless, skinless chicken breasts w/2 kinds of bell peppers.

I would really like to hear more about this 'once a month' cooking!

 

[dawn1967]

Breakfast
Oatmeal Pancakes and Sausage 1.75

Lunch
Tuna and carrots & Raisin Salad .75

Dinner
Pot Roast and veggies ( no potato's my family doesn't like potato's cooked in crockpot with beef) 3.
Home made Biscuits .50

Snacks
Fruit (we picked lots of black berries last night)
veggies ( have a lot of lemon cukes )
Popcorn .75

Total 6.75

 

[punkin]

Breakfast: banana smoothies $.75 (maybe even less)
Lunch: we are eating out all this week because DDs have golf in the morning followed by sewing for DD14 in the afternoon, probably something vegetarian at Taco Bell drive through. $10 (I'm guessing) DH took a sandwich and fruit: $1.50.
Dinner: leftover beef stew (actually, not leftover since we never ate any of it due to the heat): $.50 (just for noodles-counted stew earlier in the thread) salad-$2.

TOTAL: $4.75 from food budget and another $10 going out.

 

[mommiepoppins]

Breakfast
Life cereal 1$
Milk= soy milk I bought at the $ store to use for cereal only=40 cents
=140

Lunch tuna sandwich
Tuna=48 cents
Mayo=25
Rolls= 50 cents
Tomato slices on the bread=0
Tomato slices with cucumbers=0 (my friend gave me 2 cucumbers)
Apple juice=50
=173

Snacks for the day
Matzo crackers with peanut butter and jelly
Crackers =3 cents
Jelly=10
Peanut butter=20
Fruit salad
Apple slices=70
Can of mandarin oranges=55
Pear slices=50 cents

=208

Dinner
Taco bake and zucchini as a side dish

Can of refried beans=44 cents
Block of cheddar cheese=169
Jar of salsa=149
1 pk of taco shells=79 cents
Zucchini=0
Spray butter on top =10 cents
Milk=65

=516

10.37 For the day

 

[bookgirl]

dawn how do you make the spinach dip?

I'm not Dawn but I thought I might throw in my spinach dip.

one carton fatfree sourcream (the large on 16 oz I think)
one pakage frozen spinach thawed drained and blotted for any extra moisture
one package Hidden Valley Ranch mix
one small can of diced water chestnuts

mix all together and let set overnight.

If you're on weight watchers you can have up to like half a cup of this before you even hit a point. It's incredibly good and low calorie.

 

[jordansmomma]

Wednesday
Breakfast~
cereal- .25
milk- free (my cousin gave me a gallon)
total-.25

lunch~
kids at boys & girls club
me- work lunch - free

dinner~
grilled bbq chicken- 5.00
bbq sauce- 1.00
green beans- 3.00 (fresh from farmers market)
potato salad- 2.00 (for all items, most of them i have on hand already)
rolls- 1.50 (they are these really yummy garlic parm from walmarts bakery)
ice tea- 0 already accounted for
milk- 2- 4 cups for DSs- free
total- 12.50
snacks-
could be well over $10 we are going to the Demo derby at the fair.
total so far- 12.75

 

[jordansmomma]

I'm not Dawn but I thought I might throw in my spinach dip.

one carton fatfree sourcream (the large on 16 oz I think)
one pakage frozen spinach thawed drained and blotted for any extra moisture
one package Hidden Valley Ranch mix
one small can of diced water chestnuts

mix all together and let set overnight.

If you're on weight watchers you can have up to like half a cup of this before you even hit a point. It's incredibly good and low calorie.

I love Spinich dip, I buy it at Safeway, oh it is so yummy!! Esp w/ the bagguette bread, yummo!

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

It breaks my heart to see all these kids getting very little protein, very little dairy, very few fruits and veggies and lots of high fat/high sodium processed food. I really hope some of these posts are a joke, or the tiny serving sizes over-exaggerated to look good in the thread.

You can eat very well on very little with a little planning. Spaghetti with meatballs and home made sauce is very inexpensive and pretty healthy.

I'm all for random processed/starch dinners - heck, last night my meal cost me $1.50 max as I had a cup o soup, some junky left over frozen pizza and a peach. But some of these posts just break my heart.

 

[dawn1967]

I'm not Dawn but I thought I might throw in my spinach dip.

one carton fatfree sourcream (the large on 16 oz I think)
one pakage frozen spinach thawed drained and blotted for any extra moisture
one package Hidden Valley Ranch mix
one small can of diced water chestnuts

mix all together and let set overnight.

If you're on weight watchers you can have up to like half a cup of this before you even hit a point. It's incredibly good and low calorie.

I never thought of using hidden valley ranch that would be cheaper then knorr's also. Plus my kids love ranch so they might even like this one better. Thanks

 

[dawn1967]

I make a batch of these in Muffin pans and keep them in the freezer. Hubby sometimes eats them in Am when not rushing and toasts them in toaster oven. This also works great with Pears.
Applesauce makes this cake healthier than your regular cake.

2 cups whole grain flour or Half and half white or all white up to you.
1/2 cup sugar (can also us Brown Sugar only 1/4 c)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (with apple season coming great way to use them)
1/4 cup oil
3 large eggs
3 cups carrots, coarsely chopped

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
2. In a separate small bowl, combine the applesauce, oil and eggs. Add to the flour mixture, stirring until the ingredients are well blended. Add the carrots and mix again.
3. Pour the batter into a greased 9" tube pan, or use a 9" x 13" rectangular cake pan, or two bread loaf pans, or a cupcake pan.
4. Bake the cake in a preheated 350° F oven for about 1 hour, 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the thickest part of the cake comes out clean. Set the cake on a wire rack for five minutes. Then, run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake, and turn the cake out onto the rack to cool.

 

[mommiepoppins]

It breaks my heart to see all these kids getting very little protein, very little dairy, very few fruits and veggies and lots of high fat/high sodium processed food. I really hope some of these posts are a joke, or the tiny serving sizes over-exaggerated to look good in the thread.

You can eat very well on very little with a little planning. Spaghetti with meatballs and home made sauce is very inexpensive and pretty healthy.

I'm all for random processed/starch dinners - heck, last night my meal cost me $1.50 max as I had a cup o soup, some junky left over frozen pizza and a peach. But some of these posts just break my heart.

well my dd 10 hates meat and I have tried to get her to eat . It has beeen 2 years and she has her mind made up. I have just started trying to make more meals with beans and cheese for protein. If anyone has suggestions how I could add more protein to my meals please share.. It will have to be with out meat. I am tierd of fighting her. also If I make a big deal out of her not wanting meat she makes a big deal and then my 2 youger one start in on it.. also the reason why dd 10 hates meat is because we went to a farm and she was so up set that the pigs and chickens, and cows could become dinner. one more thing dd 10 hates onions, garlic and peppers.. so please help me out. I am all for it. dd 10 loves zucchani, butternut squash , summer squash , peas that are in a pod, broccoli, those are things she will eat. I am not trying to cater to just one child I am trying to make a meal the she will like with out her crying about the meat.. also dd 15 hates milk and will NOT drink it. so I am really open to new ideas

 

[frndshpcptn]

mommiepoppins, will your DD eat fish?

 

[dawn1967]

well my dd 10 hates meat and I have tried to get her to eat . It has beeen 2 years and she has her mind made up. I have just started trying to make more meals with beans and cheese for protein. If anyone has suggestions how I could add more protein to my meals please share.. It will have to be with out meat. I am tierd of fighting her. also If I make a big deal out of her not wanting meat she makes a big deal and then my 2 youger one start in on it.. also the reason why dd 10 hates meat is because we went to a farm and she was so up set that the pigs and chickens, and cows could become dinner. one more thing dd 10 hates onions, garlic and peppers.. so please help me out. I am all for it. dd 10 loves zucchani, butternut squash , summer squash , peas that are in a pod, broccoli, those are things she will eat. I am not trying to cater to just one child I am trying to make a meal the she will like with out her crying about the meat.. also dd 15 hates milk and will NOT drink it. so I am really open to new ideas

Eggs and Dairy

* Egg, large - 6 grams protein
* Milk, 1 cup - 8 grams
* Cottage cheese, ½ cup - 15 grams
* Yogurt, 1 cup – usually 8-12 grams, check label
* Soft cheeses (Mozzarella, Brie, Camembert) – 6 grams per oz
* Medium cheeses (Cheddar, Swiss) – 7 or 8 grams per oz
* Hard cheeses (Parmesan) – 10 grams per oz

Beans (including soy)

* Tofu, ½ cup 20 grams protein
* Tofu, 1 oz, 2.3 grams
* Soy milk, 1 cup - 6 -10 grams
* Most beans (black, pinto, lentils, etc) about 7-10 grams protein per half cup of cooked beans
* Soy beans, ½ cup cooked – 14 grams protein
* Split peas, ½ cup cooked – 8 grams

Nuts and Seeds

* Peanut butter, 2 Tablespoons - 8 grams protein
* Almonds, ¼ cup – 8 grams
* Peanuts, ¼ cup – 9 grams
* Cashews, ¼ cup – 5 grams
* Pecans, ¼ cup – 2.5 grams
* Sunflower seeds, ¼ cup – 6 grams
* Pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup – 19 grams
* Flax seeds – ¼ cup – 8 grams

Now not sure how much she needs but call her doctor they can tell you or even on line they can tell you excatly how much she needs.

 

[mommiepoppins]

mommiepoppins, will your DD eat fish?

no. we had tuna today and she just had the veggies and a roll. dh is alergic (sp) to fish also. dd 15 if she has to much dairy she breaks out in hives along with dd 6 . It is very hard to juggle everything. Also when dh is home and is not traveling for work we eat meat. He loves meat and pasta so then dd 10 starts crying about dinner agin.. also dd 10 dose not like spagetti sauce with her spagetti, if we have bake ziti and lasagna she will eat it , but not spagetti

 

[Toby'sFriend]

so I am really open to new ideas

tacos are actually a great meal for hiding all kinds of things that kids won't eat because the taco seasoning disguises most of it. If I was serving your meal I would probably add at least a 1/2pound of ground turkey or a lowfat beef in there. At 99cents a pound, you are only talking an additional 50 cents.

If you absolutely don't want meat, lentil beans are very high quality protein and much healthier than canned. Tofu is a common standby but it can also be pretty pricey so many people don't use much of it. I also often put shredded carrots into a taco mixture and we like it. Carrots are packed with nutrients.

You could try soaking some Lentil beans and then making a soup with some frozen vegetables and a broth to serve as an afternoon snack with your matzo crackers. The cost would be very comparable to your pbj and mandarin oranges.

I know that you are drowning in zuchinni right now, but zuchini is not a complete vegetable and you are serving it with every meal. I know you are taking alot of heat, but I really think your kids need some better food.

At the very least I would get a bag of frozen peas or mixed vegetables to serve tonight, again -- less than $1

The tuna honestly continues to confuse me. What you are posting is simply not enough food for 5 people. Could you throw a couple of hard boiled eggs in there?

Peas, beans, and nuts are staples of the vegetarian diet. Watch for sales on those. Canned is better than none, but try to stay with fresher options. There really isn't anything wrong with Peanut Butter, but many brands are fairly processed and can be high in sugar. Look for sales on bags of raw peanuts.

And I know your 15year old daughter "hates" alot of things but you really need to explain to her the importance of calcium and women during her growing years. Broccoli and spinach (dark green veggies) are all good calcium sources.

A woman pretty much has until age 30 to store calcium in her bones and then it is downhill from there. The diet you are posting is really setting all your girls up for extreme brittle bone problems as adults - you too for that matter. If nothing else, please buy a large bottle of generic Tums and supplement. You all need it.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Eggs and Dairy

* Egg, large - 6 grams protein
* Milk, 1 cup - 8 grams
* Cottage cheese, ½ cup - 15 grams
* Yogurt, 1 cup – usually 8-12 grams, check label
* Soft cheeses (Mozzarella, Brie, Camembert) – 6 grams per oz
* Medium cheeses (Cheddar, Swiss) – 7 or 8 grams per oz
* Hard cheeses (Parmesan) – 10 grams per oz

Beans (including soy)

* Tofu, ½ cup 20 grams protein
* Tofu, 1 oz, 2.3 grams
* Soy milk, 1 cup - 6 -10 grams
* Most beans (black, pinto, lentils, etc) about 7-10 grams protein per half cup of cooked beans
* Soy beans, ½ cup cooked – 14 grams protein
* Split peas, ½ cup cooked – 8 grams

Nuts and Seeds

* Peanut butter, 2 Tablespoons - 8 grams protein
* Almonds, ¼ cup – 8 grams
* Peanuts, ¼ cup – 9 grams
* Cashews, ¼ cup – 5 grams
* Pecans, ¼ cup – 2.5 grams
* Sunflower seeds, ¼ cup – 6 grams
* Pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup – 19 grams
* Flax seeds – ¼ cup – 8 grams

Now not sure how much she needs but call her doctor they can tell you or even on line they can tell you excatly how much she needs.

Thank you Dawn!

You can also get fiber from whole grain bread and whole grain pasta instead of white dinner rolls. Dump a bunch of homemade spaghetti sauce on some whole grain pasta and you can never tell the difference.

 

[javamoma]

Mommiepoppins

A creative way to get protein in:
Throw some soft tofu (cheap) into a blender with some pesto (I like sun dried tomato, regular will do). It makes a creamy sauce to pour over whole wheat pasta without the saturated fat you would normally find in a cream sauce and full of flavor. Add desired veggies ( whatever is in season) or use a slicer to make strings out of asparagus so that is resembles pasta and add that. Great source of protein!

Actually you can use soft tofu in just about anything. Use it instead of ricotta in lasagna.

 

[dawn1967]

no. we had tuna today and she just had the veggies and a roll. dh is alergic (sp) to fish also. dd 15 if she has to much dairy she breaks out in hives along with dd 6 . It is very hard to juggle everything. Also when dh is home and is not traveling for work we eat meat. He loves meat and pasta so then dd 10 starts crying about dinner agin.. also dd 10 dose not like spagetti sauce with her spagetti, if we have bake ziti and lasagna she will eat it , but not spagetti

Here is nice pasta dish you can do for everyone

1 pk of spaggatti any kind you want that family likes
1/2 olive oil or canola but olive oil taste nicer
3 garlic cloves minced
1 can of drained chick peas
1 can of black beans drained
1lb of shrimp or 1 cup of shredded chicken (optional) cooked way you like it
1 handful of dill ( a must do not skimp dried or fresh)
1c of parmasan cheese or romanio if you like that or better both

Cook spaggatti according to package direction drain.

large bowl mix cheese(reserve half the cheese dill and beans together. when pasta is done add that to the mixture. Then take the oil and the remainder of the cheese and add to mixture and mix well. now top off with meat if you want or not. Now if you want to add any kind of vegatable you can or serve this with a nice salad it's up to you can add anything you want.

 

[Honu]

To calculate how many grams of protein you need, convert your weight in pounds to kilos by dividing it by 2.2, then multiple that number by .08.


Your weight = ______ pounds, divided by 2.2 = ________ kilos

________ kilos x .08 = _________ grams of protein needed daily

If you are overweight, say over 30 BMI (BMI Calculator), you should consume based on what you should weigh at a normal weight or around a 22 BMI.

If you are underweight or trying to build muscle, you can/should increase your protein intake. The max you should consume is 1.8 grams per kilo.