What's a "cheap meal" to you?

[eliza61]

Same here. No where near enough food. Even my DD that eats pretty light would want more than a sandwich and water.

To each his own, and my oldest DS does this, so I feel like I can say it without judging, but water with a sandwich, YUCK. I love water, but with sandwiches, pizza stuff like that, it isn happening

I see her son is only 6. Just wait until he is a teenager. That will go out the window. The amount of food that is.

What is it about pizza that automatically makes my mouth want a coke. I think I'm like that scientific experiment with the dogs, every time a bell rang the dog would salivate. Pizza with water just seems unamerican!! (just a joke folks)

 

[robinb]

BTW, robinb - I miss your daughter's smiling face in your signature.

That's nice of you to say that! I was renting some DVC points so I went with a more "professional" look, LOL. I'll have to come up with a new photo because she wasn't wild about the last one. In the meantime, I have her fierce swimming game face in my avatar.

 

[abcboys]

Nope. Didn't miss the part where you said that this was a treat. My point is that this is no where near my idea of a *treat*. Living on Poptarts and water for breakfast, followed by more carbs and fat for lunch and then a single sandwich and water for dinner is not what I consider a decent diet even when it's a treat. And especially not for 3 consecutive days.

Sounds like a treat to me! We had to eat all healthy growing up and when me and my sister were old enough we used to sneak white bread and junky cereal in our closets cause we were never allowed to have it and it tasted sooooo good!! Eating junk food on a vacation as a kid is a great treat! And while I nag at him all the time, my husband lives on a diet of mostly junk food and hasn't fallen apart...yet!

 

[eyor44]

I am going to answer the original question. What is a Cheap Meal to me?

For me, it is what I have been eating for lunch at work. 1/2 can of soup and 1/2 sleeve of crackers with a glass of water. Works out to $.50 a lunch. Soup was on sale for $.50 a can, crackers were $2 a box w/4 sleeves and water is free.

 

[David Brent]

Eating out dinner every night was a treat! First night I spent 9.00 at Taco Bell, second night I spent 8.00 at Wendys, and the third night I spent 6.00 at Arbys. I went over by 3.00 for getting each kid a value frosty on the Wendys night, but hey, it was my DD's birthday

unbelievable....not trying to flame, but another poster said it earler. If i was planning a vacation and this is what i'm feeding my kids for dinner, i'd rather stay at home....

 

[fortwildernessishome]

WOW! I think you are skipping the part where I said these types of foods were a treat and we never eat like this at home! Our bodies are not going to fall apart from lack of milk, fruits and veggies for 3 days. My kids eat way more fruits and veggies than any other kid I know. In my son's class at school the kids are allowed an afternoon snack. He is bummed because all the other kids are bringing cheez-its and fruit snacks and I send cut up cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, oranges, apples, etc. I don't even buy junk food ever for our home. I only buy pop-tarts, chips, granola bars, etc. for special events like our trip was. And as for my DD's friend, she barely eats anything. After every meal she was throwing some away, she is an extremely light eater and has been her entire life.

Sounds like you had a great getaway and everyone had fun, which, after all is what is important!!! I totally agree with you, most average, healthy kids are not going to fall apart from three days in a row of not having milk, fruits, veggies. Not sure what the big deal is, when I read responses like a few you got, I often wonder do some people eat 100% healthy 365 days a year. Its true that most kids may need a bit more than one sandwich, but obviously your kids didnt. Now, my boys can eat us out of house and home, but when they were younger a four piece chicken Mcnugget would actually fill them up. Everybody is different, some kids need a lot of food, some don't. Just like some people care more about the actual destination than what they eat at the destination. As I always say, to each their own!!!! Oh, and I drink water with every meal.....

 

[amykathleen2005]

Wow, some people can be so critical. Its not going to be detrimental to anyone's health to not have a healthy diet for a day or two.

And based on statistics of what a typical American family eats, I bet at least half of the people doing the criticizing have a similar diet at home....

 

[Marionnette]

Wow, some people can be so critical. Its not going to be detrimental to anyone's health to not have a healthy diet for a day or two.

And based on statistics of what a typical American family eats, I bet at least half of the people doing the criticizing have a similar diet at home....

A. It wasn't a "day or two". It was 3 days and there was a child who was a guest of that poster.

B. Unless you have a link to a study showing that the typical American lives on Poptarts, PB&J and a single dollar menu item, you are talking out of your hat.

C. You have no idea what I or anyone else eats at home so don't even try to use that assumption to further your position. It doesn't cut muster.​

I would be appalled if someone offered to take my child somewhere for a weekend and then proceeded to feed them what that poster claims to have fed the kids. It comes nowhere close to even meeting the minimum caloric and nutritional needs of a child in that age group. To do it for a single day is one thing. To do it for an entire weekend is just beyond cheap IMO.

 

[David Brent]

A. It wasn't a "day or two". It was 3 days and there was a child who was a guest of that poster.

B. Unless you have a link to a study showing that the typical American lives on Poptarts, PB&J and a single dollar menu item, you are talking out of your hat.

C. You have no idea what I or anyone else eats at home so don't even try to use that assumption to further your position. It doesn't cut muster.​

I would be appalled if someone offered to take my child somewhere for a weekend and then proceeded to feed them what that poster claims to have fed the kids. It comes nowhere close to even meeting the minimum caloric and nutritional needs of a child in that age group. To do it for a single day is one thing. To do it for an entire weekend is just beyond cheap IMO.

Amen!

There has to be other ways to "save" money than to feed kids garbage....sorry to say..

 

[Priorityonecb]

To answer the OP's question, a "cheap" meal in our home is around $5-$7 per meal for our family of four. Three of which have very small appetites. There is always fruits or veggies with every meal, which both of my kids like. In fact, they are each having celery and carrot sticks for dessert as I type!

About the 3 day junk food trip, I have to admit while I am sure all the kids had a great time I would be a little upset if someone took my child on a 3 day trip and that was the food they consumed over three days. Especially at a water park, and doing lots of outdoor activities. My children would have thought it rude to say they were hungry, or wanted a salad with their Arby's sandwich if that isn't what was offered to them. Three days is a long time to be eating that type and quanity of food.

 

[mhsjax]

Quantity is a contributing factor to healthy eating as is the quality of the food. No fresh fruits or vegetables for 3 days? A bag of apples isn't much more expensive than a can of Pringles, is more filling, provides more fiber and more vitamins. Now me, I would have had both with my PB&J because I love Pringles but won't have them in the house (because I LOVE Pringles!) And no milk for 3 days? Really? If not cow's milk then soy or almond? You're right that the amount of food is really lacking but there is no way that I would invite another person's child to go with us on a trip and then feed them such a poor diet.

BTW, robinb - I miss your daughter's smiling face in your signature.

YOu would be shocked to know that my mom, me and my son, don't ever drink milk of any kind. My mom never liked the stuff, me either, and m pediatrician said it isn't that good for you anyway, and my son is allergic and can't stand the other stuff. People do get so hung up on mild for kids. I don't get it. The other stuff I agree with you on.

Oh and my mom died at 85 and absolutely no osteoporosis.

 

[mdsoccermom]

A. It wasn't a "day or two". It was 3 days and there was a child who was a guest of that poster.

B. Unless you have a link to a study showing that the typical American lives on Poptarts, PB&J and a single dollar menu item, you are talking out of your hat.

C. You have no idea what I or anyone else eats at home so don't even try to use that assumption to further your position. It doesn't cut muster.​

I would be appalled if someone offered to take my child somewhere for a weekend and then proceeded to feed them what that poster claims to have fed the kids. It comes nowhere close to even meeting the minimum caloric and nutritional needs of a child in that age group. To do it for a single day is one thing. To do it for an entire weekend is just beyond cheap IMO.

And I would be so embarrassed to take a child somewhere and feed them like that.

 

[mdsoccermom]

WOW! I think you are skipping the part where I said these types of foods were a treat and we never eat like this at home! Our bodies are not going to fall apart from lack of milk, fruits and veggies for 3 days. My kids eat way more fruits and veggies than any other kid I know. In my son's class at school the kids are allowed an afternoon snack. He is bummed because all the other kids are bringing cheez-its and fruit snacks and I send cut up cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, oranges, apples, etc. I don't even buy junk food ever for our home. I only buy pop-tarts, chips, granola bars, etc. for special events like our trip was. And as for my DD's friend, she barely eats anything. After every meal she was throwing some away, she is an extremely light eater and has been her entire life.

Actually, in your original post, you mentioned that eating out every night (though, I must say, I don't consider fast food every night to exactly be a great dining out experience) was a treat, not that pop tarts and pb&j was a treat. You mentioned a limited grocery budget and mac and cheese. So, there was nothing indicate your children actually ate well at home.

Furthermore, if your children eat so well at home, I find it very hard to believe that they would be filled up on the rations you gave them on vacation.

 

[Marionnette]

YOu would be shocked to know that my mom, me and my son, don't ever drink milk of any kind. My mom never liked the stuff, me either, and m pediatrician said it isn't that good for you anyway, and my son is allergic and can't stand the other stuff. People do get so hung up on mild for kids. I don't get it. The other stuff I agree with you on.

Oh and my mom died at 85 and absolutely no osteoporosis.

The reason that I mentioned milk is because it is relatively affordable, a complete protein, excellent source of calcium and usually tolerated & accepted by children. I'm not a milk drinker personally and neither are my grown children. I prefer soy milk because my stomach handles it better.

Nice to know your mom never had osteoporosis. You should inherit such good genes!

 

[disneychrista]

I find it very hard to believe that they would be filled up on the rations you gave them on vacation.

We always eat less when we are on vacation. I lost 7 pounds on a 2 week trip to WDW.