Week 1 Food - Monday, October 6 - Sunday, October 12
Note: Every meal at our house has a different head count. There are always 4 for breakfast; Gordon and the three younger kids. For lunch, there are always 6; Gordon, the younger kids and our newlyweds. I eat leftovers at lunch, food already counted. Dinner is generally 5; me, Gordon, and three younger kids, unless it is a big event or Sunday, then it is 7+. So, the end of day Per Person Totals will just be the sum of all per person meal totals, rather than a division of the daily total. I know I am overcomplicating this. Help me simplify it by leaving feedback.
I think this is the hardest experiment we have done so far just because of the tracking required. Also, a 13 yo boy executed most of the plan. Things derail a bit over the weekend, but get back on track for Sunday dinner.
Here was the goal considering $4.50/day or roughly $1.50/ meal for our family of 5 (or 7):
I think this is the hardest experiment we have done so far just because of the tracking required. Also, a 13 yo boy executed most of the plan. Things derail a bit over the weekend, but get back on track for Sunday dinner.
Here was the goal considering $4.50/day or roughly $1.50/ meal for our family of 5 (or 7):
Goal -
7 Day Family Total = $157.50
7 Day Per Person Total = $31.50
Actuals
Week 1 Family Total - $132.64
Week 1 Per Person Total - $26.04
Actuals
Week 1 Family Total - $132.64
Week 1 Per Person Total - $26.04
Wahoo! Scroll down to see how we did it.
Day 1 - Monday, Oct 6
Breakfast - This is our standard breakfast for 4
Milk/hot chocolate $0.15x3 = 0.45
Granola for 1 - $0.25
Family Breakfast Total - $0.70
Per Person Breakfast Total - $0.17
Lunch - for 6
Samosas - sautéed onions/potatoes $0.27, spiced homemade lentils $1, wrapped in 6 tortillas, baked in the oven - $0.90
12 tiny triangles of Flatbread - $1
12 oz spiced lentils - $1
Homemade Mint Chutney - $1
Grapes - $3
Family Lunch Total - $8.17
Per Person Lunch Total - $1.36
Snack - for 4
Popcorn - $0.50
Milk - $0.60
Family Snack total - $1.10
Per Person Snack Total $0.27
Dinner - for 7+
Note: Tonight's dinner was for the chili Cookoff. This chili fed the masses like loaves and fishes. There were 88 people at our house tonight and several had a bowl of our chili. I know for sure all of my kids had some because it was the only vegetarian soup there. I'll just count our family 7.
Chili
3 cans kidney beans $1.50
2 cans diced tomatoes $1
2 cans tomato sauce $0.40
Cumin, chili pdr - $0.10
1 large can rotel - $2
1 large onion $0.30
1 habanero $0.25
1 tbsp oil $0.05
Dish Total - $5.60
Per person total - $0.80
Cornbread
3 Mixes on sale $0.75
3 eggs - $0.30
3/4 c oil - $0.60
2 cups milk - $0.30
Dish Total - $1.95
Per Person Total - $0.39
Doughnuts
managers special $1.25x2 doz =$2.50
Per Person total - $0.45
Family Dinner Total - $10.05/7
Per Person Dinner Total - $1.44
Day 1 Family Total - $20.02
Day 1 Per Person Total - $3.34
Day 2 - Tues, Oct 7
Breakfast - Standard
Breakfast Total - $0.70
Per Person Breakfast total - $0.17
Lunch - for 6
Hummus rolls - 12 tortillas - 1.80, hummus $2.50
Bananas - $1.20
Cheese Nips $0.60
Family Lunch Total - $6.10
Per Person Lunch Total $1.02
Snack - for 4
Chips $1
Salsa $1
Family Snack total - $2
Per Person Snack Total - $0.50
Dinner
Baked potatoes
8 med Potatoes $0.50
2 cups Spinach $1.50
Leftover Chili $1.50
1 cup Cheese $1
Sour cream $1
Chives $1
1 stick Butter $0.75
Family Dinner total $7.25/5
Per Person Dinner Total $1.45
Day 2 Family Total - $16.05
Day 2 Per Person Total - $3.15
Day 3 - Wednesday, Oct 8
Breakfast - Standard
Family Breakfast Total - $0.70
Per Person Breakfast total - $0.17
Lunch - for 6
Baked potatoes - 6 med Potatoes $0.40
Leftover Chili $1
Sour cream $1
Granola bars $2.85
Family Lunch Total - $5.25
Per Person Lunch total = $0.87
Snack - for 4
Mac & Cheese - $1
Milk/Egg Nog - $1
Family Snack Total - $2
Per Person Snack total - $0.50
Dinner - for 5
Frittata
Fried Potatoes - 2 potatoes $0.10, 1/2 med onion $0.12, 1 tbsp oil $0.05
Steamed broccoli - 2 cups - $1
2 cups Spinach, chopped $1.50
Two tomatoes - $0.67
1 cup Cheese $1
Family Dinner Total $4.44
Per Person Dinner Total = $0.88
Day 3 Family Total - $12.39
Day 3 Per Person Total - $2.42
Day 4 - Thursday, Oct 9
Breakfast - Standard
Family Breakfast Total - $0.70
Per Person Breakfast total - $0.17
Lunches - for 6
Burritos w/ 3 Leftovers
Fried Potatoes - 2 potatoes $0.10, 1/2 med onion $0.12, 1 tbsp oil $0.05
Chili - 1 can beans $0.50, can tomatoes $0.50, spices $0.10
Rice - 2 cups cooked rice$0.10, 1/4 c salsa $0.33
12 tortillas - $1.80
Pretzels $0.30
1 oz peanut butter - $0.60
Family Lunch Total - $4.40
Per Person Lunch Total $0.75/each
Snack - for 4
Popcorn - $0.50
Milk - $0.60
Family Snack Total - $1.10
Per Person Snack Total $0.27
Dinner - for 5
Ravioli & homemade bread
1.5 lb frozen Ravioli $3
Tomato sauce $1
Garlic $0.50
Butter $0.75
Bread $1
Family Dinner Total $6.25
Per Person Dinner Total - $1.25
Day 4 Family Total - $12.45
Day 4 Per Person Total - $2.44
Day 5 Friday, Oct 10
Breakfast - Standard
Family Breakfast Total - $0.70
Per Person Breakfast total - $0.17
Lunches - for 6
10 Homemade Burritos $3
1/2 bag tortilla chips $1.50
1 cup salsa $1.32
Family Lunch Total - $5.80
Per Person Lunch Total - $0.96
Dinner - leaving the plan for grandma and the scouts
4 Girls - Dinner Out with Great Grandma - $20
2 Guys - Sandwiches on camp out with the scouts - $10
Family Dinner total - $30
Per Person Total - $5
Day 5 Family Total Blown - $36.50
Day 5 Per Person Total - $6.13
Day 6 Saturday, Oct 12
Breakfast - Standard
Family Breakfast Total - $0.70
Per Person Breakfast total - $0.17
Lunch - Farmers Market
Girls - tacos & quesadillas $1.75 each x 3 = $5.25
Guys - lunch with scouts - free
Family Lunch total - $5.25
Per Person Lunch Total - $1.75
Dinner - date night in for 2, all kids off with friends
2 Mini Bagels - $0.50
Eggs $0.20
Cheese $0.60
Butter $0.20
3 ice cream bars - $4.50
Dinner Date Total - $6
Per Person Total - $3
Day 6 Family Total - $11.95
Day 6 Per Person Total - $4.92
Day 7 - Sunday, October 12
Breakfast
All Fasting
Lunch
All Fasting
Dinner - for 7
Coconut korma, whole wheat naan, Dahl, Riata, cupcakes for 7
Note: This meal was large enough that we had leftovers of everything for another whole meal. That is seven family members of various ages and sizes eating their fill for two meals. Components will be counted free for a future meal or 2.
Coconut Korma
2 Tbsp butter $0.20
1 medium onion, diced $0.30
2 cups cauliflower $1
1 tbsp garlic, minced $0.10
1 1/2 tbsp curry powder $0.10
1 1/2 tbsp garam masala $0.10
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chickpeas $0.50
1 cup veggie broth $0.50
1 15oz can chopped tomatoes - $0.50
1 15oz (regular size) can coconut milk - $2
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream - $0.50
1/2 c toasted cashews $0.65
1/2 c golden raisins $0.25
2 tsp chopped chilis of choice $0.10
3 cups rice - $0.25
$7.05
Best Ever Whole Wheat Naan
1 1/2 tsp yeast $0.05
1 tbsp sugar $0.03
1 c water
3 c whole wheat flour $0.60
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 c yogurt $0.20
3 tbs olive oil $0.35
$1.23
Riata
2 cup Greek yogurt $1.50
1 large cucumber, grated $0.50
2 cloves garlic, minced $0.10
2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro $0.10
1 tbsp finely chopped mint $0.10
1 tsp cumin powder $0.02
1 tsp curry powder $0.03
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
$2.35
Dahl
1 large onion, diced - $0.30
2 cloves garlic, minced - $0.10
1/2 c butter $0.75
3 cups lentils - $0.75
1 tbsp veggie bullion $0.30
1 tsp ginger $0.03
1 tsp cinnamon $0.05
2 tsp turmeric $0.5
1 tbsp garam masala $0.10
1 tbsp cumin $0.05
2 tsp salt
$2.48
Cupcakes from scratch and a mix 48 - $4
Day 7 Family Total = $17.10
Day 7 Per Person Total - $2.44
Preliminary Totals
Week 1 Family Total - $126.64 (meets the goal of >$157.50)
Week 1 Per Person Total - $24.84 (meet the goal of less than $31.50)
Wait! True Confessions
In the spirit of full disclosure, I bet we went through a gallon of milk and a pound of butter that is somehow unaccounted for above. So, I will add $6 to the family total, and divide that by 5, and add $1.20 to the per person total, though I'm pretty sure Caleb drinks a whole gallon by himself in a week. Here's what the truer totals look like:
Week 1 Family Total - $132.64 (meets the goal of >$157.50)
Week 1 Per Person Total - $26.04 (meet the goal of less than $31.50)
I am thrilled about this! Even with feeding the whole neighborhood, recreating a wedding feast, and eating out, we came in under budget. No one felt deprived but it was A LOT of work!
Week 1 Reflections
I loved driving home at the end of a long day with 13-yo Caleb at my side saying, "I am so tired...What am I going to make for dinner?" And, every day I was in the kitchen with him, but he had to figure out, based on his plan, what we had, what he wanted to make, how much time and energy it was going to take. It was more work than I think he realized. Then, when dinner was done it was time to assemble lunches so they would be ready for morning. It was awesome to watch him work creatively, through the fatigue of a busy day, to get dinner on the table and lunches somewhat prepped for the next day.
I also thought our little bit of eating out would derail the whole plan. But, careful planning each day gave us just the wiggle room we needed for those little trips out.
We did run out, of a few key things, namely: milk and pre-baked tortillas. I can go to the dairy for milk, but only once in two-weeks, and I have a limited budget for it. Saturday's dairy day couldn't come soon enough for Caleb.
Finally, i wonder what can be done about breakfasts. Kids sort of shun anything more than we are doing, because between a need for sleep and basic grooming, we always have a quick family prayer before they leave in the a.m. They don't feel like eating early, either. I dont have break-fast until noon, but im an adult and not going to school. I feel like they need something more, but they aren't willing for it to be much more. So, I will continue pondering this conundrum.
Whew! One week down, 5 more to go. I'm excited to see what next week brings.
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