Food Shopping and Recipes HELP

**momof5** · 03-14-2005, 12:59 PM

With 5 kids I need help with recipes and grocery shopping. We spend a good $400 a month on groceries. A family pack of meat is dinner for us. I've been shopping at Price Rite and we've saved but I'm tired of eating chicken and rice everynight or spaghetti.

**DaisyLady** · 03-14-2005, 01:23 PM

Wow, only $400 a month on groceries! I have three kids and we spend more than that.

Do you have a crockpot? I know there are some great recipes in the Kitchen Basics thread as well as in the Frugal Recipes thread. They are under the Hearth and Home section of the forums.

**Sara Noel** · 03-14-2005, 01:31 PM

I think you're doing pretty well for 5 people, but I'm sure many of our coupon shoppers may disagree.

I spend roughly $275-300 for 4 people, but that excludes health and beauty aids, diapers, and pet supplies. I also will run to pick up things like milk throughout the month too. Chicken is an item that goes on sale here often and I buy a ton of it when it's on sale.

Here are links to a couple of menu plans I do with that amount of money. Maybe it will help you think of some new meals, so you don't feel like you're having chicken and rice all the time.

My meals are pretty much the same most of the time with something new tossed in from time to time. It varies according to the season too. Mine may not always be the perfect low carb or ultra healthy, but they are balanced. Once a week we either have a sandwich night or a breakfast for dinner meal too.

June's Menu Plan

Feb. Meal plan for the month

There's a ton of info on menu/meal planning in the kitchen basics forum.

I know many members do once a month cooking too and that is a real budget and timesaver for them.

**momof5** · 03-14-2005, 01:59 PM

No this is for 7 people. If I were to shop at Stop & Shop I'd be spending a good $600. But I shop at one of those BYOB (bring your own bag) places where the food is still in the boxes.

**Mom23boys** · 03-14-2005, 02:05 PM

I am one of those couponers...lol...but I think for 7 people in the family $400 is still great!! I have 5 in my family, use coupons and spend around $250-$300 a month, so you are doing awesome with whatever it is you are doing!!

**mommy2many** · 03-14-2005, 02:23 PM

i thnk for 7 people you are already more than likely doing alot right. I shop for a family of 5 and spend about $250-$300. I think you could really save more by using less meat. You mentioned that a family pack of meat feeds your family, meat is one of the most costly items. I know I cut $100 a month from our budegt when i started using half as much or no meat recipes. Do you have a crockpot? There are so many good meatless crockpot meals or meals that "fool the belly" into thinking you are eating more meat than you really are.

I think it's all trail and error with grocery shopping. I know with my kids homemade snacks and eating more fruits has been more of a hit than I ever thought and it has saved on the grocery bills bigtime.

Here are some links for meatless meals and homemade snacks for you I hope this helps:

http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/eg...7/vegecbs.html

http://allrecipes.com/advice/coll/he...icles/99P1.asp

http://www.vegfamily.com/book-review...less-meals.htm

homemade snacks:

http://homeparents.about.com/od/snacks/

http://www.homemadesimple.com/kitchen/kidsnacks.shtml

http://www.wcpo.com/recipes/2004/09/28.html

http://www.momscape.com/nutritioussnacksforkids.htm

**pip** · 03-14-2005, 02:43 PM

I think you are doing great, too! I try to aim for $400/month for my family of five. Do you have an ALDIS store in your area? I've saved a ton of money by shopping there.

**sunshine** · 03-14-2005, 04:01 PM

Here's some links for threads relating to this topic:

ok ladies here is a challenge for you!

Question about menu planning, prices, etc.

**pkellyc** · 03-15-2005, 10:20 AM

I have a sister who has fed her family of 8 on $400 a month and it can be done. One of the things I have noticed is that every scrap of meat leftover from dinner is frozen. When she has enough it all goes into the crockpot for soup along with all her leftover vegtables. She also will mix and match her meat for example, if ribs are too costly she will make chicken to go along with them. Cheap hot dogs are topped with chili bought at near by restaraunt, giving the them the same flavor as eating them out. Get creative check out recipie sites my sister also has a large garden in the summer, every little bit helps.

P.S. Nikki, I live in Bristol CT and my sister lives in Windsor.

**Darlene** · 03-15-2005, 10:41 AM

Great info above!

I want to add that you should check out local markets and see when they mark down their meats. Usually it's early morning, just ask the meat dept. You can great deals that way and bring home & freeze. Last week I got bratwurst for 99¢lb. and often get bonless skinless chicken for that price too. I hardly ever pay more than 1.99 lb for any meat.