Family meals for under $10

**warramra** · 01-30-2009, 01:12 PM

CNN I-Report is asking for people to send in "Recession Recipes" that can serve a family of 4 for under $10. I am shocked that trying to feed a family of 4 for under $10 is such a big deal. The only times our meals are ever over $10 is for special occasions, like our anniversary, and we buy a package of ribeye steaks. My personal goal is for $5 and under meals for a family of 6.

I know that the people here at the Village could teach the public a lot about how to feed a family on a small budget.

**nvmommyx6** · 01-30-2009, 01:16 PM

I've got 8 and can do most of our meals for under $10. easily!!!
I wonder if they take submissions for meals where alot of the food is home grown or raised or if it is just store bought!!?

**bast** · 01-30-2009, 01:21 PM

I think almost everyone who posts here could make a decent meal for half of that or less.

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 01-30-2009, 02:03 PM

I don't think $10 for a meal should be hard. Most of the meals I serve are under $5 (dinner only) for 6 people with frequent leftovers. $10 for a meal is a special occasion meal for us.

**xtena** · 01-30-2009, 02:21 PM

Some of the submissions were downright scary. Fried Spam and potatoes??? Okay, I admit, I have a can or two of reduced fat Spam (which is still very fatty) in my pantry, along with canned tuna and canned chicken for emergencies, , but Spam is NOT really that cheap if you sit down and calculate the per-pound cost. We're not huge meat eaters at my house, but we do buy it when the sales are really good. Fresh meat can be had for much less per pound than canned Spam.

**frugalbabe** · 01-30-2009, 02:22 PM

That does seem kind of high. I have an average grocery budget of $100/wk. That is feeding 6 people 3 meals a day plus snacks and stockpiling so 21 divided by 100 which averages out to $5/meal. And actually that $5 mark is even lower because like I said that also includes snacks, stockpiling and we usually have friends over as well.

**peanut** · 01-30-2009, 02:26 PM

You know I just did this calculation for another thread and determined DH and I average $2.50US/meal...and that's with eating all organic produce. Not sure what they eat that cost $10/meal. Kind of boggles the mind here.

Jean

**xtena** · 01-30-2009, 02:29 PM

Last night's dinner was baked sweet potatoes and regular baked potato bar. We also had cucumber salad, and leftover canned pineapple (from homemade pizza the other day) to follow. All natural (except for the bacon bits and reduced fat sour cream) and very, very cheap.

My seven year old daughter is hooked on the Little House books and has wanted to try some of the foods they ate back then. One of her new favorites is cornmeal mush. She likes the porridge form as well as the leftover fried form. It's a nice change from oatmeal or cold cereal (which we don't eat often) and even DH likes it. Another great breakfast for pennies, not dollars!

**thesightofoneself** · 01-30-2009, 02:31 PM

at some fast food restaurant places each meal cost $10 so its really depends on the types of food you eat

**monkeywrangler71** · 01-30-2009, 02:39 PM

Aside from a turkey dinner (and I'm not sure I'd even count that since it is usually 4 or 5 meals) I can honestly not think of anything that would cost more than $10.

We don't eat beans or spam, we eat meat every day, sometimes steak. I really don't understand. What are other people eating that costs so much? Or are they just eating more?

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-30-2009, 02:50 PM

It's just another way of misleading people. I'm not surprised.

We can do two meals for $10 in our household. The ribs that I made the other night + mashed potatoes + corn was like $5!

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-30-2009, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

Aside from a turkey dinner (and I'm not sure I'd even count that since it is usually 4 or 5 meals) I can honestly not think of anything that would cost more than $10.

We don't eat beans or spam, we eat meat every day, sometimes steak. I really don't understand. What are other people eating that costs so much? Or are they just eating more?

I think it's both. The whole Super Size sensation that swept the US affects people even at home. I guarantee you that if people started eating correct portions and correct types of foods, not only would the obesity problem diminish but they'd save money too.

I won't touch red meat steak, but I'll eat pork steak. I won't touch Spam at all... that's just not me.

People look at the $10 per family of four in comparison to what they spend on fast food. They don't look at getting their dollar any further stretched than that.

**Grayce** · 01-30-2009, 03:07 PM

Most of our supper meals are about $5-7 dollars for 4 with leftovers. this would be meat, potatoes, noodles or rice and a vegetable. I can do a casserole, soup or spaghetti for even less.

**santoria** · 01-30-2009, 03:09 PM

I tried to teach some friends how to eat $10 meals. but none of them could wrap their heads around any of it.

none of my meals cost more than $5 except maybe the special holiday meals and those rarely cost more than $10 and we're a family of 5.