Is anyone else freaking out about food prices? I mean, gas prices are horrifying, but we are coping with that by basically just not going any where [and DH rides the bus to work and has for years]. But ... we can't just "not eat", you know?
I just got back from the grocery store and I am really feeling panicky. EVERYTHING I buy has skyrocketed in cost at least 50%. For example, we eat a lot of canned pumpkin and that used to cost .95 a can. Now it is $1.45. The organic apples I get for the kids used to cost $3.99 for a bag, now they are $5.99.
I just had a panic attack walking through the grocery store this morning and looking at the prices ... this is the first time in my life I have felt like maybe I *can't* afford 5 kids - because I am getting really worried about feeding them. If prices keep climbing, I don't know what we will do.
And I'm frustrated too because I'm realizing this month that all that "extra" money I was saving is now being eaten up with grocery costs - seriously. I am barely breaking even again [my weekly grocery bill is about $300 now!!!! It used to be $150-200]. I am so frustrated, and now I'm scared about not being able to save more money each month. [I've been trying to save money obsessively after last fall - don't ever want to be in THAT position again - alone, broke, with 5 kids to feed...]
I tried going to Aldi's and I just don't think its worth it - I have to drive a good distance to get there [and with gas prices, that eats up quite a bit of any savings I would have] and they have a very, very limited selection. Its not like I could just shop there and Costco or something, I would still have to make a trip to the regular grocery store every week - when I figured it up in my head, even though their prices WERE quite a bit lower, after I added in the gas and time it really ends up costing me more to shop there - totally not worth it IMO.
I don't get people who say "I go to 3 different grocery stores and get their sale prices and to the "day old" bread store, etc every week and that's how I save money..." I mean, HOW exactly does using all that gas and time save money? I'd be better off to pick up another shift at work than to spend half the week driving around to all these different places....
I have 2 other issues I'm trying to mull through -
1.) do I change the way I feed the kids? I have always done my dead level best to feed them very healthy food. Should I stop buying the organic apples [I only buy a few things organic, but apples is one of them because the kids eat them EVERY DAY and love the skins]? Should I stop buying the organic milk? [Organic Valley is the ONLY milk my older two kids will drink and it is now $4.19 a HALF gallon. I could get the raw milk fresh from our local farm for $5 a gallon - almost half the price. But my two older kids will literally just NOT drink any other milk - I've tried several kinds -and then they don't get that protein. That glass of milk each morning is my oldest's primary source of protein. :( ].
If I were willing to regularly feed them junky crap food [like boxed mac-n-cheese] and such, I could do that MUCH more cheaply - buying the fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, etc definitely costs a lot more money. [We do mac-n-cheese occasionally because the kids love it, but I would hate for that to be a staple instead of a junk food treat, you know?!]
How much am I willing to compromise my children's health and good eating habits [even my oldest, though picky, does eat pretty well] to save money? And the "helping" programs like "Angel Food Ministries" that I would normally consider, give you mostly junky convenience food so it seems not worth it, even if it is cheap! :( :(
2.) Do I stop trying to cook things everyone likes? I have two very picky eaters [my husband and my oldest] who would never touch several low cost but very nutritious meals - like beans. I am close to just letting them go hungry if they refuse to eat these nutrient dense yet affordable things - it feels like we can't afford to keep catering to pickiness... but I'm sure this will NOT go over well with DH or my daughter... *sigh*
Of course, being picky at all is a *luxury* that only those of us in the absurdly wealthy, industrialized world can afford. Can you imagine a child in a third world country who may not eat regularly turning down *any* edible food because it was "yucky"? I sometimes wonder if I am encouraging sin in allowing my family to eat what they "want" and turn their noses up at other healthy options.
How are you guys coping? Are any of you feeling a little panicked?
5 comments:
I feel like I've worked so hard over the last few years to buy food frugally that I just don't know where I could possibly cut anymore! I read all these ideas and think "ok, but I'm already doing that!" while the grocery bill keeps growing. And shopping various stores is so hard -- between gas and time and trying to take all the kids . . .
And, then, of course my DH's job is commission, so when the economy is hurting, his sales go down and we have even less to work with. I've been struggling to figure out a way to earn money with as little childcare as possible and it's tough!
Umm, I guess I have no advice or help to offer -- only commiseration!
Well, we've spent the last year going in a much more healthful direction foodwise, incorporating many more whole grains, and more fresh as opposed to canned veggies, but I've never done organic for its own sake. I do know, however, that both Publix and Kroger have statements on their store brand milk that it is obtained from cows NOT treated with hormones, so if that's your concern with milk, maybe you could go in that direction.
And I think you're right about not "allowing" pickiness. Cook what you can afford; no one will starve. If they won't eat it, then they're not hungry enough. I've always tried to include at least one thing that I know everyone will like, but with 8 people eating, that's impossible to do all the time. So I do what I can; I choose when and what they eat, they choose how much.
I've started making a lot of oatmeal on top of the stove (as opposed to years of the instant stuff) because it is SO healthful AND cost effective. I have one child who refuses to eat it every time I fix it. The others weren't thrilled at first, but once they realized that was all there was till lunch, they started eating it, and now even look forward to it. It has the added bonus of keeping them full till lunch, which means we don't need morning snacks.
So, other than trying store brand milk with no hormones and not letting picky eaters stop you, I have very little advice here! ;-)
Yes, I've been having out of body experiences when I look at the cost of milk or gas.
Two weeks ago I literally did a double take on the gas price sign.
I've pretty much cut out eatting out. Also, I'm going to crack open the "Tighwad Gazzet" today to get a shot in the arm for encouragement. Life was hard here before in the early 90s when Amy wrote the TG. Recession hard.
But, gas prices were pretty cheap.
Well, I tend to do stir fry's since a little meat goes a long way and I'm frequenting the Farmer's stand over the Grocery Store.
I buy powederd milk and teh organic mild - between them we get our milk. But am tring to just wean the kids and myself off milk altogether since it isn't really nec. for health. But my kids are addicted to it.
Good luck and keep us posted on any ideas you have.
Yes, I've been having out of body experiences when I look at the cost of milk or gas.
Two weeks ago I literally did a double take on the gas price sign.
I've pretty much cut out eatting out. Also, I'm going to crack open the "Tighwad Gazzet" today to get a shot in the arm for encouragement. Life was hard here before in the early 90s when Amy wrote the TG. Recession hard.
But, gas prices were pretty cheap.
Well, I tend to do stir fry's since a little meat goes a long way and I'm frequenting the Farmer's stand over the Grocery Store.
I buy powederd milk and teh organic mild - between them we get our milk. But am tring to just wean the kids and myself off milk altogether since it isn't really nec. for health. But my kids are addicted to it.
Good luck and keep us posted on any ideas you have.
I've given it a little more thought. Cater to your husband. Even if he's the only one eating Porkchops. But, picky eaters - all my children are picky and have very few suggestions.
But, I found out why they're picky: they don't like crock-pot cookery. (I love it since it is soooo easy in the hot summer months.)
So, I found out a few items they do like : Pot pies, lasagne, quiche, and don't laugh but SOS is a hit.
I haven't tried any bean dishes. (I LOVE split pea soup, and I only make it for myself.) Sometimes we go Mexican/Spanish with beans and rice but not too often.
Go on to the library and check out some of those "Kids who are picky eater pleasing cookbooks." and share with us your favorite ideas. I always intend to check one out but get sidetracked with the homeorganization books...
This summer we're going to try to grow a "beautiful" vegitable garden, HOA pleasing. Stalks of corn in the middle and radius' of herbs and pumpkins. But we'll see...
BTW: some "cheap" meals can be healthy and everything in moderation. (Crummy Kraft dinner is a staple in my husbands childhood.) But really check out Better Times Almanac of useful information from the Oklahoma City Catholic Worker house. (I have a link on my blog.) I've been purusing and they now have a Bulgar recipe Blog.
Oh, and one of my BF bakes her own bread. And now the sweetie has a Solar Oven and is cooking up lentils and muffins and all sorts of goodies without heating up the house. I'm going to get one as soon as I can find the extra cash. Good Luck Kelly, I just know a lady who's into chicken raisn' is up going to lick the economy. Don't forget to share your favorites with us. Even if it's something you've seen writen a hundred times before.
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