Food Bill – Eating NT Style
I’ve had many many questions from people about the food bill our large family has while trying to eat a healthy. So I thought I’d sit down and work it out for ya’ll. I’ve been meaning to do this but well…there was always something else stealing my brain cells.
This post is part of Real Food Wednesday.
Go visit Kelly the Kitchen Kop and check out the other RFW folks.
First I’ll post the menu for this week and then the cost breakdown.
Menu
Sunday
B – Rice Cereal
L – Cassoulet
D – I don’t remember. ;)
Monday
B – Rice Cereal
L – Cassoulet
D – Custard and broth
Tuesday
B – Eggs and kefir smoothies
L – Wild Cod, carrot/raisin salad and sauteed cabbage
D – Shepherd’s Pie
Wednesday
B – Rice Cereal
L – Cassoulet
D – Custard and broth
Thursday
B – Eggs and kefir smoothies
L – Liver meatballs, mashed potatoes and cabbage
D – Broth and Salad
Friday
B – Rice Cereal
L – Tongue tacos and beans
D – Custard and broth
Saturday
B – Eggs and kefir smoothies
L – Tava over lentils and shepherd salad
D – broth and salad
Now the cost break down.
Rice Cereal
Milk – free
Rice (3lbs) – $1.32
Stevia – nominal
Cinnamon – nominal
Total – $1.32 (x4 = $5.28)
Eggs and Kefir Smoothies
Eggs (24) – free
Kefir – free
Strawberries - $2.00
Pineapple – $1.00
Total – $3.00 (x3 =$9.00)
Cassoulet (bean casserole)
Bacon (1lb) – $4
Bratwurst (1lb) – $4
Beans (8c) – $1.35
Tomato Sauce (32oz) – $1.00
Diced tomatoes (6) – $3.00
Sour Cream – $2.20 (this will be free when I start making my own)
Total – $14.55 (x3 = $43.65)
Custard
Eggs (12) – free
Milk (2c) – free
Cream (2c) – free
Vanilla – nominal
Stevia – nominal
Total – FREE
Tongue Tacos
Dent corn (3lbs) – $3.60
Cow tongue (2lb) – $2.00 (some friends sold us this – CHEAP!!)
Beans (8c) – $1.35
Sour cream – $2.20
Total – $9.15
Fish
Salmon (5lbs) – $20
Cabbage (2 heads) – $3.00
Carrot Raisin salad – $3.00
Rice – $1.32
Total – $27.32
Liver Meatballs
Ground Beef (2-3lbs) – $4-6
Liver (1/2 – 1lb) – $0-1 (friends of ours gave us theirs and other friends sold us theirs)
Onion – $.40
Pepperjack cheese (2c)- $1.25
Cornmeal – nominal
Mashed potatoes – $4.00
Cabbage – $3.00
Total – $14.65
Tava
Roma Tomatoes (5lbs) – $5
Lentils – $2.60
Cucumber – $1.60
Chicken – $9.00
Total – $22.20
Shepherd’s Pie
Beef Roast (3lb)- $12.00
Frozen mixed veggies – $2.00
Potatoes – $4.00
Total – $18.00
Grand total – $149.00
How is that possible? Do we really spend that little? I want to make it clear that there are ways to make meals even cheaper if you have to pay for all of your eggs and milk. We used to eat broth soup almost every night. It’s cheap and filling and it makes your meat go a long way. Eggs are typically very inexpensive. They have to be cheaper than cold cereal.
So there you have it. Our food bill has been reduced dramatically since moving here. This summer when our garden is producing something it should be even cheaper. :)
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Wowsers. You spend barely more than us and we are a family of four – two boys 3 and under. I long for chickens and a milk cow. That would save us $40/week.
“Technically” your milk & eggs are not free since you do have to feed the cow & hens. :) (just snarking on ya!)
We don’t feed Rosie so the milk really is free. And the chickens are mostly free range. Jeff guessed we spend $30/month on chicken feed. :)
I was looking at the amount of food on the plates and kept thinking, my 3 oldest boys require 3-4x that amount – YIKES. They are ALL muscle and eat huge amounts of food. We fill ‘em with salads & soups but it’s still a TON of food. They’ve only just begun at 12-12-13!!!
Katie, can you tell us how much prep time you spend cooking like this? including all the time to make the yogurt, and kefir, etc… Don’t count milking time.
I’m looking at those plates and wondering how that can be enough for a meal. Our 3yo would easily finish most of those plates, and would probably still ask for more. Our 4yo would, too, as long as he liked it. I know it wouldn’t be anywhere near enough for me (while pg, anyway). As for dh, he would need 2 plates like that, and maybe more.
I second that Debbie, Though I could make do on that, and would probably loose some weight!
One more thing, how does Tongue taste? what did you do to add it to the ground beef? did you grind it up too? did you cut it into little pieces??
Meg
The food listed is nutritious but I have to question too…is it enough? Not being rude here, but everyone in your family with the exception of the two younger children (recent breast feeding) and Jeff…all look under nourished.
And your kids eat that??? My kids do eat healthy and do eat very good foods, but I don’t think they could eat rice cereal and broth and salad so many times a week. That is really awsome that you are able to do it! :)
Excellent post! I’m so sorry you got such negative comments.
To the previous posters:
To say that someone looks under noursihed is very harsh and rude no matter how you say it. I have always been skinny and people made rude comments…I was only under nourished in that I filled up on carbs like pasta & bread which only left me more hungry. I ate a lot and was still skinny.
Also, since I’ve started eating more meats & vegetables I fill up much more quickly because real food is more dense. I could eat a huge bowl of pasta and still be hungry or just a small plate of chicken nuggets (homemade) with some homemade french fries and be full.
Everybody’s body is different and unless you know that someone is going hungry then you should not assume someone is undernourished, no more than someone who appears overweight is a glutton.
Alot? LOL I really don’t know. The kids help alot and it may take an hour to make a full meal (not rice cereal obviously). And the yogurt and stuff I am making I throw together while I am making another meal and I’m in the kitchen anyway.
I think it is less about time and more about learning the flow of work and fitting it in around stuff you are already doing. :)
First off, those are all my plates and seconds are almost always allowed. Last night we had the fish and there was not enough fish for seconds but there was plenty of salad and cabbage so they did have extras of those.
Tongue is on the menu for Friday of this week. I am told it shreds and tastes like beef roast. I’ll let you know. :)
Debbie – You 3 and 4 year olds would finish 2 of those Tacos and want more!!! WOW! I have one boy who would do that, but he is 9 and growing like a weed.
And sticking up for Katie…Just because your kids and yourself are skinny, doesn’t mean they are under nourished! My 9 year old son is only 55 pounds, but he is as healthy as can be. He just has a very high motabolism. He is a big..no huge eater. Some days he eats more that his 6 ft., 275lb father. I am very thin too, but I eat healthy and eat till I am full. That does not make me malnurished. :)
Eating NT style doesn’t take a tremendous amount of time if you are organized and plan ahead.
Meg, yogurt and kefir are easy! Yogurt (for us), heat milk to a certain temp (can’t remember, my Dh always makes it), put in yogurt maker, throw in culture, refrigerate when done. Kefir, rinse culture grains in colander, add to milk, leave on counter (12-24 hours), strain out grains.
We do gluten in our diet – soaked grains and sourdough breads and pasta about once a week. At night, I just put grains in a bowl and add kefir or yogurt. In the morning I add the rest of the ingredients to make oatmeal, muffins, or pancakes.
Our food budget is higher than Katie’s because we live in town. I buy eggs for 3.50 a dozen, raw goat’s milk for 6.00 a gallon (this is cheap), my mom gives us 3 loaves of sourdough bread a week for free (she sells them for 4.25 a loaf), we buy part of a free range cow which turns out to be less than 2.50 lb for meat. We also buy free range chickens (1 bird gives us 3 meals).
We eat portion sizes similar to what Katie has pictured and we don’t snack (besides grazing in the garden and sometimes popcorn, fruit, or ice cream after dinner). It is plenty for us and if someone is particularly hungry, they have seconds. Protein rich meals are hearty and filling. Also, children who run around outside all day, working and playing are lean (and muscular). Americans in general overeat and double or triple typical portion sizes as listed on the back of food products. (For instance, a small box (12 oz) of pasta says it serves 6. We would make two for our family and we have 3 children under 5 plus enough leftovers for Dh’s lunch.) Really, the portion sizes pictured are enough.
Emily (EK Journey)
I was one of those kids who hardly ate anything, and yet was healthy. I’ve always been skinny. I reach my recommended weight during pregnancies, and always go back down to my normal weight afterwards. Right now, with being pg, I’m eating WAY more than normal. So that’s what I’m thinking when I see those plates…
As for my 3 and 4 yo kids, the egg burrito plate is the only one I think might be enough for them. But then, maybe not. They frequently eat more than me, when I’m not pg.
Again, Katie, I’m not trying to say you aren’t feeding your kids enough. If they’re satisfied, then they’re getting enough–regardless of how much or how little they’ve had. And I know you well enough to know you wouldn’t be depriving your kids of food if they were hungry.
The purpose of the pictures was not to show how MUCH we eat but rather WHAT we eat. Do you really think we serve up ALL the food, every last drop, onto the plates and then take pictures? Is that how it works at your house? I think some people are just looking for something to pick at, don’t you Ginny? The day you post pictures of yourself and your plate all over the internet is the day I’ll listen to your advice on nutrition and weight, ok? How is your weight? We aren’t friends, Ginny. I don’t care about your opinion of me and family. You are an idiot and you have no clue what you are talking about.
As a note to others reading this, Ginny is the one who attacked us on Jeff’s thread about the birth certificate. Hence my reaction.
Thank you Marsha. Our bodies can’t be fooled. Eat nutrient dense food and be satisfied. Eat crap and be hungry.
I think it looks great. I cannot imagine what you people feed your families if you think that does not look like enough food! If you are not eating a bunch of processed food, it takes very little to feel full. I’m irritated by the whole malnutrition comment. My oldest daughter is very skinny, but most meals eats more than me who is overweight. I’ve been accused of not feeding her when she was a skinny little baby. It’s called metabolism. Katie’s kids don’t sit and watch TV and play video games all day. They burn off the food they eat. Duh. The only person at my house that would go back for seconds on the portions above would be my husband. Not even my seven year old son who is growing like a weed would eat more than that unless he has been working hard outside or something! I cannot believe we have to have “chubby cheeks” to look healthy! And we wonder why Americans are all overweight….
Wow! Everything looks delicious and I am very impressed by how inexpensive it all came out to be. When I looked at the pictures, I thought that’s about how much I’d eat too. :-)
Your kids all look healthy to me! I can’t believe anyone would even suggest they’re undernourished. Ridiculous! Maybe some people are getting too accumstomed to the way many kids look these days…overweight and overfed on fast food?
Katie, you’re doing an awesome job of feeding your family! Thanks for sharing the cost breakdown with us.
Debbie, You don’t think my kids are lethargic? ;)
Thanks for the cost breakdown. We are just at the beginning of eating this way, and I have been worried about how we would afford it. This gives me hope that my family of 6 can actually pull it off. We do have to pay for everything though. Right now we get milk for $5 a gallon and eggs for 1.75-2.00 or so. I think that’s where our biggest expense is. Also, I think the food on all those plates not only look delicious, but completely ample. Not sure why so many people think it looks like so little.
OK, let me say this AGAIN. I do NOT think Katie’s depriving her kids of food. I do NOT think they look too skinny or are malnourished. I wish my kids didn’t need to eat so much (and one of them is very skinny but eats more than I do most of the time–when I’m not pg). I don’t at all think you have to be chubby to look healthy. And my kids don’t sit around the TV, computer, video games, and such. They’re active kids. When I’m not pg or nursing, those servings would probably be just fine for me. Of course, last time that happened was only for two months back in ‘05. And before that was before my first pg.
I just have to say, you have posted many many pictures of your kids and I have never thought any of them looked underweight. (except maybe when Jillian was sick) In fact they are all bigger then my kids who I know eat plenty! Some kids are naturally skinny. And I am sure some of it is because *gasp* your kids are actually active instead of parked in front of the tv. Don’t worry about what anyone else says!
It’s wonderful how filling real food is. My kids used to eat and eat and eat and eat! They are all skinny little minnies, too. My pastor’s wife babysits occasionally and was just astonished at how much they ate. It was all good foods, and they just don’t get fat! Now that we have lowered our carb intake, added more healthy fats and protein, they are satisfied much longer and eat less. A snack of hard-boiled eggs lasts much longer than a cereal bar.
Thanks for the post, Katie! I love seeing how you guys eat. I don’t think my husband would ever ok liver or tongue, but he loves beef, chicken, lamb and venison on the menu. We’re doing better with less bread, too, though I doubt we’ll ever go wheat-free like you are.
So you think wheat is the culprit? We eat a lot of bread–whole wheat, that is. We have sandwiches for lunch nearly every day.
I guess they were egg and meat tacos, not burritos. Oops! Whatever they’re called, I’m talking about the third picture down.
Are you not feeding your chickens any more or is their food free? or do you count them as pets and residuals (aka eggs) as a bonus unrelated to any expense? I’m not being smart, just wondering. I generally “charge out” eggs at about 10 cents each since I spend about $15 every two weeks on feed and average about 10 eggs per day. I do include chicken feed when tabulating my grocery spending though. They’re still a LOT cheaper than the same eggs in a fancy grocery store that would actually carry such eggs (my hens range all day long and eat the feed as a supplement).
Unsoaked grains (wheat, corn, etc) are ANTI-nutrients. They literally block the absorption of nutrients.
And if wheat is the culprit, how in the world do I wean the family from it! I grew grew up in France, the cheese and bread country! Bread has always been a staple for me.
So can you soak the grain and then bake the bread?
We feed them very little. Jeff says we spend $30/month on chicken food and we get 24 eggs/day. Ours free range though.
Yes, like sourdough.
Sourdough (real soaked sourdough, not the stuff from the grocery that tastes like sourdough) is safe and good. :)
Katie, thanks for posting about those breakfast tacos. I’m addicted to them now! Of course my eggs do not look as good as yours, even the better quality brands I buy don’t look that good! But it’s delicious and SO filling non-the-less.
I think you all look great and my first thought when I read the malnourished comment was “They are farmers!” LOL We are a skinny family (as you know) and we don’t eat nearly as healthy nor do nearly the work (well, with the exception of Billy) that ya’ll do.
I wish we had affordable access to raw milk and better meat. We are cutting out milk products – I just read an article by a dentist that linked homogenized milk to cavities and my youngest has 2. :( We do so love milk so this is very hard. I’m thinking even kefir has to go.
If I knew the future :D I would probably eat some of my hens and get some babies to replace them. I know they’re not all laying daily (at least not in the laying boxes- I did find a nest with 17 eggs the other day but no one seems to be sitting on it yet) I’m just not sure how to tell which hens are laying since they do go out all day long. They used to lay more when they had light in their coop all night but lightning blew up the fixture and we haven’t replaced it.
Unrelated to chickens- what is dent corn? Did you make your tortillas from it? Did you do the nextamilization (spelling?) thing? I haven’t gotten that far myself but Nourishing Gourmet talked about it recently and it doesn’t seem too hard. I think tortillas will be my next step. Yours look bee-wicious!!
Oh, and congratulations! Feeding even one person for $10 per week is amazing! Actually, it would probably be almost impossible since bulk cooking is generally cheaper per person than singleton cooking.
My kids have been really good about making the switch to more nourishing foods, especially when I explain to them exactly what we’re doing and why. They don’t complain about my salad dressing any more. No one cared for the soaked baked oatmeal we had this morning but that was my fault. Next Wednesday it will be better.
Rene’, you need to attend some WAPF meetings and do some networking to find local raw milk CHEAP!! I’d up the CLO to help with cavities.
Lindsey, Info just came through on the pastured poultry yahoo group I’m on that after about 2yo the hen may not earn it’s way. I would imagine heritage breeds are better about this.
Good luck with your oatmeal. :)
Hee, hee. Uh, no. :) If they are, I would love to be lethargic as well. I’d get more done. :)
Debbie, try this:
http://dougandcarla.truepath.com/recipes/wholeWheatBread.shtml
I’ve made this several times and it turns out great.
I use a Kitchen Aid mixer to make mine but you could also do it by hand.
Hey, we have those plates! They don’t break. Big bonus. So you’re not feeding the cow anything but pasture?
Nothing but grass. :)
Katie is tiny, why wouldn’t most of her children be?
Katie, I gotta say, *I* wouldn’t eat half the things you serve but my goodness… the care and the thought and the effort you put into feeding your children beautiful, colorful and nutritious foods!!! I applaud you!!!
(Yeah, still reading- but you knew that)
I feel hungry. And inspired. I need to show dh this post tonight.
What an AWESOME post. I stumbled it. Gonna tweet it too.
Um, I just went and looked again at the photos of your kids on your About Us page. Your children are absolutely beautiful and they look so healthy and happy. What a GREAT mother you are!
PS: I’m so jealous of your cow and chickens… if only I could convince my city-slicker husband to move to the country… I doubt it will ever happen. That said, I just got the green light YESTERDAY to do homeschooling! I never thought he would agree to that. I cannot tell you how happy I am! (So maybe I will get my cow and chickens one day…)
Can you tell me more about CLO and cavities? THANKS! Our family is lactose intolerant (even to raw milk – my daughters will throw up violently and my son throws up and breaks out in hives, raw or not). I know that raw milk is supposed to help with teeth, but that is out of the question (I am tired of cleaning up vomit). :D We do CLO (not fermented, does it need to be fermented?), but I would love to know how much to help prevent cavities OR to help restore a tooth that already has a cavity. THANK YOU!! :D
This is a great listing! I’m so glad you posted it. So many people think eating traditional foods equal large grocery bill, but it’s just not true! There are so many ways you can stay healthy and still eat traditionally. I’m so thankful that we have 37 acres where we can grow our own veggies, raise our chickens and milk goats. Nothing is more yummy than food you produce yourself. Even if you don’t have a bunch of land and live in the city, you can usually have some sort of garden, even if it’s a container garden. Also we have friends to live in Austin and keep chickens in their back yard…no roosters though..lol! Neighbors would complain about that. Here in the town closest to us, it’s not uncommon to see goats and other small farm animal in people’s backyards in town.
Katie, Your children look very healthy and robust to me. You feed your kids the same way my mom fed us (I’m 50), and your portion sizes are most likely what the Govt. RDA recommends. Most people eat out so much that they think McDonald’s Supersize meals are the norm. They are not. When 65% of the population is overweight, with about 40% in the morbidly obese category, thank YOU for perhaps opening some eyes to the fact that we should “Eat To Live”, not “Live To Eat”. Keep up the good work , and don’t let anyone sway you.
Wow, those prices are really amazing. I wish I could get food that inexpensively but I guess that’s the price you pay for living in NYS.
Eh Katie dear the haters can shove it.
On the chicken front (since you know K that I can’t resist a chicken conversation lol. Gotta act like I am knowledgable about SOMETHING you know!) After about 2 years they won’t pay their way but that’s why you have ROOSTERS and BROODY breeds. Every year we get new chicks hatch around here and by late Fall they’re laying. When our girls get too old, they get eaten. It’s all a cycle. Here soon we’re going to start banding their legs so I know who’s who. Band a different color each year (reuse the bands after a slaughter year) and every few years (this is up to the breeds you have) do a color cull. Eat the ladies and the other couple of years’ ladies will have filled in their spots. Just let the moms raise the babies so they don’t cost you extra in lots of starter feed.
And I’ll add K that we’ve been doing lots of jars of buttermilk (cultured buttermilk) and jars of cultured buttermilk cream and using those instead of sour cream. The flavor’s not the same but it isn’t costing me and the whole family loves it and when I use the cultured cream they don’t notice it’s not sour cream at all. Super easy. Though I’m kind of in buttermilk addiction mode. My sourdoughs are extra fluffy and soft now that I put buttermilk in it.