I'll catch up from the last couple of days. I did not have a chance to get to the computer but jotted down a few things along the way.
Friday's total---$8.44
Breakfast--$.88
Cereal with milk, apple
Lunch--Free
Left over Beans and Sausage
Dinner--$7.56
Olive Garden Soup
Saturday's total---$5.67
Breakfast--$2.24
Pancakes, omelets
Lunch--Free
Left over soup
Dinner--$.3.43
Turkey Sandwhiches with cheese
Sunday's total---$5.67
Breakfast--$2.24
Pancakes, omelets
Lunch--$3.43
Turkey Sandwhiches with cheese
Dinner--Free
Left over Beans
So we have not gone hungry this week and I feel that we had some balanced meals. We are eating leftovers tonight because we used up the turkey on our sandwhiches and ran out of milk so no turkey tetrazzini, which I have been looking forward to. I did not realized just how long a one pound bag of red beans could last but glad we had it this week. I am also use to planning meals and eating left overs but not used to having to stick to the menu plan with no room to change. I am also not used to eating so many beans!
I am missing fresh fruit, although we did have some this week but not as much as I am used to. I am missing fresh veggies. Other than carrots and the few tomatoes we had in the garden, I don't think we had any leafy greens.
I realized this week just how much I snack. Not to eat because I am hungry but out of boredom. Kind of embarassing to think about.
Shelby did better than I thought she would, although I am not sure how much she understood what we were doing or just thought I was being mean.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Thursday---September 39th, Day 4
Today food was not much on my mind as I felt terrible. All I wanted to do was sleep. I ate an apple for breakfast. Shelby had cereal and milk and at lunch she ate at school. The rest of the day we ate leftovers. Last night she had a yougurt with strawberries and bananas. Until tomorrow, when I hope I feel better. If only I could of had some chicken noodle soup...
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday---September 29th, Day 3
Today's cost of meals--$7.40
Breakfast--$1.21
My Breakfast: store brand egg substitute omelet with turkey, cheese, and onion (i used such a little amount of cheese, I don't know why I even bothered)
Shelby's breakfast: cereal and milk
Lunch--free
Left over homemade chicken nuggets and rice (how I would have loved my salad but must saved it for dinner another day)
Dinner--$4.19
Red Beans with Turkey sausage and rice
Snack--$2.00
Shelby and I split a vanilla yogurt mixed with strawberries and grapes
I have not noticed a big difference in the meals that we are eating this week. I do notice a difference in the snacking we do throughout the day, an apple here, some crackers there really adds up. I am not starving, so I have realized that we eat way more than we need to. I always thought, we well are snacking healthy but if we don't need it, we don't need it.
Thank goodness for leftovers, apparently we drink a lot more milk than I thought, so to save the milk for breakfast and dinner, we will not be having turkey tetrazzini :(. I love this stuff! Instead we will mix it up with the left over spaghetti, chicken nuggets, and red beans and rice. I know that Shelby and Toby will both be so thrilled.
And if we run out of milk, I am sure Shelby will be excited that she does not have to drink milk for dinner but disappointed when she finds out she will be drinking water.
I started thinking about a lady I was helping about 2 years ago. She was interested in her sister coming to our adult day program. We were looking over her finances to see if she qualified for the Medicaid Waiver program. She brought along her sisters food stamp statement...this lady received a huge amount of $14 a week. Are you kidding me!?!?!?!?!?!?
Breakfast--$1.21
My Breakfast: store brand egg substitute omelet with turkey, cheese, and onion (i used such a little amount of cheese, I don't know why I even bothered)
Shelby's breakfast: cereal and milk
Lunch--free
Left over homemade chicken nuggets and rice (how I would have loved my salad but must saved it for dinner another day)
Dinner--$4.19
Red Beans with Turkey sausage and rice
Snack--$2.00
Shelby and I split a vanilla yogurt mixed with strawberries and grapes
I have not noticed a big difference in the meals that we are eating this week. I do notice a difference in the snacking we do throughout the day, an apple here, some crackers there really adds up. I am not starving, so I have realized that we eat way more than we need to. I always thought, we well are snacking healthy but if we don't need it, we don't need it.
Thank goodness for leftovers, apparently we drink a lot more milk than I thought, so to save the milk for breakfast and dinner, we will not be having turkey tetrazzini :(. I love this stuff! Instead we will mix it up with the left over spaghetti, chicken nuggets, and red beans and rice. I know that Shelby and Toby will both be so thrilled.
And if we run out of milk, I am sure Shelby will be excited that she does not have to drink milk for dinner but disappointed when she finds out she will be drinking water.
I started thinking about a lady I was helping about 2 years ago. She was interested in her sister coming to our adult day program. We were looking over her finances to see if she qualified for the Medicaid Waiver program. She brought along her sisters food stamp statement...this lady received a huge amount of $14 a week. Are you kidding me!?!?!?!?!?!?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, September 28th--Day 2
Today I spent approximatley $6.22 on today's meals.
Breakfast--$.57
My Breakfast: Mini Whole Wheat Bagel with peanut butter
Shelby's Breakfst: Cereal with milk
Mid Morning Snack: $.60
Apple--my one apple cost as much as our breakfasts put together---argh!
Lunch--$.35
Our lunches: Leftover spaghetii
Small salad--$.35
Shelby: ate a school
Dinner--$4.70
Homemade baked chicken nuggets
Rice
Baby Carrots, cucumbers
Tomatoes and bell pepper (from garden)
All in all today went pretty good. I ate my breakfast and headed off to work. During my weekly staff meeting my stomach started growling for all to hear. Embarrassing! Went back and ate my apple. As I sit here typing, I can not believe that one tiny apple cost as much as all we had for breakfast! I did not purchase a lot of fresh fruit and veggies like I usually do but thought we needed some during the week. It is no wonder, those on food stamps are unable to purchase nutritious items at the store.
Now most of the time I purchase these items from ALDI's as they are much cheaper than your big chain stores. Becuase of this, the quality is not always there so I passed on the apples there and picked them up at Kroger instead.
At work, we made cinnamon church pound cake as an activity with our seniors. I always look forward to cooking activities because of all the yummy things we make. It smelled so wonderfully delicious as it was cooking and our ladies sure seemed to enjoy eating it when it was done. How I wish I could have had a bite, or two, or three...
Left work, picked up my daughter, and headed home. I was waiting for her to ask for a snack as she does before she sets foot in the door. She surprised me a did not ask for a thing. I would like to say that my talk with her yesterday sank in and she learned something. Most likely, she was distracted by getting to play on the computer.
Started making dinner. I typically buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts but at $6.99 per pound this week, it was not in the budget. I purchase bone in, skin on chicken breasts. And if anyone has ever tried to take the bone and ribs out, it is not easy! I cut my finger--on a chicken bone! Who does something like that? I do! Nuggets turned out good depsite my injury.
As I was get the food on the plates, my 4 month old German Shepherd decided it would be time to get on the counter. As his front paws hit the edge of my plate just enough to flip it up a little, my food started sliding off. I went into panic mode. What would I do if it landed on the floor? Thankfully I caught it in time...dinner saved!
Breakfast--$.57
My Breakfast: Mini Whole Wheat Bagel with peanut butter
Shelby's Breakfst: Cereal with milk
Mid Morning Snack: $.60
Apple--my one apple cost as much as our breakfasts put together---argh!
Lunch--$.35
Our lunches: Leftover spaghetii
Small salad--$.35
Shelby: ate a school
Dinner--$4.70
Homemade baked chicken nuggets
Rice
Baby Carrots, cucumbers
Tomatoes and bell pepper (from garden)
All in all today went pretty good. I ate my breakfast and headed off to work. During my weekly staff meeting my stomach started growling for all to hear. Embarrassing! Went back and ate my apple. As I sit here typing, I can not believe that one tiny apple cost as much as all we had for breakfast! I did not purchase a lot of fresh fruit and veggies like I usually do but thought we needed some during the week. It is no wonder, those on food stamps are unable to purchase nutritious items at the store.
Now most of the time I purchase these items from ALDI's as they are much cheaper than your big chain stores. Becuase of this, the quality is not always there so I passed on the apples there and picked them up at Kroger instead.
At work, we made cinnamon church pound cake as an activity with our seniors. I always look forward to cooking activities because of all the yummy things we make. It smelled so wonderfully delicious as it was cooking and our ladies sure seemed to enjoy eating it when it was done. How I wish I could have had a bite, or two, or three...
Left work, picked up my daughter, and headed home. I was waiting for her to ask for a snack as she does before she sets foot in the door. She surprised me a did not ask for a thing. I would like to say that my talk with her yesterday sank in and she learned something. Most likely, she was distracted by getting to play on the computer.
Started making dinner. I typically buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts but at $6.99 per pound this week, it was not in the budget. I purchase bone in, skin on chicken breasts. And if anyone has ever tried to take the bone and ribs out, it is not easy! I cut my finger--on a chicken bone! Who does something like that? I do! Nuggets turned out good depsite my injury.
As I was get the food on the plates, my 4 month old German Shepherd decided it would be time to get on the counter. As his front paws hit the edge of my plate just enough to flip it up a little, my food started sliding off. I went into panic mode. What would I do if it landed on the floor? Thankfully I caught it in time...dinner saved!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday--September 27th, Day 1
Today I firgued I spent approximately $9.20 for today's meals.
Today's menu:
Breakfast--$.75
My breakfast: mini whole wheat bagel with peanut butter
Daughter's breakfast: Pancakes, milk
Husband's breakfast: doesn't eat breakfast
Lunch--$2.76
Our Lunches: Turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread, small salad, strawberries & grapes
Snack--$.47
yogurt
Dinner--$5.22
Homemade spaghetti sauce with whole wheat noodles.
Veggies you ask? zucchini from my garden, frozen broccoli, cooked and pureed, then hidden in the sauce. The only way to get veggies in the hubby without him knowing.
So far so good. I did miss my Diet Dr. Pepper this morning. For some it is a cup of coffee, for me it is wonderful bubbliness that gets me going in the morning. Small things, I know.
I did get hungry mid morning but that is nothing unusual. The biggest thing I had to deal with today is my daughter asking for more to eat and that she is hungry (staaaarrrrrrrrving--as she puts it--and I reassure her she is not, which she replied "yes, I am."--you can see how this ended). She is a growing bottomless pit that never seems to be fully satisfied.
So I know that she is not starving and that she is getting the nutrients she needs, I calmly explained that there are children without as much food as she has. At eight, I am not sure she fully understands, as this is not a situation she has ever had to encounter.
I can't imagine those that do not have the money to feed their children and worry about how they will get the food they need. I could do without but would feel so guilty if my daughter truly was without.
Today's menu:
Breakfast--$.75
My breakfast: mini whole wheat bagel with peanut butter
Daughter's breakfast: Pancakes, milk
Husband's breakfast: doesn't eat breakfast
Lunch--$2.76
Our Lunches: Turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread, small salad, strawberries & grapes
Snack--$.47
yogurt
Dinner--$5.22
Homemade spaghetti sauce with whole wheat noodles.
Veggies you ask? zucchini from my garden, frozen broccoli, cooked and pureed, then hidden in the sauce. The only way to get veggies in the hubby without him knowing.
So far so good. I did miss my Diet Dr. Pepper this morning. For some it is a cup of coffee, for me it is wonderful bubbliness that gets me going in the morning. Small things, I know.
I did get hungry mid morning but that is nothing unusual. The biggest thing I had to deal with today is my daughter asking for more to eat and that she is hungry (staaaarrrrrrrrving--as she puts it--and I reassure her she is not, which she replied "yes, I am."--you can see how this ended). She is a growing bottomless pit that never seems to be fully satisfied.
So I know that she is not starving and that she is getting the nutrients she needs, I calmly explained that there are children without as much food as she has. At eight, I am not sure she fully understands, as this is not a situation she has ever had to encounter.
I can't imagine those that do not have the money to feed their children and worry about how they will get the food they need. I could do without but would feel so guilty if my daughter truly was without.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 26th--Trip to the Store
I find grocery shopping to be a chore. I dislike everything about it, making a list, up and down the aisles, checking out, bringing the bags in, and putting it all away. I have never enjoyed it and today was even worse.
I go to the store with my list, coupons, and get what I want and think I will need. Today it took me forever! I had my list, coupons, but could not get all of what I wanted. There were many things that deviated from the norm on this trip.
First, I took my calculator with me to ensure that I stayed within the allotted $63.
I hit up the produce section first. I actually weighed my fruit to see how much I was spending. Who uses those things anyway? I always see the scales hanging there but have never seen them being used--much less use it myself. As I was checking off my list, I began to get a little panicky as my money dwindled. How was I going to get all I needed? I decided to go with frozen veggies over fresh, which I have heard are just as nutritional as the fresh.
Change in plans...no Kung Poa Chicken tomorrow. I could not afford the soy sauce or hoisin sauce; key ingredients! So I think that I will use some of the breadcrumbs I bought for the meatloaf to make some homemade chicken nuggets.
As I stated before, I try to cook relatively healthy; unfortunatly I inherieted high cholestrol and heart disease runs rampant in my family history, so the majority of the time, I aim for foods that won't make it worse. (I say this as I think my husband is making fried chicken tonight--at least I don't have to cook :) ...)
If I wanted to make it easy, we could of had Hamburger Helper, frozen pizzas, mac n cheese, etc.; (we do have the things on rare occassions but I could not imagine on a regular basis) and I am sure it would have been easier to stick to the budget! But looking at the choices I had for the less expensive foods, made my stomach turn. I am not sure you could call the lunch meats meat with all the ingredients I could not pronouce.
I am not sure how long I was at the store but I know it took my longer than my normal trips. Since, I despise grocery shoppping, I go once a week. Let's hope I was able to get all we need. I spent $66.29--$3.29 more than I should have. (At least we have a $10 leeway.)
I now see why some people stand in line, taking things out of thier cart.
I go to the store with my list, coupons, and get what I want and think I will need. Today it took me forever! I had my list, coupons, but could not get all of what I wanted. There were many things that deviated from the norm on this trip.
First, I took my calculator with me to ensure that I stayed within the allotted $63.
I hit up the produce section first. I actually weighed my fruit to see how much I was spending. Who uses those things anyway? I always see the scales hanging there but have never seen them being used--much less use it myself. As I was checking off my list, I began to get a little panicky as my money dwindled. How was I going to get all I needed? I decided to go with frozen veggies over fresh, which I have heard are just as nutritional as the fresh.
Change in plans...no Kung Poa Chicken tomorrow. I could not afford the soy sauce or hoisin sauce; key ingredients! So I think that I will use some of the breadcrumbs I bought for the meatloaf to make some homemade chicken nuggets.
As I stated before, I try to cook relatively healthy; unfortunatly I inherieted high cholestrol and heart disease runs rampant in my family history, so the majority of the time, I aim for foods that won't make it worse. (I say this as I think my husband is making fried chicken tonight--at least I don't have to cook :) ...)
If I wanted to make it easy, we could of had Hamburger Helper, frozen pizzas, mac n cheese, etc.; (we do have the things on rare occassions but I could not imagine on a regular basis) and I am sure it would have been easier to stick to the budget! But looking at the choices I had for the less expensive foods, made my stomach turn. I am not sure you could call the lunch meats meat with all the ingredients I could not pronouce.
I am not sure how long I was at the store but I know it took my longer than my normal trips. Since, I despise grocery shoppping, I go once a week. Let's hope I was able to get all we need. I spent $66.29--$3.29 more than I should have. (At least we have a $10 leeway.)
I now see why some people stand in line, taking things out of thier cart.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday, September 25th---menu planning
Saturday is my usual meal planning day with shopping on Sunday. Today went a little differently. It took a lot longer to really think about how much money I could spend. I try to stick to $100 a week for my family of 3. At the same time, I know if I spend more than that, it will be okay. I just have to figure out how to cut close to $40.
We eat relatively healthy; fresh fruit and veggies, lean meat, turkey, chicken. I would like to think that I am pretty good and cooking healthy meals and saving money. My daughter likes to tell me I am cheap. So I am really glad she will not be making this weeks trip to the store with me. My favorite stores to shop are ALDI's and Kroger.
I went through my recipes and tried for the ones I know are less expensive. It might be close, I am trying to stick to the meals we are used to eating...going for quality not quantity.
Here is what I came up with:
Monday--Kung Poa Chicken with brown rice
Tuesday--Spaghetti (homemade sauce with whole wheat pasta) and Salad
Wednesday--Sandwiches, Baby carrots, and cucumbers
Thursday--Homemade Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup and Salad
Friday--Slow Cook Red Beans and Rice
Saturday--Meatloaf, baked potatoes, green beans
Sunday--Turkey Tetrazzini
We always eat left overs for lunch. Breakfasts will consist of cereal, oatmeal, pancakes (I make a bunch and then freeze them), bagels, and eggs. Hopefully, I will have enough for some fruit and other snacks. Maybe I am thinking to big. We shall see.
We eat relatively healthy; fresh fruit and veggies, lean meat, turkey, chicken. I would like to think that I am pretty good and cooking healthy meals and saving money. My daughter likes to tell me I am cheap. So I am really glad she will not be making this weeks trip to the store with me. My favorite stores to shop are ALDI's and Kroger.
I went through my recipes and tried for the ones I know are less expensive. It might be close, I am trying to stick to the meals we are used to eating...going for quality not quantity.
Here is what I came up with:
Monday--Kung Poa Chicken with brown rice
Tuesday--Spaghetti (homemade sauce with whole wheat pasta) and Salad
Wednesday--Sandwiches, Baby carrots, and cucumbers
Thursday--Homemade Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup and Salad
Friday--Slow Cook Red Beans and Rice
Saturday--Meatloaf, baked potatoes, green beans
Sunday--Turkey Tetrazzini
We always eat left overs for lunch. Breakfasts will consist of cereal, oatmeal, pancakes (I make a bunch and then freeze them), bagels, and eggs. Hopefully, I will have enough for some fruit and other snacks. Maybe I am thinking to big. We shall see.
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