amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Ariadne Umbrell · 08-28-2007, 01:51 PM

Hi,

I got to read in another forum (S&T) when I wasn't registered. I got to read two threads before the computer shut down.

When I first had a kid, on a different message board, an extremely nice mom sent me an e-mail about her family's menu and budget. I saved it, and copied it here.

Her nom de screen was okramama, and she was incredibly sweet, good, positive, kind, and nurturing.

Here it is, reprinted in full:

Monthly I buy 10 pounds of:

flour, rice
and 5 lbs. sugar and 1 can of oatmeal.

I also buy bulk raisins, peanutbutter,salt, baking powder about every other month and spices as we run low.

I buy 3 gallons of non-BHT milk a week and a carton of eggs and a lb. of butter from Trader Joe's. (About $20.00)

Then I read my circulars, and have no brand or store loyalty, but go straight to where the price is right. Like this week I scored THREE t-bone steaks for $6.00 (that's three weeks worth of beef for our house) and SIX pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $1.09 a pound (Our month's worth of chicken - sort of a convenience food, but worth the ease). Also we were given a 20 pound ham at Christmas and portioned it out for three months.

Our menu this week:

Breakfasts: lemon-ginger muffins, pumpkin-pecan muffins (2 days), pancakes, oatmeal (3 days with brown sugar and milk) = milk to drink

Lunches: PB & J sandwiches& carrot sticks (2 times), spinach salad (2 times), tuna sandwiches & pickles, tomato soup & grilled cheese = apples or oranges offered at all meals

Dinner: homemade navy bean soup with ham and cornbread; pancakes, bean burritos with Spanish rice & salsa; baked potatoes topped with cheese and broccoli; baked sweet potatoes and chicken; homemade minestrone with sourdough rolls and spinach salad; cheese omelets

snacks: oranges, apples, oatmeal raisin cookies

Sunday brunch: waffles and ham steak

We do not spend money on mixes or cereals (except for raw oatmeal), which saves a tremendous amount of money. We also make what we have a supply of, we don't buy special for a meal. Use your leftovers in new ways. (I use the leftover meatloaf for sandwiches, then stroganoff, then minestrone)Try to eat with the seasons, too. Don't get sucked into coupons unless you would buy that product anyway. Make friends with people in food industries or people that have surplus (LIKE ME!!! Too much citrus!!!)

My weakness is coffee, but we got four pounds from my brother for Christmas.

GOOD LUCK!!! I recommend reading Laurel's Kitchen and the Tightwad Gazette.