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 The Cardiologist's Wife's $100 Grocery Challenge A friend recently issued me a challenge I couldn’t refuse: Could I feed my family of four for a week with only $100? The challenge included three meals a day, plus snacks and most important, maintaining a high level of good nutrition. Many people are faced with a strict budget and food costs continue to rise astronomically so I was instantly on board with the idea. I especially liked that I could show that healthy food doesn’t have to be expensive. I placed additional parameters on the project. I excluded pet food because many people don’t have pets and two of my animals have very sensitive stomachs. Cleaning up animal barf was not part of my plan. I feel that most people have plenty of food in their cabinets, freezer and refrigerator that they overlook. So I inventoried my pantry while also digging through my recipes. Our diet would not change from what I usually cook either. Cleaning supplies, paper goods and toiletries are not included. There is no way you can buy those items in addition to food for $100. You would have to have governmental help if your budget is that tight. The challenge began Monday and so far I’ve spent $63.54. That number includes quite a bit of meat and $10 worth of milk. I found a 7 lb. organic whole chicken marked down to $6.81 for Sunday dinner. I bought cabbage, oranges, grapes, celery and onions. A rotisserie chicken marked down to $3.59 will be used for chicken salad for my kids’ lunches, much cheaper than most deli meat. Oroweat whole wheat bread is on sale, two for $3.79, a much better choice than the $1.00 white bread. I bought cheese sticks and yogurt for lunches, breakfasts and snacks. I did not buy sodas, chips or any other processed foods. I normally don’t buy these items anyway. My inventory turned up a can of tuna, two partial bags each of beans and pasta, peanut butter, a bit of deli ham, carrots, sugar snap peas, eggs, cereal, oatmeal, cheese and salad greens.
My menu through Saturday is as follows: Our breakfasts have included coffee, orange juice or milk, eggs, oatmeal and cereal. The kids have taken ham, chicken salad and peanut butter sandwiches, water, apples, carrots and yogurt for lunch. I have had salads and peanut butter sandwiches for lunch but Barry eats lunch at work. Most people don’t cook high fiber but cheap foods like dried beans, carrots and cabbage anymore. We’ve gotten lazy and turned to less nutritious processed foods that don’t always fill you up like chips and pizza. Water is dirt cheap but we spend our limited dollars on sugar water and soft drinks. Check back next week to find out if I meet the challenge. I’m challenging you to come out Saturday at 9 a.m. to Joe Mac Campbell park for May’s Walk With A Doc.
Until next week, [+] add comment |