Mitch@... said:I'm just curious.
I have a family of 5, and my food budget is $500/month. That includes
the kids' school lunch tickets. I've never gone over that.
I'm pretty good about stocking up when things go on sale.
I also make large batches and freeze things. I use coupons when I
can.
My brother and his wife, no kids, spend $500 a WEEK for the two of
them.
I bet this includes a lot of pre-prepped foods from the deli; kabobs,
stuffed salmon filets, chicken cordon bleu, bacon-wrapped filet mignon,
and tons of fancy side dishes to go with. Just take them home and bake
or grill according to directions.
I would also assume that this also includes one or more restaurant meals.
I spend probably $225 per week feeding my family of four. A little
less, maybe, since some of that is veggies, meat and bones destined for
the dogs. And that also includes one or more restaurant or carry-out
meals and both kids lunches packed for school.
They only have 20 minutes for lunch, which must also include the wait in
the lunch line. So although they are 17 and 13 respectively I still
pack their lunches; some sort of sandwich or protein (left-over steak is
a favorite), a bottle of chocolate milk, a carton of low fat yogurt,
maybe, or some applesauce or some grapes, maybe a couple of cookies or
some other sweet. Plus all of the necessary condiments, utensils and
napkins. All they have to do is walk in, sit down and start eating.
It's more food than they'd generally eat but I also know that both kids
share with hungry tablemates - the ones eating what my daughter's group
calls "a poor kid's lunch", a soda and a bag of chips, the cheapest
combo available. So nothing goes to waste.