In preparation, I started reading the flyers and making a preliminary list and meal plan for the week. On first glance, it seems like this is a really good week to buy groceries on a budget (why don't I read the flyers more often?). What I did notice however, is that flyers show very few raw ingredients. There are packaged foods that seem like great deals on first glance, like a box of chicken strips (18 count) for $4.88, and I came very close to putting them on my list ... but then I realized that 18 chicken strips will feed us for only one dinner (while Miss W will likely eat only 2 or 3, Mr. S eats like a man!), and they are full of salt and processed ingredients that aren't going to make us feel very good! Whole chickens are on sale for $1.99 a pound ... so a 3 pound chicken is going to cost me $6.00, but in my meal plan we are going to get at least two meals out of it (maybe even three!). This takes the price down to less than $1 per person per meal --- sweat equity is going to be my friend this week!
My other observation is that there is a vast discrepancy between food prices and options in Perth versus those in Smiths Falls. If I drove to Smiths Falls, I could get two chickens for $10.00! That could feed us essentially for the week! But I am trying to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. If my food budget is so slim, do I have enough money to own a car? We live in an area without public transport, and while I don't know how much a taxi costs to get from Perth to Smiths Falls, I have a hunch that it might negate any savings I get. So I am limiting my shopping to Perth. That gives me the choices of: The Independent Grocer, Metro, Giant Tiger, Shoppers Drug Mart and Foodsmiths. I am going to do one grocery shop for the week ... but I realize that even this is a luxury. Again, imagine trying to walk from the grocery store to your home with a week's worth of groceries (and likely a child or two in tow!). I am starting to think that volunteer drivers, much like those the Cancer Society uses, might be something to think about for people trying to live on limited means!
So here is the first draft of the meal plan based on what I see just in the flyers ... I'm pretty sure this is going to change once I get to the store and start really "doing the math!" Luckily, my kids love routine ... so the same breakfast each day is likely going to be ok... and the lunches are things they like ... Robin eats an egg sandwich at the hospital cafeteria each day, so why mess with that? If there are leftovers, I can send those for lunches as well, and I am fine with a peanut butter sandwich! I would normally do all homemade treats such as muffins and cookies, but with only 5 pantry staples allowed, it's going to be hard to bake for the week (although it would be far healthier and more economical for someone to pool their resources and bake at home). The pantry staples I'm going to use are: coffee, salt, olive oil, mayonnaise and ketchup (I think!).
What has been cut out? Our pre-swimming trips to the bakery, meeting friends for tea or coffee ... and ... Men's Night starts on Thursday ... I have a feeling it won't be quite as much fun drinking water on the golf course while the others enjoy a sip or two! We will see if there is money left over for a bottle of wine, or if I need to make choices between what I want and what the kids need (I've been known to deny my kids cereal in the morning so that there is enough milk for my coffee ...eeks!).
Look for me this weekend ... I'll be the one with the list and the calculator!
Breakfast: Kids: cereal, milk, 1/2 orange Adults: toast, peanut butter, yogurt, banana Lunch Kids: Tuna Sandwich, yogurt tube, cucumber, applesauce, granola bar, goldfish crackers Robin: egg sandwich, apple, carrot sticks Jordan: Tuna sandwich, carrot sticks, apple Dinner Baked beans, green salad, baking powder biscuits | Tuesday Breakfast: Kids: cereal, milk, 1/2 orange Adults: toast, peanut butter, yogurt, banana Lunch Kids: Canned soup, yogurt tube, cucumber, applesauce, granola bar, goldfish crackers Robin: egg sandwich, apple, carrot sticks Jordan: 2 eggs, carrot sticks, apple Dinner Roast Chicken, potato wedges, green Salad | Wednesday Breakfast: Kids: cereal, milk, 1/2 orange Adults:toast,peanut butter, yogurt, banana Lunch Kids: Kraft Dinner, yogurt tube, cucumber, applesauce, granola bar, goldfish crackers Robin: egg sandwich, apple, carrot sticks Jordan: Peanut butter sandwich, apple, carrot sticks Dinner Korean Beef Rice green beans | Thursday Breakfast: Kids: cereal, milk, 1/2 orange Adults: toast, peanut butter, yogurt, banana Lunch Kids: S lunch at Crystal Palace through The Table. W: Left overs?, yogurt tube, cucmber, granola bar, applesauce Robin: egg sandwich, apple, carrot sticks Jordan: Peanut butter Sandwich, apple, carrot sticks Dinner Chicken Lettuce Wraps (use leftover chicken from Tuesday), fill with leftover rice, salsa, black beans | Friday Breakfast: Kids: cereal, milk, 1/2 orange Adults: toast, peanut butter, yogurt, banana Lunch Kids: Kraft Dinner, yogurt tube, cucumber, applesauce, granola bar, goldfish crackers Robin: egg sandwich, apple, carrot sticks Jordan: 2 eggs, carrot sticks, apple Dinner Community dinner at The Table (a culminating activity for the week) or chicken soup and biscuits, any other leftovers |