Anonymous
Post 09/23/2013 13:48     Subject: food budget

See the post in the thread "how much do you spend on groceries?" That lady is a champ!
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2013 13:41     Subject: food budget

Probably about $1000/month for 2 parents and 2 teens (1 teen at college). We shop at Harris-Teeter (90% of what I buy is on sale), Trader Joe's (about once a month to stock up on cheese, olive oil, cheap red wine and nuts), and BJs (school snacks, eggs and milk, deli meat). Rarely buy organic. We never go to Whole Foods - they don't have anything I can't get somewhere else for less, and the parking is a PITA. Not saving that much over you and you're buying organic. I'd say you're doing pretty well in comparison.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2013 12:43     Subject: food budget

please share your food budget, how many people it covers and which stores you shop at/what in general you buy?

we have 4 people - my partner, my parents and our son who will be 3 very soon (he was with them until this Sep and now goes to pre-school half a day). I am pregnant with #2, 4 weeks to go.
I am struggliing to stay within $1500-1600 a month.
I buy only organic (except perhaps bananas and cabbage) and get milk/meats through the food coop (Amish farmer). we make raw food for our cats by grinding Hmart chickens/livers/hearts and then mixing it with Trader Joe's tuna for cats.
i shop at mom's, whole foods, trader joes, Hmart (cabbage, tea, chickens for cat food).

we cook everything from scratch.

Here is an approximate breakdown of what i buy and how much it takes

1) mom's - i buy mainly chicken/chicken wings, pork and some curry sauces - my son will only eat their farmer's chicken without fussing and their meats are better than Whole Foods. usually around $40/50
2) Trader Joes (only organic items, except for bananas) - monthly staples are olive oil, pototoes, onions, lettuce, carrots, fruits/bananas, frozen berries, frozen fish/shrimp, cheese, nuts/seeds, almond flour (for paleo muffins), frozen veggies (spinach, brocolli), tomatoes, beer/wine, toilet paper/paper towels, seaweed snacks. I am sure i am missing something. Usually between $140-180 (depending on what is out of stock).
3) whole foods (only organic) - bulk grains/beans. frozen okra (for my son, he loves it). brioche (again, my son likes it for breakfast). Kale. Zukkiniis, cauliflower. Eggplants. Occasional meats. Fish. Supplements sometimes. Sardines. Flour. - usually between $50 and $150
4) Hmart (not every week) - cabbage, tea (not organic), chickens for cat food (once a months or so), seafood fresh and frozen, fish (wild only)
5) weekly milk/butter/sour cream/meats/eggs from the Amish farmer - around $70-$90

For breakfast we eat muesli with nuts and soft boiled eggs.
Lunch - I pack for my partner and myself leftovers or salad.
Dinner - lots of soups. we bake our own bread. Curries. Stuffed peppers. Meatballs. Lots of cooked grains, cooked side vegetables. Lots of beans. Fish. the usual.

is it ok to spend that much? anyone manages to stay organic and feed 4.5 people for less?

any tips are appreciated.