feed this family

grocery shopping, cooking, dishes... really unavoidable aspects of being a mother and a wife in my opinion but as of late due to our financial situation, I've had to figure out ways to feed our family of 4 for less. At first I thought, 'How can i skimp on food?? i need to feed my babies!!', feelings of guilt at not being in a more stable financial situation before having children came over me.. for about 5 minutes and then i had to prepare lunch and menu plan for the next fortnight and take the kids shopping.

I ALWAYS plan a menu, at least for the week though i prefer a 'big' fortnightly shop rather than several quick trips to the shops. I am blessed (yes, blessed) with a tiny kitchen with little storage. I don't have a massive pantry, i basically store all my cooking needs in one tiny cupboard and I like it that way. I'm never tempted to 'stock up' on things i 'might' need one day. I buy it, i use it. what is the big deal about all of this?? well before i burst with pride (yes, pride) i have managed to feed my family of 4 for a whole fortnight for... *drum roll* $132! that's basically 3 meals a day, snacks and this fortnight i needed NAPPIES and TOILET PAPER! this includes all groceries, meats, chicken, fruit & vegetables.

Menu planning for me starts with 'shopping my pantry' or cupboard & fridge in my case. And for such a tiny space i actually had a lot to work with. Its all pretty basic stuff but its amazing the meals you can come up with using different combinations of ingredients.

Coming up with meal ideas & recipes has been made much easier with Google. i basically google a bunch of ingredients I think go together and slap on the word recipe on the end and i come up with an endless list of yummy recipes.

On the menu this fortnight is:

Crumbed & pan fried chicken with roast vegetables
Beef Stir fry
Peanut Chicken Curry
Beef Risotto
Cajun Beef Chili
Macaroni & Cheese
Potato & Carrot Soup
five spice chicken & broccoli stir fry
Corned beef & Thai vegetables
BBQ Lamb with onion rings & asparagus salad

No food goes to waste in this house, leftovers are always eaten. for breakfast we bake our own bread & have scrambled eggs, we have some sausages from last fortnight & we have a gigantic box of cereal to go through. For snacks, we bake cookies or we have cheese & fresh fruit.

and yes i can cook all this for 2 weeks for $132 and i bought NAPPIES & TOILET PAPER in BULK! I just cant get over it..

talking with other mothers who shop & cook for their families, we've admitted to spending $100+ on groceries and not really feeling like you're buying much. Mind you, meal planning for me takes time, looking for recipes & looking at the specials at all the many different supermarkets, but its something Ive come to enjoy & take pride in. If i were to take away the nappies & toilet paper which we don't buy every fortnight i would have spent... $111! wow. yay me!

learning to live with less, i feel, has been such a blessing for my family. We've come to develop a real appreciation for the little things. We've come to see how truly lucky & blessed we are. We've come to take care of and appreciate the possessions we have, we've come to appreciate each other. We cant afford to take the kids to the movies or to any fancy restaurants or out to too many places but home is where we have the most fun anyways. Baking bread & cookies a few ties a week has become a little tradition me and the children enjoy. its a chance to get messy, to talk & to listen. ahhh OK well off i go to bake some bread & get lunch started.

Enjoy Sundays, that's what they're there for.