Many resources go into putting dinner on the table.
I don’t know about you, but I never go on a government website unless I need to make camping reservations or put my mail on hold. However, one government site worth exploring is the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion Cost of Food page. It breaks down what average people spend on groceries by following thrifty, low cost, moderate cost, or liberal plans.
In March of 2015 for example, the data says that a woman my age would spend anywhere from $38.20 to $76 on groceries. My unique family situation would need $142.50 per week at the thrifty level, all the way up to $281.60 if we followed the liberal plan.
Last week I asked myself the question, “Can I feed my family for less than the USDA Thrifty Food plan?” I carefully crafted my weekly menu: roast chicken, spaghetti, tacos, baked potatoes, lentil soup, vegetable soup and left-overs, and prepared to be extra frugal. When my grocery receipt totaled $122.33, I felt smug.
Except … I had no business feeling proud because I hardly bought any fresh fruits or vegetables. I relied on my Klesick Family Farm box to arrive later that week. Add in the $33 I spent on the box, and my total expenditure on groceries upped to $155.33 — nearly $13 over budget.
I bet a lot of The Herald’s readers could easily beat my $155.33. “What are you doing buying local, organic produce?” they might ask. Or, they might look at my receipt and question, “Did you really need to buy bagels, bread and tortillas?”
On the other hand, some people might think “No way could I feed my family for so little. Don’t you realize the price of food keeps going up?”
I would argue that all these opinions are valid because feeding your family is such a complex task. I don’t think dollars and cents tell the full story either. There are also time, gas, and good parenting to consider.
This week I spent two precious, child-free hours grocery shopping so that I could strictly adhere to my list without somebody begging for extras. I expended gas money when I got in my car, drove past our local grocery store (which tends to be pricey,) and shopped at Trader Joe’s. I fed my family plain food that I knew they would eat, but that did little to expand their palates. None of those factors are reflected on my grocery receipt.
Neither is the time I spent cooking almost every meal from scratch. Homemade cookies, homemade soup, roast chicken — who am I, Betty Crocker? I don’t have time for this!
The rising cost of food is a real issue for families everywhere, including mine, but it’s hard to share how much you spend on groceries without immediately being judged. I hope we can all remember that feeding your family dinner isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Many resources go into putting dinner on the table, and all of them have a cost.
Jennifer Bardsley is an Edmonds mom of two. Find her on Twitter @jennbardsley and at www.heraldnet.com/ibrakeformoms and teachingmybabytoread.com.
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