Does eating in really save money?

[GrimJack]

Scanner, you sound like me in my youth - I grew up in Montana and thought meat and potatoes was a complete meal. Then I started by cooking cheap cuts of meat surrounded by onions, carrots and potatoes sealed tight in a pan at about 225 all day. Later I got a crock pot. The roast can later be cut up and stirred into a pan with a can of beans, salsa, onions and cooked slowly. You could substitute a can of coconut milk for the beans and salsa and put over rice. Rice is soooo easy. One cup of rice to 2 2/3 cups water, bring water to a boil, add the rice and when the water starts to boil again cover and turn the burner off and walk away - it'll be ready in about 20 minutes, stir it with a chop stick to 'fluff' the rice and there you are.

[Scanner]

Well, UPDATE: my ribs were a disaster, LOL (and go ahead and criticize and make fun, lol).

I made the ribs. . .the middle son refused to eat it. . .fine, I made him some Easy-Mac as I was tending to the toddler while trying to throw together a Dad meal. Yeah, I could have fought it but I just gave in so add $1.00 to the meal there.

So the older son (who requested the damn ribs) was eating the ribs and I was eating them with him and I asked him how he liked them and he said it was okay and I said yeah, it was okay, not as good as Famous Daves' but not bad.

So I tell him when he's done his rack to wrap it up in the aluminum foil and bring it in and throw it away.

30 minutes later he says he's hungry. I'm like, "WTF?"

HE THREW HALF OF THE RIBS AWAY!!!

I yelled, "What are you doing!??!!" He said, "Well you told me to throw it away when I was done." (guilty as charged, LOL)

I said, "I thought you were going to eat all of them!" and proceeded to freak.

Well, luckily (and you probably think this is gross but here it goes) it hadn't touched any of the other trash so I picked it out for me to eat later; it was all wrapped neatly on the aluminum foil. Hell, that was about $7 of protein there.

So when the toddler took his nap, you can add 2 grilled cheese sandwiches to the food cost, LOL.

I know, I know - have at it - bad parenting, bad hygiene and bad cooking all in one day.

I think Dad Day is going to be a Day of Fast.

How's that for saving money for everyone?

[irmanator]

Rob said "On our trip we did stop at McDonalds for breakfast; we were on a bus tour group. We each got a small breakfast sandwich and water. the McDonalds charged us 20 cents each for the water, so even that is starting to become a cost. Then, we were charged a tax for eating in...because we used a booth or table we had to pay a tax? Hello!"

Here in NY it does look that way on the receipt so I asked a cashier about it and she said the tax is the same regardless of take out or eat in. that is just there to tell the person putting the order together if they need a bag or tray.

[jpg7n16]

How's that for saving money for everyone?

Well I was gonna suggest dumpster diving for food as a way to lower costs, but you beat me to it lol

[disneysteve]

Sorry the dinner didn't work out, Scanner. No bad parenting or bad hygiene, though. Bad cooking is bound to happen. I'm a very good cook but still have failures from time to time.

Of course, if your son was using Famous Dave's as his comparison, probably nothing you did at home would have measured up. That place is a meat lover's paradise.

I'd suggest picking up a basic cookbook. Not one of the new celebrity chef guides with a zillion ingredients but a down-to-earth book like the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook (it is in the red and white plaid cover). If you can pick up an older edition at a yard sale or thrift shop, even better. Another good choice is to find one of the cookbooks geared to college students. I can't give you any specific titles but there are a few aimed at folks with limited cooking skills and limited budgets. They are great for someone looking to make simple but healthy meals on a budget.

[Scanner]

Well, let's say Dad's cooking has never been the most popular.

I am not sure if it's the possibility I am a bad cook (distinct possibility) or the possibility that kids only eat chicken nuggets, mac/n/cheese, and Ramen noodles.

My stb-x and I used to have this discussion - I would make something like fish and vegetables and she would say, "The kids would never eat that!" and sure enough she was right. Whether that was a self-fulfilling prophesy or kids only eat the above, I am not sure. I am not expecting them to eat an exotic prepared salmon in a jelly sauce of some sort but I thought I remember eating fish when I was a kid and liking it.

Still. . .I will concede the kids like mom's cooking better than mine.

I'll tell you - I am putting on the forum the biggest dysfunction in our family - our nutrition. My kids are really good kids; I am very proud - they never get in trouble at school, they are involved in sports and music programs, they are extremely polite and well raised but when it comes to dinner, our family, present and "post-maritial" family has been extremely dysfunctional.

The "Rib Fiasco" I told you about is very typical and which makes me think just getting protein at a hot bar at the Acme makes more sense that constantly battling and preparing and preparing again yet another dinner.

Well, we talked in the car on the way back - spagetti and meatballs next week. (except hte oldest doesn't like spagetti but he'll have a meatball sub )

[Scanner]

ONe thing a divorce book said too (it was really good about helping me through the trauma) - don't try to be something you aren't after/during the divorce and specifically mentioned Dads trying to be a "cook" for the kids.

I should have followed the book's advice.

Despite the forum's best intentions, I think I am just getting prepared proteins and making side dishes/salads to accompany dinner.

I am not a good cook and I am sure I don't have the resources to become one.

[disneysteve]

the possibility I am a bad cook

Cooking is a skill. It requires training and practice. Anybody can do it. You just need to learn how. Maybe you can look around and find some cooking classes in your area.

she would say, "The kids would never eat that!" and sure enough she was right. Whether that was a self-fulfilling prophesy or kids only eat the above, I am not sure.

Some parents will debate me on this but I believe that is self-fulfilling. I have parents tell me their kids are picky eaters. All they will eat is Kraft Mac and Cheese and McDonald's chicken nuggets. Well no kid comes out knowing about those foods. The parents introduced those foods and when the kid whined and cried over other foods, the parent gave in and served mac and cheese. What did that teach the kid? It taught him that he doesn't have to eat anything else and mom will buy him what he wants.

[rob62521]

I'm a decent cook and I still have failures. It's a part of life. Your ribs were edible, not burned, charred, or poisonous so you didn't fail. It just didn't meet your expectations. And like most things in life, you have to practice to get better.

Don't give up! If you can't take a cooking class, find a friend who will help you learn...split the cost of the food and eat your work! Or, look on the 'net for videos on how to like this one:

YouTube - Great Depression Cooking - The Poorman's Meal

Don't degrade yourself!

[disneysteve]

ONe thing a divorce book said too (it was really good about helping me through the trauma) - don't try to be something you aren't after/during the divorce and specifically mentioned Dads trying to be a "cook" for the kids.

I can see the logic in that. Kids need some consistency in the midst of chaos. If dad has never cooked before, it will seem weird for him to suddenly start cooking. That said, you don't just need to feed them. You need to learn to feed yourself in ways that don't involve ordering by talking into the clown's mouth. Maybe your idea isn't such a bad way to go. Start small by buying some ready made stuff and just making the accompaniments yourself. Bring in a rotisserie chicken and make a little salad and some baked potatoes. It is summer time. Why not throw some burgers or hot dogs on the grill and boil some corn on the cob. Meals can be simple and enjoyable (and cheap).

[sm808]

Scanner - I think you're effort is great and shows the kids that you want your time together to be special. Great job!

I don't have kids, but I was a nanny for many, many years and I agree with Steve. Kid's aren't inherently picky - sure, some kids don't like certain foods, just like certain adults have preferences and things they would never eat. However, many caregivers are scared that kids won't like something so they avoid it completely in hopes of avoiding the mess that you described "I don't like it, I won't try it, etc." to the point where you end up a short-order line cook and make something else for them. Fish is a great example - many adults don't like fish, so they don't give it to kids, or when they do, they are hesitant and offering something else as an option. With younger kids, I had a rule where they HAD to try it, even a bite, every time, before they said they didn't like it. How do you know if you like/don't like if you won't try? Also, kids need to be exposed to things in different ways before they understand it. Fish might be incorporated pre-cooked first, and then breaded, and then simply baked. Obviously, there might be some waste involved, but you might find something they like.

You mentioned older kids too - might you involve them in the cooking/planning process? Maybe they can pick the vegetable that night and get it ready to steam (in the micro) or they can look online for recipes they might want to try.

Don't beat yourself up about this - you're doing a great job and putting effort in, and kids always notice that, even if they don't seem to appreciate it!

[Scanner]

It's funny - that's exactly who I was thinking I needed on the nutritional front - SuperNanny.

Thanks.

[tdls17]

It does if you have a budget in place for your grocery bills. For example, for my family of 4 (6 with the dogs) I budget $600 a month. We buy economically as well: beans, rice, pasta, to name a few.

Denise

[TheStreetCeo]

Holy Ribs! how much did you buy and does it wrapped in gold lining? Serioulsy speaking, if you don't have a membership at Sams club or Costco your spending way too much on meat. I'm working on a blog post where I compare Super target prices on 25 items my family and I purchase every couple of weeks to Costco's pricing. I can tell you that Super Target is really cheap but Costco kills them in the meat department. For example, Tbones per lb at Super target is 11.99 per lb. T bones at Costco $6.99 lb. I've had both and they are both equally good and Costco's meet is grass fed (so the label says).

Momslikeme.com has some really great recipes on it if you need more examples to check out.

[lovcom]

I eat out all the time and I find it can be health too.

Char broiled chicken with NO drinks...they screw you on the drinks and sides. Stick to the combos on the menu and again no drinks, or bring your own.

Many meals can be enough for two people. When I get a steak or lobster, I order just one plate and me and a friend can chow down and be satisfied.

Trader Joe's has ready made healthy fulfilling salads for cheap.

Eat a lot of fruit between meals, as it insures you'll get full fast.

Subway and Quizno's are cheap if you buy just a sandwich, no drink...you really don't need the combo's chips and drink....just the sandwich and bring your own fruit or yogert.

On weekends I eat a late breakfast, NO lunch, and an early dinner, so I can cut out one major meal exponse. Between breakfast and dinner I eat a lot of cheap fruit, and protein snacks that are not filled with salt nor sugar.

Who has time to cook? I don't.