Thursday means shopping day in our house. Everyother Thursday is a "big shop" where I go to Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Aldi and Big Y with my list of things that are on sale at each store. On the other Thursdays I just go to Big Y. Today is Thursday, and it is a good thing too.
Usually by Wednesday we are down to slim pickings. These are the days when I pack my children lunches that must have the teachers laughing. Couscous and peas, pretzels, 3 slices of Havarti cheese and a banana that has seen better days went to Madeleine. Sophie was thrilled to find a rye and cream cheese sandwich, a sliced half of apple (because the other half was mush), a whole carrot and pretzels. Sometimes the girls question my sanity, but to their credit, neither one has ever complained.
I only shop on one day to keep within a budget. It is much easier to spend more if I am running out for things here and there, so whatever we are out of (except milk) will not be replaced until Thursday. This accounts for the odd food pairings for lunch and dinner, another example being last night's meatballs and spanikopita. Or last week's quinoa, bacon, broccoli salad.
It is worth it. I spend 40 dollars a week for groceries on the off weeks, and 80 dollars on the "big shop" weeks for a family of 4. Coupons don't really help because I rarely buy brand name stuff and with Madeleine's allergies I need to make most everything from scratch.
Fast forward a few years, and I wonder when it will occur to my children that this is not the "Normal" way in America. That most people buy what they want, when they want it. That it is usually spaghetti and meatballs, not spanikopita and meatballs. I wonder on the SAT'S when you have to compare the words (Hat is to head as mitten is to glove) if the question is: Apple is to pie as _____ is to salad, will my children raise their hands and ask what day it is?
Usually by Wednesday we are down to slim pickings. These are the days when I pack my children lunches that must have the teachers laughing. Couscous and peas, pretzels, 3 slices of Havarti cheese and a banana that has seen better days went to Madeleine. Sophie was thrilled to find a rye and cream cheese sandwich, a sliced half of apple (because the other half was mush), a whole carrot and pretzels. Sometimes the girls question my sanity, but to their credit, neither one has ever complained.
I only shop on one day to keep within a budget. It is much easier to spend more if I am running out for things here and there, so whatever we are out of (except milk) will not be replaced until Thursday. This accounts for the odd food pairings for lunch and dinner, another example being last night's meatballs and spanikopita. Or last week's quinoa, bacon, broccoli salad.
It is worth it. I spend 40 dollars a week for groceries on the off weeks, and 80 dollars on the "big shop" weeks for a family of 4. Coupons don't really help because I rarely buy brand name stuff and with Madeleine's allergies I need to make most everything from scratch.
Fast forward a few years, and I wonder when it will occur to my children that this is not the "Normal" way in America. That most people buy what they want, when they want it. That it is usually spaghetti and meatballs, not spanikopita and meatballs. I wonder on the SAT'S when you have to compare the words (Hat is to head as mitten is to glove) if the question is: Apple is to pie as _____ is to salad, will my children raise their hands and ask what day it is?
