|
If you stress about always making sure you have enough food to feed you're family, being able to stretch that meal to the last bite or what to buy for food without breaking the bank .. Don't worry you're not alone! With food prices going up (well the prices of everything going up!) and income not getting any better you have to learn to stretch those dollar bills. If you are feeding a big household stretching those dollars can be very difficult. So I have come up with a few helpful suggestions on how to stretch that meal for those pesky family members that show up unexpectedly... 1. SET A DINER TIME! This may not help with stretching food or money but it helps when you need the family there at diner time. (see number 2) Set it early but not too early but not too late either! I would say to have diner done around 6 or 7 pm that way you still have some time to relax after and maybe time for dessert before bed. Also you have time before to get home from work/ school and do what you need to do before starting diner. 2.ASK! Figure out who will be home..lets say you have a lot of people living with you maybe your sister, her son, your 10 year old daughter, your son and his girlfriend. Plus those family/ friends who show up just in time for diner. Ask those who live with you if they will be home that night and get a direct answer if they don't give you one tell them then they will have to fend for themselves for diner unless you know they will in fact be there. Also maybe sit down with the other family/ friends and ask them to tell you if they are going to be over around diner time to maybe bring a dish. Or one time maybe they do diner. Make sure you ask them once you get into a routine of asking it should become a regular thing they tell you. 3. BUY FOOD THAT'S CHEAPER OR WILL LAST LONGER! This means if you're going to have a full house don't buy a meal that is expensive stick with reduced prices or on sale items. We usually will stock up on those items during the week buying 4 or 5 packages of chicken that's on sale and putting it in the freezer. Also you could go for the larger meal idea and grab a turkey or ham and possibly have leftovers for lunch's or other diner dishes that week. (see number 4) 4.USE LEFT OVERS! If you are on a low budget for the week or whenever grab a large turkey or a ham and use the left overs from that to help prep you for the next few diners. Lets say you have a ham for diner one night. The next night you could make baked macaroni and cheese, a ham and pineapple bake or make you're own funky casserole. If you had turkey the night before you could make open faced turkey sandwiches, a turkey potpie, or a turkey soup. Whatever it may be you can stretch those meals for a day or two more than a lot of other meats. 5. SPOIL YOURSELF WHEN YOU CAN! If you have a night to yourself or with your other half alone (rare but it happens!) Splurge! Buy you're favorite meal that you never get to have because it's too expensive to buy with so many others to feed or go out for diner! It's rare and you don't get to do it much so might as well when you have the chance because you deserve it. So when it comes down to it planning is a very important part of diner time. Or any meal for that matter when you live with so many by making a few changes and being cautious of what you buy when you buy it you can feed everyone satisfyingly without breaking the bank.
Related Articles -
Food, Cooking, Tips, Family,
| 
