Parenting
Nourishing a Large Family by Lisa Harper
Originally Published: March 9, 2016
When my three kids were toddlers, their eating habits were minimal. They seemed to thrive on little more than crackers and the occasional bite of fruit. I often wondered why people claimed that feeding children was costly. I had a tight grocery budget and managed just fine. But as they grew, so did their appetites, and now I find myself questioning things like: How can they consume so much? Didn’t I just buy two gallons of milk? And where did all my money go?
I love my bustling family, but I won’t lie; grocery shopping sometimes makes me rethink our decision to expand our clan. I’ve always been frugal, and watching my cart fill up at the warehouse store gives me anxiety. With every beep of the scanner, my grip on the cart tightens.
When you have a big family, buying in bulk becomes a necessity. A “family-sized” cereal box barely lasts one breakfast, and the days of cooking just a few eggs and a couple strips of bacon are long gone. Now, I’m scrambling dozens of eggs and frying pounds of bacon. A gallon of milk disappears in a flash.
Nothing seems to last long in this house. I can fill the fridge to the brim, only to return hours later to find it nearly empty, with my voice echoing as I ask, “What happened to all the food?” My kids respond with requests for more snacks, “Hey Mom, can you bring home some more of those mini-muffins? They were awesome!”
When I received a blender for Christmas, I was thrilled—not just for the margaritas but for the chance to whip up smoothies for my family. However, I soon realized that making smoothies in bulk costs a fortune. While most people might use a banana and a few berries, I need a whole bunch of bananas and a pricey container of fruit just to make one batch, which my kids will gulp down in seconds before asking for more.
The chaos multiplies when friends come over. I can hear them asking, “Can my buddy come over?” but what I really hear is, “Can my friend come over to devour everything in the pantry?” With several kids and their friends, the snacks vanish quicker than I can keep up with.
During mealtime, whether it’s just us or a small gathering, you’ll find me cooking in massive pots. My regular cookware has been replaced with oversized pots that can handle the volume we consume. I prepare soup by the gallon and my meatloaf could rival a log.
Dining out is another story. When my kids were younger, I could sneak them bites from my plate or share a kids’ meal. But those days are gone. Now, it’s a kids’ meal for everyone—and then they want to order from the adult menu. The costs add up quickly, and before I know it, I’m sweating over the bill. Even the dollar menu isn’t a bargain when it feels like I’m ordering for an army.
I wouldn’t trade my lively, hungry household for anything, but it would be nice if my kids weren’t devouring their college savings one bulk pack of snacks at a time. At least with all that food, they’ll have the energy to run around and have fun.
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In summary, managing a large family’s appetite is no small feat. Bulk buying becomes essential, and cooking takes on a whole new scale. While I adore my noisy, hungry household, the cost of feeding everyone can be overwhelming at times. Finding balance and resources is key to navigating this rewarding yet challenging journey.