When my three energetic boys were infants, they barely consumed anything. As toddlers, their diets consisted primarily of Goldfish crackers and the occasional piece of fruit. I often wondered why people claimed feeding children was so costly while I effortlessly maintained my modest grocery budget. However, as their appetites grew, I found myself asking questions like: Where are they putting all that food? Didn’t I just buy 4 gallons of milk? Why is my bank account vanishing?
I cherish the chaos of a large family, but I must admit, grocery shopping sometimes makes me reconsider the decision to have “just one more.” Being frugal is in my nature, and the thought of emptying my wallet at a warehouse store like Sam’s Club is daunting. With every beep of the scanner, my anxiety heightens.
Bulk buying is essential when you have a household full of seemingly insatiable appetites. There’s no cereal box large enough; what’s labeled “family-sized” is barely enough for one breakfast, leaving just enough for a snack later. Breakfast has transformed from a few eggs and a half-pound of bacon to dozens of eggs and pounds of bacon. A gallon of milk? It disappears in less than two days.
In fact, the fridge could be fully stocked one moment, and the next, it’s as if a horde of hungry teenagers raided it. I often find myself yelling, “What happened to all the groceries?” only to hear my kids respond, “Hey Mom, could you grab some more mini-muffins next time? They were awesome!”
When I received a new blender for Christmas, I was thrilled—mostly for margaritas, but also because I could make smoothies for my family! Fresh fruits, vitamins, and minerals! Unfortunately, my excitement faded quickly when I realized how much it costs to make smoothies in large quantities. While most people blend a banana or two, I’m using an entire bunch and a $6 container of berries—just for one smoothie that my kids will guzzle down and then request a snack.
Heaven help my pantry when my kids invite friends over. They say, “Can my buddy come over?” but I hear, “Can my friend come over and devour everything in sight?” The combination of multiple kids and their friends results in a kitchen catastrophe, as they munch through snacks like a swarm of hungry locusts.
At mealtime, whether guests are present or not, I find myself stirring massive pots of food. Standard-sized cookware has been replaced by larger pots to accommodate our needs. A regular pan won’t suffice for three batches of Hamburger Helper—I now make soup by the gallon and my meatloaf resembles a meat log.
Dining out is a treat, allowing someone else to manage the mega-cooking and cleaning, but taking a big family to a restaurant is a different experience altogether. When they were younger, I could split a kids’ meal among a couple of them, but those days are gone. Now, it’s a kids’ meal for each of them—ka-ching! Soon, they’re eyeing the adult menu. Ka-ching, ka-ching. And then they want appetizers and desserts. Ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-POW! (That’s my head exploding.) Even dollar menus aren’t so budget-friendly when you need to order enough for an army.
While I wouldn’t trade my bustling, loud, and hungry household for anything, it would be great if my kids weren’t devouring their college funds one giant pack of string cheese at a time. At least with all this food, they’ll have the energy to panhandle!
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For more insights on family life, be sure to read more on this blog post.
Summary
Managing the grocery needs of a large family can be overwhelming and expensive, as appetites grow and mealtime becomes a logistical challenge. From bulk buying to the chaos of dining out, navigating the kitchen with multiple children is a constant balancing act. However, with the right resources, such as advice on home insemination and pregnancy, families can find ways to make life a little easier.
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