When my four children were infants, their food intake was minimal. As toddlers, their diets consisted mainly of snacks like Goldfish crackers and not much else. I often questioned why people claimed that feeding kids was so costly, as I seemed to manage my grocery budget quite comfortably. However, as their appetites grew, I found myself pondering how they could consume so much food. Didn’t I just purchase three gallons of milk? What happened to my bank account?
I cherish my large family, but I must admit that grocery shopping can make me rethink our decision to expand. Being frugal by nature, I feel a pang of anxiety when I find myself buying in bulk at a wholesale club. Each beep at the checkout makes me tighten my grip on my wallet.
Bulk buying is nearly essential when you have several seemingly insatiable mouths to feed. Standard cereal boxes simply don’t cut it anymore; “family-sized” packages often only last for one breakfast, leaving a meager amount for the inevitable squabbles later. Breakfast has evolved from a few eggs and a half-pound of bacon to preparing dozens of eggs and multiple pounds of bacon. A gallon of milk now disappears in just a day and a half.
In fact, it’s rare for groceries to last longer than that in our home. I can fill the fridge to the brim, only to return hours later to find nothing but an empty space. As I call out, “What happened to all the groceries?” my kids innocently request, “Mom, could you pick up more mini-muffins next time you go shopping? They were delicious!”
When I received a new blender for Christmas, my excitement was twofold—margaritas and daiquiris, plus the opportunity to make nutritious smoothies for my family. However, my joy was short-lived when I realized how expensive it was to create smoothies in bulk. While most can make a smoothie with a banana and a handful of fruit, I need a whole bunch of bananas and a $6 container of berries for a single pitcher, which my children will quickly consume before clamoring for more snacks.
The situation escalates when my kids have friends over. Their request, “Can my friend come over?” translates to, “Can my friend come over and devour everything because their home lacks exciting food?” The combination of multiple children and their peers can quickly turn our kitchen into a scene from a locust swarm.
At mealtime, I find myself preparing massive quantities of food. My once-standard pots and pans have been replaced with larger cookware designed to handle our volume. A typical pan can no longer accommodate three batches of Hamburger Helper. I now make soup by the gallon and my meatloaf resembles a meat log.
Dining out offers a brief reprieve from the super-sized cooking and cleanup, but it presents its own challenges. When my kids were younger, I could share meals or order off my plate, but those days are long gone. Each child now requires their own meal, leading to a significant increase in expenses. Soon, they want to order from the adult menu, appetizers, and desserts, and my wallet feels the impact. Even dollar menus lose their charm when you need to order a multitude of items.
While I wouldn’t trade my bustling household for anything, it would be nice if my children weren’t consuming their future college funds, one bulk purchase of string cheese at a time. At least all that food ensures they have enough energy for their endless activities.
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Summary
Feeding a large family can be a daunting task, especially as appetites grow and grocery bills mount. Bulk buying is often the only solution to satisfy everyone’s hunger. Preparing meals requires larger cookware and significant planning, and dining out becomes an expensive endeavor. Despite the challenges, the joy of a bustling household makes it all worthwhile.
Keyphrase: feeding a large family
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