By: Jenna Matthews
Updated: June 3, 2021
Originally Published: March 9, 2016
In the early stages of motherhood, when my four children were infants, their food intake was minimal. As toddlers, they survived primarily on Goldfish crackers and the occasional snack. I often questioned why parents lamented about the costs of feeding children, as my grocery expenses seemed reasonable. However, as their appetites grew, so did my bewilderment: Where are they hiding all that food? Didn’t I just purchase three gallons of milk? My bank account seems to vanish faster than the groceries!
Having a large family is a joy, but grocery shopping can sometimes make me second-guess our choice to have “just one more.” Being frugal by nature, the thought of emptying my wallet at a bulk store fills me with dread. With each beep at the checkout, my anxiety rises. Bulk buying is essential when you have multiple children who appear to have insatiable appetites. The notion of “family-sized” products becomes laughable; it often translates to just one meal and a squabble over the leftovers. Breakfast has transformed from a few eggs and some bacon to dozens of eggs and multiple pounds of bacon. A gallon of milk lasts a mere day and a half.
In fact, very little food remains untouched for long in our home. I can fill the refrigerator to the brim, only to find it nearly empty just hours later. I often call out in disbelief, “What happened to all the groceries?” to which my children cheerfully respond, “Hey Mom, can you grab some more mini-muffins next time you’re out? They were delicious!”
When I received a new blender as a gift, my excitement was palpable—sure, I was eager about margaritas, but I was also thrilled about making nutritious smoothies for my family. However, I quickly realized the cost of creating smoothies in bulk. While others might blend a single banana and a handful of berries, I find myself using an entire bunch of bananas and an expensive container of berries for just one batch, only to hear my kids request snacks immediately afterward.
When my children invite friends over, I often hear, “Can my friend come over?” but what I interpret is, “Can my friend come over and devour everything in sight because their house has boring food?” With multiple kids and their friends, our kitchen gets ravaged like it’s under siege from a horde of hungry locusts—something that already happens too frequently.
At mealtimes, whether we have guests or not, I am often found stirring enormous pots of food. My standard cookware had to be replaced with larger pots that can accommodate our demands. Regular pans simply cannot handle triple batches of Hamburger Helper. Soup? I make it by the gallon, and my meat loaf resembles a small log rather than a loaf.
Dining out is a treat, allowing someone else to handle the cooking and cleanup, but it comes with its own challenges for a large family. When the kids are younger and eating minimally, I can share my plate or split a kid’s meal. But as they grow, each child demands their own meal. The costs multiply rapidly. Soon enough, they’re eyeing the adult menu, and with appetizers and desserts in the mix, it feels like my head might explode from the total bill. Even dollar menus become pricey when you’re ordering for a multitude.
I wouldn’t exchange my bustling, lively household for anything, but it can be disheartening to watch my children consume their future college funds—one bulk pack of string cheese at a time. At least all this food keeps them energized.
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Summary
Feeding a large family presents unique challenges, especially as children’s appetites grow. Grocery shopping becomes an exercise in bulk buying to meet the demands of multiple hungry mouths. The costs can be staggering, and mealtime requires larger cooking equipment and quantities. Despite the financial strain, the joy of a lively household outweighs the challenges of feeding a big family.
Keyphrase: Feeding a Large Family
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