National Study on Grocery Budgeting

How much does the average family spend on groceries?   Nationwide, according to the USDA, here it is:

Two adults:

$361 thrifty / $459 low-cost / $569 moderate / $711 liberal

Two adults and 2 kids under 11:

$603 thrifty / $779 low-cost / $974 moderate / $1,182 liberal

Spending for my own family, which includes 4 kids, two of whom are teenagers and all of whom play at least one competitive sport, puts me in the THRIFTY to LOW-COST range.

So much for these excuses for not eating nutritious whole foods:

“I can’t because I’m a busy, single, working mom.”

“It’s too expensive.”

Truly, I believe that the reason nutrition hasn’t gone out the window since I’ve been a single mother is that I had good habits and a repertoire of recipes and ideas in place.   These are what I try to give you with my 12 Steps program.  

And I don’t overspend on groceries (I spend about $800/mo.) because what I spend on produce is offset by what I DON’T spend on processed/packaged food and meat.   While I do like a bargain, I don’t have the time or the interest to clip coupons, drive all over town, or obsess about the budget.   Also, while 12 Steps gives lots of tips, the top two that save me loads of money are (1) summer gardening, and (2) my large freezer that allows me to store produce, seeds, nuts, and more.

See http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodCost-Home.htm for more info about these nationwide averages.

Posted in: 12 Steps To Whole Food, Gardening, Relationships