I know many of my friends only have one or two children. I am blessed to have 4 wonderful little people who depend on me (ok 2 of them aren't so little anymore, but we can pretend, right?). I also have a husband, who when it comes to food is just like having a couple of extra children. I decided to kind of track what we go through in one day of food around our house. I think it will make you appreciate the art of couponing and meal management. Perhaps it will even make me appreciate why I am trying to accomplish the daunting tasks of couponing and meal management.
Additionally, I keep a baby gate up to the hall leading to my pantry. The pantry is not open to everyone and mom definitely controls who enters the pantry and when. Why, you ask? Here's why:
1. Children need to know their limitations. The pantry is a wreck when I allow even the my 12 year old and 8 year old very minimal access to it. They don't know how to keep things organized like mom likes them to be.
2. They would eat everything inside. Going into the pantry and seeing all of the different foods in my stockpile is complete overload for anyone's growling tummy. If I allowed 24/7 access to everything, I wouldn't have anything and would grocery shop on a daily basis.
3. The kids don't know everything in the pantry. If they don't know it's there, they won't ask for it. Dinner is dinner no matter what your wondering eyes and tummies see in that pantry. We'll eat what's on the menu not 500 different things because that's what you decided you want.
4. It's all about teaching them self control. Given the opportunity they will eat 5 of an item they should only have one of (i.e. brownies, cookies, chips, etc.).
5. I simply don't like anybody messing with my stuff. I don't like them in the kitchen when I cook. I don't like them moving things in the pantry and me having to rummage around looking for them. I know selfish, right?
I should also note I keep a lock on the refrigerator. This is to keep a certain 2 year old out, but it's also to place limitations on the older children (even the 32 year old big boy in the house). Although they know how to operate the lock, I can still hear that wonderful sound when they slide the lock. Therefore, I have the ability to control exactly what they're getting, how much, and how often.
I would encourage you not to be quick to judge the limitations I place on food in our home. I would encourage you mama's to take control of your kitchen, your pantry, your stockpile, etc. How many things go to waste in your house just because someone had hungry eyes as opposed to hungry tummies? How many times are you throwing out things that weren't finished or barely touched? How much money could you save your family by controlling these things? Remember mama always said, "There are starving children in (insert 3rd world country here) who would love to get one bite of what you are eating". This is TRUE folks!
So, here's what we've gone through today in our house: (Keep in mind Mallory is doing church activities from 10 am - 3 pm today and Richard is sleeping all day because he worked last night. So, that makes us down 2 people to feed for a large portion of the day.)
2 packs of oatmeal
4 bowls of cereal
1 cup of dry cereal
1 quarter of a watermelon
3 servings of ham (leftovers from dinner on sunday)
7 servings of mac n cheese (leftovers from dinner on sunday eaten at lunch and dinner)
3 ham rolls for lunch
6 servings of turnip greens
1 bag of popcorn
1 capri sun
8 bottles of water
1 gallon of milk
3 cups of coffee
1/2 cup of granola over bananas
10 bbq ribs
1 pan of baked beans
30 grapes
5 rolls for dinner
6 servings of creamed corn
1 serving of Gerber puffs
1/2 peanut butter sandwich
3 servings of goldfish
1 bottle of powerade
I am sure I missed something along the way. The items above are in no particular order. I just listed them as they came to my mind. So, as you can see on a normal day 6 people consume lots of food. I'm full just looking at the list. Now, it's off to start planning next week's menu!
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