Feeding a Big Family On A Budget


When we had 3 children under 2 we already were by Western standards a big family. I was terrified to trust my body, my life and my provision completely to God’s care. Sure, children were a blessing, but they were expensive, hungry, demanding blessings!

It was easier to trust Him with my eternal salvation through Christ than it was to trust Him for grocery money.

Yet, in spite of my intense fear and control I surrendered to God in a way I never planned or imagined. I leaned into His promise to provide as the Good Shepherd of His sheep and applied myself to grow in ways I never imagined.

I trusted it was ultimately God's role to provide and my role to humbly receive both provision and wisdom. I began to learn how to run a big family home. From the routine to the chores to the budget -- figuring it out on a lean single income became my steep learning curve for many years.

One of my early fears was ‘how are we going to feed a big family?’ As a homeschooling stay at home mom having kids every 2 years for the last 16 year, keeping things simple, on budget and nutritious became my guiding principles in the kitchen.

Now, I get asked all the time how we manage to feed our (almost) 11 children on a budget. We spend as much as many small families do simply by doing my own cooking and running my home like a pro.

Here are some of the most helpful tips I’ve picked up and implemented in my large family kitchen over the years.

Meal Planning 

Once a week I sit down and plan our dinner menu for the week. This saves me time, gas and stress. Breakfasts and lunches pretty much stay the same on weekdays so I just keep ingredients on hand for hot or cold cereal and sandwiches. Toss in some raw veggies, cut up fruit and yogurts every other day and all I have to plan is dinner.

Anchor meals such as Soup Monday, Taco Tuesday, Burger Friday, Pizza Sunday make meal planning easier and faster.  I only have to fill in rotating meals for 3 other nights that way. I also keep an inspirational meal list of all the crowd pleaser big family meals we like in case I need a memory jog (I usually do!)

Budget Friendly Ingredients

For years I have been informally interviewing other big family moms to get their budget meal tips.  Years before puberty I was already prepping for growing appetites balanced by nutrition and simplicity.  My go to budget friendly ingredients now are rice, cabbage, eggs, pork, and canned tomatoes.  Just with those base ingredients I have 10 meals I can ‘see’ by combining them with different spices, toppings and sides. Like one of our family favorite soups that even the toddler likes: Crockpot Lasagna Soup.

I keep a protein as the base then pair it with a carbohydrate and vegetable to round out the meal.  We do surprise desserts once a week and the kids take turns baking a treat on Saturday for fun.

This way we have variety, simplicity, nutrition and flex for any intolerances.  With some planning and grace this can be learned. I know, because I did it and still do it to this day.

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If this blog blessed you feel free to join my Big Family Moms community where I have lots more resources and encouragement for moms like you overcoming struggles and growing in grace. Here's the LINK if you like.

 

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