Meals for Many....

Yesterday was my big grocery day- well, I say that like it happens once a month or something, but it's actually more like 3x per month!! Anyway, by "big shopping day" I mean I go to both Super Target and Costco in one trip. I try to plan for about 10 days worth of meals at a time, so in a 30-day period, I would have to do this about 3 times- easy math!

Like all organized moms of many, I always begin my shopping trip by first planning out all my meals for the upcoming 10 days. Here is a copy of our current menu:

*Hamburger Stroganoff
*Mac and cheese
*Rotisserie chicken
*Layered Salad
*Hashbrown casserole
*Hot dog soup
*American chop suey
*Aunt Maud's chicken
*Pizza
*Leftovers

Once I have a menu, I compile a list of all the items I will need at the grocery stores. Then I wrangle my shopping partners into their carseats and head out the door! My first stop is usually Costco because the items are so big and bulky, and I like to put them on the bottom of the pile in the back of my car. I thought it would be fun to show you all just how much I fill up my cart when shopping at Costco for 10 days worth of supplies (remember people, this is COSTCO- these are all bulk items that I have to replenish at least a couple of times per month!)....

It's scary when you know that will all be gone in a matter of days! Of course, some items last longer, but even if I don't have to buy juice every time I go, there will be something else that I will need instead. And there are still some items that I buy EVERY TIME!
After amazing the employees at Costco with my this will last about 10 days story, I head over to Target and do the same thing- this time with 2 carts! And when all is said and done, we head home for lunch- so tuckered out that we can't even stay awake to eat.......!
Gee, don't you wish you come shop with me?!?! By the way, the price tag to feed this Gang usually runs around $500 per trip- which if you're using easy math equals about $1500 per month ;-)