Looking to reduce costs!

[bright sparks]

I love the PC Points at Superstore. I was annoyed when I saw they were bringing in a member card, because the last thing I wanted was another card in my wallet. But it is pretty much a monthly thing that I get money back against my grocery bill.

I just use the app on my phone. I redeemed over $300 last year and I was only a member for the last half of the year. It's so much better than other programs because your offers are based on your shopping habits so aside from the odd thing, pretty much everything on offer each week is something I usually buy anyway. Add on a price match and quite often I can double dip on the savings.

[daycaremom9]

I love the PC Points at Superstore. I was annoyed when I saw they were bringing in a member card, because the last thing I wanted was another card in my wallet. But it is pretty much a monthly thing that I get money back against my grocery bill.

One thing I've noticed with Superstore since they brought in the member card is that if you have a credit amount on your card they will not tell you. Only if you ask, so I'm getting into the habit of asking whenever I shop there.

[superfun]

Wouldn't the kids get 2 meals at home? Breakfast and supper?

[bright sparks]

Wouldn't the kids get 2 meals at home? Breakfast and supper?

Yes total brain fart there lol

[5 Little Monkeys]

I'm not really sure what we're discussing?? LOL. Are you saying they aren't getting enough fruit or too much?

I agree with superfun, I know my kids have breakfast, supper and at least one snack at home before bed.

Also, it's really hard to gauge a "piece" of fruit unless it's an apple, orange or banana since we eat a lot of melons and berries so they are cut up or tiny pieces already lol. I think I'm tired because Im really not sure what the point is we're discussing haha!!

[bright sparks]

I'm not really sure what we're discussing?? LOL. Are you saying they aren't getting enough fruit or too much?

I agree with superfun, I know my kids have breakfast, supper and at least one snack at home before bed.

Also, it's really hard to gauge a "piece" of fruit unless it's an apple, orange or banana since we eat a lot of melons and berries so they are cut up or tiny pieces already lol. I think I'm tired because Im really not sure what the point is we're discussing haha!!

You brought up serving sizes so that's all I was responding too just discussing snacks in general

[kindertime]

Looking at the Food Guide, children 2-3 should have 4 servings of fruits and veg. per day. 4-8yos should have 5 servings. If I'm reading it right, they still consider 1 banana or 1 apple= 1 serving just like with adults. Its just that their examples consider that children won't necessarily eat a whole serving in a sitting.
My group these days aren't big fans of raw vegetables so we just have them cooked at lunch mostly. Fruit is reserved for snacks. Mostly apples, oranges and bananas because I know they will get eaten quickly before they spoil, that can make your costs go up too, having to throw out food. I have also found that it is better to give smaller portions at first and allow seconds for those who want it. Instead of giving lots to start with and then throwing a lot out if they don't eat it.

[5 Little Monkeys]

http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-a...ler_1736045.bc

The above link is what I have posted in my dc kitchen and look to it for reference from time to time. Like it says, it's a rough guideline. I've almost always had small eaters though with just the occasional child who would eat double what the others would. Thankfully I've never had more than one big eater at a time lol.

Yes, scop and watching the prices at the till has saved me lots! My husband puts the groceries on the belt and I watch prices like a hawk! The times he's not there and I've had to do both are the times I usually miss something lol. Price matching has saved me some gas too

[torontokids]

Thanks for the input. I do some batch cooking however we don't have a chest freezer as we don't have the space. I am curious how you cook and freeze potatoes though. I have made and froze sheppard's pie and the potatoes were still great. I have also froze cooked quinoa, rice etc for fast side dishes.

My kids here are all big eaters. I have kids who could easily eat 1-1.5 bananas during snack in addition to the other food I serve. I have started limiting the fruit a little more to watch costs but also to decrease the amount of fruit they are eating as it was crazy.

I guess I was also getting a sense if my food costs are inline with others. The $150 a wk I spend on DC food is in addition to the $150 I spend a week on my family's food. That being said, we never eat out aside from ordering pizza 1-2 times a month and all the food is unprocessed for the most part.

I agree with watching the scanners but it can be hard, especially if the store is busy. I already have 2 orders from an over flowing shopping cart, price matches etc...sometimes I am just trying to pack as quickly as I can to free up the belt. Plus I shop on my own.

[kindertime]

Thanks for the input. I do some batch cooking however we don't have a chest freezer as we don't have the space. I am curious how you cook and freeze potatoes though. I have made and froze sheppard's pie and the potatoes were still great. I have also froze cooked quinoa, rice etc for fast side dishes.

For potatoes, I usually boil them and then either mash with a bit of butter and milk and put in containers to freeze or I cool them in the fridge and when they are cold, cut them really small for hash browns. Then I put those in small ziploc bags. I have a cast iron frying pan so I can fry them with very little oil (only enough to make the pan shiny.)

I have found if you boil the potatoes and freeze them in pieces, they end up a gross, soggy mess when reheated in the microwave. Frozen mashed, however, as long as they are heated through and steaming hot are just as good as freshly mashed.