USDA Food Plan Versus Reality

It is shocking to me how high estimates are for the average cost of feeding a family of our size. The USDA's "thrifty plan" estimates that a family our size would spend about $450 a month for food, based on the national average for food prices. That is actually a bit high for us - we spend closer to $400. And we live in an area where food prices tend to be higher than the national average!

Why are our grocery costs so much lower than the national average? There is one booklet that describes the Thrifty plan, which has a spot for soda, candy, and convenience foods, but the vast majority of the plan is devoted to healthy foods. I have no idea why the foods are priced so high on the thrifty plan. I suspect that they are based on buying the most popular name brand goods instead of store brands, and not choosing cheaper substitutes (oatmeal for cold cereal, beans for red meat, etc.).

The second booklet is REALLY interesting though. The three "non-thrifty" plans are labeled low-cost, moderate-cost, and liberal-cost. All of these plans budget for items that were not on the thrifty plan at all - things like bacon, nut butters, cheese sauce, milk desserts, and game meats. A NORMAL food budget includes game meats??? Unless you shot it yourself, game meats belong on a liberal-cost budget. Bacon is tasty and wonderful, but it is also at least $10 a pound in my area. That is compared to $1 a pound chicken thighs. A lot of what is assumed to be standard fare on these budgets are actually luxury items.

Spending more on food is investing in your health - if you do it right. I spend extra to buy pork, chicken, and beef that are hormone free. I buy some "standard" vegetables, but if it is on the "dirty dozen" list I buy organic. I buy Wild Planet canned seafood because it is the only one I can find that has a low mercury guarantee. But in order to do this I compromise by getting cheaper cuts of meat, buying store brand whenever it is an option, and making simple dinners with just a few ingredients.