HS Mom in NC Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Anyone done this? I'm considering it. http://www.5dollardinners.com/20-meals-from-costco-for-150-recipes-printable-shopping-lists/ Thoughts? Suggestions? Cautions? Do tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Interesting! I don't have room for all that food though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemiSweet Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I did it, posted about it a week or so ago. We live in a high col area so I think it was a bit more. We've had two of the recipes so far, we've liked them both. The apples in the first recipe were a bit mushy but they gave the chicken great flavor. I'd definitely do it again because it's super easy, assuming the rest of the recipes are decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I have been thinking about it with my next paycheck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I think your food prices are lower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndOfOrdinary Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I think your food prices are lower. Costco has blanket prices for the entire nation. They slightly raise their dairy prices in the South, but only by about two dollars. It is our go-to place to purchase food when we travel in the US for this reason. I could never afford Ingles. I don't know how others do. We do food similarly to the twenty meals for 150. Our monthly food bill for three is 250 dollars. Part if me being home and homeschooling is that I was able to keep our food bill below three hundred dollars and our utilities extremely small. My job is not having a job so we can save money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hypatia. Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Hmm, interesting. I think we'll try this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Marmalade Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 I think it's likely do-able, and in general, I like her recipes. One thing you'll want to note is that you should season to taste. Often times I think her recipes need a bit more salt or an extra half-teaspoon of one of the spices used. I had to look and see which plan you were considering. The only one I would warn against is the Costco plan she has for the slow-cooker. There have been a ton of complaints about the food not coming out right and people having to toss things out. Not surprising to me, considering that she has you freeze raw carrots, potatoes, and the like, and then they turn into unappealing mush in the crock pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeganCupcake Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 I've been trying out the slow cooker recipes one-by-one before freezing any of them. They've been good so far, but they haven't gone in the freezer first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Costco has blanket prices for the entire nation. They slightly raise their dairy prices in the South, but only by about two dollars. It is our go-to place to purchase food when we travel in the US for this reason. I could never afford Ingles. I don't know how others do. We do food similarly to the twenty meals for 150. Our monthly food bill for three is 250 dollars. Part if me being home and homeschooling is that I was able to keep our food bill below three hundred dollars and our utilities extremely small. My job is not having a job so we can save money! I'm not sure what my monthly food bill is. I budget $200 a week for the supermarket and petrol. Petrol is $2.20 to $2.30 a litre (I think there are 3.8 or 4 litres in a gallon) so that leaves about $160 for the supermarket of which about $20 is not food. So say $140 a week. It would be less if ds7 weren't gluten free and the worlds fussiest eater (sensory and taste sensitivities mosly) as he gets through about $30 of bread a week. Most of the non food items are related to his issues too. I buy nearly everything on special but meat costs more here I think (unless the stuff at Costco is really bad). I discounted the mangoes as they are never cheap here. Occasionally avocadoes get below $1 but often they are over $2. A lot of it is simply size though. I live in a smallish city in a small country a zillion miles from anywhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 I've been trying out the slow cooker recipes one-by-one before freezing any of them. They've been good so far, but they haven't gone in the freezer first. I did the slow-cooker pork chops/sweet potatoes/apples tonight -- didn't freeze it, just threw it together this a.m. I thought it was really good, the meat was especially flavorful. My kids didn't care for the sweet potatoes (they were a bit tart from the apples & vinegar) but I thought they were tasty -- and a nice change from being slathered in butter/cinnamon. :p I'll tweak it, perhaps, but I thought it was a keeper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexigail Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 I did it and I'm really happy with it. We're still using them up. They're portioned for four adults so they get us through more than one meal. I'm planning on doing it again. The only drawback to doing the "freezer pack" plans is that it gets a little tedious doing crockpot meals so often, but I intersperse them with other things. She's a little repetitive on the spices, but you can do your own thing with that. We did the gluten free plan if that makes a difference. ETA: I see that you're linking to the one that has things besides crockpot meals. I haven't tried that yet, but I think I may next time around. I found her instructions to be quick and easy to follow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemiSweet Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Costco has blanket prices for the entire nation. They slightly raise their dairy prices in the South, but only by about two dollars. It is our go-to place to purchase food when we travel in the US for this reason. I could never afford Ingles. I don't know how others do. We do food similarly to the twenty meals for 150. Our monthly food bill for three is 250 dollars. Part if me being home and homeschooling is that I was able to keep our food bill below three hundred dollars and our utilities extremely small. My job is not having a job so we can save money! I don't think costco prices are the same here in Hawaii. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 That looks good, but we just don't eat that much meat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 I go to two different Costcos and the prices are not always the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemiSweet Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Anyone done this? I'm considering it. http://www.5dollardinners.com/20-meals-from-costco-for-150-recipes-printable-shopping-lists/ Thoughts? Suggestions? Cautions? Do tell. My mistake, the one we tried was the gluten free crockpot freezer meals. We aren't actually gluten free though, just wanted to try it. Some things may be better added when cooking (potatoes, carrots, apples, etc), but we are happy with it so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 I've seen as much as a 25% difference in Costco prices between the DC area and NC. Maybe it depends on where you are traveling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 One other thing to be aware of is that she assumes you have some items in your pantry already. In one recipe she posted it requires bread crumbs, she also mentions soy sauce and . I see that her total for the bulk of the items comes to about $150 but if you are doing this plan, do realize that you will possibly need to buy a few more items to go with it. For most people that wouldn't be a big deal, but for some, it may make a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 I go to two different Costcos and the prices are not always the same. Yep, here too. They are over state lines but within a half hour of each other. Different items and sometimes different prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Those planned menus with the shopping lists always sound like a dream come true until I see the list of recipes and I realize we wouldn't eat at least half of the meals. Otherwise, I would love to try one -- not to save money, but to save myself the trouble of figuring out what to make for dinner every night. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwg Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 My kids are so picky! But maybe we could try one or two and see. My dh just got laid off so there are going to be some big changes around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Looks interesting, but my dh is allergic to poultry so we can never do these kinds of things. Looks better than some cheap meal plans I've seen, though. Not as much processed junk as some of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Costco has blanket prices for the entire nation. They slightly raise their dairy prices in the South, but only by about two dollars. It is our go-to place to purchase food when we travel in the US for this reason. I could never afford Ingles. I don't know how others do. We do food similarly to the twenty meals for 150. Our monthly food bill for three is 250 dollars. Part if me being home and homeschooling is that I was able to keep our food bill below three hundred dollars and our utilities extremely small. My job is not having a job so we can save money! Yeah, that's definitely not true. NorCal prices are a good 30% above Florida. Even looking at the shopping list on that website I could spot the price differences that I saw in the store yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinesWife Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I purchased plan 1 last week. I'm in SoCal and it cost me $190 though that included a couple items I didn't have. Meat was a lot more than what she listed. I did like buying everything in one place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I'm confused.... Is that $150 for 5 dinners for 4 people? Other than pasta and spag. sauce, bread(crackers too), and cheese we eat "whole foods". I spend about $150 on 1 weeks worth of food for b-fast/lunch/dinner/snacks for a family of 4(one of them is a teen boy). Maybe I'm misunderstanding? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemiSweet Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I'm confused.... Is that $150 for 5 dinners for 4 people? Other than pasta and spag. sauce, bread(crackers too), and cheese we eat "whole foods". I spend about $150 on 1 weeks worth of food for b-fast/lunch/dinner/snacks for a family of 4(one of them is a teen boy). Maybe I'm misunderstanding? No, it's 20 meals of 4 servings each. We have 4 and a toddler and have had leftovers, so it could probably stretch to 5 servings if they aren't big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 My only advice is that the mango salsa at Costco is...not everyone's cup of tea. I hate it. Unless you know you like it, I suggest sampling it if possible before buying. It's just too strangely sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 No, it's 20 meals of 4 servings each. We have 4 and a toddler and have had leftovers, so it could probably stretch to 5 servings if they aren't big. Thank you. It was late and the site wasn't clear for me. I saw a picture with 5 different meals and thought, "is that it?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXBeth Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I'm skeptical about the "feeds 4" bit. The recipe for marinated grilled chicken only calls for two chicken breasts. Is a half a breast really considered a serving for an adult? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I'm skeptical about the "feeds 4" bit. The recipe for marinated grilled chicken only calls for two chicken breasts. Is a half a breast really considered a serving for an adult?Here it is. Palm of hand/deck of cards/4-5 ounces/a scant 1/4 of the plate. That's plenty of meat for most meals. When we roast a chicken we usually still have some breast meat left after all 4 of us get some and I save most or even all of the dark meat for the next meal (because it holds up better to reuse/refrigeration than the drier white meat.) The meal plans seem too low on green and non-starchy veggies though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I'm skeptical about the "feeds 4" bit. The recipe for marinated grilled chicken only calls for two chicken breasts. Is a half a breast really considered a serving for an adult? Definitely is here. Dh could easily eat 2 chicken breasts but that's likely not healthy and definitely cost-prohibitive. So we each get 1/2 or less. Palm of hand is one serving and a chicken breast is about double that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaraby Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Otherwise, I would love to try one -- not to save money, but to save myself the trouble of figuring out what to make for dinner every night. :) You and me both. Every once in awhile I sign up for one after I've convinced myself that this time will be different. It almost never is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Here it is. Palm of hand/deck of cards/4-5 ounces/a scant 1/4 of the plate. That's plenty of meat for most meals. When we roast a chicken we usually still have some breast meat left after all 4 of us get some and I save most or even all of the dark meat for the next meal (because it holds up better to reuse/refrigeration than the drier white meat.) The meal plans seem too low on green and non-starchy veggies though. This. Deck of cards is a healthy serving of meat, though many people eat more. I do think these plans are low on greens and other veggies. We purchased the ingredients to try it this evening, and we'll be adding greens to most meals. I haven't calculated the cost of the ingredients, but our Costco did not carry the same packages - so our costs were definitely different. And one item, the 4 lb bag of quinoa, was $5 more than she had listed on the plan. Just a heads up there. :) ETA: We're trying it for the convenience factor, but I can check our receipt and see how it stacks up against the costs she had listed, if anyone wants to hear it. Offhand, I'm not sure, as we purchased other items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinesWife Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I didnt do it to save money but for convenience. I have 6 eating and i only have to double a few so the meals are going to last me about 15 meals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plateau Mama Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I didnt do it to save money but for convenience. I have 6 eating and i only have to double a few so the meals are going to last me about 15 meals. Do you by chance know which ones you double? I'm trying to decide if I have to double them or not. We are a family of 6, but the little guy is 6 and my 12 yo rarely eats what I cook, but if he likes it can pack it in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0mmaBuck Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I love the idea of freezer meals. I have a friend who organizes a freezer meal "party" monthly. She posts the list of recipes based on sales in the area and then we RSVP so she knows how much to buy. She buys all of the items including the bags and prints labels. Often she preps the items as well (chops the veggies, portions out the meat, etc.) because she enjoys the tedium of that work. We show up, finish the prep work, divide the items equally into the freezer bags, etc. It takes 1-2 hrs when there are about 6 of us there. We each walk away with 6 or more entrees (and sometimes sides and desserts), for $25-30. My husband is picky so I use the things he doesn't like for lunches, but I feel like it is a great deal and we have a good time hanging out while we do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2OandE Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 We did it. We are about half way through the meals. They are good but none of them so far wowed me enough to want to make them again. My family likes a lot of flavor in our meals. If you have a delicate palate you'd likely enjoy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I'm skeptical about the "feeds 4" bit. The recipe for marinated grilled chicken only calls for two chicken breasts. Is a half a breast really considered a serving for an adult? Yes. A breast from a small chicken might be a single serving, but if you have a chicken breast that weighs almost a pound, that definitely needs to be divided. If you're feeding men who do physical labor all day, your needs may differ, however, if your husband works a desk job and you're feeding him 3/4 lbs of meat at every dinner you could be killing him with kindness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoObvious Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 My only advice is that the mango salsa at Costco is...not everyone's cup of tea. I hate it. Unless you know you like it, I suggest sampling it if possible before buying. It's just too strangely sweet. We use it over chicken in the crock pot. It cuts down on the sweetness. It's the only way I'll eat it and it is to die for delicious.(ETA I'm agreeing with you about the sweetness!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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