Can $100 feed a family for a week?

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Mon, 15 Aug 2011 7:00p.m.

By Tristram Clayton

How much does it cost to feed a family of four? $300? $200? $150?

Is it possible to feed four people for a week for just $100?

An east Auckland food technician reckons it is possible at a stretch, and said he could prove it.

Three months ago my family and I conducted an experiment.

For one week the four or us lived on one average wage - that's $55,000, or roughly half of what we normally earn.

The experience gave us an eye-opening glimpse of the daily reality faced by so many New Zealand families.

At times I was concerned the experiment might seem disrespectful to those whose lives we were replicating. Fortunately the feedback convinced me otherwise.

Some wrote to say how important it was that their story was being told. Others hoped it would help other New Zealanders and the Government be more understanding of the plight faced by low income families.

Then there was a whole bunch of people who said "well done - but you've got a lot to learn about shopping on a tight budget."

They had a point.

So when we received a message from chef and food technician Andrew Curtis, saying he could feed the four of us for just $100 dollars, we decided to give it a go.

So is it really possible to feed a family of four for a week for a $100?

We put the Earnest Rutherford diet to the test.

Watch the video.

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Comments

30 Aug 2011 02:43p.m.

Tristram Clayton wrote:

Thank you for your interest in these stories. All the recipes (and our shopping lists) are now on the website.

23 Aug 2011 09:51p.m.

Rose wrote:

It was really neat to see other ways on trying to make our very valuable few dollars stretched out. I give praise to this family for doing this on their own merits. Big high fives to the boys too, these are the kids we need to have in our society. We all need to realise situations are what they are, and we need to stay possitive. Could I please have the the weeks menus or shopping list. Thanks. It is nice to know that others are trying to resolving these issues together :)

22 Aug 2011 07:56p.m.

David wrote:

To stretch the milk for that extra breakfast we top up the milk bottle with water after the first cupful has been used. No-one notices and failing that you can always use a higher fat milk than you usually use before diluting.

22 Aug 2011 07:50p.m.

Carla wrote:

Great experiment - though I have to say that even in the Horowhenua where we have market gardens and fruit/Vege shops, the prices here are at least double what they were charging at the farmers market. I wanted to try a few of the recipe's but can't seem to find them on the web site?

22 Aug 2011 07:38p.m.

Rona Nolan wrote:

Ha $100 a week for a family of four I have $180 a week for a fam of 5, kids age 6,7 and 9 I have to feed us all buy cleaning products and toiletries,cat and dog food Petrol to get to school and any bits for school fundraising ie: sausage sizzle, milo day etc. Our fridge and cupboard is a constant vacant space with little in it.And on tough weeks its pasta and tin tomatos as meals this is just the norm for us and I'm sure many others in nz

22 Aug 2011 07:38p.m.

Jacqui wrote:

Is it possible to get a copy of the food technicians shopping list? And the menu the family had for the week. Tweeks we can make to our own spending would help enormously... thanks

22 Aug 2011 06:57p.m.

Leah wrote:

Everything in our house is budgeted for, including how long the heater can be on in the morning! I prefer to be able to pay my bills but at the end of the week there is only $110 left for all groceries, food, cleaning products, washing products, etc. There are 2 children in my family and 1 adult, I worry about the long term effects on my health, I might eat 1 piece of fruit in a month, the fruit is for my children. Eggs on toast is dinner, not breakfast or lunch. In the last couple of years, I have noticed that I seem to be doing without more and more. I am studying so that I know in a couple of years I will be in a job and our life will be much better. But right now, grocery shopping is a depressing exercise, and I see so many others buying all the budget products like me, this is a terrible situation for families to be in.

20 Aug 2011 09:39a.m.

Jan wrote:

Might be more realistic if he tried this in a rural town with no farmers market, supermarket, and only one expensive butcher!!!

19 Aug 2011 04:39p.m.

Belinda wrote:

I feed my family similar to what was on the TV last night. Great show by the way. However in Christchurch we don't have Avondale Markets which seem to have amazing prices. My jaw dropped at what you guys pay at those markets. Can anyone suggest a similar cheap place to shop in Christchurch. Even Marshlands Road is double or more for veges compared to Avondale Markets!! John Campbell, can you do a show for Christchurch please!!!

19 Aug 2011 08:12a.m.

Krystal wrote:

Yeah where's the chicken recipe? Jumped on here just for it - my man is allergic to a few products and specific about his vege's but we both loved the look of the chicken casserole - pretty please post it up