The USDA tracks food prices every month.
The monthly budget for food for a family of four can vary greatly from one family to another. The actual costs depend on the shopping habits of each family. Some factors contributing to this variance are whether meat is part of the diet, the cuts of meat purchased, buying sale foods or full-price foods, and using coupons and rebates. The USDA publishes the cost of food for four different family situations every month.
Types
The four types of food budgets published by the USDA are: Thrifty, Low-Cost, Moderate, and Liberal. The family of four category is further divided into two sub-groups: two adults with two children ages five years or younger, and two adults with two children ages six to 11. Once children reach 12 years of age, the chart separates them by gender, which is further divided by age. All food plans are based on the 2006 food pyramid for healthy eating.
Thrifty Food Plan
The Thrifty food plan, known as the Restricted Food Plan for Emergency Use during the Great Depression, applies to families who prepare all of their meals at home. This plan includes, in descending order: vegetables, milk products, fruit, grains, equal amounts of meat and beans, fats and oils, and last are sweets. The October 2010 budget for a family of four with children ages five and under is $507.20. The cost for a family with children ages six to 11 is $582.20.
Low-Cost Food Plan
The Low-Cost food plan provides more food per person than the Thrifty plan. It includes groceries purchased at pharmacies, convenience stores, food co-ops, grocery stores and mass merchandisers. The costs in this category include 10 percent food waste. The October 2010 budget for a family with two children ages five and under is $644.70, and $758.30 for a family with children ages six to 11.
Moderate Food Plan
The Moderate food plan has more food than the previous two plans. The costs have an allowance of 20 percent for food waste. The October 2010 budget was $796.20 for a family with two children under six years of age, and $948.60 for families with two children ages six to 11.
Liberal Food Plan
The USDA liberal food plan allows for 30 percent food waste. This category includes boxed foods such as macaroni and cheese, frozen fruits and vegetables, prepared sauces, stove-top meals, canned soups and other already-prepared foods. The October 2010 budget was $985.20 for a family with two children ages five and under, and $1150.00 when the children ranged in age from six to 11.
Fun Fact
If you are interested in how food prices have changed throughout the decades, then visit foodtimeline.org.
Tags: with children, children ages, with children ages, family with, family with children