This giveaway has ended. Enter to #win for your family’s #Thanksgiving dinner.
A little over a week ago, I was invited to the Food Lion Frugal Cookoff. The email said: “The “Food Lion Frugal Cook-Off” will feature Food Lion’s store brand products, which deliver on both quality and price – with many healthy options. To prove it, we’re inviting a small, select group of local bloggers to put them to the test in a cooking challenge.”
{Disclosure: I was invited to attend the Frugal Food Lion Cookoff and received prizes including a giftcard, food products, and Food Lion promotional items. I was not asked or obligated to write about the cookoff, only to giveaway a giftcard.}
The Challenge
We were posed with this challenge:
Imagine this, you just found out a friend and her husband are in town. Now you must pull together a meal for four in a flash! Oh and one thing. You only have a $15 budget and 45 minutes until dinner is served.
The evening kicked off by uncovering the type of meat (which we had to build our meal around). Then, we had 10 minutes to plan our meal, 10 minutes to shop from their pantry (of select Food Lion products), and 45 minutes to whip up an entree and two sides that would wow the judges.
How Was I Chosen?
I was so glad to be referred by another local blogger, my new friend Heather from Desperately Seeking Sanity, who humorously writes about life including marriage, kids, step-parenting, family, faith and the occasional boy band. This is the first “blogger” event I have attended and it was a wonderful first experience!
What I Learned About Food Lion
1. Food Lion now carries Food Lion brand sealed and packaged beef:
- QUALITY :: New package seals in juices increasing tenderness and preserving flavor.
- FRESH :: New sealed fresh package keeps meat fresh longer.
- EASY :: New sealed fresh package is easy to open, freezer ready and prevents liquids from escaping.
- Recipes available at http://www.foodlion.com/beef
2. Food Lion brand products and fresh produce offer a double your money back guarantee. See http://www.foodlion.com/OurBrands/QualityGuarantee.
Preparing Our Dish
We were given a package of two Top Sirloin Filet Steaks (the other three teams received another cut of beef). Once my partner and I read the back of the package for recipe ideas, we saw grilled steaks with a dry BBQ rub. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the spices required to make the rub, in our Food Lion pantry. So, we decided to run with the BBQ theme, using a BBQ sauce instead. My go to starch is always potatoes. And I remembered serving “fiesta corn” at a restaurant I used to work at.
Our dish: Hickory Grilled Top Sirloin Filet Steaks, Seasoned & Roasted Potatoes, and Fiesta Corn. Sounds fancy, right?
Actually, it was hectic being in a kitchen with 7 other bloggers, who were also preparing their meals under the pressure of the 45 minute timer, with limited knives, ovens, burners, and grills. I have so much more respect for the chefs that prepare my food while dining out. Boiling water. Seasoning steaks. Cutting potatoes. All a challenge. Once everything finished cooking, we had a few seconds to plate our meal, grab a few pictures, then, artistically divide it up for the 5 judges.
Check Out the Video:
WSLS 10 NBC in Roanoke/Lynchburg Va
How to Win a Food Lion $100 Giftcard
This giveaway has ended. a Rafflecopter giveaway
This promotion is open until November 22, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST and is limited to US residents, 18 years or older. The winner will be chosen randomly. Winner must respond to email within 24 hours or prize may be forfeited.
Dorrie Turner says
Although not always possible I try and keep dinner cost for each night $10 or less. Thank you for the giveaway!
Sandy Klocinski says
I don’t really have a budget
Margaret Smith says
We have a weekly budget of $80-$100 for 4 of us.
Betty says
Hard question – I stock up and use frozen meat and veggies. Fresh fruit and veggies are purchased twice a week
Georgia Beckman says
Gosh, I’ve never thought of it in terms of “per meal”. We spend about $200 every 2 weeks for 3 of us & I KNOW I could do much better than that.
juanita may says
Weekly budget is about $60 for the 2 of us, we both are on special diets
Chrissy Malave says
I never really thought of it as per meal but monthly my budget is about $380 for a family of 4
Emily Wells says
I don’t set a budget for each dinner, but I try to keep my grocery bill less than $500 per month.
Kelly D says
My budge is around $5-10 each dinner.
Mary Happymommy says
We spend $125 a week on the 5 of us. I never thought to break it down by meal. I guess I could do $125/21 meals = $5.95 per meal. Obviously our breakfasts would be much less expensive than dinners.
DESIREE H says
My grocery budget for each dinner is around $10-15 for my husband and I. My twins go through one container of Nutramigen per day ($25 per can). So they are $25 per day!
Thank you so much for the giveaway. This would help with groceries! Have a great day!
D SCHMIDT says
My budget is under $10 a meal
tara darity says
we usually don’t do a budget per meal but I would say 20 or less
Liz N says
I try for $10 or less per meal.
Nancy says
I try to spend $10 – $15 for dinner.
heather Baker says
I have never really budgeted per meal. I spend about 75-100 a week for my family of 4. That is including stocking up as much as I can on dry goods.
Chavonne H says
I don’t really have a budget per meal. I try to keep it around $7 or so for meat which lasts 2 meals and then a side around $2 dollars, so maybe it averages around $5 dollars a meal for 3 people.
Sherri Lewis says
I don’t really have an amount per meal but I do try to keep the groceries/household and personal items down to $100 a week
KaraP says
I try to stick to $10 or less..usually I come in around $5
Jean says
I feed a family of five (two children under age 7 and three adults) for $10-$15 a night on average. We eat well though. My budget for organic milk alone is about $36 a week.
June Lisle says
I haven’t really ever calculated my per dinner. I also keep my food bill mixed in my budget for household/personal items. We spend about $300 a month on all of it.
shirley says
I really don’t like going over $20, for 7-9, of us.
Danielle Porter says
My husband and I’s grocery budget is $60 for a week. But that’s for all meals, not just dinner!
Jessica To says
We try to spend around $6 a meal for the two of us.
Melissa Leany says
I try to keep dinners under $6. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Robyn L says
We usually try to keep our budget to $10.00 or less for dinner. Sometimes it is less especially if we get two nights from one meal.
KELLY MCGREW says
i dont normally do per meal, but more per trip, which has to be $100 or less.
Traci Newcomb says
We dont use a budget. We just buy what we need.
Prickly Pinecone says
I have never costed out each meal ( I know I really should) but spend around $80 a week for two.
Sarah Marshall says
We don’t have a budget, but I think that creating one would be helpful!
sarit says
We don’t have a budget, but I think that creating one would be helpful!
Sara Sullivan says
About $10 for a family of 5.
Stephanie J says
About 10-15 a meal!
maria says
I don’t typically have a food budget per meal. I usually end up making something from what I have on hand in my kitchen. Sometimes, it will be a cheap meal, other time it can be rather expensive.
Brenda says
My budget for a typical dinner to feed 3 is about $10-12. Our grocery bill is usually about $100 a week, and that includes dinner, breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
Tina Deeds says
There are only two of us, so I try for $7 at dinner. Might go up to $10, but that usually includes leftovers for lunch or dinner another day.
SARAH says
I have a $100 per week budget for our family of 4. I have never tried to figure out a per meal cost.
zenetta says
I would have to say about 3 or 4 dollars per dinnet. i shop wisely and use coupons and rebates quite often.
Andrea says
I would say that my budget for dinner is around $10. I budget on a weekly basis for food purchases.
Jessica says
I try to keep our dinners for a family of four less than $10. We are gluten and dairy free, so it can be a challenge at times.
Pam H. says
My budget is less than $7 for each dinner. Things are really tight.
Gail Fernandez says
I normally spend $5-$15 per dinner. Of course, that’s when we cook and eat at home.
Alyshia says
With a family of four we try to stay under twenty.
jenn giannetto says
i try to keep dinners 10$ or less unless it is a special occasion
Brandi Price says
We don’t really have a budget! That’s bad right? LOL
Anna E. says
We haven’t had a budget in a while. Im gonna say $20 per dinner.
chastity says
I have a total grocery budget whit h I would love to cut! 300 every 2 weeks but this includes any eating out, toiletries, cleaning supplies, everything.
Allie says
I don’t have a budget
melikegarfield says
I don’t have a budget per meal but a budget per month. I try to keep the grocery budget around 500 for two.
Rachel Martin says
3-9$ a meal 🙂
Jessica Wyatt says
I like to keep them under $10, but every now and then I splurge on a $15 meal (ha). We eat breakfast for dinner a lot though (my husband LOVES it), so when we do that, it’s really cheap!
Vunda V says
each dinner is around $12
Nicole S says
My meal budget is $500/month, so that’s about $10/dinner (I spend less on breakfast and lunch.
Victoria says
Our average cost for dinner is about $10, but sometimes I make something very cheap and other nights we splurge
Tammy Woodall says
My budget for each meal (when broken down) is approximately $10-$15 per meal.
Claire says
About $2 per person if I’m cooking.
Kim says
My grocery budget for a week is $50 for 4 of us. But I’ve never figured out the cost of just one meal.
Danielle Jones says
We try to keep it as low as possible. We’ll have really cheap dinners some nights so we can splurge a little at other times. I’d say usually under 5.00 a dinner.
Alexis K. says
I try not to spend more than $12 per meal.
Kallee says
We have a $120 a week for groceries. Dinner gets $10 or less
Stephanie Bourne says
We don’t really have a per meal budget. But, I budget $100 per week for the 5 of us (2 adults & 16, 12 and 6 year old girls).
ellen casper says
No more than $10 for dinner meals
Allyson Tice says
My monthly budget is $400.00
Angie B. says
For each dinner? I guess about $10 we’re a family of 6
kathy dalton says
we try to spend about $6 for each dinner
Ricki L says
My grocery bill is insanely high. I really need to figure out a budget!!
Mona says
$10-15 per dinner
Noelle Cagle says
Roughly $10, but we always have left overs….
Angela Hartness says
We try to stick to around $12 – $15 for each dinner.
chera says
ive never even thought of breaking it down per meal. I just budget $300 a month for 3 people
Teresa Thompson says
10 or less.
PaulaMS says
I spend $5 or less per day for 2 on dinner.
Diana Hatch says
Around $500 month
Tina says
I try to keep it at $10 a meal but breakfast can be a little cheaper sometimes. I love planning my meals.
jennifer horn says
I don’t set a budget for a big meal but roughly $10 per dinner.
jeremy mclaughlin says
My budget is $10 or less for a meal.
Thomas Murphy says
Around $10 per dinner.
Amanda Sakovitz says
I usually try to do $12 for every dinner
laurie says
I don’t usually count what each dinner cost
Ellen Anderson says
I try to keep it around 600 per month!