My Story: Portion Control

Home Lifestyle Groceries and Food Children and Family My Story: Portion Control

We all like to save money and how many of us have more time than we need? Also, we are constantly seeing articles about how Americans need better portion control. Well, I have found a way to achieve all three almost effortlessly.

I have 10-year-old and 13-year-old boys and a hungry husband at home. They don't have a weight problem even though they are usually big eaters. I have noticed though that they like to fill up on the main course, not the less expensive sides. I also came to realize that I never could predict just how hungry they were going to be. After a week of having too many leftovers to conveniently use, I would cook a smaller meal and then they would be ravenously hungry and I would be scrambling to find food to fill them. How do I keep food costs down, fill hungry guys without stuffing them with potatoes and rice, and save work for me?

My solution is that I still make the same amount of food but in different sized pans. For instance, when I am making a casserole that calls for a 9x13 pan, I put it in two 8x8 pans.

When dinner is served, I only put one 8x8 pan on the table with the side dishes. I only produce the other pan if everything else is gone. Often, everyone is full and we don't cut into the second dish. Now it can be popped in the freezer and used for another dinner. Before, it seemed the other half of the 9x13 pan would succumb to "just a little bit more because it tastes so good!"

I guess the visual perception with a 9x13 is that there is a lot of food and the main dish is so tasty, so they just want more and more. However, if the casserole dish is empty, they seem satisfied with filling up on everything else.

Because they are growing active boys and my husband has a very physical job, sometimes they really are just that hungry so I like to be able to have more substantial food ready.

This way, it is a "win-win-win" situation. I don't do extra work (except dividing between pans and how hard is that?). Without making my family "do without," I save money. And I often have another casserole for the freezer to serve another time.

"My Story" is a regular feature of The Dollar Stretcher. If you have a story that could help save time or money, please send it by mailto:MyStory@stretcher.com

Take the Next Step:

• Subscribe to our weekly "Surviving Tough Times" newsletter by sending an email to subscribe-InflationFighters@hub.thedollarstretcher.com.
  This free html newsletter will provide ways to survive in this challenging economy. Each issue features nine articles to help you stretch your dollar!
• Share your thoughts about this article with the editor: Click Here

Copyright 1996 - 2013 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." All rights reserved unless specifically noted.

Contact the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton FL 34280
941-761-7805

"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.

Also In This Week's Issue

• Life insurance from marriage into midlife
• Affordable life insurance after 50? Or 60?
• How to track unclaimed life insurance money
• How to quickly boost your credit score
• Why good manners can boost financial success
• When it's OK to tap your IRA
• 6 cheap, effective home security solutions
• 5 excuses why people don't save for retirement
• Can a 'rapid rescore' help you get a mortgage?
• 5 types of credit unions worth joining
• Estate planning mistakes to avoid
• How to invest in a Roth IRA Video

In The Dollar Stretcher Community

• Dollar Stretching Recipes: Slow cooker refried beans
• Cooking with coffee: Great recipes

Reader Favorites

• Natural homemade shampoo
• Homemade cat food
• Removing pet urine smells
• Cheap dates and family activities
• Auto loan prepayment penalties