Families purchase food on a budget.
The average family in the United States has four members and all of them need to eat. Typical expenditures for food vary by individual preferences but the majority of people spend within a similar range. The average food budget for a family of four is about $6,133 a year.
Breakdown of Numbers
The Department of Labor surveyed families and found that around 12.4% of an annual income around $63,000 was spent on food. This would equate to about $510 a month and is about $200 lower than the estimates of the United States Department of Agriculture. Food costs increase every year and data reports rapidly become obsolete, but the average for 2010 seems to be between $510 and $770 per month.
School Lunch
The average cost of school lunch in the nation is just under $2 per plate. Families with more than two school-age children are going to be paying more than the average family of four. The United States Department of Agriculture runs a National School Lunch program that provides lower-cost or free meals to children of families living under the poverty line.
Lowering Your Budget
There are many ways to reduce the food budget for a family of any size. Buying in bulk, using coupons and shopping for sales are just the start of lowering monthly costs. Reducing disposable waste such as baggies, straws and plastic silverware cuts spending and helps the environment. Cooking at home instead of eating out lowers the budget and allows for easier dietary control. Substituting beans as a protein source instead of meat will save money and lead to lower fat intake. A family with a frugal mind can easily lower their average food budget at home and school.
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