Planning quantities for monthly shopping

[ariatrance]

Okay, I am trying to figure out how much (quantity) of certain items I would need to purchase once a month in order to have enough to eat throughout the month. I am having trouble with my math because that is not what I studied in school.

If I wanted to have beans everyday for at least one meal, if not two, for a family of four (29, 37, 3 and 2), how many pounds dry would I need to buy?

If I wanted to serve tofu once a day, how many blocks would I need to buy?

Same for veggies, fruits, grains, etc. I am just trying to get a general feel/idea for the quantity (and therefore price ) while making sure that everyone is getting a good amount of food everyday. I feel like lately we've been eating more snacks/second helpings because we aren't getting enough filling food at meal times. Of course, my kids are probably going through growth spurts but I don't think my husband and I are....ahem.

For the record, we are not a vegetarian family but I have been moving toward a less-meat diet because (1) I really do not like meat in its raw form - thus the buying and cooking are a bit problematic and (2) quality meat is taking up way too much % of the budget. So I'm hoping that decreasing the meat at home will help the bottom line but I do worry that increasing the beans/grains/veggies/fruits in place of meat will actually break even or cost more.

I need the insight of experienced mamas here! I appreciate any information/tips/hey there's you feel able to provide!

[catnip]

We go through about a cup of dried beans or lentils in a meal with little to no leftovers for our family of three, but my kid is a little older than yours are, and my husband walks 15 miles a day for work, so he eats a little more than someone with a more sedentary job. I just weighed it, it was about 7 ounces, so calculate it to half a pound. So that's about 15 pounds if you are going through that daily. I usually cook 3 cups at a time and plan to use leftovers. At $1.70 a pound on average for bulk organic beans at our HFS, that's about $25.

I usually get 4 servings out of a 14 ounce block of tofu. I pay $1.19 for that at Trader Joe's. We go through about 3 blocks a week on average, but if you are wanting to eat it daily, you are looking at about $36 for 30 blocks at that price.

[catnip]

If I planned these dinners:

Veggie-tofu teriyaki stirfry
Butternut baked ziti
Black bean/sweet potato enchilada casserole
Lentil loaf, green beans, baked potatoes
Navy bean and kale soup
Fajita grilled tempeh tacos
Red lentil spinach curry

Lunches are usually PBJ for my husband and daughter, salad for me

Breakfasts are fried tofu and spinach, oatmeal, pancakes, or toast and soy yogurt.

I would expect to need:
1 pound mushrooms
1/4 pound broccoli
6 onions
2 red bell peppers
1 1/4 pounds green beans (which actually would come from the garden)
6 carrots
1 small head cabbage
1 block super-firm tofu
1 pound brown rice
Various ingredients for stirfry sauce (mostly pantry items)
3 bulbs garlic
1 pound whole wheat penne
1 butternut squash
4 blocks tofu
1 cup nutritional yeast
1 cup raw cashews
1 pound black beans
2 pounds garnet sweet potatoes
1 can diced tomatoes
2 packs corn tortillas
1 jar peanut butter
1/2 pound green lentils
3 russet potatoes
1 bunch kale
3/4 pound navy beans
1 package tempeh
1 bottle beer
1 zucchini
1/2 pound red lentils
1/2 pound frozen spinach
1 can light coconut milk
1 1/2 cup dry quinoa
1/2 pound raisins
1/2 pound sunflower seeds
2 pounds oatmeal
1 pound flour
4 loaves whole wheat bread
olive and canola oils
1 pound spinach
1 pound mixed baby greens
spices
1/2 pound coffee
1/2 gallon orange juice
about 20 servings of fruit
tahini and garbanzos for hummus
celery

flour and oil and sugar and stuff for cookies
coconut milk and sugar for ice cream

[ariatrance]

Thank you for responding! I appreciate the information you have given. I think I have a better (and more realistic) idea of what quantities I am aiming for. Yay!