BIG Grocery Lists

My Grocery purchases for this week were as follows: (these are the highlights, not a complete list)
100# ground beef
12# sausage
15# bacon
24# strawberries
6# chicken tenders
5 loaves bread
2 dzn rolls
7 frozen bread dough loaves
3 cases individual juice cartons (approx 65 each case)
1 case individual milk cartons
1 case individual honey buns (80)
1 case saltines (500, 2pk)
1 case pancake syrup, individuals (500)
25# pancake mix
1 case +4 small flour tortillas, dzn (28packs  total)
1 case individual cheese sauces (approx 100?)
5 cartons ice cream
3# tater tots
3# hash browns
4# bratwurst
6# apples
1 case toilet paper (24 dbl rolls)
4 cases frozen pizzas (Totinos, and what a great deal on them! 48 total)
Fresh vegies
More, more, blah, blah

Okay, you get the picture. For most this is just not normal, however, for those of us with large families, you may recognize the list.

My sister, who has three grown children, was with me shopping yesterday. When the groceries were totaled (mind you, this was just one store), she's gasping and pointing to the amount on the register, $255. I'm smiling and saying "Great deals, huh!" I'm a good shopper (thank you Mom).

For most average families, it's a shocker the quantity of food it takes to feed a household of eleven (or thirteen, depending on who's there, or which college kids I'm buying food for!) Unless, of course, someone has the occupation of ordering for a restaurant or the cafeteria. Hmm. I'm sure I could do that job. I was purchasing from my grocers for months before one of the managers asked me about my restaurant.
"Uh, I just buy food for my family. We have a LOT of kids."

Our lists are just not normal - like our laundry! Ouch!