From Missionary Mother Email Group:
And...I hesitate to ask, but I think I'm not the only one sending more money to my son for food each month. If you send extra food money, how much do you send? My son was a weight lifter and has a lot of muscle that burns calories. He was starving on the $140 a month.
Response:
This probably isn't the answer you are looking for, but it is the way we do it.
I don't send extra money. I think it is important that my missionary sons learn how to budget and learn to get by with what they have. These are important life skills for them to learn now.
If they are meal planning and spending their money on unprocessed carbohydrates and protein sources, fruits and vegetables it is possible for them to get enough to eat with the money they have. I will say that when my son was living in an apartment with 3 other elders, oftentimes he was the only one with money left at the end of the month. They were also in an area where they were not fed by members very often. He did plan ahead and cooked, albeit simple meals he could put in the oven and have ready in 30-45 minutes while he did other things. He didn't purchase many processed or prepared foods. If they plan meals together they can save even more money. Last time I asked he said they ate quite a bit of chicken, rice and pasta.
My nephew who served in FFL bought a crockpot and would put dinner in it in the morning before they left so they could have dinner ready when they returned. His impetus for this was all of the processed foods his companions were eating. He was also into his health before he left and wanted to eat healthier foods but didn't have a lot of time in the evenings to prepare meals. His mom and sisters sent him some simple recipes with inexpensive ingredients that could be cooked quickly.
Good luck,
Melissa Dabb
I second this as well.
I don’t think it is the same in all wards, but many wards feed the missionaries daily. Some times a transfer will be in an area where the members don’t prepare meals but then the next area will.
MM Cathryn Farr, Gig Harbor WA,
Elder Seth Farr, Florida Tampa, May 2014 - 2016
Heidi,
My son is using extra each month too, however, he is not very good at planning ahead but he's learning. I have realized how important it is to work on cooking inexpensive, simple meals with them before they leave. Maybe by the time he comes home, he will have learned. I can only hope. I did learn from my son that they have raised their monthly allotment to $170. Maybe that will help.
From: LHEDIN@dsdmail.net
Thank you. How is your son doing, Lori?? Do you know when they raised the amount?
Thank you, too Melissa. I think I need to send him a cookbook. Mark was a really good eater before he left, he went through a ton of fruits and vegetables; but they do cost a lot of money! And milk. Here, he drank almost a gallon a day. If anyone has great meal ideas, send them my way and I will send them to him. I do realize that planning for meals is not his forte. YET.
Heidi
Heidi,
He is doing really well. Thanks for asking. I met your son while I was there. For those of you readers that don't know, my son had a bycicle accident and broke his collar bone in four places. He had to have surgery. Long story short, the mission president gave us the option of either bringing him home, having the surjery done at home or me going to Florida, taking care of it there and staying with him until he was well enough to return to full missionary work. My son did not want to come home so I went there. I spent 6 days being my son's companion. It was amazing!
Lori Hedin
MM to Elder Caleb Hedin
Tampa, Florida mission
I am so glad you could go, and happy that he is doing so well. I know that's something we all worry about- an accident. I'm glad it was "fixable."
Heidi
Lori Hedin, my son Elder Leavitt in Tampa FL wrote a bit ago and mentioned about Elder Hedin- I just now put the two together! Elder Leavitt along with his current companion Elder Wing had the opportunity to be with your son for just a few days before you came and before his surgery. He mentioned what a cool person Elder Hedin is and that he hopes all is going well for him and with his surgery. He also mentioned how "weird" it was to see him with his mom. LOL! Love it!
Makayla Leavitt
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