Weekly food expenses for the Duggar family from Jinger's latest disclosure, as revealed, are startling, sending shockwaves.
In a recent episode of their podcast, The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast, Jinger Duggar Vuolo and her husband Jeremy took a trip down memory lane, rewatching a TLC special from 2006 titled 16 Children & Moving In. The episode offered a fascinating insight into the family's grocery shopping habits, a topic that Jinger found particularly intriguing.
During their time on 19 Kids and Counting, the Duggar family's average grocery bill for a major shopping trip was approximately $677, which filled an impressive seven shopping carts with food[1][2][3]. Adjusted for 2025 prices, this would equate to around $2,000 due to inflation and increased food costs[1][5].
The family managed to keep costs relatively low by adopting smart strategies. They shopped in bulk, often stocking up on large quantities at discount stores like Aldi, including bulk items like cases of butter and multiple cans of milk to fill their freezer and pantry[1]. They also planned their grocery trips strategically to make their food last longer and reduce the frequency of shopping trips[1]. It's possible that they took advantage of Aldi's lower prices on staples compared to other grocery stores, helping to stretch their budget over so many mouths[2][3].
Jinger, reflecting on her childhood, revealed that their family's diet consisted mainly of canned fruits, soups, and bean burritos. Despite the large quantities of food purchased, Jinger described the grocery haul as "insane," given the sheer quantity of food consumed by 19 kids plus parents regularly[3]. The shopping was a major operation, involving the entire family and multiple carts, reflecting the logistical challenge of feeding such a large household[2][4].
In comparison, Jeremy mentioned that one cartload of food can cost $300 easily now. This underscores the significant increase in food costs over the years, a challenge that many families face.
Despite the public interest, no plans for Jinger's return to reality TV have been announced. However, the docuseries Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets is available on Amazon Prime Video for those who wish to delve deeper into the family's life.
[1] Source: TLC's 19 Kids and Counting [2] Source: The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast [3] Source: People Magazine [4] Source: Us Weekly [5] Source: Inflation Calculator (www.bls.gov)
- Jinger Duggar Vuolo found it interesting to revisit the family's grocery shopping habits during their time on '19 Kids and Counting', as their daily blend of food-and-drink consisted mainly of canned fruits, soups, and bean burritos.
- The Duggar family's daily lifestyle strategy included shopping for food-and-drink in bulk from stores like Aldi, combined with smart planning to make their groceries last longer and reduce shopping frequency.
- The family's home-and-garden life was also filled with entertainment, as shopping for groceries was a major operation that involved the entire family and required multiple carts, reflecting the challenges of catering for such a large household.
