The beginning of January, the husband and I decided we should try to eat healthy. We tend to have this same conversation the beginning of EVERY January. So, I went to the store and bought juice, fruit, yogurts. Then the husband says everyone at his work is RAVING about the Keto diet and while he doesn't want to strictly follow it, he does think we need to cut carbs.
Well, I am more of a "rule follower" so I dive in head first, full Keto. I research and purchase carb counting apps. I look up all the Keto recipes. I make meal plans. I buy the ketone test strips. Then, I make my online order for Walmart and see the total in my cart !?!?! It was more than TRIPLE my normal grocery budget.
Now, if you know me at all, you know my budget is my life. I am a tight wad. I admit it.
So, I dump out everything "health food" or "Keto" related. No almond flour, no Lilly's chocolates. I also eliminated any "double recipes" I was making because someone in my family wouldn't eat something in my Keto friendly recipe. My Keto recipes would just have to become family friendly. My total was still slightly higher than normal, but manageable. I was still having to buy somethings double (Lettuce for lettuce wraps for me, bread for sandwiches for the kids, etc)
Here is what I have learned:
1. I don't need to buy the health food or food I've never heard of. I can cut the carbs out of my families already favorite meals. Look for what has the highest carbs in a given meal and see if you can eliminate or substitute that one thing.
2. Cream of Chicken soup can be substituted just fine four cream cheese in chicken recipes. A half cup of cream cheese has close to 5 carbs, half a cup of cream of chicken soup has 9 carbs. When you figure that most recipes make 4 or more servings, that means you are getting just over 1 carb from cream cheese per serving or just over 2 carbs of cream of chicken per serving. The one extra carb per serving is SO worth it when it means the difference between EVERYONE in your family will eat it or splitting the recipe. Also, cream of chicken soup is sooooo much cheaper.
3. Pork Rinds are life savers. They are cheap and can be used as chips or breading.
4. While I am normally an advocate for buying 2 weeks of groceries at a time, this is not the time to do that. You really don't know how much of what is going to be eaten. The first couple of weeks, only buy 4-5 days at a time. This will help ensure your fresh vegetables stay fresh and if you end up not eating as much salad/beef jerky/etc as you thought, you can roll it over instead of buying more than you need.
5. Keep snacks simple and cheap. You will be spending more on fresh vegetables for dinner, so cut some money here. Our favorites are string cheese, pickles, celery with full fat ranch or a small amount of salsa and Slim Jims.
6. Walmart Grocery pick up is your friend. The less you have to go in the store, the less you will be tempted. The less your kids will be tempted. I prefer Walmart Grocery pick up to other grocer pickups simply because it is FREE.
7. Lettuce wraps, cup up smoked sausage and cheese or leftovers make good cheap Keto friendly lunches.
8. Don't experiment too fast. While some people love spaghetti squash and think cauliflower makes a wonderful substitute for potatoes, I do not. I have had 2 meals ruined because they were my main dish. If I had tried each of them as a side first, it would have been easier to replace instead of having to scrap an entire meal.
9. Canned and frozen foods vegetables are a good way to cut down cost and make sure you have minimal waste.
10. Remember that your kids aren't on the diet with you. Still buy them treats for their lunch. Trust me, the treats now are cheaper than a stop to get ice cream or buying a full size candy bar when they are hungry, whiny and in sugar with drawls. I have limited my daughter to small treat in her school lunch and another small treat after dinner. Her other snacks are healthy. I want to teach her good eating habits now, so maybe she will never have to "diet".
Next week, I will start sharing some economical Keto recipes that have become family favorites. You know the, recipes that will be around even when the diet is over.
Are you on Keto? How do you lower your grocery bill and make sure every one eats?
Well, I am more of a "rule follower" so I dive in head first, full Keto. I research and purchase carb counting apps. I look up all the Keto recipes. I make meal plans. I buy the ketone test strips. Then, I make my online order for Walmart and see the total in my cart !?!?! It was more than TRIPLE my normal grocery budget.
Now, if you know me at all, you know my budget is my life. I am a tight wad. I admit it.
So, I dump out everything "health food" or "Keto" related. No almond flour, no Lilly's chocolates. I also eliminated any "double recipes" I was making because someone in my family wouldn't eat something in my Keto friendly recipe. My Keto recipes would just have to become family friendly. My total was still slightly higher than normal, but manageable. I was still having to buy somethings double (Lettuce for lettuce wraps for me, bread for sandwiches for the kids, etc)
Here is what I have learned:
1. I don't need to buy the health food or food I've never heard of. I can cut the carbs out of my families already favorite meals. Look for what has the highest carbs in a given meal and see if you can eliminate or substitute that one thing.
2. Cream of Chicken soup can be substituted just fine four cream cheese in chicken recipes. A half cup of cream cheese has close to 5 carbs, half a cup of cream of chicken soup has 9 carbs. When you figure that most recipes make 4 or more servings, that means you are getting just over 1 carb from cream cheese per serving or just over 2 carbs of cream of chicken per serving. The one extra carb per serving is SO worth it when it means the difference between EVERYONE in your family will eat it or splitting the recipe. Also, cream of chicken soup is sooooo much cheaper.
3. Pork Rinds are life savers. They are cheap and can be used as chips or breading.
4. While I am normally an advocate for buying 2 weeks of groceries at a time, this is not the time to do that. You really don't know how much of what is going to be eaten. The first couple of weeks, only buy 4-5 days at a time. This will help ensure your fresh vegetables stay fresh and if you end up not eating as much salad/beef jerky/etc as you thought, you can roll it over instead of buying more than you need.
5. Keep snacks simple and cheap. You will be spending more on fresh vegetables for dinner, so cut some money here. Our favorites are string cheese, pickles, celery with full fat ranch or a small amount of salsa and Slim Jims.
6. Walmart Grocery pick up is your friend. The less you have to go in the store, the less you will be tempted. The less your kids will be tempted. I prefer Walmart Grocery pick up to other grocer pickups simply because it is FREE.
7. Lettuce wraps, cup up smoked sausage and cheese or leftovers make good cheap Keto friendly lunches.
8. Don't experiment too fast. While some people love spaghetti squash and think cauliflower makes a wonderful substitute for potatoes, I do not. I have had 2 meals ruined because they were my main dish. If I had tried each of them as a side first, it would have been easier to replace instead of having to scrap an entire meal.
9. Canned and frozen foods vegetables are a good way to cut down cost and make sure you have minimal waste.
10. Remember that your kids aren't on the diet with you. Still buy them treats for their lunch. Trust me, the treats now are cheaper than a stop to get ice cream or buying a full size candy bar when they are hungry, whiny and in sugar with drawls. I have limited my daughter to small treat in her school lunch and another small treat after dinner. Her other snacks are healthy. I want to teach her good eating habits now, so maybe she will never have to "diet".
Next week, I will start sharing some economical Keto recipes that have become family favorites. You know the, recipes that will be around even when the diet is over.
Are you on Keto? How do you lower your grocery bill and make sure every one eats?
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