MindfulProvisions Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Hey guys! I just recently added up all of the money I spent on the January Whole30. More details can be found here: http://www.mindfulprovisions.com/?p=122 My question is, what are some tips for making the next round of Whole30 I'm going to do cheaper? Even though it's not crazy how much I spent on my health (especially compared to how much money I used to spend on eating out), I'd like to see how inexpensive eating clean can be. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFChris Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 I think your thoughts at the end of your blog post are right on target. Note that you had a bunch of items you purchased that are pantry staples and will last you for many meals (e.g., spices, crio bru, cooking fats, etc.)For some further ideas, read this article: http://whole9life.com/2011/01/paleo-poor-your-guide-to-the-grocery-store/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators LadyM Posted February 7, 2015 Moderators Share Posted February 7, 2015 I think you did pretty great, actually. I consistently spend about $100 a week on groceries for myself and find it pretty difficult to get the budget lower than that. But when I consider that I'm not spending any money on restaurants and bars--and am getting optimal nutrition, I'm happy with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amieK Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 When I consider the extra cost of eating real food, I always consider the fact that I spend ZERO dollars per month on pharmaceuticals. Good health is PRICELESS!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirkor Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 I've averaged $400/month for a few years now which includes a fair amount of restaurant meals. My January W30 was $375. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amieK Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Despite my commitment to healthy eating, sometimes I do get a shock at the cash register. Day before yesterday I bought 2 butternut squash and it came to $11.98!!! They weren't huge either. I just resigned myself to paying that exorbitant price. I've been having carb cravings and I can't eat potatoes or sweet potatoes, so squash is my Whole30 compliant go-to food for carb cravings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators LadyM Posted February 8, 2015 Moderators Share Posted February 8, 2015 Do you have a local farmer's market where you can buy squash, amieK? I know in a pinch they're crazy expensive at the grocery store, but a local farmer's market might sell fresher ones for a buck or two a pop. That's how it is around here, anyway. But winter squashes overall have been hard to come by lately. Word is out that they're fabulous, and winter is awfully long for wintered over veg. . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amieK Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 LadyM, I would love it if there was a farmer's market in my community. Unfortunately, the nearest one is 145 km (90 miles) away and only runs from May to October. We have 2 grocery stores in our town and a small market that sells specialty meats and cheeses produced in the region. In the summer months there is usually a weekly fruit & vegetable stand operated by a woman who brings up produce from the Okanagan Valley in southern BC. Our food choices are somewhat limited here and the prices are higher than down south. But it's much better than Canada's Far North. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators ladyshanny Posted February 10, 2015 Administrators Share Posted February 10, 2015 Where do you live, AmieK? Just curious...I'm in Coquitlam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkers Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Buying whole chickens and dismantling them yourself can save some money AND give you bones for stock. You may also save some money by buying ground meat and seasoning it yourself to turn it into sausage, etc. Just the spice portion of what you bought was almost $50, but those spices will last and you should see a decrease in your budget right there. (Unless you're still building your spice stash and need more additions.) I think people need to maintain perspective when looking at grocery receipts for Whole 30 and remember that this cost is likely replacing costs for restuarant meals and, for some folks, it's replacing an arsenal of supplements that they've been using to prop-up sub-par eating habits. And then there's that whole "you can't put a price on health" cliche. This is really inspiring though! I saved receipts during our first Whole30 and always intended to do a wrap-up post about it, but just never got to it. You've got me wondering now just how lean I could keep the budget for a Whole30. Seems like a fun challenge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmdchuckles Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 You single folks have it so easy! My last costco trip was $450 and I'll be lucky if it lasts a week. Feeding 5! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfista Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Buy a small chest freezer, home canning supplies and a deydrator. Then go buy bulk produce direct from farmers, ideally u-pick or at the end of the farmers markets...whatever they have too much of. Buy whole animals from farmers. Eat the whole animal, make soup from the bones. Buy quantity when it is on sale. Today I bought 9 trays of organic pork loin that was on sale half price. Then freeze, can and dehydrate everything! You can can whole chickens, make your own compliant chicken soups. Dehydrated berries are delicious, and the mushrooms are great for throwing into soups and stews. Blanche and freeze veggies. Ferment your own kraut. Sprout your own sprouts for pennies per pound. This is old fashioned country thrift. Find a great granny to teach you or check out a book on preserving food from the library. You will be amazed at how cheap you can eat if you do this. Also consider trade outs. Are you a web designer or a bookkeeper or an electrician? Offer your services to a farmer in exchange for food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirkor Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 You single folks have it so easy! My last costco trip was $450 and I'll be lucky if it lasts a week. Feeding 5! Well, by feeding 5 and buying in bulk, your $/calorie is probably lower than us single folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christinaorso Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 i would definitely check out the bulk bins at whole foods, for spices, nuts, and seeds. i've been living off of that stuff, haha. and always check the sales ads and coupons!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstmonthbaby Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 If I don't buy all organic veggies, fruits, and meats/proteins, the monthly grocery budget might be able to handle a Whole30. I already buy spices & nuts in bulk, make my own stock, make my own almond milk, and my freezer currently has some leftover wild caught protein (fish, moose, and a bit of a locally raised cow). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators ShannonM816 Posted February 18, 2015 Moderators Share Posted February 18, 2015 If I don't buy all organic veggies, fruits, and meats/proteins, the monthly grocery budget might be able to handle a Whole30. I already buy spices & nuts in bulk, make my own stock, make my own almond milk, and my freezer currently has some leftover wild caught protein (fish, moose, and a bit of a locally raised cow). It's not a requirement for all your fruits and vegetables to be organic, or for you to buy grass-fed beef or eggs from pastured chickens. If it's not in your budget, it's not in your budget. You can still do a Whole30. If you can afford to buy some things organic but not all the things, look at the Dirty Dozen/Clean 15 lists to see how best to allocate your money -- things on the Clean 15, don't worry about getting organic. The article linked in one of the earlier posts, the Paleo Poor guide to the grocery store, talks about making the best decisions for buying meat based on your budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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