Atkins on a budget

[Heidi3]

try gleaning!!!

Cali you have got the right idea already we will keep this thread running and try to keep the cheap ideas coming .you probably have some for us you do not even realize
Have you thought of gleaning?....if you have a list of farms in your area you can check and sometimes at the end of a harvest farmers will let you come and glean the fields ..it is amazing the food you can get for little if any cost!!!...try it it will not help now but to think about it and plan for the summer is alway great in the long run!!!.....

do you have food coops?
also check the grocery stores for dated cheeses? when they get close to the expiration date they are a score!...besides old cheese is just cheesier!!!....I have also saved all my ends and dried out bits (not moldy those get tossed if it ever happens)..of cheese used for grating in a bag in the freezer for enhancing soups they are amazing
SOUP STOCK is one of the best budget items I can ever think of...I keep four stock bags in the freezer
one for
cheese bits
one for veggie bits trimmings, (yellow onion skins make a nice golden broth by the way!) for veggie stock, one for meat trimmings and bones for meat or chicken stock...one for fish trimmings, shrimp shells for fish stock
Another tip is to grow stuff...even if it is a window garden seeds are VERY inexpensive ...I used mustard seeds I use for seasoning for growing mustard greens...or coriander seeds for growing fresh cilantro...the spice seeds can be grown but I WOULD NOT EAT THE SEEDS INTENDED FOR PLANTING AS THEY CAN CONTAIN SOME KIND OF TREATMENT ON THE SEEDS...

I am not sure but in some areas people on Food Stamps can get a reduced cost fishing tag? is that possible where you live?.....you can fish!....I love fishing but here it is prohibitive to buy all the tags!!..

Good luck keep us posted and do not forget planning is the best way to do this ...cheap crapfood lasts only a minute but good solid food you cook keeps you full and healthy longer not to mention is in the long term better for your budget!!!...

[CalifGal]

:wave Hello and Happy Sunday...It looks like it could snow at any minute here in Oregon..BRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Today has been ok for me...except I am sooooo sleepy. I am having a hard time staying focused on anything that takes concentration...and my headaches. I did not even make it to my church meeting today. :sympathy When I tried to take a nap, I only sleep for about 30 min then I am awake again...but still sleepy. Also I can't seem to get warm. Is that my blood sugar dropping? I haven't been able to go shopping yet so I am only able to use what is on hand (I don't have a car so I need someone to take me to the store.) The only carbs I have in the house is more salad stuff. I already had my 1 cup allowance of veggies today. I am still confused about what I can use for a veggie snack if I have already used my allowances

Thanks for your ideas for saving food dollars..I agree that planning is one of the keys...I would like to plant some container veggies & herbs...Maybe Goodwill will have some large containers I could get to use.

My freeezer is small, but I will learn to conserve things like you suggest...You said one of your stock bags is for meat bones...any meat? or separate? If I had my own car, then I would hit all the different places that have sales I could use...Now I just have to go to the one store that has best prices (Winco here) and then hit the other stores for the fill ins...usually I can only do major shopping once a month...otherwise I end up spending more than I have...

My income is such that I pay rent, and then everything else has to wait in line...when the money is gone the what doesn't get paid has to wait til next time...I always have something paid late. That makes it bad too, because I have late fees then.

That is why I keep looking for ideas and sometimes feel bad because many folks don't understand how hard it is just to buy the basics...
Well, this turned into something much longer than I planned to write...Sorry. I don't mean to be a whiner, but that is what I have been lately. I keep telling my self "One Day At A Time", Grandma!

:hug

[Heidi3]

:wave Hello and Happy Sunday...It looks like it could snow at any minute here in Oregon..BRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Today has been ok for me...except I am sooooo sleepy. I am having a hard time staying focused on anything that takes concentration...and my headaches. I did not even make it to my church meeting today. :sympathy When I tried to take a nap, I only sleep for about 30 min then I am awake again...but still sleepy. Also I can't seem to get warm. Is that my blood sugar dropping? I haven't been able to go shopping yet so I am only able to use what is on hand (I don't have a car so I need someone to take me to the store.) The only carbs I have in the house is more salad stuff. I already had my 1 cup allowance of veggies today. I am still confused about what I can use for a veggie snack if I have already used my allowances

eat a piece of cheese or a boiled egg...look under snacks and see what appeals to you....if I have a glass of fizzy water and a piece of cheese I am good for a long time!....

Thanks for your ideas for saving food dollars..I agree that planning is one of the keys...I would like to plant some container veggies & herbs...Maybe Goodwill will have some large containers I could get to use.

or just use garbage bags..I saw a whole garden in hefty bags one time!!..oh wait call around to nurseries and ask if they have any free pots the other thing would be check restaurants for 3-5 gallon buckets but do not pay more than $2 or you are wasting money you could get them for free some place else!...just make sure you poke some holes in the bottom of the buckets! for drainage and do not set them directly on wood even pressure treated use some old bricks to elavate them...

My freeezer is small, but I will learn to conserve things like you suggest...You said one of your stock bags is for meat bones...any meat? or separate? If I had my own car, then I would hit all the different places that have sales I could use...Now I just have to go to the one store that has best prices (Winco here) and then hit the other stores for the fill ins...usually I can only do major shopping once a month...otherwise I end up spending more than I have...

Winco rocks we just got one here they are soooo Cheap!!!....you are right they have awesome prices!!!...you sometimes run all over to save a penny and it is not worth it!....you can dry things as well like mushrooms on sale ect...in a low oven and store in airtight bags in a cool dark area...

My income is such that I pay rent, and then everything else has to wait in line...when the money is gone the what doesn't get paid has to wait til next time...I always have something paid late. That makes it bad too, because I have late fees then.

Honey you are not alone in this ...there have been plenty of times many of us have lived years check to check..paying one bill and letting others go until there was no choice...and stretching meals to the limit..that is why we know how to do this!!!...work hard set goals and in time all things come...BTW I am a migraine sufferer and you have my deepest empathy!.... :vomit

That is why I keep looking for ideas and sometimes feel bad because many folks don't understand how hard it is just to buy the basics...
Well, this turned into something much longer than I planned to write...Sorry. I don't mean to be a whiner, but that is what I have been lately. I keep telling my self "One Day At A Time", Grandma!


:hug

[brats4]

I'm one of those who saw a tremendous spike in my grocery bill eating Atkins. Primarily because I have a family. Three children who aren't on Atkins. One of those still needs lunch packed and a school snack daily. So basically while I quit eating much of the old they didn't. I still needed to buy bread, rice, etc. Then remember people with children have the meat variable thrown in and must have different variety. I can't feed a 2 and 4 year old chicken breast every night, let alone feed them steak. First they wouldn't eat it every night, second it would also cost a small fortune. I know people say pack healthy lunches for kids, and I do to an extent. However, I don't see how my getting overweight should mean my kid doesn't ever get fruit roll ups or any treats that other children get. Also I still have to buy juice and milk for 7 days a week for 3 kids. So for me it wasn't that Atkins was expensive, it was Atkins on top of my normal food bill was outlandish!

Also I have known a few people on Atkins, myself included and have noticed a startling side effect. Their young children seem to pack on the pounds as they lose them. I believe this is because there are certain things that aren't being removed grains, fruits etc. but we often serve them the rest of our meal items tending to be more fat laden. So while I would have roast and veggies. My kids would have roast, veggies and rice. I would be curious to see if anyone else encountered this scenario. I know now that I have grains, milk etc back in my diet my children have actually started to slim down.

[Heidi3]

I'm one of those who saw a tremendous spike in my grocery bill eating Atkins. Primarily because I have a family. Three children who aren't on Atkins. One of those still needs lunch packed and a school snack daily. So basically while I quit eating much of the old they didn't. I still needed to buy bread, rice, etc. Then remember people with children have the meat variable thrown in and must have different variety. I can't feed a 2 and 4 year old chicken breast every night, let alone feed them steak. First they wouldn't eat it every night, second it would also cost a small fortune. I know people say pack healthy lunches for kids, and I do to an extent. However, I don't see how my getting overweight should mean my kid doesn't ever get fruit roll ups or any treats that other children get. Also I still have to buy juice and milk for 7 days a week for 3 kids. So for me it wasn't that Atkins was expensive, it was Atkins on top of my normal food bill was outlandish!

No your kids will resent you forever if you mess with snacks!! I used to feed my kids all kinds of "healthfood" and the reality is they make fun of me today for the wheat germ on the oatmeal and the brewers yeast not to mention my famous zucchini milkshakes....oh yeah they tease me ...kids need to eat a huge variety of foods and that is not always easy on a budget of any kind...that is for sure!..

Also I have known a few people on Atkins, myself included and have noticed a startling side effect. Their young children seem to pack on the pounds as they lose them. I believe this is because there are certain things that aren't being removed grains, fruits etc. but we often serve them the rest of our meal items tending to be more fat laden. So while I would have roast and veggies. My kids would have roast, veggies and rice. I would be curious to see if anyone else encountered this scenario. I know now that I have grains, milk etc back in my diet my children have actually started to slim down.

You know what you are absolutely right on this ...I had to catch myself the other day when I realized after all the years of serving rice to my family I was suddenly putting butter on it!...never did I do that before....so when my sons come over I have to think "they are NOT eating this way" and then recheck my dinners to make sure with the increased carbs they are not also getting all the fat!...fact is my husbands cholesterol when up while his weight has gone down and that is disturbing to me so we are both watching types of fats and how we are eating them...not low fat by any means but I am not willing to risk someone elses health while I am trying to improve my own...great point!!!

[brats4]

P.S. I am exceptionally phobic so many of the food saving ideas wouldn't work so well for me. I have basically phobias about everything. I can't eat food certain people touch, actually most people the only exception are kids and DH (and that is only sometimes), I can eat meat over a month old (seriously just can't do it), I can't eat any lunch meat if ANYONE else has their bare hands on it, if anyone passes gas, blows their nose or sniffles within an earshot all food exposed goes into the trash (drinks included even with lids)...these are just a few. I'm not joking either and it does affect the cost effectiveness of daily life just ask DH. Oh also I can't use storage containers, I only drink out of one mug, one cup, never glasses and only use certain utensils. So now that you're probably thinking I'm a nut I have to say some of this did come in handy while I was loosing the weight. I put all Nono food in situations, containers etc so I wouldn't touch it. However, when we have house guests it really throws me off budget cause I can't eat anything in my own house because I'm not sure what they touched. So each meal is brought individually as I need it. Okay I'll stop bantering now.

[Heidi3]

you sound like my DH!!! well and me most of the time!!!...DH will not touch communal food so all our friends that he will eat their food will notify him of what they brought and even then he will only eat what I make....we have a three day rule for food ...three days and out it goes...I bleach EVERYTHING and if I do not smell bleach it is not clean....everyone washes hands well before cooking ...after cooking before eating ..oh it goes on and on....I have deep empathy ..but my patients should be thrilled with my hygiene as at the end of the week my hands are so cracked from washing them that I should not be working anyway!!!....

[brats4]

LOL! Too funny. My DH hates the smell of bleach, but I'm a bleach addict. LOL. I pour it on faucets, spray it on door handles etc.

[Heidi3]

LOL! Too funny. My DH hates the smell of bleach, but I'm a bleach addict. LOL. I pour it on faucets, spray it on door handles etc.

BLEACH=CLEAN!!! no doubt about it!!!!!...and it is cheap!!!!.....ammonia for the windows bleach for everything else!!! Talk about cutting cost!!!

[brats4]

Yep. I used to when I had rug just mix amonia/pine sol. Makes a great carpet cleaner and doesn't cost 10 dollars a pint. Worked terriffic in the steam machines and house always smelled so fresh afterward.

[NulloModo]

OK, figured I would get into this thread... most costs are estimated as they were bits cut off from larger bits:

Breakfast -
1 Cup Green Tea (lets say .25 cents)
1 Thick slice of hard cured salami (let's say .25 cents worth cut off from the log)
1 Slice of habanero sharp cheddar (again, probably .25 or so cents worth of cheese)

Total for Breakfast - 0.75

Lunch -
8 Oz Smoked pork shoulder (smoked it myself over the weekend, the whole 8lb shoulder cost me $12, so, half a lb, like .75)
Broccoli with alfredo sauce (eh, I decided to try the No Calorie/No Carb Walden farms Alfredo, used around .25 cents worth of a jar, and won't be using it again, blech. Bought the Broccoli in bulk at Costco, so, around .50 perhaps for the portion I had)

Total for Lunch - 1.50

Dinner -
Sardine sandwhich (one of my clone rolls, package of 'Hot Titus' sardines (the name and the graphic are coolest part about them ), some mayo, hot pepper spread, spicey mustard, and a thick slice of onion. I'd say 1.50 worth of ingredients went into the sandwhich).
Some more of that broccoli, steamed this time, with real cheddar overtop (let's say .75 to make up for the addition of the cheddar).

Total for Dinner - 2.25

Total for the Day - $4.50

[CalifGal]

Hello everyone...The other day when I mentioned that Atkins plan was financially difficult FOR ME I did not know it was going to arouse such a contraversy...While it is true that each meal is realitively low cost, FOR ME the meats and fresh veggies make the plan more costly at the grocery store when I need to shop and stock.

My food stamp budget allows me $140 per month...I then add enough per week out of my own income to make it $200. Many months tho I can't do that. If my paychecks are too small. I haven't bought a roast or large bulk of meat or anything else for years...I buy whatever is cheapest...usually ground beef or turkey and chicken with occasional salmon. Things like heavy cream and butter and cheese and even fresh or frozen veggies are often too much...usually the frozen veggies we can't eat are ok in price. Once my stamps are gone then I can't do much shopping at all until the 5th of the next month.

I must admit that now that I won't be buying fruits and breads and other foods that I was eating before, maybe my food allowance will go further. :icondance

It has been hard to stick with induction limits this first week because I haven't been able to grocery shop for almost 3 weeks...so I have had to do with what I have until Jan. 5 (tomorrow). But I have stay firm for Atkins... :yes I ran out of salad stuff and cream & cheeses....I have enough sausage & 3 eggs left for one more breakfast. The next few days will be tough, since I won't get to the store until Sat. (I have no car & need someone to take me).

[brats4]

I don't think your post created a controversy at all. We actually all seemed to have a nice discussion about savings etc. Good luck with your WOE hope it all works out for you.

[Heidi3]

Cali controversy what controversy did I miss something?

Nullo why didnt you tell me there was such a think as Habanero sharp cheddar?????? I am dieing here is it a local cheese???? that sounds like my dream ...habaneros and cheese....wow!!!! hot and cheesey!!! Jalepeno jack is good but kind of lame for me!!!....but this sounds like a winner...
see your menu was gourmet you ate amazing food and voila' look at the total!!!lll

today for me

eggies for breakfast .... .25
some diced leftover veggies and cheese ...35
coffee with cream .35 ( I am really guessing here)

lunch is going to just be

cream cheese .40
celery .50 (celery is high right now)


snack is

Pistachios .65
coffee with cream at work 1.00

dinner

leftover Megs Adobo .75
sliced jicama .50

sparlking water 1.00

$ 4.70!!!! whooo hooo I can not believe this you guys we are great you know!!! :icondance :icondance :icondance

[CalifGal]

Good Morning

Yes...Controversy was the wrong word to describe the DISCUSSION about the cost effectiveness of the Atkins plan.

I am almost at the end of my first week...this is day 5 for me. I feel like I have done well inspite of the fact that I was not able to go grocery shopping before I started...I have had to use only what I already had available...so my intake of veggies have been limited so that I could stretch them through the week.

I am afraid of the scale, so I probably won't get on it for awhile...right now I just stick to eating and moving; and drinking water.

One thing I have noticed is that my asthma problems have not been as bad as they were...I don't wheeze constantly, and the "tickle" in my throat is gone as well as my dry broncial spasms...I was coughing all the time. When I wake up in the morning I have less "morning clogs" and less "brain fog". :joy

I assume that is because I have eliminated wheat products (I used whole wheat breads and cereal before) and most dairy items...Maybe I have been allergic to those items all this time...Hopefully in time I can walk and move without hurting...(I have lots of arthritis in my knees and hips)

Have a great day everyone...
:wave :wave