Eating (mostly) clean on a budget

Th3Ph03n1x

We just started a new eating pan last week. The first grocery bill was insane. Almost double what we normally spend with buying less meat that's saying something.

I'd like some tips on how to eat clean and keep costs down. Of course i know one option is to make multiple meals that use mostly the same ingredients.

One thing I would like is any tips on making produce last longer although this week we're doing pretty good I did have to toss some of the spinach that's it so far.

astridtheviking

Buy everything possible in bulk and never single-servings, cycle when you buy shelf-stable staples, buy on sale and work those ingredients into meals, Buy frozen veggies, read the sales flyer for your stores, plan meals in advance. Visit your local ethnic markets and see what you can get there cheaper (spices, rice, some produce, et cetera). Figure out what’s the cheapest at your grocery store and plan your meals around those foods (If cauliflower is expensive but sweet potatoes are cheap, I’ll plan more meals with sweet potatoes and skip the cauliflower). Visit farmers’ markets (when available) to scope out cheaper prices. Sometimes, farmers will get you a good deal on produce if you buy large quantities direct from them. Focus on foods that are inexpensive but have a lot of “bulk” to them - squash is dirt cheap by me and fills you up.

Don’t buy “trendy” foods just because they’re there - these are often the most expensive, especially if not grown in your area. Things grown in your region will be cheaper. Avocados, quinoa, anything with a fancy “organic” label - this stuff isn’t supposed to be available in my area and I can tell when I see the prices.

lemurcat12

Th3Ph03n1x wrote: »

I'd like some tips on how to eat clean and keep costs down. Of course i know one option is to make multiple meals that use mostly the same ingredients.

This. Work with what you have until it's gone. Once you get in the habit of doing that you don't waste anything, because you use it before it goes bad. And once you get in the swing of it and are eating lots of produce you will be able to have lots of different veggies and fruits on hand to mix and match (especially with a whole family) so there should be plenty of variety.

I get a farm share much of the year, which means a box of whatever is in season that the farm I'm buying from happens to be harvesting that week. You get good quickly at working with what's on hand, and I've found it a very valuable experience, even if it can be a huge challenge to use all the greens in the late spring/early summer and you have to get over pickiness to some extent. (Not actually recommending this right now, since it's winter most places.)

kellycasey5

I find the produce at regular grocers: ralphs, vons, gelsons, etc. is very expensive. Heck, I'd shop at whole foods if I could afford it, but I can't. I buy my lettuce and some stuff (asparagus, juicing carrots, cooked peeled beets) at costco. Other than that, I shop at my local 99 cent store and they have a surprisingly good produce area. I can get mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, onions, avocados, apples, and bananas on a regular basis. They also have large bags of potatoes. Then I go to the 99 ranch, my local asian market. They have a varied selection of produce daily for much less than the big stores. If I can't get what I want I can drive aways to the farmer's market, which still costs less than ralphs. And, if I still needed something else I will get a few items at the chain grocery stores. One of my friends lives near a mexican market and they also sell produce and meats for much cheaper!

astridtheviking

kellycasey5 wrote: »

I find the produce at regular grocers: ralphs, vons, gelsons, etc. is very expensive. Heck, I'd shop at whole foods if I could afford it, but I can't. I buy my lettuce and some stuff (asparagus, juicing carrots, cooked peeled beets) at costco. Other than that, I shop at my local 99 cent store and they have a surprisingly good produce area. I can get mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, onions, avocados, apples, and bananas on a regular basis. They also have large bags of potatoes. Then I go to the 99 ranch, my local asian market. They have a varied selection of produce daily for much less than the big stores. If I can't get what I want I can drive aways to the farmer's market, which still costs less than ralphs. And, if I still needed something else I will get a few items at the chain grocery stores. One of my friends lives near a mexican market and they also sell produce and meats for much cheaper!

Oh yeah, definitely find “bulk” or cheaper stores like Sam’s Club, Costco, or Aldi. My family gets our stuff at Sam’s and I go to Aldi around 2-3 times a week. Aldi has a ton of high-quality staple foods for super affordable prices, but not a lot of variety. I get at least one package of artisan lettuce which is similar to the boxed lettuce mixes at a regular grocery store - but it’s $1.99 (sometimes down to $.99 on a sale) - for a box. You can also get things like cheap nuts or dried fruit, oatmeal, almond milk, egg whites, rice, and more. They have their own line of organic or “all-natural” foods. If there’s one in your area, check it out. Wear a coat, as they don’t usually heat their stores, and bring a bag, as they charge you, and be prepared to bag or box your own cart. Oh Aldi, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

m4ndela

I'd say cook bigger batches, freeze if you can. You will get to a lazy week and be able to eat from your freezer at zero cost/effort

Th3Ph03n1x

Sadly we don't have an Aldi or a Costco. We do have a Sam's Club although we don't have a membership at present. Our house doesn't have a lot of storage space so we don't buy in bulk too much.

A lot of good ideas. I appreciate the help we really like this new plan but it's pointless if we go broke doing it.

mariaoutlook

Th3Ph03n1x wrote: »

Sadly we don't have an Aldi or a Costco. We do have a Sam's Club although we don't have a membership at present. Our house doesn't have a lot of storage space so we don't buy in bulk too much.

A lot of good ideas. I appreciate the help we really like this new plan but it's pointless if we go broke doing it.

Do you have a garden or space to have some pots? You can grow leafy vegs and strawberries in pots or window boxes. I have some fruit trees, soft fruit bushes and rhubarb plants among other veggies in my back garden. They are very easy to keep.

Th3Ph03n1x

We might be able to grow a little with good planning. Our yard is pretty small but not non existent. My main concern there would be managing time.

goldthistime

I try to cook with whatever looks like it will go bad first. Your spinach example is a perfect one. I find we can only have it as salad the first day or two after purchasing it, then I have to cook the rest to use it up. Stole this from vegetariantimes.com...

EAT FIRST: Sunday to Tuesday

• Artichokes
• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Basil
• Broccoli
• Cherries
• Corn
• Dill
• Green beans
• Mushrooms
• Mustard greens
• Strawberries
• Watercress

EAT NEXT: Wednesday to Friday

• Arugula
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Grapes
• Lettuce
• Lime
• Mesclun
• Pineapple
• Zucchini

EAT LAST: Weekend

• Apricots
• Bell peppers
• Blueberries
• Brussels sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Grapefruit
• Leeks
• Lemons
• Mint
• Oranges
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Peaches
• Pears
• Plums
• Spinach
• Tomatoes
• Watermelon

AND BEYOND:

• Apples
• Beets
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Celery
• Garlic
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Winter squash

Th3Ph03n1x

Yeah I was just telling DH yesterday when we get Spinach we'll have to use it the first few days. I thought it would make it a bit longer... the romaine looked great after 6 days so I'm filing that away too. I appreciate the list it will be a big help in planning.

lolly715

astridtheviking wrote: »

Don’t buy “trendy” foods just because they’re there - these are often the most expensive, especially if not grown in your area. Things grown in your region will be cheaper. Avocados, quinoa, anything with a fancy “organic” label - this stuff isn’t supposed to be available in my area and I can tell when I see the prices.

Along these lines - eat seasonally. As an example, strawberries in winter will often be twice the price of buying them in summer. And usually not taste as nice since they're imported rather than locally grown. So I tend to eat berries in the summer, move on to apples in the fall and then citrus fruits in winter. I buy frozen berries for smoothies though.

I find it better to shop for produce every few days, although you have to be VERY strict with your list to keep this under budget. Far too easy to go in for one thing and leave with a bag full of stuff you didn't need!

tigersword

Wash your food...

Buy less food. Reuse the same ingredients. Look for things in season or on sale. Stop worrying about arbitrary labels that don't mean anything (clean, dirty, etc.)

Mr_Knight

Rice. Lentils. Seasonal vegetables.

Doesn't get any cleaner than that, it's super nutritious, and it's as cheap as dirt.

bkerr30

I eat a lot of meat alternatives (beans, lentils, nuts, tofu) as these are much cheaper than meat. I also eat seasonally like other posters have suggested. Right now we eat a lot of citrus, apples, root vegetables, squash etc. And I price match. This saves me a ton of money and time by not having to go to ten different stores.

FredDoyle

I don't believe in clean but I do believe in simple and fresh.
I grow what I can and frozen bags is the next best for me.
You can grow a few things quite easily and in very little time depending on your location.
I used to do large pots in the driveway when I rented. A day spent planting and a few minutes each day watering and weeding really isn't too much for fresh produce. Of course, it was -20C here yesterday so all I have right now is herbs, bok choy and a few others inside right now.

emmoen

mix ground beef in with ground turkey.... and we make different flavor meatballs. with little milk and some bread crumbs to hold it all together. we make about 3 2oz servings and when you buy this all in bulk you can have meatball often. My husband eats 2 servings a day. He is trying to clean bulk! I find its cheaper than actual lean steak.

tomatoey

One thing I would like is any tips on making produce last longer although this week we're doing pretty good I did have to toss some of the spinach that's it so far.

Shop more often, like every 2-3 days, and finish what you already have. Get the produce that's on sale when you can. Meat is often discounted when it's about to go off, too.

Check out this site - http://www.stilltasty.com/ - to see how long things last, if you're not sure. You can get an extra day or two out of some foods with a little extra TLC (depends on what the food is) - that site also gives advice on best practices for storage.

snowflake930

Buy on sale. Cook for the week and freeze in individual portions for lunches and quick dinners. Invest in a salad spinner. Make sure the greens are as dry as possible before refrigerating. Mine lasts pretty much all week, and we have salads almost everyday. I prep all veggies for the week (celery, carrots, radishes, onions, bell peppers and cucumbers mostly). Fresh or frozen fruit. Berries, wash and dry thoroughly before refrigerating and they last for 4 or 5 days for me. I wash the containers they come in and dry them, then put a folded paper towel in the bottom of the container.

Pretty important too to pay attention to serving sizes. The recommended amounts are smaller than most people are used to. Weigh and measure everything.

Honestly, I have been doing this for almost 3 years now, and my grocery bill is lower than it was pre-MFP, using very little pre-packaged foods.

sunnyside1213

Spinach freezes really well. I live alone and freeze everything. Cheese, tomatoes, cooked meals like chile, stew, fried rice, and cooked meat. The only thing I don't recommend freezing is cooked potatoes.

rcottonrph1

I have found personally that eating healthfully cost me less or close to the same as not. Plan your meals and snacks out ahead of time and shop from a list. Once you are able to have a pantry stocked with the essentials and basics, healthy eating becomes pretty cheap.

Th3Ph03n1x

I always plan my meals and shop from a list. It might be partially to some of the non perishable items we wren't buying before I'm not sure what it was but when we got the total at the checkout I about fell out. My best guess is so many different produce items because those are the only items that increased in number.

Capt_Apollo

budgetbytes.com

goldthistime

Capt_Apollo wrote: »

budgetbytes.com

Checked out your site and I like it.

PowerfulHunt

Check out Leanne Brown's "Eat Well on $4/day"

https://41aac1a9acbe9b97bcebc10e0dd7cb61ef11502c.googledrive.com/host/0B9c5aT4eSlRfMzVpbC0xemtkSlE/good-and-cheap.pdf

softblondechick

I guess I don't get how eating clean is so expensive. For me, the food bill is reduced. We don't eat out at all anymore. I don't buy any processed foods at all. My Costco bill was less than $ 100 last week, eggs, pot roasts, lettuce, tomatoes, a whole cart of stuff.

Our food bill has gone down significantly. No more booze is another way our food bill has gone down.

Capt_Apollo

goldthistime wrote: »

Capt_Apollo wrote: »

budgetbytes.com

Checked out your site and I like it.

it's not my site

Th3Ph03n1x

PowerfulHunt wrote: »

Check out Leanne Brown's "Eat Well on $4/day"

https://41aac1a9acbe9b97bcebc10e0dd7cb61ef11502c.googledrive.com/host/0B9c5aT4eSlRfMzVpbC0xemtkSlE/good-and-cheap.pdf

I will def check it out thanks.

racheljonel

Frozen veggies, eggs and ground turkey are staples of mine....and all cheap. Buy fresh veggies on sale and in season. Whole chickens are also cheaper than butchered chicken....and you can save the bones and veggie scraps for broth. Also, when possible, support your local farmers' markets....they are great for getting more bang for your buck in produce.

melimomTARDIS

I find it helpful to shop in catagories, ie- "dairy" "fruit/veg" "protiens" "starches" and then combine to make meals. I have a blog post on MFP about it, feel free to check it out.

crystalflame

I plan my meals around what's on sale, and the freezer is my best friend. I start by picking out the produce. This week there's a lot of kale because it's $0.98 a bunch (usually $2.99 in the off-season). I bought 3 packs of $0.98 blackberries, and what doesn't get eaten by Wednesday will be frozen because berries start to go downhill fast. I thoroughly inspect all the produce I buy - I got a giant container of spinach last week that's still pretty crisp because it was super fresh when I bought it, but if it already looks a little wilty in the store it won't last very long. I load up on certain frozen veggies when they're on sale - edamame, peas, corn, etc. (NOT broccoli because frozen broccoli is disgusting IMO - that's worth buying fresh. Knowing what you need fresh is important.) I wait for chicken to be $1.99/lb and buy about 20 lbs. That's 10 weeks' worth of chicken for me and my husband. I won't buy pork chops unless they're $2.99/lb or less, and if they get down to the $1.99 mark I load up on them too. Tuna, salmon, and shrimp are not weekly items, and I won't spend more than $6.99/lb on them. I try to buy non-perishables like beans, lentils, and rice in bulk when they're on sale. I'll make double batches of soups, stews, curries, saucy chicken dishes, etc. and freeze them. You may pay double or triple your normal grocery bill one week, but a few weeks later when there's not great deals you're already loaded up on food.