I'm confused on weekly food planning.

StevenStacey2581

Hello I'm new to using this app/service. I was using the meal planner for 1 week and it added all the items I needed for recipes to Instacart. My problem is that is says it's going to cost $247.06!? Is this an every week price or is this a few weeks, like I'm absolutely floored at the price and thought I'd be spending around $50-$80 per week. Any tips or helpful suggestions needed please!

yirara

Your groceries are going to cost that much? What's included, do you need this all, and are there alternatives? I suppose you're able to see what's in this instacart (not a thing here) and how many meals you can create with that, right?

StevenStacey2581

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48576425#Comment_48576425

Its based off a Keto Diet. It's Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, snacks. Monday-Sunday. I believe i added a screenshot of the instacart, it's using my local Jewel Osco as a store.

springlering62

isn’t keto typically primarily meats? Even low quality cuts are running $8-10 a pound here.

I’m meal planning two weeks out now in hopes of catching a meat on sale. Husband scooped up two packs of expiring London Broil and a pack of 85% lean ground beef Saturday. Even at 25% off, they were still $7.99 a pound.

And here am I bellyaching that pork loin and boneless skinless chicken have gone up to $2.99. Guess which ones we’re eating most often? 😱😱😱

if I could just train him on fruits and vegetables. He thinks everything should be soft and squishy. He brought home a giant avocado and some tomatillos that were rotted and moldy and I had to toss them

My fault for giving him the shopping list. 🤷🏻‍♀️

springlering62

seriously, can you make substitutions? I’ve only used instacart once,and it struck me it defaulted to the most expensive options. Can you review the list and swap for store brands!

if it’s automatically loading your cart for you, you’re probably getting the most expensive options.

Also, some of the options like rice, couscous, flours, sugars, syrups, will be pantry stock. You won’t be buying them again for a long time so clean and consolidate out that list, too.

I’m too old to deal with exotic ingredients. I just keep the very most basic staples and only get oddball items if I really want them. Right now I’m in the Fried Plantain phase of my life. Otherwise I’ve never had a plantain in the house before.

COGypsy

There's not a picture attached, but what are you ordering? I eat plenty of meat and don't spend that much on groceries in an entire month. Does the $247 include the fees and tip or just the food? What kind of meal plan are you following—keto can probably be done at a variety of budget levels. I'd say that you're probably not going to hit your $50-80 weekly budget on an all meat diet, though. Not these days.

springlering62

and don’t forget to check the number of servings that’re being calculated. On some recipe sites, it’s 4x and 8x.

jodymaro1

Keto can absolutely be very expensive. My average price per week is about $80-$150. It depends. Food is double what it used to be before Covid basically so it will probably cost you at least $100 a week. It depends on what you are ordering. What kind of food do you want to eat or what lifestyle? I can help you try and figure out a budget like my own if you like. I eat a lot of grilled chicken and veggies. Hard boiled eggs or egg whites. Nuts. Cottage cheese. Peanut butter and low sugar jelly. Oranges and berries. Sometimes cheese (I get the store brand cheese block, as it is so much cheaper). Popcorn. Green Juice. Protein powder. Protein bars. and sometimes I get healthy choice Zero carb "chicken and sesame zoodles" because they are only about $5.00 a meal. I love that one.