LC on a budget
shaytuck
Posts: 55 Member
So while my husband was away on a detachment I began my low carb journey and so far I've lost ten pounds in three weeks. My husband is back now and he wants to go low carb as well but he requires way more meat than my daughter and I and so none of the meals I make seem to last.
When we weren't going low carb it was easy to take a chicken breast (or 2) and cut them up and toss it in some pasta, veggies and sauce and it would last at least two days but now I seem to have to cook every single night and my pockets are starting to feel the pain.
Are there any suggestions on how I can make heartier lc meals for him and not have to buy a ton of meat? I suggested meatless Mondays and he's not going for it. my daughter doesn't like any veggies outside of broccoli and he's tired of it. I don't want to have to make individual meals for everyone (I'm not a damn chef and I work ten hours a day so yea, no lol) but idk what else to do?
When we weren't going low carb it was easy to take a chicken breast (or 2) and cut them up and toss it in some pasta, veggies and sauce and it would last at least two days but now I seem to have to cook every single night and my pockets are starting to feel the pain.
Are there any suggestions on how I can make heartier lc meals for him and not have to buy a ton of meat? I suggested meatless Mondays and he's not going for it. my daughter doesn't like any veggies outside of broccoli and he's tired of it. I don't want to have to make individual meals for everyone (I'm not a damn chef and I work ten hours a day so yea, no lol) but idk what else to do?
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Eggs and peanut butter are relatively cheap sources of protein. Or you can try to find good deals on meat. Got a Costco or similar near you?0
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you could try weighing out suggested portions and telling him thats the serving size. and maybe have him fill up on protein shakes.0
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Eggs and peanut butter are relatively cheap sources of protein. Or you can try to find good deals on meat. Got a Costco or similar near you?
No. The closest Costco is over an hour away. We live in the desert - middle of nowhere military town. If it wasn't for the commissary we'd be paying way more on meats.kikiboniki wrote: »you could try weighing out suggested portions and telling him thats the serving size. and maybe have him fill up on protein shakes.
You know, I really think it's a mental thing for him. I can make him protein shakes for breakfast and he's still gonna want bacon on the side lol. I get he's a man and they require more food than us but he wants his plates to be 80% meat, 20% everything else0 -
I. Saw a lchf recipe on YouTube called Crack Slaw. It was ground meat and cabbage and some seasoning. Made a ton and low cost. I am sure there's other budget friendly recipes on YouTube, too. . My hubby is not as picky about his meals since I made him go shopping and stay in the budget. He is resigned that sometimes now his choice is "take it or leave it.
I also had to remind him this isn't a restaurant lol.
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azcowgirrlup wrote: »I. Saw a lchf recipe on YouTube called Crack Slaw. It was ground meat and cabbage and some seasoning. Made a ton and low cost. I am sure there's other budget friendly recipes on YouTube, too. . My hubby is not as picky about his meals since I made him go shopping and stay in the budget. He is resigned that sometimes now his choice is "take it or leave it.
I also had to remind him this isn't a restaurant lol.
Will have to check it out....I think I may have to incorporate the take it or leave it motto into my home....0 -
Maybe do the old recipes with more veggies? Instead of chicken with pasta, maybe chicken with spaghetti squash or shredded zucchini? Cauliflower "rice" and "potatoes" can help bulk out a meal also, and still be low carb.0
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I don't know why this is more costly for you. Based on the foods I used to buy versus the real foods I buy now, yes, I spend more money on meat, but I spent less money on all the junk. Getting frozen veggies would compromise because for 2-$1 bags you could serve 2 veggies for each meal.
And there are many days when my plate is ONLY meat and fats - not even 80%...LOL. So it really depends on where your money is going. I buy as many things in bulk as possible, and prepare bulk meats (like making a roast or 4 pounds of hamburger meat for taco salads, etc.)...
If you give us some ideas of what kind of meals you prepare, it might help...
As for wanting bacon with breakfast, pre-cook a pack of bacon, portion out 3 pieces per breakfast, and then eggs - he can make an 8-egg omelette if he wants, but only 3 pieces of bacon... Eggs are far less expensive, and great on this WOE....0 -
Be sure to put fat in there as much as you can. Olive oil and Coconut oil are pretty cheap by the calorie and filling.
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KnitOrMiss wrote: »I don't know why this is more costly for you. Based on the foods I used to buy versus the real foods I buy now, yes, I spend more money on meat, but I spent less money on all the junk. Getting frozen veggies would compromise because for 2-$1 bags you could serve 2 veggies for each meal.
And there are many days when my plate is ONLY meat and fats - not even 80%...LOL. So it really depends on where your money is going. I buy as many things in bulk as possible, and prepare bulk meats (like making a roast or 4 pounds of hamburger meat for taco salads, etc.)...
If you give us some ideas of what kind of meals you prepare, it might help...
As for wanting bacon with breakfast, pre-cook a pack of bacon, portion out 3 pieces per breakfast, and then eggs - he can make an 8-egg omelette if he wants, but only 3 pieces of bacon... Eggs are far less expensive, and great on this WOE....
We just moved to California and idk if this is true for all of California but in the part where we're at meat is expensive!!!!!!!!!!! What we spend on groceries for two weeks here could have lasted us a month back in Maryland. The really large thing of eggs (2 1/2 dozen) is also more expensive here and eggs are a staple in our house.
The only "junk" food we buy are fruit snacks for our daughter.
Veggies - not an issue because of price, they're an issue due to variety with a picky kid who only likes broccoli/collard greens and is allergic to green beans. HE gets tired of eating broccoli all the time but it's one of the only green veggies she'll eat.0 -
Eggs, Bacon off-cuts, Sausage, Burgers, Pork, Gammon, Stewing meat, Cheap Mince, Offal.. can all be found at the cheap end of protein sources if you go for the cheaper brands & cuts (i often find the cheaper burgers have less carbs than a lot of the more expensive ones, by the way - except for Rump Steak burgers which are a staple for me, but i digress). If you go to your Butcher and ask him for the most economical meat cuts, he will give you some guidance and even tell you how to cook it. I love using Butchers instead of Supermarkets.
I also agree with ensuring you include plenty of fats in the meal (coconut oil, butter, seeds, avocados, mayonnaise, HWC, EVOO, sour cream, cheese, fatty cuts of meat etc) as these are satiating, particularly when paired with protein.
At the start of going Keto i found my appetite was insatiable, whilst my body was adjusting. But since i've become fat-adapted my appetite has finally reduced significantly (to lower than its been since childhood, seriously). You will likely find that your OH will achieve the same hunger control once he becomes keto-adapted, after a few weeks, so he wont be as expensive to feed in the long run.
Well done for really good weight loss in a short time. Its great that you've got your man on board too!0 -
KnitOrMiss wrote: »I don't know why this is more costly for you. Based on the foods I used to buy versus the real foods I buy now, yes, I spend more money on meat, but I spent less money on all the junk. Getting frozen veggies would compromise because for 2-$1 bags you could serve 2 veggies for each meal.
And there are many days when my plate is ONLY meat and fats - not even 80%...LOL. So it really depends on where your money is going. I buy as many things in bulk as possible, and prepare bulk meats (like making a roast or 4 pounds of hamburger meat for taco salads, etc.)...
If you give us some ideas of what kind of meals you prepare, it might help...
As for wanting bacon with breakfast, pre-cook a pack of bacon, portion out 3 pieces per breakfast, and then eggs - he can make an 8-egg omelette if he wants, but only 3 pieces of bacon... Eggs are far less expensive, and great on this WOE....
We just moved to California and idk if this is true for all of California but in the part where we're at meat is expensive!!!!!!!!!!! What we spend on groceries for two weeks here could have lasted us a month back in Maryland. The really large thing of eggs (2 1/2 dozen) is also more expensive here and eggs are a staple in our house.
The only "junk" food we buy are fruit snacks for our daughter.
Veggies - not an issue because of price, they're an issue due to variety with a picky kid who only likes broccoli/collard greens and is allergic to green beans. HE gets tired of eating broccoli all the time but it's one of the only green veggies she'll eat.
Yikes! I didn't know you were in California. That explains SO MUCH really... Can your order other foods in bulk from Amazon? Even some places now will ship foods in ice packs. It's such a shame. I bet you can find some good buys - you might just have to dig down, get creative, and think outside the box. As someone suggested, befriend the butcher, even at the Px. Get the low down... Other shops might be things you watch for sales on...
I'm on a super strict budget here, too, so I feel your pain. I don't know what to suggest for Cali, though.
But with the veggie thing, I'd plan for meat with 2 veggies - broccoli for the kiddo, something else for the hub - and the best of both worlds for you!0 -
CoconuttyMummy wrote: »I also agree with ensuring you include plenty of fats in the meal (coconut oil, butter, seeds, avocados, mayonnaise, HWC, EVOO, sour cream, cheese, fatty cuts of meat etc) as these are satiating, particularly when paired with protein.
At the start of going Keto i found my appetite was insatiable, whilst my body was adjusting. But since i've become fat-adapted my appetite has finally reduced significantly (to lower than its been since childhood, seriously). You will likely find that your OH will achieve the same hunger control once he becomes keto-adapted, after a few weeks, so he wont be as expensive to feed in the long run.
Well done for really good weight loss in a short time. Its great that you've got your man on board too!
He loves butter so hopefully that will help. I don't know if we have a butcher in town - will have to ask around. Thx!KnitOrMiss wrote: »Yikes! I didn't know you were in California. That explains SO MUCH really... Can your order other foods in bulk from Amazon? Even some places now will ship foods in ice packs. It's such a shame. I bet you can find some good buys - you might just have to dig down, get creative, and think outside the box. As someone suggested, befriend the butcher, even at the Px. Get the low down... Other shops might be things you watch for sales on...
I'm on a super strict budget here, too, so I feel your pain. I don't know what to suggest for Cali, though.
But with the veggie thing, I'd plan for meat with 2 veggies - broccoli for the kiddo, something else for the hub - and the best of both worlds for you!
The meat at the commissary is cheaper - thankfully but of course there aren't as many options as you would get at a regular grocery store. The hubby says the commissary is geared more towards those who live in the barracks which is why the produce section there lacks as well. I'm trying to do what I can just wanted to know if anyone else knows how to eat LC on a budget. Thx for all the suggestions.0 -
You know, I really think it's a mental thing for him. I can make him protein shakes for breakfast and he's still gonna want bacon on the side lol. I get he's a man and they require more food than us but he wants his plates to be 80% meat, 20% everything else
Is he on-board with low-carb? Maybe he can track his macros and see if he's getting a lot of protein vs fat, then he might change his plan...
If you have the savings to purchase a 1/4 or 1/2 cow it can really save money. A big investment initially but can really save money in the long run.0 -
CoconuttyMummy wrote: »I also agree with ensuring you include plenty of fats in the meal (coconut oil, butter, seeds, avocados, mayonnaise, HWC, EVOO, sour cream, cheese, fatty cuts of meat etc) as these are satiating, particularly when paired with protein.
At the start of going Keto i found my appetite was insatiable, whilst my body was adjusting. But since i've become fat-adapted my appetite has finally reduced significantly (to lower than its been since childhood, seriously). You will likely find that your OH will achieve the same hunger control once he becomes keto-adapted, after a few weeks, so he wont be as expensive to feed in the long run.
Well done for really good weight loss in a short time. Its great that you've got your man on board too!
He loves butter so hopefully that will help. I don't know if we have a butcher in town - will have to ask around. Thx!KnitOrMiss wrote: »Yikes! I didn't know you were in California. That explains SO MUCH really... Can your order other foods in bulk from Amazon? Even some places now will ship foods in ice packs. It's such a shame. I bet you can find some good buys - you might just have to dig down, get creative, and think outside the box. As someone suggested, befriend the butcher, even at the Px. Get the low down... Other shops might be things you watch for sales on...
I'm on a super strict budget here, too, so I feel your pain. I don't know what to suggest for Cali, though.
But with the veggie thing, I'd plan for meat with 2 veggies - broccoli for the kiddo, something else for the hub - and the best of both worlds for you!
The meat at the commissary is cheaper - thankfully but of course there aren't as many options as you would get at a regular grocery store. The hubby says the commissary is geared more towards those who live in the barracks which is why the produce section there lacks as well. I'm trying to do what I can just wanted to know if anyone else knows how to eat LC on a budget. Thx for all the suggestions.
I don't know if this means the meat is the cheaper cuts (which is great for this WOE, but just means you have to get creative) or easier to prepare. Can you give us an idea of some of the cuts of meat you have available and we can send you recipe ideas?
Honestly, for veggies, really, all I do is stuff like asparagus, broccoli, green beans, cabbage, green onions, and bell peppers/onions/garlic that are fresh or frozen. Other stuff is like sprouts and stuff for stir fry from cans. My guy eats beans (refried or black/pinto in soups/chili), but they're too high in carbs for me. I don't really need any more veg that that. Maybe tomatoes once in a while...0 -
We just moved to California and idk if this is true for all of California but in the part where we're at meat is expensive!!!!!!!!!!! What we spend on groceries for two weeks here could have lasted us a month back in Maryland. The really large thing of eggs (2 1/2 dozen) is also more expensive here and eggs are a staple in our house.
The only "junk" food we buy are fruit snacks for our daughter.
Veggies - not an issue because of price, they're an issue due to variety with a picky kid who only likes broccoli/collard greens and is allergic to green beans. HE gets tired of eating broccoli all the time but it's one of the only green veggies she'll eat.[/quote]
I moved from California to northern Arizona and I would do anything to have my California food prices back. lol. Every place is so different I guess. I just started eating meat 7 weeks ago, so I was stunned at the prices, but I had a nice chat with the butcher at a small market and he offered me great prices. I got an extra $2.00 off per pound by buying 4 steaks instead of 2 steaks. I also found out there is a case price available but not advertised on a lot of meat. Case price on new York strip steaks went from $12.69 a pound, down to $3.99 a pound. Ground beef went from $4.99 a pound on sale, down to $2.99 a pound. I am going to buy a case of chickens next. Ask your grocer about case prices. Get to a store early and see what they are marking down. Sam's club marks down meat almost every morning, its not past dated, but its close to its "sell by" date. I guess the main thing to do is ask if they can offer a better price. Amazingly, it works0
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