THE SBD "GROCERY BILL"

[Big Wheelz]

A bit earlier, had a "discussion" ( :D ) with the wife about recent grocery purchases. Seems we've spent quite a bit in the past couple of weeks. My/our only defense is, it's been good stuff. And we've spent a lot less money in restaurants, as well.

But to the point... those of you who have been on SBD for some time now. When you first started, did your grocery bill go up for a bit, as you stocked the fridge, freezer, and pantry with new and different things? We bought all sorts of protein at Sam's Club this past weekend--but they're things that we'll be working on for quite some time.

I'm wondering if this isn't a bit more "expensive" eating plan, due to the fresher and healthier food we consume. Like it or not, "fresher and healthier" does cost a bit more at first, doesn't it?

Thanks all...

[pebbles396]

I totally agree. It has been stick shock at the grocery. In addition to some expensive grocery bills we've been going to the store much more frequently. I see no reason to pay so much for fresh tuna, filet migon, and wild caught salmon to throw it in the freezer - not to mention all the veggies.

So, yes expensive, but we were eating out 3x a week, so we've somehow managed to rationalize this increase in costs.

[ellis]

Yes, it does seem more expensive. But when I think of the money we used to spend on snacks and eating out, I'm fine with it.
Junky food is cheaper, but if it's going to kill us or make us sick, it's not worth it in the long run. ;)

[sflake]

I think that is one of the ways food companies suck us in. The stuff isn't healthy but it sure is cheaper and also way more convenient to prepare.

[ellis]

Yup. Nothin' like a meal-in-a-box, is there, Sflake. :D

[chazmom]

A family of 4, or at least my family, can easily drop 20-25 dollars going through a fast food joint for dinner. That is easily over $100 a week for garbage and that does not include breakfast and lunch. I am on my second week of Phase 1, have been to the store twice and spent around $150 each time. I personally think I am saving money now since I am home more and cooking than going out. For all of us to go out for dinner, nicer than Mcdonalds, you are looking at $40. I feel in the long run, it is less expensive.

:D

[ellis]

Good lord! There's a man in here! :yikes:
Sorry, Big Wheelz... I just noticed. :lol:

[sflake]

Ellis I miss the meal in the box thingy...not always good but always fast with no skill required :lol: funny actually last night was trash night and hubby said how come all of a sudden we have so much less trash to put to the curb :lol: ...duh cuz no more boxes from meal in a box :(

Cahzmom we easily drop that for 3 at fast food then there was the ice cream store after for dessert around another 15 bucks. The sad thing was an hour or two later we were looking for snacks :yikes:

[sflake]

Now I have that Tina Turner song in my head...big wheels keep on turnin...

[luckyredlisa]

I'm still torn as to whether it is more expensive or not overall. I FEEL like it is more, since I'm spending so much at the store. But then again, I'm not eating out and I'm not picking up those little but deadly treats throughout the day.

This is why I'm not totally opposed to a fat tax to subsidize and encourage healthier eating. But no, I don't want to start a big ol' debate or anything. I never ate fast food, and I couldn't figure out why anyone would. Not only is it easy- it is CHEAP! I could go on, but I really MUST do some studying today!

[SunnyD57]

The cost at the grocery is still allot cheaper (in allot of ways!) then going to the hospital...
just think of it that way ;) and it's allot easier to put out the cash for great foods that keep you healthy!

[AimeeJane]

Oh dear, now I'm worried...we're barely making the grocery money stretch as it is, and we don't eat out. How on Earth are we going to afford a higher food bill?

[Bamiegurl]

AimeeJane, It should not be to bad since you are both on it. Just go ahead and start buyin things now that will not spoil until you start on the 15th. I am the only one in my house doing the SBD and have not really noticed the bill going up. I usually only buy meat if it is on sale or marked down. If you drink coke's that should cut your bill back because you will be drinking more water. If you bought cereal which is very expensive that will help cut back. If you have a Sam's card you can save on stuff there. My grocery bill has really grown over the past 6 months or so because my kids are getting bigger and we are eating at home more as well. It has went from about 250-300 a month to 450-500 a month! Dh is comin unglued I told 'em it cost money to eat at home just like it does out. I LOVE to eat out but I have not been holding any shows lately and I usually would pay for eating out because my dh hates to eat out and hates to spend the money even more! This may or may not have helped you at all! Sorry!

[lessismore]

I have found it more expensive only if I do not plan well. I must admit, a lot of the food I buy ends up in the trash!!! When I was young, I remember my mother planning meals and grocery lists, etc. Every detail & she never wasted anything. I tend to wander aimlessly around the grocery store & buy stuff that looks good & I know is OP. I'm getting better about planning & lately I do make a couple trips to the store each week because otherwise the produce just isn't fresh & I end up tossing it.

I also eat a lot of vegetarian chili - the beans are cheap.

[luckyredlisa]

Great advice for ALL of us Lessismore!!

AmieJane, I feel your pain. Even though it is just me (or maybe especially?) I was shocked at how much I was spending and how often I seemed to be going to the store in the first 10 days or so. But I really think with careful (or any!) planning this would not have been the case. Also, as Lessismore alluded to, I'm starting to think some of the foods only seem more expensive because they go bad- I've spent (wasted?) a lot of money over the past year on food that sits in the pantry. On SBD you have less of that type of waste. Don't most people have a stockpile of crap in their pantry? :lol: But with SBD and planning, I feel like I buy what I need, and eat what I buy. Period.

I've started planning better and making stuff ahead and I've spent significantly less money in the past 10 days. I think this is totally workable.

And it really really is cheaper than being unhealthy. I know as young(er) people, problems from eating improperly seem to be far far away. But they're really not. I had a friend in her 20's who suffered years of debilitaing digestive problems (which she never recognized as digestive)- finally went to the doctor (which she avoided since she said she couldn't afford it!). It was ALL caused by diet. That's a small example, but sometimes the smaller ones are easier to grasp than the "biggies" that seem so remote and impossible. Know what I mean?

Anyway, good luck!

[Lou Lou Belle]

I am with Bamiegirl, I have not noticed an increase. Maybe because I was on Atkins and already bought a lot of protein. I have always cooked most meals with a protein choice, and I have rarely if never used the pre-packed meals. I also 'recycle' my meats, for example, had Roast Turkey last Sunday, and then made homemade Turkey and white bean soup out of that. We had that for dinner one night, and I ate the leftovers during the week for lunch. If I make a grilled steak and there are leftovers, I slice them up over salad greens the next day for lunch. The only difference in my grocery shopping is the low fat cheeses, nuts, and yogurt. I also cook large quantities of chili and freeze half the recipe for another night. I agree with most of the posters, the trick is in the planning.

[Jennifer 3FC]

My bill might be a little higher, but we eat at home more often than we did. We also buy less junk food, and no fast food, so that helps balance it out. You don't have to buy expensive food to be on the plan. I think a lot of people buy some of the more expensive substitutes and snacks just to keep it interesting, but it can surely be done on most any budget, I would think. Almonds, berries, turkey bacon, cheese sticks and V8 juice are some of my more expensive 'staples' and I could do without all of those if I had to. Second phase also opens up more choices, which can be cheaper, such as oatmeal and brown rice, whole wheat bread. Sadly, grains are cheaper than protein!

[lizziness]

For me, we are preparing to go on this diet (hubby doesn't know yet *LOL*) and we shop at costco once a month and then pick up the little stuff weekly or every other week at other stores. I am planning now, looking up recipes and deciding what I will be eating for those first two weeks and even beyond before I even start the diet. We have about 250 budgeted per month for food and I think if I make out my meal plans and grocery list ahead of time and figure out what recipes I will definately eat and once that look err... iffy I will avoid. No waste in buying food, making a meal, and then tossing it because it's disgusting! (well, maybe due to cooking, but not due to ingredients I don't care for *LOL*) I will see if I'm able to stick with our previous grocery budget. I hope so, otherwise, we won't really be able to afford it either. Then again, as it is, we buy food and toss food because we forgot about it, or I was lazy and decided not to make whatever meal I was going to make. It should all balance out in the end. I hope. :)

[Jennifer 3FC]

Ya know, we should have a SBD on a budget thread. Maybe post things we find that are not wallet biters! I think that the recipes in the book turn a lot of people off. Not everybody can afford grouper, salmon, and capers on a regular basis. Less expensive alternatives to the plan would be very helpful to many of us, me included! We always spend too much on food. Before and after SBD. Here are a few suggestions from me:

Eggs - I prefer free range, which are more expensive, but they are still a cheap way to make meals and snacks. Omelets/boiled eggs go a long way.

Salad - Buy lettuce by the head instead of the prewashed/pretorn salad bags. Chop, wash, and store in the fridge. This is less than half the price of salad bags. Buy salad veggies the same way, and pre-cut for the week. Whole heads of cauliflower, broccoli, whole carrots, yellow squash, tomatoes, onions, bulk mushrooms, sunflower seeds, and anything else that sounds good. We buy extra when it's on sale. Foods might get old after a while, but soon another item will go on sale and then we can eat that 12 days in a row. :lol:

Bulk meat - We buy flash frozen bags of chicken at Sams. Ditto for shrimp on some occasions. We watch for meat sales and when the stores have buy one get one free sales, we usually stock up and fill the freezer. We have a second fridge in the basement that comes in handy. Recently we bought 6 whole roaster chickens for $2.50 each. Each one had 4 servings of meat on it. We bought the extra fridge second hand, and it pays for itself.

Sandwiches. Since we went to phase 2, we have sandwich night occasionally. We buy the 7 carb Natures Own bread, or the Arnold lower carb bread. Sometimes I have deli meat, sometimes natural peanut butter with no sugar added jelly. Have it with deviled eggs or yogurt on the side.

32 ounce containers of yogurt. I eat plain, or the lowfat sf vanilla. I don't buy the small cute containers, they run up in $$. Eat it alone, or add a bit of no sugar added jelly. For breakfast, try adding uncooked rolled oats and a bit of splenda. Sounds odd, but it's a Dutch favorite my husband got me to try.

Bulk nuts - I bought a 2 pound container of almonds at Sams and we've snacked on them for ages. You can also buy them online at many nut wholesalers. (along with nut flour if you are interested)

String cheese - watch the papers, grocery stores have them 2 for 1 on occasion.

That is all I can think of for now - off the top of my head! Does anybody else have any ideas?

[ellis]

Good idea, Jen. Thanks for the suggestions.
You know, there's something weird about that low-carb bread. It's full of air. And quite ummm, chewy.

[clovey]

On the finance front I am finding that I am spending less on food than I was before. I think it is because I am in fact eating less. I used to buy a lot of very expensive stuff and it went to waste. One of the things I have been doing is using the car a lot less and walking and taking the bus (which involves walking to the bus stop of course). I am saving about £30 (I dont know is that $50 odd) a month so far, a whole tank of petrol. And I get to read on the bus!

I dont mind paying premium prices for good food. I like to know that my meat has been ethically raised, without loads of extra hormones and antibiotics being pumped in to it. And I like to buy my veggies from organic sources so they are not full of dioxins and have not have thier structure genetically modified etc. I dont always suceed with my ethical aims, but it is always in my mind as I shop. And it does cost more, but then so do clothes which dont fall apart at the first wash, and I buy those too.

I suppose it is easy for me to say as I have got enough money at the moment to make it a realistic choice. There have been times in my life when I have been really hard up and then it was more difficult. I would add to Jennifer's list of lower cost foods beans and lentils. They are wonderful foods and very sustaining.

xx

[lhendricks]

CLOVEY it is so much easier to get good food in Britain, at least in larger towns. The eggs and poultry and so on were amazing. Incredible yogurt and soft cheeses.And then there is Pret a Manger...sigh.

I had an expensive two weeks getting started but now my food costs have actually dropped because I bought large quantities of non-perishables from the food co-op and BJs Warehouse. I also shop the grocery flyers for meat and fish. I get very high end deli (Boars Head, Black Bear, Prima Deli) imported feta, olive oil, etc. And I do buy bag greens - for one person, buying the whole lettuce can result in waste since I like a variety of crunchy greens and reds in my salads.

I have to confess that because there is so little variety in LF cheese, I actually use regular about half the time and just have smaller portions. The calorie difference is quite small and the enhanced flavor helps me stay with the plan.

[mauvaisroux]

Personally I am finding that the grocery budget is leveling out.

If my DH and I both spent $3.00 every day on coffee and muffins, doughnuts or danish that would equal $30.00 per week.

If we both bought lunch at $6.00 per day then that would equal $60.00 per week.

So we would be spending $90.00 per week which is $90.00 x 4 = $360.00 a month + the cost of our groceries for dinners :yikes:

I normally spend about $60.00 to 70.00 per week on fresh food and $60.00 per month on meat at Costo for the two of us which on average costs us
$340.00 per month and brown bag everyday so I think in our case we are actually saving money by following SBD and not eating out on a daily basis. :)

BTW - I do not buy the mahi mahi or orange roughy suggested in the book - it is just WAY too expensive here so I substitute sole or haddock. I hate salmon and will NOT eat it. You don't have to follow the meal plans to the letter and can just use them as a guideline to plan your own meals.

[clovey]

You might consider growing some food too, if you have outside space at all. You can get great seed mixes for salad greens from various web sites, and all you need to do is get some weed free earth (I use pots and growbags sometimes) and scatter it on, water it, and wait a few weeks, and voila! salad. And you get all the fantasticness of watching the little baby green bits poking thier heads up!

I am not sure that it works out cheaper though, given the amount I spend on gardening equipment. But it is my hobby and my main exercise in the summer so I think it is ok...!!

[mauvaisroux]

Another suggestion is to frequent farmer's markets - the produce is usually cheaper there - unfortunately that is not so easily done in the winter where I am - but come spring I won't be shopping anywhere else.

And I agree with Clovey - last year I grew cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs in pots and window boxes on my balcony - then at the end of the summer I froze things like basil and rosemary etc. in freezer baggies and I have used them over the winter in soups and baked chicken recipes. :chef:

I am planning to pot some herbs indoors next summer so I can have them fresh through the fall and winter.

I also stock up towards the end of the summer by buying things like green beans, yellow beans, broccoli, cauliflower and other items that cost more in the winter and then I blanch and freeze everything so that I have a good supply over the winter since I don't like the taste of canned veggies.

Investing in a freezer and stocking up when there are sales on meat, chicken, fish ,frozen veg etc. is worthwhile. You can also do batch cooking and freeze meals for later use. It takes some work initially but you do save time and money in the long run. :D

[lhendricks]

is the Leonard Cohen quote from? I can't believe I don't recognize it - I've been a fan for thirty years.