New to Atkins--Help with Grocery Shopping

  • Good Morning all!

    My fiancee and I are on our second day of Atkins--and since we ate just about everything that could be considered meat that was in our apartment yesterday, I need to do some grocery shopping today!

    I have made out a shopping list and was wondering if people who have been doing the Atkins diet for some time would be able to 'critic' it for me or tell me if there is something that we're leaving out.

    Here is my shopping list:
    Grocery Store

    Splenda
    Tuna fish
    Cheese—shredded cheddar, string cheese, monterey jack, swiss
    Lunch meat—bologna, turkey
    Meat—chicken, beef, pork (on sale), bulk sausage
    Spices: Rosemary, minced garlic, curry powder
    Eggs—2-3 dozen
    Bacon
    Sausage links
    Butter
    Mushrooms, squash (for kebobs)
    Broccoli
    Green beans or Asparagus
    Olive Oil

    Discount (Wal-Mart type) Store

    Ketosis stripes
    Calcium supplement
    No-iron multi-vitamin


    There are some Atkins friendly items that we already have in our pantry (various spices, mayo, salad greens, low-carb dressing for salad, etc.). Is there anything that I'm really missing out on? Any suggestions for the first time Atkins shopper?

    Thanks in Advance!!
    Becky
  • Hi Becky and welcome to 3FC and the Low Carb Forum. There is lots of friendly advice and support here.

    As to your list, it looks very good to me. Remember that Atkins does limit the amount of cheese per day and watch the hidden carbs in processed meats and sausage. The salt and nitrates (nitrites?) can sometimes cause water retention. However, for the first week, you should be OK.

    Enjoy! And remeber to post on our daily so we can get to know you better.
  • Hi Becky and welcome

    The only thing I would add would be more veggies.

    Robin
  • Potassium is a needed supplemnt it comes cheeply in a 99 mg bottle

    I found that splends has an after tast so seeif you like it before you guy too much. get more veggies too cauliflower is also a good one you can make fake mashed potatoes with them.

    Baglona does have carb filer so limit that. go for the ham and turkey and roast beef for foods
  • this is a link to sa shopping list that we had done a while ago hope this helps

    I just followed that link and it was no help I will find the other one
  • This list is broken down into sections so that you can print it off and take it with you to the grocery store. Bon Appetit.

    Dairy Section

    Cheese (slices and string)
    Whole milk yogurt
    Cottage cheese (the full-fat kind)
    Eggs
    Cream cheese (flavoured on not, but not lite)
    half and half- for shakes
    ricotta cheese- for shakes
    Parmesan cheese, (real, not powdered)
    sour cream--to thicken pan juices or a shake, or to make a dip
    Cheese cubes
    Whipping Cream (unsweetened)

    Grocery Aisles

    Nuts (almonds, peanuts and/or pistachios, macademia nuts)
    Chicken broth (great for poaching chicken or making sauces)
    Spices!
    Mayo and more good mayonnaise,like Hellman's
    Olives
    Capers
    Mustard
    dill pickles
    green olives (indispensible for deviled eggs!)
    real bacon bits (for the salad)
    Splenda
    variety of vinegars (balsamic, raspberry, red or white wine, sushi vinegar)
    canned coconut milk
    artificial flavorings
    hazelnut
    chocolate
    almond
    vanilla
    instant coffee (for shakes)
    frozen, pre-made quiche mix
    Olive or canola oil
    Pumpkin cubes (canned pumpkin frozen in ice cube tray) to be used in SweetiePie's Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake.
    Coconut milk cubes (for her Mounds Bar Chocolate Shake)
    peanut butter (unsweetened)
    low-carb salad dressing
    good quality Worcestershire sauce
    Asian Sesame Oil, Olive Oil
    home made or store bought "dry rubs"
    course salt & gourmet peppercorns
    djon mustard
    hot sauce (gotta have my wings!)
    low-carb tea (My fav is "gentle orange")
    Diet Rite w/Splenda (I don't drink it a lot, but it's nice occasionally.)
    Diet Clearly Canadian w/Splenda
    Unsweetned baking chocolate (the hard kind)
    Equal brand sweetener
    Cocoa powder
    Soy Flour
    Gluten Flour
    Oat Flour
    Flax Seed
    Nut flours
    Cinnamon
    Crystal light - all flavours (great in the fruit smoothie shakes)
    Decaf coffee
    Pizza Quick sauce or other tomato sauce for lc tortilla "pizzas"


    Wheat Products - yes Wheat!

    Wasa crisp rye crackers
    Low-carb bread (Bread that is naturally lower in carbs, not a "diet" product.)
    Low Carb crackers (Stonewall Kitchens)
    Low-carb tortillas or lite bread
    High Fibre whole wheat melba toast
    Whole Wheat Pita Bread

    Meat and Fish Department

    Any fresh meat (if on sale buy more and freeze)
    Tuna
    Cooked chicken (make extra 1-2x a week to have on hand for lunches, etc.)
    Beef Jerky
    real bacon bits (for the salad - repeat, but worth it)
    Buddig Meats
    Bacon
    Sausage
    Steaks
    bag of frozen salad shrimp
    cans of chicken and tuna
    boneless, skinless chicken breasts & steaks (in freezer for quick cook up)
    summer sausage
    Pepperoni

    Snack foods

    Pork Rinds
    SF jello and puddin mix,

    Fruits & Veggies

    Cucumbers - (a great crunchy snack if you cut in slices and top with cream cheese and smoked salmon or caviar)
    Frozen berries to put in shakes
    Melons
    Berries
    Peaches
    celery
    carrots
    frozen chopped spinach (many recipes call for this and I can't always find it)
    bag salad (makes having salads so much easier!)
    frozen green beans
    yellow squash (we like this better than zuchinni)
    spaghetti squash
    fresh and frozen veggies, generally including:
    fresh broccoli florets
    Oranges
    Avccados
    salad fixings (fresh greens, mushrooms, tomatoes, cukes)
    lemons and limes
    herbs, garlic, and onions & chilies
    Red Cabbage (great for salads and wraps)
    Garlic

    Misc (i.e. order from the web or speciality stores or check out receipe on the recipe forum or just because)
    Protein Powder
    Protein Bars
    Protein Crunch cereal
    Keto shake mix
    sweetiepie's protein bars
    a pitcher of cold, filtered water
    Vitamins
    "barbeque grill" and "smoker"
    dry Ranch dressing mix


    This was stolen from the Pp web site (I can not take credit for the work)
  • I personally think bologna is disgusting--fiancee likes it, but he won't miss it if I ditch it. Ham is okay, as long as it isn't cured with sugar, right?

    As far as veggies go, we actually have quite a bit here already. I'm a big fan of fruits and veggies--but I gave all the fruit away yesterday and want to use up the veggies we have before I buy more. I've read recipies with the cauliflower for faux mashed potatoes--can't wait to try that one!

    Another question I have is about salad dressing. I read at the Atkins website that as long as your dressing does not have more than 2 carbs per tablespoon that it is alright to use. The dressing I like (Ken's Lite Ceasar) has 3 carbs per 2 tablespoons, so that obviously works. However, underneath the carbs listing on the label, it lists the dressing as having 2 grams of sugar. I understand that this is what is making up the carbs--but is it okay to use this on Atkins?

    THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

    Becky
  • Carbs are carbs whether they come from sugar, fruit or bread. If you like it, go for it as long as you are in your carb allowance for the day! Life is short! Eat Ken's Lite Caesar!

    I must remember to save this great list in the FAQ section.
  • Quote:
    Originally posted by Ruthxxx
    Hi Becky and welcome to 3FC and the Low Carb Forum. There is lots of friendly advice and support here.

    As to your list, it looks very good to me. Remember that Atkins does limit the amount of cheese per day and watch the hidden carbs in processed meats and sausage. The salt and nitrates (nitrites?) can sometimes cause water retention. However, for the first week, you should be OK.

    Enjoy! And remeber to post on our daily so we can get to know you better.
    Isnt some cheddar cheese 0 carbs like hoffmans ?
  • cheeses are Ok but what happens is that (I know that you do not really count fat in Atkins) but the fat to nutrient ratio is so that it does not provide enough protien to actually count for much when in comparison to the fat., It is also said the softer the cheese the better for you and chedder cheese is one of the harder ones. that is why string cheese is better than cheddar if you realize that eating fat it is really self limiting you can only eat so much.

    but also realize that the cheese is made from milk so it may not have many carbs per serving but what actually is a serving one small slice one that fits on a few crackers ao how much would you eat??? Me I do not eat a small amount and call it quits I will tend to eat more.

    also cheese has the tendancy to make people stall. so best to limit it.
  • Hello,
    New at this so don't know what I'm doing. Thanks for the invite and welcome.