Hey, I'm new to the SB diet. I've lurked here for a few weeks, debating if I was gonna do it or not. For the past few weeks, I've been trying to buy more SB friendly foods, and my grocery bill has almost doubled. Why do I have to be rich to eat food that is good for me? Example: A pack of lean ground beef is about 3.75. For the same size of sirloin beef (ground) it's 6.95.
Did anyone find that they are having problems affording the diet? Pasta and rice are cheap, sometimes the things that I'm buying to replace them are not nearly as nice to the pocketbook!
Also.......anyone in western Canada? I am looking for the "I can't believe it's not butter" Spray. Can we get it here? Any good alternatives?

I actaully found my grocery bill went down, but that may be because I used to eat a lot of Lean Cuisine type foods at work. I haven't looked for the butter spray because i use the regular light version of the I can't beleive it's not butter.

I too know what you mean about the cost of food i am a single parent and my ten year old has the opposite problem as me, he is underwieght, so much that he is required a 1700 calorie breakfast in the morning, so not only do i need to have my sb foods i still need some fatty foods around for the poor kid, so i just added to my bill...lol. I think about it this way though, the extra money i spend at the grocery store could be very well the difference i used to spend on the "crap" food i used to eat like fast food or the candy and chips and such. but i am a comfort food peson so i ate all the time..lol, i can remember just constantly feeding my face. My advice to you is look for sales on things and when they do go on by in bulk. that way you dont always have to pay the high prices. try and plan your grocery list before you go. Also i do not think you need to go out and buy every thing on the phase 1 list to start off with, only buy what you know you are gonna use i usually shop about three time a week and that is part of my walking for exersise too ( I wear a pedometere all the time and i figured out that the trip to the store is lke 700 steps, i try to do 10,000. Any way back to the bulk thing i find i need less and less of things when i go back because i already have some ingredient left over from my last trip, well i know this was long winded and off topic a bit, but i hope it helps a little.

I'd love to go shopping 3 times a week! Lol, we go to town once every week and a half or so. With gas prices being what they are here and all. There is a corner store in our little town, but it doesn't stock much in the way of "good for ya" foods. We only eat out on very special occasions, and there isn't too much junk food around anyways. Finding a sale sure makes my day! Heehee!
I think that being a sahm and being at home all day really keeps me limited to what I'm eating, but still, I suppose I'm eating what I'm buying..............
Other than the commercials that I've seen on US tv with Fabio in them, I'd never seen the "I can't believe it's not butter" product. Do we have it in Canada? I guess I'll have to pay more attention in the stores!

I SO hear you! I have no idea why it's so expensive to eat healthy. Fast food is so cheap, and so good. And you can buy a huge box of Ramen for what? $3?? It's just not fair Oh well, my pocketbook will just have to suffer for a while, our health is definitely worth it!

My bill went up too -- about $60 for a week! But I now buy frozen veggies [like broccoli and cauliflower] and remember, you aren't eating out as much. Or at least I'm not, especially when I KNOW I have $80 of food in my fridge! Plus I am not going out drinking or buying crapola at work since I pack my lunch. I figure, it's just a lot of money at once is all -- it balances out monthly.

Chubbamuma, i have looked and looked for the spray.. We don't have it here. (In alberta, at least.) I've heard great things about it and really wanted to try it, but as with so many other products they have in the states, we don't have here. (Unless i wasnt looking hard enough and someone HAS found it.)

The best alternative i've found is Pam's Butter Flavoured Spray.. I use it all the time, and surprisingly, tastes similar to butter and not some wierd oil product.

I found the cost of my groceries went up a lot but I have learned to make cuts. I find it way cheaper to buy meat at the butcher and vegies at the fruit and vegie shop then do a bulk buy at the supermarket every fortnight. I eat whatever vegies are in season and bulk buy meat when it is on special then break it down into meal size portions and freeze it. Plain boiled peanuts are pretty cheap and there is usually one brand of low fat cheese and yogurt on sale. If you add up all those little splurges at the bakery or fast food outlets that you are no longer having you can almost outweigh the extra cost.

At least I know I'm not alone!
Sunluver, I'll look for the Pam spray next time I'm out. It's funny the things that we don't get up here, but we can see the commercials every once in a while!

I've been trying to find I can't believe its not Butter here too (ontario)! No where to be found, i've checked several stores too. ugh.

didi you ladies try to get it onlie at all maybe you can have it shipped there? Just an idea i dont know where to look online but maybe that will help? Or talk to the grocer Maybe they can get it in stock, Convince them of the market for it...lol. Hope that helps a bit

Pika, we just use any old spray. I don't think I've seen the Can't Believe it's not Butter, either. I HATE that spread! It doesn't taste a thing LIKE butter!

Oh... butter... with fresh bread...

I use Pam Olive Oil spray when making eggs and such. I think just about all the sprays are the same anyway. They are usually with the Olive Oils -- ask a store clerk for help. I can't imagine they don't have them at all!?! If so, ask for them and maybe the store will order them.

Hi! Chubbamuma, I totally feel your pain! See my post in the Monday thread for more on my bills. However, I agree with everyone here, it is much more expensive to eat out, buy tons of junk food, etc, when it all comes out in the wash. But as somone who does not eat out often, you may not find that, too.

Some things that might help:
You are eating smaller portions, probably, so that will help stretch things farther.
Can you buy produce at a local farmer or farmer's market? That might help.
Can you start a small garden for the herbs and more expensive lettuces?
Do you belong to a warehouse store (Costco, Sam's, BJ's, etc.)? You can get salad there for very cheap, along with many other SBD friendly foods.
Do you have dressing packets like Hidden Valley Ranch at your grocery? If so, try making these with your own buttermilk, etc. to save on dressing costs. Just make sure the packets are free of sugar or hydrogenated oils.

I hope that things slow down a bit for you as they have for me in terms of large grocery bills! It always costs more to eat healthy (which makes no sense!), but it is so worth it!

I agree about warehouse clubs. I buy Splenda at Sams, and it's only $13.87 for a huge box of 700 packets. I also get frozen chicken breasts, portabello mushrooms, and lots of fresh produce there. Salad mix is a fraction of what it costs at the supermarket. You do have to be careful, though, there are sweet little old women at the end of each aisle, trying to coerce you into eating fried breads and other evil things.

Something to think about is that when we eat cheap foods, we usually larger quantities - because it's cheap. The foods required for a healthy diet can cost more, but we generally eat less of them. It balances out in the end. Especially if you consider what chick_on_the_beach said above If you add up all those little splurges at the bakery or fast food outlets that you are no longer having you can almost outweigh the extra cost.