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We have saved money since going on the SBD. I think the biggest and most important money saver is planning. Planning is also key to not slipping up. With careful meal planning you can budget your money around your menu. Most of our budget is on produce, then meat, and then dairy. We tend to like a lot of fresh vegetables, which can be more expensive than frozen and canned. But we also try to purchase what produce is in season and on sale to cut back the cost a little.
Good luck, and I hope you decide to join us! :) |
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Gina, this "diet" is really just a healthy eating plan. I don't really cook that different now than I used to. I serve my husband (when he's actually with the family and not halfway around the world...) and children the same food I cook for myself and they love it. The only thing I've kind of gotten away from is using artificial sweeteners. I tried them when I first started on the Beach but I don't like giving them to my kids, and, to be honest, I don't particularly care for them myself. So I've gone to using agave nectar to sweeten things like oatmeal and tea. I do use honey for the kids' oatmeal; I'm not worried about spiking their blood sugar and causing carb cravings! Really, the crux of this diet is getting in lots of veggies and a balance of protein and good carbs. It's not unreasonable to expect that an entire family can eat this way. Kara |
actually i was quite serious..... how can we figure out what to suggest for the family to eat if we don't know what they like now.... we can't totally change their food... we have to adapt and modify what they like now....
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Unfortunately, every time I try to start SB, our grocery bills are huge. It's definitely the conversion from eating cheaper, more processed foods, and cheaper meats, to everything leaner and non-processed. Let's face it, it's way cheaper to make up a couple boxes of Hamburger Helper with 80% lean ground beef and heat up a couple cans of a veg than to make some of the from-scratch (delicious, though) recipes in SB.
Cheap little butter steaks are more affordable than flank steak or beef tenderloin. Chicken thighs or chicken leg quarters are cheaper than boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Regular cheese products are cheaper than reduced fat. Regular peanut butter is cheaper than natural, etc. So for me, it's not just the produce that brings on the extra expenses. Part of my own problem is that while I enjoy cooking, I'm terrible at coming up with a lot of new ideas that can be worked with P1, that DON'T rely on the plan menus and recipes. So I rely on the menu plan and adapt a little. But I have yet to complete two solid weeks following the plan for P1. Even when I try to come up with my own ideas I tend to fail :( . Part of it is that trying to follow the plan and recipes, so the groceries get too expensive and then we're back to cheapie, processed stuff. The other part is that I've not been creative enough with some of meals, so get tired of eggs and salad, lol. I know most of it is my own doing, but in my own experience, it's been an expensive diet. I tend to wonder that if P2 is easier in that respect as well, because you CAN have grains (cheap!) and fruit again. If I could just get through P1... I KNOW it's a healthy plan. And I find myself wanting to do more recipes from the Quick & Easy cookbook. It would be fantastic if someone could come up with a "South Beach on a Budget" plan/cookbook. I'd love to read a daily menu or two from some of you who have had success keeping it cheap...especially those with families, as we have two kiddos. |
I buy large packages of chicken breasts on sale & freeze them. I have also started using beans more, as my main dish and they're cheap and filling. Just add some tomato juice and spices and you have a main dish. I buy whatever fruit is on sale and I do the same with veggies. Store brand cheeses are cheaper and I watch for sales there too. I also noticed that because these foods are so filling, you're actually eating less volume than you might with the cheaper grocery items. Store brand oatmeal is cheaper than the boxed cereals most people eat. Skim milk is cheaper than the other kinds. I do splurge on the whole grain muffins or bread. I guess my thoughts are that you're health is the payoff and that makes it more affordable in the long run.
You're also showing your family a healthier way of eating. |
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yes START UP is very expensive... after a while it's just filling in so it's not so bad...
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3g of fiber for how big of a serving???
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For one serving which is one muffin.
100% Whole Wheat English Muffins Containing 6 grams of protein Amount per Serving (serving size) = 1 Muffin % Daily Values** Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 2% Iron 8% Niacin – 10% Thiamin – 10% Riboflavin – 6% Folic Acid – 6% Calories 140 Total Fat 1.5g Sat. Fat 0.5g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 210mg Total Carb. 26g Dietary Fiber 3g Sugars 4g Protein 6g |
Trader Joe's also sells whole wheat/whole grain english muffins.
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is a muffin 30g or 60g? |
57Gms. so basically 2 oz (which I suppose is technically 2 servings of a grain, although I've never been able to eat 1/2 of a muffin)
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so it's really only 1.5 g of fiber per serving which is really not enough to meet south beach requirements. IF it's not causing you problems then that's great and I would keep it up. but for those that want to be 'purists' it's not really acceptable. |
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