Grocery bills

[HatheryOnHerWay 603]

Okay, here's kind of a weird question...since you've been sleeved, about how much $$$ do you think you're saving on grocery bills in a week/month/however often you shop for groceries?

[WingRider 1]

Great question. I used to spend daily $5 on breakfast/coffee, $12 lunch, $5 dinner at home or $20 eating out. Now I spend $4 on breakfast(Protein powders aren't cheap), $4 on lunch, and $2 on dinner at home but a $20 dining out meal will now feed me for 3-4 meals. I am saving big time on food costs now. We have also started to share a meal when eating out sometimes. Plus you have to add in the no more soda money, that was probably $4-$6 a day. So overall, I am saving a couple of hundred a month on food alone right now.

Bill

[pnw218 14]

Well, we do all talk about being cheap dates and cheap drunks now : )

I did some quick math and think I could easily feed myself on $50 a week and probably less.

I have a husband, teenage daughter and any number of her friends over in a week so I don't think our actual grocery bill has changed too much. Mainly I see a difference if we go out to dinner. And we are going out to eat less each week so that is probably where we are saving the most money.

However, I have every intention of spending any "saved" money on new clothes : )

[pnw218 14]

Great question. I used to spend daily $5 on breakfast/coffee, $12 lunch, $5 dinner at home or $20 eating out. Now I spend $4 on breakfast(Protein powders aren't cheap), $4 on lunch, and $2 on dinner at home but a $20 dining out meal will now feed me for 3-4 meals. I am saving big time on food costs now. We have also started to share a meal when eating out sometimes. Plus you have to add in the no more soda money, that was probably $4-$6 a day. So overall, I am saving a couple of hundred a month on food alone right now.

Bill

Did you have to mention the S word?? Soda?? :crying: Good point there. We aren't buying any pop at home right now. My husband went on a health kick in January and my daughter did in the fall. Between a living skills class at school and high school sports, she doesn't eat much junk food at all.

I totally agree about the dining out meal lasting for days. Even a cheap lean cuisine lasts a few nights : )

Congrats on being halfway to your goal!! That is awesome!

[Tiffykins 672]

Since being sleeved, I think I spend about the same amount of money on actual groceries if not $50 more a month. The only reason I have found this to be true is because the choices in food I'm buying. I stopped buying canned veggies, we opt for fresh meaning more expensive, I also buy frozen veggies, instead of ground beef we buy bison when it's available or I prefer to buy a less expensive cut of steak for our beef Protein consumption. I also started buying organic items, and other higher/more nutritious options that always seem more expensive than the other alternatives on the shelves. I became extremely label conscious post-sleeveI have a husband and 11 yr old son and while they have welcomed the changes in our menu, they still eat the same amount. I also never make prepared/boxed/frozen meals which are super cheap, but so not a good choice. I do purchase boxed and flavored rice, and some Pasta salads, but all of our veggies are typically fresh meals are made from our spices/seasonings/items in our pantry. It gives me control over the amount of sodium, preservatives, and I know exactly what's going into our food.< /span>

Now, for dining out I save tons of money. If I go out with my girlfriends, my meal lasts for 2-3 other meals. My son and I share an entree typically when out as a family. That eliminates an entire meal because he would usually order an entree, but bring leftovers home because the kid menu didn't appeal to him. I don't buy a lot junk food, but I do keep some Snacks in the house for the kiddo.

I do one large grocery shopping trip once a month at our commissary, and I typically spend around $200. I usually have to make a couple of trips to the local Wal-Mart for a gallon of milk or other staple in the fridge.

Edited April 23, 2010 by Tiffykins

[Smelly Melly 0]

I agree with everything Tiffykins said, although the cost of living is different here. For our family of four I spend roughly $250 each week!

[wannalise 15]

Well, I used to spend about $8 lunch and 8-10 dinner. I would then buy about six sodas at $1.25 daily (and would drive all the way across town for a specific gas station because I liked their diet coke better? and because they had a drive thru window and everyone there knew me!) I also was kind of a misery loves company or let me love you with food kind of a girl and would buy things for friends and co-workers on atleast a daily basis. Then you know I would also do grocery shopping for about $200/month. Wow! My world is totally different. I don't know if I can give you a specific savings, because now, I am focused on buying whole foods. Real produce, good cuts of meat, higher quality cheeses. All things that make it so this journey is more enjoyable to me. So...I don't buy much anymore but what I buy is pricier.

[HatheryOnHerWay 603]

Thanks for all the input, guys! I already buy pretty much all organic food (although I'm a vegetarian so I don't have to worry much about the meat cost!) My big problem in life is eating good food but WAY too much of it. That's why I think the sleeve might just be the answer to my prayers :thumbup1:

[wannalise 15]

Thanks for all the input, guys! I already buy pretty much all organic food (although I'm a vegetarian so I don't have to worry much about the meat cost!) My big problem in life is eating good food but WAY too much of it. That's why I think the sleeve might just be the answer to my prayers :thumbup1:

I have a question for you then! I am finding that I don't want quite so much of my Protein sources to come from meat, I'd like some variety, and if there are Protein sources out there that would also offer some Fiber I would feel really good about that. I have some concern about what a super high protein diet can do to your digestion and I don't wanna go through all this work and then have put myself at risk for colon cancer or some other horrible disease! Anywhoo. If you have any suggestions of high protein foods (I still watch my carbs VERY closely though) that aren't meat based would you let me know?

Thanks!!!!

[HatheryOnHerWay 603]

Unfortunately many veggie Proteins tend to be high in carbs, too. Here is some info on vegetarian Protein sources I got from the Savvy Vegetarian online:

1. Nuts -- Almonds, brazil nuts, cashews hazelnuts, pine nuts, walnuts
   
2. Seeds -- Sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, flaxseeds
   
3. Pulses -- Peas, Beans, lentils, peanuts
   
4. Grains and Cereals ? Amaranth, barley, corn, rye, oats, millet, quinoa, rice, spelt, wheat (in bread, flour, Pasta and seitan or wheat gluten)
   
5. Soy Products -- Tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable Protein, soymilk
   
6. Dairy Products -- Milk, cheese, yogurt, kefir from cows, sheep, goats, buffalos, etc.
   
7. Organic Free Range eggs - the chickens run free and forage, and are also given organic feed
   

• Foods like TVP, tofu, seitan are concentrated sources of protein. TVP is almost all soy protein, and seitan is basically almost all wheat protein (gluten). There are many cookbooks available with hundreds of recipes for cooking and eating all of these foods
  
• Legumes supply large quantities of protein (12 - 15 grams/cup). There are hundreds of varieties of Beans and lentils in the world, and thousands of ways to prepare them, in combination with grains, nuts, seeds, and dairy
  
• Nuts and seeds also supply significant quantities of protein (like almonds or pumpkin seeds), and are an excellent source of good and healthy mono-unsaturated fats. Walnuts and flaxseeds and oil are good sources of vital Omega 3's, so often missing even in vegetarian diets
  
• Grains like quinoa, amaranth, oats, wheat, and spelt are also very good sources of protein, which is enhanced and completed through combining with other foods
  
• Soaking and sprouting legumes, nuts, and seeds will increase protein and Vitamins - sprouting gives the best results when it has just barely begun
  
• Dairy products -- Milk, cheese, yogurt, kefir from cows, sheep, goats, buffalos, yaks, etc, depending on where you live
  
• Vegetables like broccoli and potatoes supply significant amounts of protein. Even a banana supplies a gram of protein
  

[Tiffykins 672]

I'll throw out there that I've tried seitan, and it's great. I went through a tough time with meat, and contacted one of my vegan friends. She sent me a bunch of recipes and blogs off the net. By the time, I found seitan and tempeh around here, meat didn't bother me as much. I tried tempeh, but seitan was better for me. I had it in the cupboard, and decided to give it a whirl one day. I was really impressed with it.

I couldn't convert my husband, and I love meat as well. But, it was a viable option for me.

[HatheryOnHerWay 603]

I LOVE seitan. To me it is like the most delicious thing in the world...in stir-frys it is just phenomenal! And it's pretty cheap if you buy the kind in the can

[wannalise 15]

Where could I get my hands on it and does it come in different qualities (should I be looking for something special?) I googled it and there really are loads of recipes, I am still intimidated by tofu unless its prepped for me in a restraunt then I don't even notice it. Is it something that I could use as a filler, does it have its own flavor, or just pick up the flavor of the things you cook it in?

Thanks for the tips Hathery! I really appreciate it!

[Tiffykins 672]

Where could I get my hands on it and does it come in different qualities (should I be looking for something special?) I googled it and there really are loads of recipes, I am still intimidated by tofu unless its prepped for me in a restraunt then I don't even notice it. Is it something that I could use as a filler, does it have its own flavor, or just pick up the flavor of the things you cook it in?

Thanks for the tips Hathery! I really appreciate it!

I found mine at a Whole food type store. The stir fry recipes were my absolute favorite.

I bought the dry variety and mixed it according to the package directions.

SEITAN--THE VEGETARIAN WHEAT meat -- The Vegetarian Resource Group

That has some of the brands that are available in some stores. And, how to even make homemade seitan.

It's really a great option Anna, and I bet you'd like it. I would use it more if I could convert John and Caysen over, but that is a complete lost cause.

[ryansgirl 1]

humm with all the Protein Drinks i drink like bill said it not cheap. i find my bill for grocery shopping the same i don't eat meat anymore but i do like the tvp. now i do save alot of money for just not eating out anymore my savings has grown.