Hi everyone!

No, this isn't another diet invention of mine! A friend I've been feeding low-carb info to said "my friend says its very expensive to eat low-carb". Well, with 20 pounds of rice going for $4 at the local discount store, it's hard to argue that it doesn't cost a LITTLE more. I just got back from buying some (high cost) coconut oil based on what I've read in these forums, and had an idea for this thread.

Anyway, please share the following in your posts:

A. What is your lower cost low-carb staples (and even better, deals!)

B. What are your high cost, but WORTH IT low-carb indulgences!

C. What would your ideal low-carb life be like if you could afford anything?

Please tell us what you pay for these items if you care to, and thanks for reading and replying!

Curt

Here I go, off the top of my head:

A. Low Cost Staples: Eggs mixed with something every day.

B. High Cost + Worth It: Atkins Chocolate Shake In a Can

C. The Rich Life - I'd eat more beef, and hire someone to do all the cooking! I'd eat tons of high-quality jerky.

Maybe I'll think up more. Thanks again!

Curt

EXCELLENT TOPIC, Curt! I've blogged about this issue MANY times, so check out my posts:

"Obesity: A Product Of Affluence Or Poverty?"
"Is Poverty Promoting Pudginess?"
"Are Weight And Wealth Interconnected?"
"Try The $21 Low-Carb Diet Experiment"

This will be an eye-opening discussion I'm sure!

I don't know that eating low carb has actually cost me more in the end. I no longer eat fast food multiple times a week, I don't buy cakes, cookies, chips, etc.. I think you can spend a lot more on junk food than you realize because many times, you're picking up that stuff at convenience stores and you're not considering it part of your weekly grocery bill. The stuff I eat now is more expensive but I think it's a wash in the end.

Plus, think about all the healthcare costs you won't have to pay because of your healthy low-carb lifestyle. Hmmmm?

A.-eggs, spagetti squash (for "spagetti" under $2), no bake cheesecakes (about $3 for 12 servings)

B. Salmon. Love it. Eat it at least 3-4 times a week

C. I can't think of anything

We spent less on groceries now than before even with all the prices that have gone up. Think about it-no milk, cerel, chips, bread, low fat popcorn, pasta, candy, low fat ice cream, granola bars, frozen WW meals, fruit, low fat butter...Every "specialty" low fat item is super pricey. Even the higher fat products cost alot. Everyone uses price as an excuse to not eat healthy, whether it is LF or LC. I have friends that do that...as they order a Pizza. Think about that. $20-$30 for a couple pizzas. My portabella pizza's cost at total of $10.00 for the ingredients, serves 4-6 people and I still use the sausage, cheese & tomato, for salads and meals the REST of the week.

A. Staples
- Eggs, eggs, and more eggs. Luckily, I LOVE them and never get sick of the infinite variations.
- Bone-in, skin-on split chicken breasts. I get these at a local meat market when they're on sale for $1.19-$1.29 per lb and roast them with just olive oil, salt & pepper. We eat them as is, or in chicken salad or 1,000 other ways. And I take the skin off after roasting and roast some more (Chicken Cracklings).


B. High Cost items
- More expensive cuts of meat: roasts, steaks, etc.
- Good veggies like asparagus that aren't usually cheap

C. What I'd eat if money were no object
- More interesting/expensive veggies and fresh berries
- More beef!
- More diet soda (hmm...not necessarily a good thing though)
- Imported expensive cheeses...yum!

I took a look at the $21 per day challenge article from Jimmy's blog. The challenge is unfair to expect participants to start with a completely empty kitchen. That would almost never happen and isn't realistic. Most people would at least have spices and oil in their pantry. I can easily feed my family of three on $63 per week, including cleaning and paper products, etc. but it takes a little while to get to that point. You have to shop the sales and stock up. Other than fresh produce and other perishables, I mainly "shop" my pantry and freezer and my trips to the grocery store are to replenish my supply with whatever is on sale. We eat VERY well on a budget and never feel deprived even if we don't have steak more than once a month or every two months. You can do amazing things with hamburger, chicken, cheese and eggs!

I don't think LC has to cost more, especially for people who were already overweight. I think most of us can eat and eat and EAT the cheap stuff (carbs) and never feel satisfied.

Spending less per item and eating more of it isn't necessarily cheaper.

I also think that our diets are one of the best places to spend money. IMHO, eating well is a very good investment in your productivity, which is generally money down the road if you make the most of it either as an entrepreneur or productive employee.

Less food really does satisfy on LC.

A: eggs, ground turkey, chicken legs, oil and real butter
(Aldi has some good deals on meat; I put oil and real butter here because the portions are small--even for me! LOL.)

B: rib eye and NY strip steaks, we buy them by the box at Wal-Mart
salmon and cod (I add cream cheese to the cod and butter both)
Extra-virgin olive oil, a nice brand
Chocoperfection

C: Just what it is, but I'd eat out twice as much. Nah, I'd just go all the way and hire a chef! LOL.

If the sky were the limit, I'd eat some of my meals on other continents--and try to do some good while traveling!

Susanmarie, if you have even a little bit of land, plant asparagus! I love the month of May!

A. What is your lower cost low-carb staples (and even better, deals!)

eggs, you can do a bunch of different things with them

B. What are your high cost, but WORTH IT low-carb indulgences!
skirt steak as a treat

C. What would your ideal low-carb life be like if you could afford anything?
Steak and turkey and to have a healthy low carb fast food

sandi

A. What is your lower cost low-carb staples (and even better, deals!)

Eggs, cheese, ground beef when it's under $2 pound, ground turkey when it's under $2 pound, fresh cauliflower when they're $2 or less, making my own condiments (salad dressings, ketchup, dips, etc.), buying whatever produce is on sale, making my own chicken broth and spice mixtures.

B. What are your high cost, but WORTH IT low-carb indulgences!

Almond flour, heavy cream, romaine hearts, nuts and unsweetened coconut to make Coconutty Crunch to add to my yogurt, butter

C. What would your ideal low-carb life be like if you could afford anything?

Having steak more often, not worrying about having to pay a dollar or more for a nice red bell pepper, being able to try new low carb products without worrying that I might be wasting my money, be able to afford orange roughy instead of tilapia, fresh crab meat (not the stuff in a can that tastes like expensive tuna fish), being able to buy whatever I feel like eating whether it is on sale or not (see my note below).

NOTE: I really enjoy the challenge of trying to stretch a dollar but there are times when it would be nice to not have to worry that something won't fit into my budget.

A. What is your lower cost low-carb staples (and even better, deals!)
Ground Turkey for Taco Salad
Eggs for everything
Sugar Free Jello
Pork Rinds


B. What are your high cost, but WORTH IT low-carb indulgences!
Heavy Whipping Cream
Whey Protein Powder
Salmon Steaks


C. What would your ideal low-carb life be like if you could afford anything?
There would be instant, tasty, wonderful Low Carb Frozen dinners to pop in the microwave. I could eat as much cheese as I wanted that the sodium wouldn't affect me. And... I would have rib eye & lobster every weekend! (I can do that everyday for 5 days on my cruise! hahaha)

I think this cray of 'expensive' is only relative to your perspective.

The high cost of being off low carb:

1. All the junk food, take away and restauarant food people indulge in. (Conveniently left out of the living on rice story - he he)
2. The days off sick from work
3. The medical bills
4. Medication that we have to purchase

Look at all the people who smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol. They don't compain about the prices, they just get on and feed their addiction.

<<<<Look at all the people who smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol. They don't compain about the prices, they just get on and feed their addiction.>>>>
Your right Dave,
Here ciggies are over $5 a pack. I rarely hear people complaining how high they are and all, but a increase in food, they complain.
My 26 year old son, smokes, and will not eat the whole dat at work cause the food is too expensive, but will buy a pack or 2 with no problem\
sandi

A. I shop at Aldi to get my ground meat and veggies and bags of unsweetened frozen mixed berries. Their produce is WAY cheaper than other stores...even Wal-Mart. I always keep some frozen chicken on hand and canned chicken and tuna.

B. cheese has gotten really expensive here , occasional steak, ready to drink protein shakes, protein bars, all of my supplements (but I'd take most of those anyway)

C. more steak, I'd probably take a few more supplements, lots more produce...even when it's not in season

I spend 50 to 70 a week on groceries and used to spend about 75 a month (food only)

I like to shop at Sams club, I like the frozen bagged chicken breasts and cod filets especially.

I have a place in my town called canned food warehouse. It's the best place in town for low carb things like cheese,frozen meats and nuts.I love it when they get the low carb products that didn't make it like dressings and low carb candy bars .It's worth looking for.

Another trick I use shop at safeway after 9pm to look at their meat markdowns.


If neither of those are an option:
low carb staples: canned tuna, eggs ,chicken thighs and my new favorite : catfish.
lowest cost veggie: cabbage

If money were no object:
all of this is local
grassfed texas longhorn and buffalo -worth every penny
free range eggs/chicken
gorumet cheese
organic veggies

a lot more seafood!
swordfish (i have to keep this limited due to mercury)
halibut
sole


I'd also finally by that rotisserie I keep looking at :-)

Speaking of saving money, I couldn't live without my almond meal. It's $11.99 to $12.99 a pound at W hole Foods Market, but costs $5.49 lb. at Trader Joes.

Just had to share this since so many of us use it in baked goods, etc.

Well since it is just me---I don't spend too much on food---I spend just about as much on supplements each month---we have many family farms not far from me so I'm able to get things there in season---plus we now a butcher shop a few towns over---my family and I split the cost of a side of beef---I got lots of hooves, bones and such there too for homemade stocks----

I'm like Linda---I make most all my stuff myself---even down to my mayo

I cut corners every now again---but my supplements are the most important part---for me at least

fresh seafood---is the one luxury I allow---being this close to the gulf I'd be nuts not too

you can do low carb on a budget---it just takes planning ahead---also do leftovers---there are some out there who refuse to eat food a second time around---wasteful to me

I am one who does not cook much, but I don't think LC is more expensive, I actually thing it is less expensive. I am not buying all the snacks and junk I used to buy, and I feel that I am getting my money's worth for the food I do buy. I can remember going to the grocery store before and buying cereal, milk, ice cream, frozen pizza, chips, etc... and I would spend $50-$60 for 2 or 3 bags of stuff that didn't seem to last all that long. Now, when I do go shopping, my bill is in the $30-$40 range, and I end up with several meals.

My favorite LC staple is chicken wings. I buy the big bag of the drumettes at Sams, and grill them off. These make great meals and snacks, and the entire bag is less that $10 Another good deal for me is pork shoulder or butt, both are affordable, and once grilled off last a really long time.

In a perfect world, I would have a personal chef that would calculate all my meals for me so I could eat and entertain without having to worry about it. I would also have a wider selection of affordable organic produce, and free-range meat and eggs. I think these are really good ideas, but I cannot really afford to go all out with them like I would prefer doing.

Good question, and there have been a lot of good answers.

A. Eggs, meat on sale, bulk pkgs of chicken, tuna, big chunks of cheese cut up at home and well-wrapped or sealed with a Food Saver (which is a great investment, keeps food a lot longer, so your dollar goes a lot farther.) And don't forget growing a garden, even if you just have a few feet for a tomato plant or a squash plant. It's worth it for those fresh veggies, even if it's only a few. And seeds are cheap!

B. Almond meal, coconut oil, good olive oil, DaVinci syrups, liquid Splenda. And I think it's worth it to make homemade mayo - commercial is made with soy oil, and there is evidence that it's not the best oil to be consuming. Besides, it tastes so much better; however, if you have a good-sized family, commercial is probably the practical choice.

C. A professional chef to cook all my meals. Second to that, a maid to clean up after me when I cook! Seriously, if I could buy anything I wanted, I'd get wild salmon, good quality steaks, grass fed, of course, and all veggies and fruit would be organic. How about being rich enough to have someone to personally grow all the meat & produce you need, your own personal farmer?

Most store bought mayo is made with soybean oil---I don't like all the info I've been seeing about soy---so I just make my own

I'm also trying to eliminate as many chemicals I can in my life