A number of people I know are completely flabbergasted when contemplating sticking to a budget while eating a primarily “paleo” diet. I’m hoping to shed a little light on that issue for those of you on the fence about eating healthfully – it *can* be done – and done well – without spending all the money. All it takes is a little planning.
A little background: I live in Brooklyn, NY, and the grocery prices here are definitely not the same as what you will find in other areas of the country. If you live in say, Raleigh NC for example – you may very well be able to cut this grocery bill by a third, depending upon where you shop. For where I live, where I shop and what I buy, $100 a week is a doable budget without having to sacrifice quality too much. My DH thinks $130 is probably more realistic with his smoothie supplies, but I want to shoot for $100. I aim to make 4-5 dinners for two and 5 lunches per week, plus two smoothies per day six days of the week with my budgetary allowance and update you all weekly on what’s going on. Let’s see if I can make it.
Week of March 3 – 7
The Proposed Menu
- Bo Ssam with leftover Momofuku pork from last week + ?? as a side
- Thai noodle bowl with ground beef, onions, bell peppers and zoodles
- Pulled pork with sauteed pineapple and cauliflower fried rice with leftover Momofuku pork and pineapple from last week
- Braised chicken with parsnips, leeks & cabbage with leftover parsnips, leek & cabbage from last week
- Lunch: Kale salad with beets, citrus and a kicky vinaigrette (2-3 lunches)
- Lunch: Roast squash, pea shoot and shredded hard boiled egg salad with horseradish vinaigrette (2-3 lunches)
This week, we have plans Friday night (the Avett Brothers/Old Crow Medicine Show concert!) so will be eating 4 planned meals at home. We will most likely stop somewhere this weekend to grab some ground beef and sweet potatoes – and have burgers & fries for dinner on Sunday, if history is any indication of likelihood.
Shopping List & Cost Breakout
Grocery Store Key: TJ = Trader Joe’s, WF = Whole Foods
Planned Meal Components
Pea shoots – couldn’t find these – subbed for snow peas ($2.29 @TJ)
Scallions ($1.29 for 6 ounces @TJ)
Zucchini ($2.29 for 18 ounces @ TJ)
Bell pepper ($0.69 for 1 red pepper @ TJ)
Bibb lettuce – Wasn’t finding what I needed, so I am dropping this meal component
Kale ($2.29 for 10 ounces organic cut kale @TJ)
Thyme ($1.69 for 1 ounce @ TJ)
Chives ($1.79 at Trader Joe’s)
Limes ($1.50 for 3 limes @ TJ)
Citrus ($1.99 for 12 ounce bag Meyer Lemons @ TJ)
Squash ($2.26 for 1 @ WF)
Horseradish ($2.49 for 1 bottle @ WF)
Ketchup ($1.99 for 365 ketchup @ WF)
Onion powder ($2.49 @ WF)
Ssamjang – could not find
Kochujang – could not find
My favorite bottled lime juice – didn’t swing by that store
Chicken thighs ($6.81 for 6 Kosher thighs @ TJ)
Grass fed ground beef ($6.99 for 1 pound @ TJ)
Chicken stock – ($2.79 for a brand with no added crap @ WF)
Smoothie Supplies
Zico coconut water ($3.69 x 2 @ TJ)
Cilantro ($1.69 @ TJ)
Organic baby spinach ($1.99 for 6 ounces @ TJ)
Kale ($2.29 x 2 for 10 ounces organic cut kale @ TJ)
Ginger ($1.39 for 4 ounces fresh @ TJ)
Granny Smith apples ($3.45 for 5 @ TJ)
Limes ($2.50 for 5 @ TJ)
Avocados ($2.78 for 2 @ TJ)
Incidentals/Snacks for the Hubbs/Shopping lunch for me
Pita crackers ($2.69 @ TJ)
Frozen Mac & Cheese ($2.99 @ TJ)
Old Amsterdam gouda ($5.93 @ TJ)
Smart Water for me while shopping ($1.99 @ WF)
Take A Hike! raw bar for me while shopping ($2.50 @ WF)
Sweet potatoes to have on hand ($3.56 @ WF)
Coconut aminos ($2.49 @ WF)
My favorite Gorilla coffee because the budget was good this week ($10.99 @ WF)
Total TJ: $66.91
Total WF: $38.77
Total For The Week: $105.68, with $4.50 of that going toward immediate lunch for myself for the day (comes out of a different budget) and $1.00 in donations at Whole Foods – totals $100.19 for the week; $0.19 over budget.
Pantry/items repurposed from last week: pork shoulder, pineapple, cauliflower, fats, spices, nut butter, parsnips, leeks, cabbage, beets, ground beef, eggs
This week, we were able to spring for some pantry items we wouldn’t normally purchase because life got in the way of our eating the big protein I made for last week (this pork) until Friday. And I had some ‘extras’ from binge vegetable shopping during last week’s grocery trip. Gotta love that binge veggie shopping.
Gastography 