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 in this manner – 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 the quality I want too much. My DH thinks $130 is probably more realistic with our morning 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.
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This is my first week without a CSA shipment to look forward to – I was also out on vacation not thinking about what I was going to be cooking for dinner this week during the latter half of the week. I am very happy that delivery groceries exist in my area. Being able to order what I needed for the week while laying in bed on Sunday morning was a freaking lifesaver. All groceries were purchased from Amazon Fresh again.
Menu for Last Week (Week of November 3 – 7)
The Plan vs. Reality
I had a vague plan going into this week, and only 3 days worth of dinners to do. I think I did pretty well.
Monday
- The Plan – Meat with CSA veggies
- Reality – Pork chops with roasted fennel & carrots and a side of mashed potatoes. Yum.
Tuesday
- The Plan – Meat with CSA veggies
- Reality – Italian sausage with chard, fire roasted tomatoes, onion, leek & cauliflower rice. This would have been good, but the sausage was gross.
Wednesday
- The Plan – Something with CSA veggies
- Reality – Baked balsamic chicken thighs with delicata squash. This was so-so; the squash wasn’t crispy enough, and for future reference the hubbs absolutely hates squash brushed with coconut oil and balsamic.
Thursday
- The Plan – Vacation eats – more on my mini vacation to Lake Placid, NY coming soon!
- Reality – Pub grub – steak & potatoes with asparagus + crispy Thai style pork belly. Y-U-M
Friday
- The Plan – Vacation eats
- Reality – Amazing dinner at Liquids and Solids of fried duck hearts with bleu cheese mashed potatoes & green beans + a charcuterie plate with truffled pork pate and local cheeses. I will dream about this dinner for months to come.
Lunches
- The Plan – Leftovers & fresh csa veggies
- Reality – Pulled pork with carrot & apple, pork chop leftovers and pulled pork with cabbage & apples
Extras
- The Plan – Nothing planned.
- Reality – And nothing happened.
This Week: November 10 – 15
My notes from last week mention pumpkin and brussels, bourbon & pecans and sweet potato waffles. I remembered exactly none of that while sleepily grocery shopping in the 11th hour.
This Week’s Proposed Menu
- Monday: Meat with leftover CSA veg
- Tuesday: Meat with leftover CSA veg
- Wednesday: Meat with leftover CSA veg
- Thursday: Meat with leftover CSA veg
- Friday: Eat out
- Lunch: Leftovers & more apples
- Extras: None
Shopping List & Cost Breakout
Grocery Store Key: AM = Amazon Fresh
Shopping List
Radicchio, 1 Head ($1.29 @ AM)
Turnips, 1 lb ($1.29 @ AM)
Natural Pork Tenderloin Boneless, 19 oz ($6.29 @ AM)
Natural Pork Boneless Loin Chop, 6 oz Each (4 Pc), 1.5 lb ($8.49 @ AM)
Meadow Organics Ground Beef, Grass-Fed, USDA Organic, 16 oz ($9.99 @ AM)
Meadow Organics Chuck Steak, Grass-Fed, USDA Organic, 6 oz ($5.69ea $11.38 @ AM)
Natural Pork Boneless Shoulder Roast, 3 lb ($9.79ea @ AM)
Organic Collard Greens, 1 Bunch ($2.69 @ AM)
Hass Avocados, Not Yet Ripe, Small, 4 ct ($4.99 @ AM)
Granny Smith Apple, Large ($0.69 @ AM)
Organic Ginger, 8 oz ($2.99ea @ AM)
Spinach, 2 Bunches ($1.26ea $2.52 @ AM)
Lime Family Pack, 1.5 lb ($2.77 @ AM)
Organic Lacinato (Dinosaur) Kale, 2 Bunches ($2.49ea $4.98 @ AM)
Extras: No extras this week.
Total AM: $75.11
Total For The Week: $75.11; $0.11 over budget. I’m still working with CSA veggies this week, so I attempted to stick to my $75 budget. I think I did pretty well, especially considering the amount of extra meat I bought.
Pantry/items repurposed from last week: fats, spices, CSA veggies.
Gastography 