This Week’s Menu

Monday

Breakfast: Thai Sweet Chili Kind Bar + coffee with almond milk

Lunch: Delivery rotisserie chicken + steamed veggies + coleslaw

Dinner: Delivery Indian – tandoori mixed grill with grilled veggies and sauces

Tuesday

Breakfast: Thai Sweet Chili Kind Bar + coffee with almond milk

Snack: Hawaiian Crunch trail mix

Lunch: Leftover rotisserie chicken

Snack: Inka plantain chips

Dinner: Broiled London broil with green beans

Snack: Cheddar flavor almond nut thins

Wednesday

Breakfast: Raw mixed nuts + green seedless grapes + coffee with cashew milk + more nuts when the first batch didn’t kill my hangries

Lunch: Fennel & orange slaw with rotisserie chicken

Dinner: Ghee-sauteed cabbage with double-smoked bacon and rotisserie chicken

Snack: The last of the cheddar cheese flavored almond nut thins

Thursday

Breakfast: Finally! A green smoothie! + coffee with cashew milk

Lunch: Leftover salad from yesterday with rotisserie chicken

Dinner: Pork chops with brussels sprouts & double-smoked bacon

Snacks: Green seedless grapes, salt & vinegar pork rinds, Kahuna Crunch trail mix

Friday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: The last of the big salad I made with rotisserie chicken

Dinner: Out

Snacks: Salt & vinegar pork rinds

Sunday

Breakfast: Raw nuts from my snack stockpile

Lunch: Out

Dinner: Out

 

This Week’s Grocery List

Schaller & Weber double smoked bacon, 0.65lb. ($10.39 @ Fresh Direct)
Silk cashew milk, 1/2 gallon ($4.29 @ Fresh Direct)
Cara Cara oranges, 2 ($2.98 @ Fresh Direct)
Green seedless grapes, 2.03lbs. ($5.05 @ Fresh Direct)
Grass fed London Broil, 2.11lbs. ($25.29 @ Fresh Direct)
No antibiotic center cut pork loin chops, 1.08lbs. ($7.54 @ Fresh Direct)
No antibiotic boneless skinless chicken thighs, 1.28lbs. ($6.39 @ Fresh Direct)
Broccoli rabe, 2 heads ($7.00 @ Fresh Direct)
Brussels sprouts, 2 16-ounce bundles ($7.00 @ Fresh Direct)
Cilantro, 1 huge bunch ($1.99 @ Fresh Direct)
Dill, 1 huge bunch ($1.99 @ Fresh Direct)
Fennel ($2.49 @ Fresh Direct)
Green beans, 1lb. ($1.99 @ Fresh Direct)
Italian parsley, 1 huge bunch ($2.49 @ Fresh Direct)
Rhubarb, 0.38lbs. ($0.95 @ Fresh Direct)
Savoy cabbage, 3.45lbs. ($5.14 @ Fresh Direct)

Smoothie Supplies

Ginger, 6oz. ($2.99 @ Fresh Direct)
Zico pure coconut water, 1 liter ($3.99 @ Fresh Direct)
4 Granny Smith apples ($3.99 @ Fresh Direct)
6 limes ($3.00 @ Fresh Direct)
2 Avocados ($4.00 @ Fresh Direct)
Satur Farms cut mixed kale, 5oz. (2) ($6.00 @ Fresh Direct)
Earthbound Farms baby spinach, 5oz. ($3.99 @ Fresh Direct)
Simply Orange orange juice, 59 oz. ($4.49 @ Fresh Direct)

 

Totals

Fresh Direct: $125.42

 

Budget Breakout

This week, I spent $131.69 (with delivery charge); $31.69 over budget. This week’s grocery shopping was a mess. I should have ordered groceries on Sunday, but we were traveling all day and I get carsick easily, so that was out. Monday morning, Amazon Fresh had like 3 things out of 20 in stock, so they were out. I spent half the morning trying to order meat from a local butcher through Delivery.com, but that didn’t work. And then I gave up and just ordered random stuff from Fresh Direct. I spent a lot, but on the plus side I will have a bunch of extra veggies and some extra meat going into next week, so I should be able to recoup the added cost.

 

Leftovers From This Week

At the end of the week, I have a couple small carrots, a dinners’ worth of London broil, chicken thighs, 2 dinners worth of broccoli rabe, 1 dinner worth of brussels sprouts, rhubarb, lots of herbs, bacon, some cabbage and some green beans left over. I need to incorporate these items into my menu for next week.

—

Think eating healthfully is too expensive for you? Think again. According to the USDA, to ensure a nutritious diet as of December 2014, a family of two aged 19-59 years should spend between $388.90 and $776.10 on food per month, or $89.80 – $179.30 per week. Source 

For my family of two adults, I spend roughly $400 a month on groceries or $100 a week – and we eat well. Not caviar and lobster well, but I do manage to serve a predominately paleo diet with little to no processed foods, and I get to throw in a few luxuries here and there (like expensive snacks for the hubbs and the occasional ridiculously expensive bag of coffee). We even manage to buy “good” meat (grass fed beef and free-range chicken) most of the time – and I make this budget work even on the weeks we pay for convenience by getting delivery groceries. I make: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 10 dinners a week – plus enough snacks to satisfy and fuel two active adults.

I’m hoping that this series will help shed a little light on the day-to-day things a “paleo” person really eats — and how that way of eating can work on a budget. I want to nudge anyone sitting on the fence right over the edge by showing that it *can* be done and that you don’t just eat meat, meat, meat and more meat. 

This Week’s Menu

Monday

Breakfast: Breakfast was supposed to be a green smoothie per weekday usual, but I ended up having a Thai Sweet Chili Kind Bar

Lunch: Leftover double meat egg foo young (no sauce) from the weekend + a little bit of leftover beer-braised brisket + the last of my leftover broiled cabbage wedges

Dinner: Bunless burger & baked sweet potato fries

Tuesday

Breakfast: Green smoothie + coffee with cashew milk

Lunch: Leftover avocado/chicken/green bean bowl

Dinner: Italian sausage with carrots, orange bell pepper and sweet potato hash

Snack: Olives

Wednesday

Breakfast: Thai Sweet Chili Kind Bar + coffee with almond milk

Lunch: Shredded cabbage with pistachio oil & apple cider vinegar dressing

Dinner: Leftover beer braised brisket with broccolini

Snack: Avocado & egg salad

Snack: Trader Joe’s Thai Lime & Chili Cashews

Thursday

Breakfast: Almond Butter Perfect Bar + coffee with cashew milk

Lunch: Shredded cabbage with pistachio oil & apple cider vinegar dressing + a hard boiled egg

Dinner: Traveling – Tropical Smoothie, and that was a mistake

Snacks: Grande Coconut Cafe Misto, Inka Plantain Chips

Friday

Breakfast: Traveling – Grande Coconut Cafe Misto, Starbucks Protein Box

Lunch: Traveling – Small portions of chicken tikka masala, cabbage & peas, spinach, another chicken curry, and gulab jamon at an Indian buffet (no naan, no rice)

Dinner: Traveling – Veal-stuffed beef roll with tomato sauce and a side salad with vinaigrette + a glass of wine

Sunday

Breakfast: Traveling – a bunch of cobbled-together snacks and crap all day – 3 coconut cafe mistos + extra coffee with almond milk because I woke up at 4 am to run around downtown Raleigh in support of my DH’s marathon.

Lunch: Traveling – More snacky crap. Italian black truffle almonds from Starbucks, a Yawp! coconut chai bar, trail mix.

Dinner: Traveling – Finally! Real food. The inlaws grilled chicken breasts and steamed some green beans. My body was really tired of snacking by this time. Mental note: next time, pack food for marathon by standing.

 

This Week’s Grocery List

This was a short week, and I really didn’t want to plan anything with vacation brain, so I planned on eating our left over bits and bobs for dinners. And I bought travel snacks, because the best part of a trip is the food.

Travel Snacks

For me: Thai Sweet Chili Kind bars, plantain chips, coconut milk for coffees, Kahuna Krunch mixed nuts, Dark Chocolate Espresso grainless granola bar from Steve’s Paleogoods. I plan to supplement this stockpile with cured meats, sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, and probably another of those granola bars if I can con someone into taking me to Whole Foods. And pork rinds. Got to have meat snacks for the hangries while shuttling back and forth between the groups we need to visit.

For my DH, who needed to carb load for his marathon 3 days after traveling: gluten-free pretzels, cheddar almond nut thins.

Smoothie Supplies

Ginger ($1.39 @ Trader Joe’s)
Coconut water ($3.69 at Trader Joe’s)
4 Apples ($2.76 at Trader Joe’s)
1 lb. limes ($1.49 at Trader Joe’s)
2 Avocados ($2.78 at Trader Joe’s)
Bagged kale (2) ($4.58 at Trader Joe’s)
Bagged spinach ($1.99 at Trader Joe’s)

Totals

I spent about $30 at Whole Foods getting road snacks

 

Budget Breakout

This week, I spent $30; $70 under budget. I more than made up for it the next week while traveling.

 

Leftovers From This Week

At the end of the week, I have half a bell pepper, a few small carrots and a hand full of cheese left over. I need to incorporate these items into my menu for next week.

—

Think eating healthfully is too expensive for you? Think again. According to the USDA, to ensure a nutritious diet as of December 2014, a family of two aged 19-59 years should spend between $388.90 and $776.10 on food per month, or $89.80 – $179.30 per week. Source 

For my family of two adults, I spend roughly $400 a month on groceries or $100 a week – and we eat well. Not caviar and lobster well, but I do manage to serve a predominately paleo diet with little to no processed foods, and I get to throw in a few luxuries here and there (like expensive snacks for the hubbs and the occasional ridiculously expensive bag of coffee). We even manage to buy “good” meat (grass fed beef and free-range chicken) most of the time – and I make this budget work even on the weeks we pay for convenience by getting delivery groceries. I make: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 10 dinners a week – plus enough snacks to satisfy and fuel two active adults.

I’m hoping that this series will help shed a little light on the day-to-day things a “paleo” person really eats — and how that way of eating can work on a budget. I want to nudge anyone sitting on the fence right over the edge by showing that it *can* be done and that you don’t just eat meat, meat, meat and more meat. 

This Week’s Menu

Monday

Breakfast: Green smoothie

Lunch: Leftover broiled cabbage + leftover avocado chicken burger

Dinner: The hubby worked late, so I had assorted leftovers for dinner

Tuesday

Breakfast: Green smoothie

Lunch: Leftovers

Dinner: Primal carbonara (recipe coming soon)

Wednesday

Breakfast: Green smoothie

Lunch: Leftovers from last night

Dinner: Chicken/asparagus/avocado/hatch chile salsa paleo pizza

Thursday

Breakfast: Green smoothie

Lunch: Leftover pizza toppings

Dinner: Chicken/bacon/avocado bowl with green beans

Friday

Breakfast: Green smoothie

Lunch: Leftover chicken bowl stuffs from last night

Dinner: Out

Saturday

Breakfast: Out

Lunch: Out

Dinner:

Sunday

Breakfast: Out

Lunch: Out

Dinner: Out

This Week’s Grocery List

Savoy cabbage ($3.29 @ Amazon Fresh)
Organic dill, 0.25 ounces ($0.99 @ Amazon Fresh)

Pimento stuffed green olives, 8 ounces ($3.79 @ Amazon Fresh)

Flat leaf parsley ($1.49 @ Amazon Fresh)

Asparagus ($3.99 @ Amazon Fresh)

Just BARE boneless skinless chicken breasts, 14 ounces ($5.25 @ Amazon Fresh)

Just BARE boneless skinless chicken thighs, 20 ounces ($5.49 @ Amazon Fresh)

Serrano chili, 4 ounces ($1.00 @ Amazon Fresh)

Orange bell pepper ($0.89 @ Amazon Fresh)

Organic broccolini ($2.99 @ Amazon Fresh)

Greenhouse campari tomatoes, 1 lb. ($3.49 @ Amazon Fresh)

Plantain chips, 4 ounces ($1.52 @ Amazon Fresh)

Hatch green chilis, 4 ounces canned ($1.90 @ Amazon Fresh)

Purity Farms ghee, 7.5 ounces ($6.79 @ Amazon Fresh)

Spaghetti squash ($3.05 @ Amazon Fresh)

Garlic, 2 bulbs ($0.96 @ Amazon Fresh)

Organic sweet potatoes, 2 lbs. ($2.46 @ Amazon Fresh)

Diamond pecans, 6 ounces ($5.79 @ Amazon Fresh)

Smoothie Supplies

3 Apples ($2.37 @ Amazon Fresh)
Limes, 1.5 lbs. ($2.77 @ Amazon Fresh)
4 Avocados ($4.49 @ Amazon Fresh)
Bagged kale, 1 lb. ($5.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Ginger, 8 ounces ($1.99 @ Amazon Fresh)

Zico Natural Coconut Water, 1 liter ($3.50 @ Amazon Fresh)

Totals

Amazon Fresh: $80.24 (with tip)

Budget Breakout

This week, I spent $80.24; $19.76 under budget. Yay, making up for last week’s overages.

Leftovers From This Week

At the end of the week, I have plantain chips, ground beef, serrano chiles and broccolini left over. I need to incorporate these items into my menu for next week.

—

Think eating healthfully is too expensive for you? Think again. According to the USDA, to ensure a nutritious diet as of December 2014, a family of two aged 19-59 years should spend between $388.90 and $776.10 on food per month, or $89.80 – $179.30 per week. Source 

For my family of two adults, I spend roughly $400 a month on groceries or $100 a week – and we eat well. Not caviar and lobster well, but I do manage to serve a predominately paleo diet with little to no processed foods, and I get to throw in a few luxuries here and there (like expensive snacks for the hubbs and the occasional ridiculously expensive bag of coffee). We even manage to buy “good” meat (grass fed beef and free-range chicken) most of the time – and I make this budget work even on the weeks we pay for convenience by getting delivery groceries. I make: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 10 dinners a week – plus enough snacks to satisfy and fuel two active adults.

I’m hoping that this series will help shed a little light on the day-to-day things a “paleo” person really eats — and how that way of eating can work on a budget. I want to nudge anyone sitting on the fence right over the edge by showing that it *can* be done and that you don’t just eat meat, meat, meat and more meat. 

This Week’s Menu

Monday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftovers from last week

Dinner: Thai basil beef with cauliflower rice

Tuesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftovers from last night

Dinner: A riff on Belgian drunk food involving Italian sausage, beet pickled fennel, sweet potato hash, and sriracha mayo (recipe coming soon)

Wednesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Delivery due to poor planning – I ordered a grilled split chicken large enough for 4 lunches and a side of sweet potato fries

Dinner: Avocado Chicken Burgers with sautéed broccoli and onions

Thursday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Grilled chicken

Dinner: Tonight’s dinner was supposed to be a green bean/chicken/bacon/avocado bowl, but the hubbs felt duped last night when I said ‘burgers’ and they weren’t of the beef variety. Luckily, I keep ground beef on hand for just such an occasion. Beef burgers it was – with sunchokes

Friday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Grilled chicken

Dinner: Out

Saturday

Breakfast: Grabbed a bar out

Lunch:

Dinner: Game night party – beer-braised brisket with paleo crepes & buns for those eating bread, plus lemon curd with paleo lemon poppyseed bread for dessert

Sunday

Breakfast: Out

Lunch: Out

Dinner: Delivery

 

This Week’s Grocery List

Hot Italian sausage, 1 lb. ($5.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Carrots, 1 lb. ($1.29 @ Amazon Fresh)
Kerrygold unsalted butter, 8 oz. ($4.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Green beans, 1 lb. ($1.69 @ Amazon Fresh)
Scallions ($0.92 @ Amazon Fresh)
Just BARE no antibiotics boneless skinless chicken thighs, 20 oz. ($5.49 @ Amazon Fresh)
Meal Mart Kosher Brisket, 1.5 lbs. x2 ($44.98 @ Amazon Fresh)
Fennel ($1.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Pasture raised eggs, 12 ($4.49 @ Amazon Fresh)
Broccoli, 1 bunch ($2.50 @ Amazon Fresh)
Applegate Naturals bacon, 8 oz. ($4.59 @ Amazon Fresh)
Organic air chilled ground chicken, 1 lb. ($7.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Grass fed ground beef, 1 lb. ($9.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
1 head cauliflower ($2.34 @ Amazon Fresh)
1 yellow onion ($1.18 @ Amazon Fresh)
Poland Spring sparkling water, 6-pack of 16.9 ounce bottles ($2.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Gotham Greens basil, 1 ounce ($4.49 @ Amazon Fresh)
Reynolds aluminum foil, 75 sq. ft. ($2.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Sunchokes ($9.34 @ Whole Foods)
Mixed Nuts ($7.99 @ Whole Foods)
Pistachios ($8.99 @ Whole Foods)

Smoothie Supplies

4 Apples ($3.16 @ Amazon Fresh)
3 lbs. mixed lemons and limes ($7.04 @ Amazon Fresh)
4 Avocados ($4.49 @ Amazon Fresh)
Bagged kale, 1 lb. ($2.99 @ Whole Foods)
Bagged spinach ($2.99 @ Whole Foods)

 

Totals

Amazon Fresh: $130.12
Whole Foods: $32.30

 

Budget Breakout

This week, I spent $162.42; $62.42 over budget. Aaaaaaand there goes my surplus for the month. This week, I needed extra supplies for a party I’m hosting on Saturday, so things got a little expensive. And we needed snacks. Plus I impulse bought $10 worth of sunchokes because I thought I needed another side.

Leftovers From This Week

At the end of the week, I have carrots, some rapidly aging celery, a few sweet potatoes, Italian sausage, chicken and ground beef left over. I need to incorporate these items into my menu for next week.

—

Think eating healthfully is too expensive for you? Think again. According to the USDA, to ensure a nutritious diet as of December 2014, a family of two aged 19-59 years should spend between $388.90 and $776.10 on food per month, or $89.80 – $179.30 per week. Source 

For my family of two adults, I spend roughly $400 a month on groceries or $100 a week – and we eat well. Not caviar and lobster well, but I do manage to serve a predominately paleo diet with little to no processed foods, and I get to throw in a few luxuries here and there (like expensive snacks for the hubbs and the occasional ridiculously expensive bag of coffee). We even manage to buy “good” meat (grass fed beef and free-range chicken) most of the time – and I make this budget work even on the weeks we pay for convenience by getting delivery groceries. I make: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 10 dinners a week – plus enough snacks to satisfy and fuel two active adults.

I’m hoping that this series will help shed a little light on the day-to-day things a “paleo” person really eats — and how that way of eating can work on a budget. I want to nudge anyone sitting on the fence right over the edge by showing that it *can* be done and that you don’t just eat meat, meat, meat and more meat. 

This Week’s Menu

Monday

Breakfast: Boo. The DH was up and out the door before groceries were delivered, so no smoothies. I made paleo pancakes (the kind with sunflower seed butter + banana + egg) instead

Lunch: I was still so full from breakfast I skipped lunch

Dinner:

Tuesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover kalua pork & cabbage

Dinner: More cabbage! This time broiled with an almond/sesame/pistachio sauce. Served with pork chops

Wednesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: The last of the leftover kalua pork & cabbage

Dinner: Pork chops again – this time with a guajillo beet puree (coming soon)

Thursday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Different cabbage (leftovers from the sauced cabbage from Tuesday) + a leftover pork chop

Dinner: Honey Chipotle Turkey Meatballs with roasted brussels sprouts – note: not the DH’s favorite flavor profile.

Friday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover sauced cabbage + leftover turkey meatballs

Dinner: In protest of the snow, we stayed in

Sunday

Breakfast: Out

Lunch: Out

Dinner: I had planned on making burgers, but we ordered delivery instead.

This Week’s Grocery List

Ground turkey, 1 lb. ($5.99 @Amazon Fresh)
Broccoli crowns, 1 lb. ($1.78 @Amazon Fresh)
Pat LaFrieda Grass Fed London Broil, 1 lb. ($11.99 @Amazon Fresh) – and it came this week!
Brussels sprouts, 1 lb. ($2.50 @Amazon Fresh) – Yes, brussels sprouts again. What can I say? They’re my favorite and sprouts season is waning.
Beets, 2 lb. ($2.98 @Amazon Fresh)
Embasa chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 7 oz. ($1.38 @Amazon Fresh)
Chock Full o’Nuts Coffee, 11.3 oz. ($3.98 @Amazon Fresh)
Guajillo chile pods, 2.25 oz. ($1.41 @Amazon Fresh)

Smoothie Supplies

Ginger, 8 oz. ($1.99 @Amazon Fresh)
Zico Natural coconut water, 1 liter ($3.50 @Amazon Fresh)
5 Apples ($3.95 @Amazon Fresh)
1 Avocado ($2.00 @Amazon Fresh)
Satur Farms kale, 5 oz. (x2) ($6.98 @Amazon Fresh)
Satur Farms spinach, 5 oz. ($3.49 @Amazon Fresh)
Limes ($3 @Brooklyn Fare)

Totals

Amazon Fresh: $37.92

Brooklyn Fare: $3

Budget Breakout

This week, I spent $40.92; $59.08 under budget. Whoa. This week was waaaaay under budget, thanks to having extra meat on hand – and a credit from last week’s London Broil mixup. I’m happy to report that we got the London Broil we ordered this week. But, I’m still bummed that the bagged kale we like was still not in stock. I wish they’d straighten out whatever is up with Taylor Farms – or suspend listing their items from the site and find another vendor. Satur Farms veggies are great, but they’re a: more expensive, and b: come in inconvenient clamshell packaging that takes my whole fridge up. While we’re on the complaint train, I’d also like it if the website – and especially the app – were easier to browse shop from. Fresh Direct has a fantastic app/website that allows you to browse by aisle — which comes in handy when you know you need a vegetable side dish, but you have no idea what you want. I’d like to be able to browse by what’s best in season and what is on sale. /end complaint. Ok, 1 more complaint: why on Earth do they only sell broccoli crowns? I miss my broccoli stalks!

Leftovers From This Week

At the end of the week, I have a few jalapeños, ground beef, and some wilty celery left over. I need to incorporate these items into my menu for next week.

—

Think eating healthfully is too expensive for you? Think again. According to the USDA, to ensure a nutritious diet as of December 2014, a family of two aged 19-59 years should spend between $388.90 and $776.10 on food per month, or $89.80 – $179.30 per week. Source 

For my family of two adults, I spend roughly $400 a month on groceries or $100 a week – and we eat well. Not caviar and lobster well, but I do manage to serve a predominately paleo diet with little to no processed foods, and I get to throw in a few luxuries here and there (like expensive snacks for the hubbs and the occasional ridiculously expensive bag of coffee). We even manage to buy “good” meat (grass fed beef and free-range chicken) most of the time – and I make this budget work even on the weeks we pay for convenience by getting delivery groceries. I make: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 10 dinners a week – plus enough snacks to satisfy and fuel two active adults.

I’m hoping that this series will help shed a little light on the day-to-day things a “paleo” person really eats — and how that way of eating can work on a budget. I want to nudge anyone sitting on the fence right over the edge by showing that it *can* be done and that you don’t just eat meat, meat, meat and more meat. 

This Week’s Menu

Monday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover pulled beef and shredded quick-sauteed red cabbage

Dinner: Dinner was supposed to be london broil with bagna cauda sauce, but the hubbs wasn’t hungry, so I scrounged and ate mini breadless muffuletta sandwiches (the last of the cured meats I bought to snack on last weekend + olive tapenade + dijon mustard) with a hand full of veggie chips also purchased last weekend.

Tuesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: The last of the pulled beef leftovers + the last of the shredded red cabbage, quick-sauteed again with a bit of ghee and cumin

Dinner: Instant Pot Kalua Pig + a brussels sprouts hash that I had intended upon blogging about, but didn’t work as well as hoped.

Wednesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover Kalua Pig + cabbage

Dinner: Buffalo Cracklin Chicken with sweet potato (coming soon to a blog near you)

Thursday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover Kalua Pig + cabbage

Dinner: Dinner was supposed to be pork chops with a broiled cabbage side, but I made spectacular bacon and egg stuffed paleo pancakes (coming soon) instead.

Friday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Surprise leftover snap pea salad found in the back of the fridge and miraculously not molded yet + the second half of last week’s grapefruit + a healthy whop of leftover Kalua Pig.

Dinner: Out

Sunday

Breakfast: Out

Lunch: Out

Dinner: Out

 

This Week’s Grocery List

Cilantro ($1.69 @Amazon Fresh)
Pat LaFrieda grass fed london broil, 1 lb. ($11.99 @Amazon Fresh) — Amazon Fresh gave me ground beef again instead of London Broil. 
Satur Farms arugula, 5 oz. (I ended up getting this item for free because last-minute substitutions had to be made)
Boneless pork shoulder roast, 3 lb. ($14.99 @Amazon Fresh)
Organic green cabbage (2 heads) ($3.98 @Amazon Fresh)
Brussels sprouts, 1 lb. ($2.50 @Amazon Fresh)
Lemons (2) ($1.50 @Amazon Fresh)
Garlic (2) ($0.96 @Amazon Fresh)
Organic basil, 0.25 oz. ($0.99 @Amazon Fresh)
Black peppercorn grinder, 1.24 oz. ($1.22 @Amazon Fresh)
Organic sweet potatoes, 2 lb. ($2.46 @Amazon Fresh)
Silk cashew milk ($5.00 @Brooklyn Faire)
Eggs ($2.00 @ CVS)

Smoothie Supplies

Zico coconut water, 1 liter ($2.39 @Amazon Fresh)
4 Apples ($3.95 @Amazon Fresh)
1.5 lb. limes ($2.77 @Amazon Fresh)
4 Avocados ($4.49 @Amazon Fresh)
Satur Farms mixed kale, 5 oz. (2) ($6.98 @Amazon Fresh)
Satur Farms baby spinach, 5 oz. ($3.49 @Amazon Fresh)
Simply pulp free orange juice, 59 oz. ($2.99 @Amazon Fresh)

Totals

$69.34 Amazon Fresh
$5.00 Brooklyn Fare
$2.00 CVS

Budget Breakout

This week, I spent $76.34; $23.66 under budget. Yay, having extra meat. That really saved my proverbial bacon this week. That, and getting creative with what I had on hand. London Broil didn’t pan out again this week – which was actually fine, but annoying. And I had a craving (obsession?) with pancakes that I had to drop everything immediately to make.

 

Leftovers From This Week

At the end of the week, I have pork chops, ground beef, a head of cabbage, a few stalks celery, and a few jalapeños left over. I need to incorporate these items into my menu for next week.

—

Think eating healthfully is too expensive for you? Think again. According to the USDA, to ensure a nutritious diet as of December 2014, a family of two aged 19-59 years should spend between $388.90 and $776.10 on food per month, or $89.80 – $179.30 per week. Source 

For my family of two adults, I spend roughly $400 a month on groceries or $100 a week – and we eat well. Not caviar and lobster well, but I do manage to serve a predominately paleo diet with little to no processed foods, and I get to throw in a few luxuries here and there (like expensive snacks for the hubbs and the occasional ridiculously expensive bag of coffee). We even manage to buy “good” meat (grass fed beef and free-range chicken) most of the time – and I make this budget work even on the weeks we pay for convenience by getting delivery groceries. I make: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 10 dinners a week – plus enough snacks to satisfy and fuel two active adults.

I’m hoping that this series will help shed a little light on the day-to-day things a “paleo” person really eats — and how that way of eating can work on a budget. I want to nudge anyone sitting on the fence right over the edge by showing that it *can* be done and that you don’t just eat meat, meat, meat and more meat. 

This Week’s Menu

Monday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover Vietnamese chicken bites – I planned lunch veggies poorly again this week. Boo.

Dinner: Daikon and red cabbage sesame noodle salad with leftover pulled beef

Tuesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftovers from last night’s dinner

Dinner: Kung pao brussels sprouts with Nom Nom Paleo’s Cracklin’ Chicken

Wednesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover red cabbage, sauteed, with leftover pulled beef

Dinner: Pepperoni meatballs with sea beans and marinara

Thursday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover meatballs with sea beans and marinara

Dinner: The hubby wasn’t feeling good, so we split the rest of the meatballs and I made a snap pea/radish/jalapeno/grapefruit salad

Friday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover snap pea salad with leftover pulled beef

Dinner: Takeout

Sunday

Breakfast: Out

Lunch: Out

Dinner: Takeout

 

This Week’s Grocery List

Sugar snap peas ($5.04 @ Whole Foods)
Red cabbage ($1.63 @ Whole Foods)
Mixed nuts ($7.69 @ Whole Foods)
Sea Beans ($4.70 @ Whole Foods)
Uncured pork pepperoni ($4.99 @ Whole Foods)
Shredded sheep romano ($6.75 @ Whole Foods)
Ground pork, 1 lb. ($3.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Brussels sprouts, 1 lb. ($2.50 @ Amazon Fresh)
Thyme, 0.25 ounces ($0.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Celery ($1.69 @ Amazon Fresh)
Grass fed ground beef, 1 lb. ($9.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Boneless pork loin chop, 1.5 lbs (4 chops) ($8.59 @ Amazon Fresh)
Italian flat leaf parsley ($1.49 @ Amazon Fresh)
Organic daikon radish, 8 ounces ($1.25 @ Amazon Fresh)
Just BARE chicken thighs, 2.25 lbs. ($5.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Frozen kale, 16 ounces ($1.89 @ Amazon Fresh)
Nakano seasoned rice vinegar, 12 ounces ($1.96 @ Amazon Fresh)
Contadina tomato paste, 6 ounces ($0.64 @ Amazon Fresh)
Hunt’s tomato sauce, 8 ounces ($0.44 @ Amazon Fresh)
Dole pineapple chunks, 20 ounces ($1.29)
100% pure maple syrup, 12.5 ounces ($7.98 @ Amazon Fresh)
California olive ranch EVOO, 16.9 ounces ($9.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Chock Full O’Nuts coffee, 11.3 ounces ($3.98 @ Amazon Fresh)

Smoothie Supplies

5 Apples ($3.95 @Amazon Fresh)
Ginger, 8 ounces ($1.99 @Amazon Fresh)
Zico Natural coconut water, 1 liter ($2.39 @ Amazon Fresh)

 

Totals

$72.98 @ Amazon Fresh

$32.10 @ Whole Foods

 

Budget Breakout

This week, I spent $105.08; $5.08 over budget. Boo, overages. But I’m not terribly worried – the pork chops I bought had enough for two meals (as did the chicken), and I’ll be flush with fats for awhile. I also now have at least 1 emergency veggie on hand (the frozen kale – which I thought was spinach).

 

Leftovers From This Week

At the end of the week, I have bacon, a few jalapeños, 2 servings of pork chops, celery and chicken thighs left over. I need to incorporate these items into my menu for next week.

—

Think eating healthfully is too expensive for you? Think again. According to the USDA, to ensure a nutritious diet as of December 2014, a family of two aged 19-59 years should spend between $388.90 and $776.10 on food per month, or $89.80 – $179.30 per week. Source 

For my family of two adults, I spend roughly $400 a month on groceries or $100 a week – and we eat well. Not caviar and lobster well, but I do manage to serve a predominately paleo diet with little to no processed foods, and I get to throw in a few luxuries here and there (like expensive snacks for the hubbs and the occasional ridiculously expensive bag of coffee). We even manage to buy “good” meat (grass fed beef and free-range chicken) most of the time – and I make this budget work even on the weeks we pay for convenience by getting delivery groceries. I make: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 10 dinners a week – plus enough snacks to satisfy and fuel two active adults.

I’m hoping that this series will help shed a little light on the day-to-day things a “paleo” person really eats — and how that way of eating can work on a budget. I want to nudge anyone sitting on the fence right over the edge by showing that it *can* be done and that you don’t just eat meat, meat, meat and more meat. 

This Week’s Menu

Monday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftovers from last week

Dinner: London broil and a green bean salad with hard boiled eggs and lime vinaigrette

Tuesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftovers from last week

Dinner: Mole’d beef tacos with sriracha “sour cream” and a spiced carrot/jalapeno/previously frozen pepper combo since I had zero sides that ended up really gross for some reason and inedible

Wednesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover pulled pork with leftover stewed tomatoes fashioned into a chunky sauce because I was out of veggies

Dinner: Vietnamese popcorn chicken with roasted broccoli

Thursday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover pulled pork with sauerkraut, which was actually kind of fantastic

Dinner: Baked sweet potatoes with leftover pulled beef

Friday

Breakfast: Loads and loads of coffee

Lunch: The last of the sauerkraut with the last of the pulled pork – topped with a fried egg. Even better than yesterday.

Dinner: Grabbed takeout from the Whole Foods hot bar

Sunday

Breakfast: Out

Lunch: Out

Dinner: Another Whole Foods hot bar meal

 

This Week’s Grocery List

Grass fed chuck roast, 3 lb. ($35.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Grass fed London broil, 1 lb. ($11.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Green beans, 1 lb. ($1.69 @ Amazon Fresh)
Broccoli crowns, 1 lb. ($1.78 @ Amazon Fresh)
Coconut milk yogurt, 6 ounces ($1.79 @ Amazon Fresh)
Just Bare boneless skinless chicken thighs, 20 oz. ($5.49 @ Amazon Fresh)
Nature’s Yolk pasture raised eggs, dozen ($4.49 @ Amazon Fresh)
Bar-S smoked bacon, 12 oz. ($5.39 @ Amazon Fresh)
Organic sweet potatoes, 2 lb. ($2.46 @ Amazon Fresh)
Red onion ($0.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
Spectrum organic coconut oil, 14 oz. ($5.49 @ Amazon Fresh)

Smoothie Supplies

Zico Natural coconut water, 1 liter ($2.39 @ Amazon Fresh)
5 Apples ($3.95 @ Amazon Fresh)
1.5 lbs. limes ($2.77 @ Amazon Fresh)
4 Avocados ($4.49 @ Amazon Fresh)
Bagged kale, 16 ounces (2) ($11.98 @ Amazon Fresh)

 

Budget Breakout

This week, I spent $88.13; a draw. This week’s grocery shopping was a cluster. The meat was more expensive than anticipated, so I was unable to get 8 items on my list (herbs, coffee, a side dish and olive oil). I forgot that I had a credit sitting out there for last week’s London broil flub, so I went with the reduced list – actually, I completely forgot to add a few things back in that I know I really wanted — like the extra side dish, and coffee I don’t wince every time I come near. I’m calling this week a draw.

 

Leftovers From This Week

At the end of the week, I have a couple of radishes, a couple of jalapeños and an aging red grapefruit left over. I need to incorporate these items into my menu for next week.

—

Think eating healthfully is too expensive for you? Think again. According to the USDA, to ensure a nutritious diet as of December 2014, a family of two aged 19-59 years should spend between $388.90 and $776.10 on food per month, or $89.80 – $179.30 per week. Source 

For my family of two adults, I spend roughly $400 a month on groceries or $100 a week – and we eat well. Not caviar and lobster well, but I do manage to serve a predominately paleo diet with little to no processed foods, and I get to throw in a few luxuries here and there (like expensive snacks for the hubbs and the occasional ridiculously expensive bag of coffee). We even manage to buy “good” meat (grass fed beef and free-range chicken) most of the time – and I make this budget work even on the weeks we pay for convenience by getting delivery groceries. I make: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 10 dinners a week – plus enough snacks to satisfy and fuel two active adults.

I’m hoping that this series will help shed a little light on the day-to-day things a “paleo” person really eats — and how that way of eating can work on a budget. I want to nudge anyone sitting on the fence right over the edge by showing that it *can* be done and that you don’t just eat meat, meat, meat and more meat. 

This Week’s Menu

Monday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftovers

Dinner: Lemongrass chicken meatballs with spicy pineapple samba & an egg with broiled green beans

Tuesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftovers – pumpkin puree with leftover meat

Dinner: Was supposed to be London Broil, but Amazon sent us ground beef instead – so I made bunless burgers with the seared okra & harissa crema side I had planned.

Wednesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftovers – pumpkin puree with paleo doro wat

Dinner: Chicken nuggets with broiled balsamic brussels sprouts

Thursday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover balsamic beef & broccoli

Dinner: Dinner was supposed to be an eggplant/sausage strata, but I ran out of eggs so I had to improvise. I ended up making a sort-of strata with diced eggplant so the hubbs wouldn’t be bothered by the texture and a kind of made-up sauce. It was good. Not what I had envisioned with a strata, but tasty nonetheless.

Friday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftovers

Dinner: Good thing I had leftover pulled pork and taco shells – i completely forgot that tonight was yoga and needed to eat something quick before heading out the door. Yay, accidental pre-planning! I made spicy pickled pineapple and a quick sriracha crema to go alongside. Yum.

Sunday

Breakfast: Out

Lunch: Out

Dinner: Snacks

 

This Week’s Grocery List

Chicken breasts ($5.25 for 14 ounces @Amazon Fresh)

Navel orange ($1.49 @Amazon Fresh)

Pat LaFrieda Hot Italian Sausage (1 lb. $5.99 @Amazon Fresh)

Ground chicken (1 lb. $7.99 @Amazon Fresh)

Brussels sprouts (1 lb. $2.50 @Amazon Fresh)

2 lemons ($1.50 @Amazon Fresh)

Organic cilantro ($1.69 @Amazon Fresh)

Pat LaFrieda grass fed London Broil (1 lb. $11.99 @Amazon Fresh)

Eggplant ($1.99 @Amazon Fresh)

Okra (1 lb. $2.25 @Amazon Fresh)

Green beans (1 lb. $1.69 @Amazon Fresh)

28 ounce can Muir Glen organic fire roasted diced tomatoes ($2.69 @Amazon Fresh)

13.5 ounce can Native Forest unsweetened organic coconut milk ($1.86 @Amazon Fresh)

20 ounce can Dole pineapple chunks in juice ($1.29 @Amazon Fresh)

8 ounce bottle Coconut Secret coconut aminos ($5.69 @Amazon Fresh)

Mina Spicy Harissa (10 ounce jar $6.99 @Amazon Fresh)

Garlic (2 bulbs for $9.06 @Amazon Fresh)

Shallots (8 ounces for $1.50 @Amazon Fresh)

Cafe Du Monde Chickory Coffee (15 ounces for $9.49 @Amazon Fresh)

28 ounce can Muir Glen Organic peeled whole tomatoes ($2.38 @Amazon Fresh)

2 stalks lemongrass ($0.99 each @bodega)

1 bunch basil ($0.99 @ bodega)

1 bunch mint ($0.99 @ bodega)

Silk Cashew Milk ($4.59 @ bodega)

Smoothie Supplies

Ginger ($1.99 for 8 ounces @Amazon Fresh)
5 Apples ($3.95 @Amazon Fresh)
1.5 lbs. limes ($2.77 @Amazon Fresh)
Cut kale (2 5 oz. clamshells) ($6.98 @Amazon Fresh)

Totals

$92.87 @ Amazon Fresh

$7.59 @ bodega

 

Budget Breakout

This week, I spent $100.46; $0.46 over budget. Let’s just call $0.46 even. I’m not stressing out over less than a buck. This was another ‘I live in Hoth, so I’m getting delivery!’ week of groceries from Amazon Fresh. I planned a little poorly this week, too – the coffee I bought I hated (but drank all week anyways), I forgot to buy more eggs, and I had to switch dinner gears a couple times because Amazon’s wires got crossed and they sent me ground beef instead of London Broil. But, I’m happy that I was able to pull 5 meals out this week – even when I’d only planned for 4. Way to go, me. This was one of those instances where my general plan of always having at least meat on hand really paid off.

 

Leftovers From This Week

At the end of the week, I have a couple scrawny carrots, 2 radishes, a hand full of jalapeños, and a random grapefruit left over. I need to incorporate these items into my menu for next week.

—

Think eating healthfully is too expensive for you? Think again. According to the USDA, to ensure a nutritious diet as of December 2014, a family of two aged 19-59 years should spend between $388.90 and $776.10 on food per month, or $89.80 – $179.30 per week. Source 

For my family of two adults, I spend roughly $400 a month on groceries or $100 a week – and we eat well. Not caviar and lobster well, but I do manage to serve a predominately paleo diet with little to no processed foods, and I get to throw in a few luxuries here and there (like expensive snacks for the hubbs and the occasional ridiculously expensive bag of coffee). We even manage to buy “good” meat (grass fed beef and free-range chicken) most of the time – and I make this budget work even on the weeks we pay for convenience by getting delivery groceries. I make: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 10 dinners a week – plus enough snacks to satisfy and fuel two active adults.

I’m hoping that this series will help shed a little light on the day-to-day things a “paleo” person really eats — and how that way of eating can work on a budget. I want to nudge anyone sitting on the fence right over the edge by showing that it *can* be done and that you don’t just eat meat, meat, meat and more meat. 

This Week’s Menu

Monday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftover meatloaf & cabbage from last week

Dinner: Thai Brussels Crunch Salad with Chicken

Tuesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftovers from last night

Dinner: Sweet & Spicy Oven Roasted Pulled Pork Tacos with Broccoli Slaw

Wednesday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Leftovers from Monday + leftover pork from last night

Dinner: Paleo Butter Chicken with Broccoli

Thursday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: The last of Monday’s big salad + the last of last week’s meatloaf

Dinner: Leftover Pulled Pork with Baked Sweet Potatoes and some of the dressing from Monday’s dinner

Friday

Breakfast: Green smoothies

Lunch: Paleo Butter Chicken

Dinner: Out

Sunday

Breakfast: Sweet Potato & Jalapeño Hash with Eggs

Lunch: Out

Dinner: Ground Beef with Broccoli & Balsamic Vinegar

 

This Week’s Grocery List

2 lemons ($1.50 @Amazon Fresh)
Boneless pork shoulder roast ($14.99 for 3 lbs. @Amazon Fresh)
Red grapefruit ($1.29 @Amazon Fresh)
Just BARE boneless skinless chicken breast filets ($5.25 for 14 oz. @Amazon Fresh)
Organic broccoli slaw, 9 ounce bag ($2.25 @Amazon Fresh)
Baby spinach, 9 ounce bag ($1.99 @Amazon Fresh)
Just BARE boneless skinless chicken thighs ($5.49 for 20 ounces @Amazon Fresh)
5.75 inch white corn tortillas, 30 ($1.69 @ Amazon Fresh)
Black peppercorn grinder ($1.22 @ Amazon Fresh)
Once Again organic sunflower seed butter ($4.99 for 16 ounces @ Amazon Fresh)
Organic white sweet potatoes ($2.46 for 2 @ Amazon Fresh)
An item with no label on the receipt ($2.09 @ Amazon Fresh)
Yellow onion ($0.59 @ Amazon Fresh)
Hunt’s tomato sauce, 8 ounce can ($0.44 @ Amazon Fresh)
Sun Luck hoisin sauce, 8 ounce bottle ($2.49 @ Amazon Fresh)
Cento crushed tomatoes, 28 ounce can ($1.78 @ Amazon Fresh)
Native Forest organic unsweetened coconut milk, 13.5 ounce can ($1.86 @ Amazon Fresh)

Smoothie Supplies

4 avocados ($4.49 @Amazon Fresh)
Bag kale ($5.99 for 16 ounces)
Baby spinach ($1.99 for 9 ounce bag @ Amazon Fresh)
Simply Orange orange juice, 59 ounces ($2.99 @ Amazon Fresh)
5 Apples ($3.95 @Amazon Fresh)
1.5 lbs. limes ($2.77 @Amazon Fresh)
Zico Natural coconut water, 1 liter ($2.39 @ Amazon Fresh)

 

Totals

$78.72 @ Amazon Fresh

 

Budget Breakout

This week, I spent $78.72; $21.28 under budget. Another ‘it’s too cold to mess with schlepping groceries’ week of delivery from Amazon Fresh. And way under budget, too! Score!!

 

Leftovers From This Week

At the end of the week, I have two languishing radishes, a hand full of jalapeños, possibly some ground beef, the grapefruit, some cabbage, and a bunch of tortillas left over. I need to incorporate these items into my menu for next week.

—

Think eating healthfully is too expensive for you? Think again. According to the USDA, to ensure a nutritious diet as of December 2014, a family of two aged 19-59 years should spend between $388.90 and $776.10 on food per month, or $89.80 – $179.30 per week. Source 

For my family of two adults, I spend roughly $400 a month on groceries or $100 a week – and we eat well. Not caviar and lobster well, but I do manage to serve a predominately paleo diet with little to no processed foods, and I get to throw in a few luxuries here and there (like expensive snacks for the hubbs and the occasional ridiculously expensive bag of coffee). We even manage to buy “good” meat (grass fed beef and free-range chicken) most of the time – and I make this budget work even on the weeks we pay for convenience by getting delivery groceries. I make: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 10 dinners a week – plus enough snacks to satisfy and fuel two active adults.

I’m hoping that this series will help shed a little light on the day-to-day things a “paleo” person really eats — and how that way of eating can work on a budget. I want to nudge anyone sitting on the fence right over the edge by showing that it *can* be done and that you don’t just eat meat, meat, meat and more meat.