Saving $$$ while on a diet ...

[Writer@Large]

Okay, so I'm torn. I'm a big guy, and I'd like to lose weight, but whenever I go to the store all the CHEAP foods and GOOD sales are on fattening, empty-carb-heavy, full-o-filler garbage foods (canned pastas, sugar cereals, frozen dinners) and never on the sort of things that doctors, nutritionists, and fad dieticians all recommend (fruits, veggies, meats, etc.).

Anyone else here ever go on a specialized or doctor-regulated diet, and still find ways to cut costs at the grocery store?

--W@L

[jodi]

I went on the South Beach diet and lost two clothing sizes...unfortunately though, not cheaply. But it was worth every penny. Everything healthy seems to cost more than it's less nutritious counterpart - white bread vs. whole grain, fresh fruit vs. canned in syrup, sugary cereals vs. whole grain, and on and on. The exceptions: rice and beans. Both very healthy (if you get brown, non instant rice), but very filling, and both very cheap. So use a lot of those in your recipes if you can.
I also had a hard time trying to find deals. You can't combine coupons and sales for fresh fruits and veggies...only on snack cakes and chips. I would buy whatever produce happened to be on sale that week, since I eat pretty much everything. For example, my favorite veggie is asparagus, but I will only buy it when it is less than $2/lb (still expensive, but I really like it!). Green beans can be found very cheaply - as can potatoes and carrots, but those two are not good for a South Beach-type diet.
Can you garden? We grow tomatoes, cukes, peppers, green and yellow beans, lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, beets, zucchini, squash, herbs...probably a few more I forgot to mention. I am even looking into a pear tree - but we have the luxury of a lot of land. Saves us a ton in the summer (and winter since we freeze a lot) and these foods are all great for you. If you can't garden, look for a local farmer's market to get these things.
Of course, the best way to lose weight is to eat less, which saves money too
All that being said, for me, the extra money was well spent. I can't tell you how much I enjoy the compliments I get now - not to mention my improved cholesterol. Good luck!

[kealina]

we try to stick to a healthy diet on a budget and yep, it's not easy... we manage pretty well since we have a swap meet down the street that has a produce area kinda like a farmers market... we get our whole grain bread at a loves bakery outlet store near our grocery store... we buy certain diary (and other perishable) items like cottage cheese at the beginning of the week when the grocery stores mark them down... and we just bite the bullet and buy boneless skinless chicken from SAMS since we have a family membership (gift from FIL which he renews every x-mas)... other than that, we are cleaning up our garden so we can at least think about growing some veggies...
we also just keep our eyes open for sales and know what prices are good for produce... buy it when it's in season and that always helps... we recently bought 10 mangos for $8 dollars on sale, which is $1/lb... and apples were on sale before that so we stocked up on those... maybe start a produce price book so you know what's a good deal or even start to keep track of who usually has the best deals on product and meat?
you also have to kind of eat what is available where you live... mangos and pineapple are easier to find cheap here in hawaii than any kind of berrie you guys get to eat over on the mainland... over here "fresh" strawberries can cost $5 for a pint and forget about raspberries, blueberries, etc...
good luck...

[PrincessPerky]

Ill ditto that it is worth it, well worth it!

But yeah I notice that lots of healthy foods cost more, lets not even mention the organic idea!

However, I have way less Dr bills than my peers, (for both me and my kids, DH NEVER goes!) And I have more energy, I 'keep house' easier (in spite of three small kids!

Take it slow and steady (think turtle vs hare) and don't walk down the middle of the store (the cookies and chips and all that) I hardly ever do so I have no idea if they ever go on sale or not!

[lrjohnson]

I've been trying to get slimmer, at the same time that I'm tightening my financial belt.

Some things that are working for me:

Some veggies and fruits are quite cheap, such as cabbage, carrots, oranges, and apples. I'm eating a lot of those.

I am using bulgur a lot. It's a nutty whole grain. I checked the specs on nutrition and came up with this:
bulgur 151 calories, .44 gram fat, 8.2 gr fiber, 32.8 microgrmas folate
brown rice 216 calories, 1.8 grams fat, 3.2 gr fiber, 7.8 micrograms folate
The reason I picked it wasn't for the nutritional specs, it was because I like it's really deep, nutty texture. I use it as both a rice and pasta substitute, though I still sometimes eat pasta.

I'm eating air popped popcorn as a snack, no butter or oil. I use a brown paperbag in the microwave; some people think that is unsafe and prefer a popcorn popper or a special bowl for the microwave. I'm guessing I'm paying maybe a nickel a serving or less.

I'm eating a lot of beans.

I'm cutting down on bread, and eating open-faced sandwiches.

I'm eating breakfast everday, which is supposed to really help with maintaining a healthy weight. Oatmeal is super cheap, and nice and high fiber. I'm talking the cook from scratch stuff, not some instant peaches and cream stuff. I make a big batch and freeze some for my own instant.

We just started a garden, and we are hoping it works for us.

I'm going out to eat much less, which is making a real dent for me.

I'm drinking a lot of water, and for a hot veverage, herb teaeither free or very cheap, and no calories.

And, lastly, I've just given myself permission to spend a little more on good food. I figure if I eat all the good fresh veggies, and it helps me be leaner, then I'll just be willing to buy more fresh veggies, while of course looking for sale items as much as possible, and taking advantage of in season deals-which is especially easy in the summer.

[markio26]

eat 4-6 small meals per day to keep the blood sugar level.
eat with your left hand, if you are right handed.
chew your food thoroughly.
drink 8 glasses of liquid per day or more.
eat each meal from a saucer, not a plate.
count your calories, and you will see that your intake is too many.
walk and exercise daily...
fruits cleanse, veggies build.

[Writer@Large]

Originally Posted by jodi_m

I went on the South Beach diet and lost two clothing sizes...unfortunately though, not cheaply. But it was worth every penny.

I've not tried SB, though I did go on the similarly-principled (carbs bad) Atkins diet (and the actual plan, not the faddish eating habits that sprung up around it) and lost 50 pounds. And it was not cheap, either! Unfortunately, I've gained most of it back .

Can you garden? We grow tomatoes, cukes, peppers, green and yellow beans, lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, beets, zucchini, squash, herbs...probably a few more I forgot to mention.

DW and I are actually gardening this year. With our new house, this is the first time we've actually had a real lawn we could garden in! The prior owner tells us that the ground is really fertile (and if the herb garden he left for us is any indication, it's REALLY fertile). I'm looking forward to the veggie savings, though this year we're starting small (some beans, some peppers, some pumpkins).

--W@L

[Ima saver]

I went on Adkins, two years ago, and I have kept it off. (18 pounds) I pretty much eat meat and cheese, just not lots of it.

[kealina]

Originally Posted by markio26

eat each meal from a saucer, not a plate.

great tips but this one really made me laugh... we eat off the smaller size corelle plates everyday... when we went to my mom's house and took out the smaller plates (2 sizes smaller than everybody else) she though we were nuts... they laughed at us but then again nobody there watches their weight very carefully even though they (meaning my mom and sister) are twice my size...

[boefixepa]

Think of Calories as dollars and apply many of the same techniquies talked about here. Eat less burn more. I cook from scratch so I had to buy a $20 program to figure the calroies and nutrition for many of the things I normally make...I love it! The more 'processes' you take out of the food the better it is for you. That's why whole grains and brown rice are so much better than their counterparts. Get back to basics and your health will improve.

I have a problem with keeping fresh produce, so I go frozen. I just stock up on frozen fruits and veggies and when the real stuff is at it's best price I buy it and chop and freeze it myself....but I probably still don't eat enough of them.

Count your calories and watch your portion sizes. Those two things alone are BIGGIES!

Whatever you do hang in there, keep up the fight! Like your finances this is something you will have to battle/manage your entire life. And it's worth it!

[StressLess]

Have you noticed that diet Post cereal is promoting, where you have (their) cereal for two meals a day? I'm considering trying it because I've already got quite a stockpile of cold cereal already, and now this Kellogg's rebate thing has come up. I'd be killing two birds with one stone--using up the cheap cereal, and hopefully losing weight. Any brand would do, I suppose--the main thing seems to be using high fiber/whole grain cereals as opposed to, say, Froot Loops.

Eat2Lose10

[dshep]

I am trying (and succeeding) to lose weight too... there is a free site called calorie-count.com which I found two months ago..and it is really helping me. You log everything you eat, and it even counts your sodium and cholestrol intake. With my high BP its so helpful... Yes somethings are more expensive, but most "fresh" veggies are in season right now.. so stock up and freeze some. I havent tried canning anything yet.. but the thought is there, esp when my tomatoes start coming in.

[Tree0164]

This time of the year check out the farmer's market, stock up on chicken, use whole wheat pasta instead of white, brown rice instead of white.

During the winter use your crockpot to make stews and hardy soups.

[freein2012]

Instead of going on a "diet" try just eating when you are actually physically hungry and stopping when you are satisfied (not feeling stuffed or full). It will cost much less because you'll find it takes very small amounts of food to actually satisfy you. You can make 2-3 meals out of a restaurant meal. Do a search on Intuitive Eating or Normal Eating and you'll find all kinds of information and support groups for this.

[ummabdullah]

We eat very healthy in my family. One thing that I like to do is get a bag of washed spinich and use it as I would bread with some chicken. Try to only get fish when its on the sales.

If you like soup.. the cheapest option is to get a bag of mixed veg.. chop some garlic.. and put some chicken broth in it.. then mix it up in a blender.... Eat it with 1-2 peanut butter and honey sandwhiches.. or a dry grilled cheese (made without butter)..

I have spent a total of maybe £10 this week.. on food..
I love lentils and they also make a great soup.. (which helps fill ya up)
When I cook a whole chicken.. I add a tomato tin to it.. and any spices.. to liven it up.. and eat it with salad (a head of lettuce cost what 50 cents.. and a cucumber.. with maybe 1 tomato... )

plus you'll have loads of leftovers for the next day. Were a family of 3 healthy eaters and one baby.. and that meal lasts us 2 dinners.. (with mashing up the chicken for the baby).. if you feel the need to go carb.. then stick with 1 potatoe... (no butter).. So it should last you at least 3 meals.

Baked beans on a baked potatoe.. is very low fat and extremely cheap. Or try Frozen broccalli and some cheese on top.. with some light sour cream..

Stay away from red meat.. it is terribly expensive.. but if you do.. buy.. then limit to once a week. And get some coupons..

You can make chili..and thicken it up with kidney beans, zuchinni and store some the leftovers in the freezers. It tastes good.. and you can top the chili on loads of things.. such as those baked potatoes.. Cheap Hotdogs.. ectr..

Never buy low fat products in the grocery store.. ... They are not low fat and usually a waste of money.

Always by leanest ground beef.. as it will be better value for money.

If you like low fat yogurt.. then get the cheapest plain yogurt and top it with fruit or honey you bought on a discount..

[Koppur]

I am on WW (I count points) and am seriously cutting back on my groceries. I eat almost no WW brand food. I buy light/fat free ice cream of whatever brand is cheapest, I eat high fiber but low fat general cereals (like shaw's raisin bran), and I only buy meat on sale (chicken, fish, red meat, etc).

However, when meat is on sale, I will usually buy a very good amount and cut it up into single servings and freeze it. I also buy large portions of meat at Sam's club and cut it up/freeze it. Today Perdue chicken breasts were BOGO free. I can get 3 servings (of about 3 points each) out of each pack. So for $5.95 I got 6 servings of chicken today. That's less thna $1 a serving, adn that with some fresh veggies and a scoop of ice cream will give me dinner for about $3.00, and about 6 points.

I eat a lot of veggies, but I either get the fresh ones at farmers markets where they are cheaper, wait til they are on sale, or buy frozen ones. Chicken stir fry w/ a packet of frozen veggies tastes the same as chicken stir fry w/fresh veggies. Add it's the same points, only cheaper.

I stay away from things like rice and most pastas, but will buy wheat pasta when it's on sale (10 for $10 this week! Whoo-hoo!)

I don't use a lot of special seasonings/oils b/c they are high in points and pricey. I use a lot of garlic, which I get in a massive container at Sam's club, and a lot of fresh cilantro from my garden. I also use a lot of salsa, since it is very low point and can usually be found generic brand for about $1.00 on sale or after coupons. And Mrs. Dash is great on everyting (plus it's sodium free) so I get the big jar at Sams.

I hope this helps some. Any question, feel free to e-mail me. =)

I also eat a lot of bean dishes. Beans are very high in fiber so very low in points, and cheap. I have a chilli I make (meatless) that is 1/2 point a cup, amkes $14 cups and costs about $5 to make for the whole pot.

[Koppur]

Originally Posted by freein2012

Instead of going on a "diet" try just eating when you are actually physically hungry and stopping when you are satisfied (not feeling stuffed or full).

Here's one concern...sometimes it's not the amount of food people eat, but the types of food people eat that cna add weight. On my "diet" (really a lifestyle change) I have to eat 33 points of food a day...it works about, in healthy foods, to about 6 meals a day. 6 meals! That's a lot of food! But by eating the healthy food that much, I lose weight. And by shopping smart, I can save money.

[mariec99]

Diets are the best way to save money -- eat the same food as before (as long as it is good, real food with no chemicals, HFCS, trans fats) but just eat a little less of it! Learn to savor your food, eat slowly, enjoy what you are eating and you don't have to trade quality for savings.