Those on Atkins, whats your average grocery bill?

[2angelsinheaven]

Just wondering how our grocery bill compares to others on Atkins. Someone told me that Atkins was expensive because of all the fresh foods you'll buy, but I'm thinking it's not too bad. We've been on Atkins since Jan and my most recent shopping bill was I think a little over 100, maybe $106 or so before toilet paper, cleaning stuff, etc. This will last me atleast 10 days. I will have more meat than I need, but I will need more veggies/salad after the 10 days.
This is for two adults on Atkins.

Things we buy....
Breakfast- Sauasage/Bacon and Eggs
Lunch- We have salad everyday, easy and yummy. Things we buy for this Salad in a Bag, Tuna, Bacon Crumbles, Cheese Shreds, Cucumbers, Dressing.
Dinner- Meat Entree and Veggies (Turkey Minons, Pork Chops, Steak, Chicken Breast, etc) w/ Brocc, Califlower, Spinach, etc.
Snacks- Carb Ice Cream, Choc/Almond Carb Bars, etc.
We also have to buy bottled water as we have well water, diet rite and Fiance takes 24oz indivual bottles of soda to work each night.

 

[dizneegirl]

Not as bad as it used to be, since we started buying half a cow from a local farmer 2-3 times a year. Big expense at once, but makes the weekly grocery bills MUCH better.

If I have to stock up on things like cream, or if I buy specialty products, the bill goes up, but normal everyday stuff is just lettuce, cheese, eggs, sausage, veggies... not horrible. If I had to guess, maybe $30-$50 per week for 2 adults.

I get my money's worth out of my Sam's Club membership, and the local GFS, too.

 

[Hollyann]

My grocery bill has actually gone DOWN! I was into gourmet cooking in a BIG way - my grocery bill (for just me and DH) used to be $600 a month! It's down to about $350-400 now.

When my doc placed me on the diet (it's actually lower fat than Atkins and lower carbs than South Beach), I realized I had to give up baking and making my own pastas & such - since I was giving up those foods!

I was also into making silly things like marshmallows & caramels. I can say one thing.....clean up in the kitchen is much easier and it's freed a large portion of my day for other things - as well as saved $$$.

 

[FreshTressa]

Mine is about the same....I buy more expensive meat and fresh stuff, BUT, I buy less packaged things and eat A LOT of eggs which are cheap.

Also, no sugary drinks (pop, juice) or cereal which adds up!

 

[wiskband]

Ill tell ya, I have become so accustomed to eating LC that I dont notice a higher bill............
I usually eat the same types of foods weekly just change the combnations and I am good..........
Breakfast is almost always egss bacon cheese on LC toast if not a Atkins bagel
lunch is either a small salad or a light snack food or maybe even some lunch meat rolled up
Dinner is whatever meat I made for family a small salad and veggie
I have to say though, I am on the spincah artichoke dip w/ LC tortilla ( I toast them into nachos)............
I have been eatig that almost everyday as a meal..............

but really, our food bills has not been effected by my dieting at all........
Perhaps, I can say that every now and then, I will find a LC recipe and make a special trip for those particular ingredients...........
Besides that still the same ol' ( very high bill) ( about 200 a week)
( and the kids are just getting bigger and gonna eat more!) lol
OUCH....................

renee

 

[wiskband]

Wow, thats ineteresting............ you really buy a half a cow..........
How does that work? how much is it? where do you put it all?
I am so curious.........
I shop at sams too and I think we save alot shopping there, they also carry alot of LC itemss now

renee

Originally posted by dizneegirl
Not as bad as it used to be, since we started buying half a cow from a local farmer 2-3 times a year. Big expense at once, but makes the weekly grocery bills MUCH better.

If I have to stock up on things like cream, or if I buy specialty products, the bill goes up, but normal everyday stuff is just lettuce, cheese, eggs, sausage, veggies... not horrible. If I had to guess, maybe $30-$50 per week for 2 adults.

I get my money's worth out of my Sam's Club membership, and the local GFS, too.

 

[FreshTressa]

I don't buy Low Carb specialty items either, so I imagine that would add more to your grocery bill.

 

[Strings]

The first couple of bills were bad. I needed to stock up. All I had were lowfat salad dressings, etc.
Now I average about $100/week for our family of 3. About what it was before going lc.

 

[webray]

We don't find it expensive at all, because we aren't buying all the "crap" food anymore.

Two adults eating better than we have for most of our lives, and losing a lot of size/weight. I keep the freezer stocked with meat, just replenish the fresh greens/cream/butter. We keep some of the low carb ice cream and other snacks just for fun.

Watch for bargains and pick up extras..like right now...the nacho cheese atkins crunchers are on sale at sams club...only around $5 for the whole pack..usually $9.99. And they are good! It says a serving size is one bag...but, they are so crunchy and satisfying, hubby and I can make a bag last for two meals..lol.

 

[dizneegirl]

The farmer sells the cow to us at market price... half is usually about 350 pounds. He delivers it to a local butcher (you wouldn't believe the difference in butchers! Found one we LOVE now... much better cuts/meats/grinds!), and we tell them what cuts we want, how thick the steaks, etc.

I'm a little prissy when it comes to beef, so I don't want the organs/tails/brains/etc or the oxtails. We usually end up with about 90-some pounds of hamburger out of all of it, and LOTS of roasts, along with a good amount of swiss steak, cube steak, stew meat, and the BEST steaks I've ever had in my life.

All the meat comes packaged separately, just like you'd buy it in the market, and frozen. We bought a large upright freezer (about the size of a refrigerator), and the half cow fills up a good 3/4 of the freezer or more.

With market prices and butchering, it costs us about $2/lb. for the whole thing. When you figure in all the t-bones, rib eyes, strip steaks and beautiful roasts... WELL worth the money up front. Sometimes hamburger is about $2/lb. alone at the grocery store. PLUS - since we know the farmer, we know what the cow's been eating, what the living conditions are, it's not injected with growth hormones, etc. Makes me feel a little better about eating all that beef. It's also the best hamburger I've ever had!

 

[wiskband]

Diz, that is so interesting, it goes to show you how location really makes a difference........... I never knew people could buy meat directly froma farmer n o less a whole half cow!
really is amazing! So the cow is delivered to the butcher and how long does it take to cut it up? and then you pick it all up at once? How long does this last you? Also, is this common practice in your parts? I mean you mentioned you know the farmer do they just do this for friends? or anyone can go to a farmer and ask? Also, (sorry, I am just so amazed at this lol). How long do you think it takes a cow to grow to its butchering process, I mean how old is a cow usually when its ready?
Again,. sorry for all the Q's but it really is interesting.........
Goes to show you I am a city kid closest I am to farms is the suburbs of Long Island now! lol

thanks
renee

 

[dizneegirl]

DH happened to work with this guy that decided to farm on the side. His grain crops didn't work out so well, so he and his dad decided to try their hand at cattle. I didn't ever know about buying cows & butchering, either... but I won't go back to doing it any other way, now. I'm looking for someone that has hogs now! LOL. Can you imagine? All that fresh bacon, sausage, pork chops, ham? With no added sugar? *drool* I don't think it's common practice, but I think it's more common that I would have thought!

It takes about a week to get it butchered and ready for pick up. The butcher we love is out in the country... takes a little longer there sometimes I guess because they do SUCH a good job. First butcher we had was on a farm with an Amish "grocery" store to buy the fresh meat/cheese/etc. retail. They give us a pick-up date, we go load the trunk with frozen meat. Tried to take coolers to pick it up the first time... had NO idea how much meat it really was! With as much as we get though, it stays frozen till we get home.

I think the cows aren't terribly old. I'll have to ask DH. I *think* they purchase feeder cattle that are older than calves, and generally feed them 6-8 months until they're ready for market, but don't hold me to that. I know they don't get sold until they're the right size. I don't know how old the cows actually are, though.

I think you can probably find farmers/butchers that would sell cattle/butchering in the phone book, if you have any kind of farming nearby. We're in the midwest... lots of farms not too far out of town. In the city, I'm betting you can find more of a neighorhood butcher that could get large slabs of beef for customers. You can probably even mail order things like that.

I'd say the meat lasts us about 6 months... but, of course, there's only 2 of us, and we fill in with other food & meals out. We do share hamburger with friends & relatives when we go to visit/cookout. I go "shopping" in our freezer a couple of times a week... take out hamburger or whatever to thaw in the fridge. Kind of fun! Lots of messy juices, though... have to thaw it in a container to catch them. Not good if you're squeamish!

If I had a bigger freezer, I might consider a whole cow. Lots more steaks!