An Update on the $800 Grocery Bill

**Elizabeth CM** · 10-04-2010, 12:24 PM

I wanted to say thank you for all the encouragement and advice everyone gave me some months ago. To sum up, for my health my new diet that is lo-sodium, lo-processed, high-fiber, pro-immunity, etc...

I walked the aisles the first few months, not worrying about the cost and just trying to buy the stuff on the list and make the recipes and, you know, get my body used to a new way of eating. It added up to pretty much tripling my usual food budget.

With your help, I've learned not to be a slave to the exact letter of the law and make a lot of great changes while keeping the food budget under control (it now holds steady at about $125 a week - 3 people, 2 animals. higher than it was, but manageable)

A couple of real lifesavers - Aldi's has a menu planner on their website that helps with planning, and I've found a bunch of healthy menu planning websites as well. I am now food shopping at 4 different stores on a rotating basis, including Trader Joe's.

My ds hates much of the new world order, and has learned to make his own peanut butter sandwich for dinner. He's 10 and hates anything that isnt a hamburger & ff for dinner. I have been accommodating my dh a little more, I admit. We had a lot of trouble in the spring when I started this, and I guess he was "dreading" dinner every night ... we're still working on it.

Saturday I made baked potato soup which is nothing good for you (I made it with lite butter, yogurt, skim milk and lo-salt, but it was still awful nutrition!) He was very happy.

I'm down a couple of clothes sizes and tapering off my high blood pressure meds. More importantly, my immune system has really bounced back.

If it hasn't been said already today - the support at this forum is the best in the world. I was so frustrated, steam just coming out of my ears, and everyone here just saved my life. SO thank you!!

p.s. the beans & lentils ideas and recipes are the best!

**RaineyDaye** · 10-04-2010, 12:49 PM

$125 a week for three people is doing well, I think. I have had to increase my food budget since I changed to a more healthy diet six months ago. Many of the recipes I have tried call for exotic ingredients. When I can, I try to get them just so I can say I followed the recipe exactly if in the end I decide I didn't like it. I hope in the next six months I can bend the cost curve down since I won't be buying so many exotic things and as I learn where to get the best prices.
Last night I made some lentil pineapple soup that I could eat for a week and not get tired of it... and cheap too!

**krbshappy71** · 10-04-2010, 01:10 PM

GREAT JOB! It is not an easy adjustment to go down in food budget, food is so easily used to fix our emotions, our bad days, it can be comforting to have it around us at any cost. Great job figuring out how to feed your family better and cheaper!

Here's to a healthier, happier family on a new food budget!

**Elizabeth CM** · 10-04-2010, 10:49 PM

Would you be willing to share the pineapple lentil recipe - it sounds wonderful!!

**mauimagic** · 10-04-2010, 11:03 PM

Had the same question - only the soup sounds very interesting!!

Mahalo for posting the successes - we are all motivated by every success - sharing is powerful!!

**craftypam** · 10-05-2010, 01:46 AM

I would like the pineapple soup recipe too. LOVE pineapple!

**RaineyDaye** · 10-18-2010, 06:01 PM

Here's the link to the recipe:

Ancho Lentil Soup With Grilled Pineapplespam! It is better fried than typed:: theppk.com Vegan Recipe Database

of course, after I said I follow the recipes exactly the first time, I realize that I didn't. I just used some chili powder instead of cumin seeds,coriander seeds and ancho chilies. I think the grilled pineapple (I used the broiler) and the lentils are what make the soup.