We Follow the Feingold Eating Program! anyone else?

**KimZ** · 06-05-2011, 02:48 PM

OK we have been following the Feingold Program since 2004! and I can cut corners in lots of area's but my food bill is huge because of this. I do make lots from scratch but working full time and being a single parent does put some constraints on my time so I am looking on ways to organize and cut my expenses.

I know there are some feingold parents here because I did a search and if you are new to feingold I we could trade tips =)

**zakity** · 06-05-2011, 04:44 PM

We technially follow a modified Feingold. We really just take out the dyes, the corn syrup, and avoid most preservatives. I cook from scratch most of the time. Our diet isn't as limited as being on the full Feingold diet.

**2ndGenGranola** · 06-05-2011, 04:59 PM

We no longer buy the updated materials as are diet is well past guidelines ( mostly organic/veggie).

**KimZ** · 06-05-2011, 05:16 PM

OK Girls teach my your tricks! I have updated material =) I can share with friends...... What do your food bills run? How do you get them DOWN

**Libby** · 06-05-2011, 05:17 PM

Just in case there are others like me here wondering what this diet is, here is more info [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feingold_diet"]Feingold diet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="image"><img alt="Question book-new.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png[/ame]

The Feingold diet is a food elimination program developed by Ben F. Feingold, MD to treat hyperactivity. It eliminates a number of artificial colors and artificial flavors, aspartame, three petroleum-based preservatives, and (at least initially) certain salicylates. There has been much debate about the efficacy of this program. Some mainstream medical practitioners deny that it is of any value, while other medical practitioners, as well as many people living with ADHD and parents of children with ADHD, claim that it is effective in the management of ADHD as well as a number of other behavioral, physical and neurological conditions including salicylate sensitivity. The debate has continued for more than 30 years, involving not only consumers and physicians, but scientists, politicians, and the pharmaceutical and food industries.

**2ndGenGranola** · 06-05-2011, 09:25 PM

Food bills were never an issue for us on Feingold because we don't buy all the approved junk food. The worst mistake people on the program make is buying the "approved" junk food. I would just die listening to newbies on the program and their food bill. Ach!! A body doesn't need the packaged stuff even if it is preservative free.

We buy from the CSA every week. My regular shipment is a mixed box ($30), a veggie box ($10) and a fruit box ($10) and 1 doz eggs ($4). This feeds 6 of us for the week. Upon occasion I will buy meat from there (local, minimally processed). This is our primary for the week.

We do use whole grain rices (fill you up more than white), beans, I grind my own flour (get a major discount from the HFS for buying bulk)..look to amazon for beans (Bob's red mill). I save $1-1.50 per bag when I buy a case. Plus, I have it on ship and save which saves even more.

**zakity** · 06-06-2011, 01:25 AM

I buy in bulk. We are also not on the full diet. We only eliminated those few things.

**KimZ** · 06-11-2011, 08:29 AM

How do you keep your food bills down? I'm thinking of not renewing my material..... our 7 yr membership is up this month and I really don't have an extra $65.... DD's one week of camp - which I have not choice on is $75... I would rather have a week of camp to know DD is safe..

I would LOVE to be able to save $$ of groceries and still eat clean. DD LOVES Fruit/Veggies but I always end up throwing 1/2 out due to no one eating..... I don't think I plan well enough or something! SOoooo

I am looking for some hand holding and good old fashion help here. My situation is a little strange.

DD goes to Gymnastics camp and practice 5 days a week... I need to pack her lunches and snack - I usually overpack and then the fresh stuff is no longer good... she's 11 and can eat up a storm due to her activity level but I feel like I can NEVER get the amount of food right

at Home - we have me, dd, mom and right now my 21 yr old brother until he leaves for college again - so dinners and breakfasts are usually pretty big - but I usually end up making the same thing over and over and over

Breakfast - bagel, eggs, fried potatoes and/or bacon/sausage

Dinner - Burgers with veggie/tater tots (ya I know) pasta w/ meatballs or steak......... I HATE meat so for me I usually eat sides of make a bagel - not the healthiest of meals

Lunch Brother is home -- usually frozen pizza or turkey sandwiches

Me/Mom - 1/2 the time I don't eat or eat JUNK and mom something frozen

I need some SERIOUS help on the planning front and I didn't know where to post this since I am asking for planning/ Feingoldish (can be just organic) coupons/ etc................

HELP a poor lost sole PLEASE or point me in the right direction!

**KimZ** · 06-11-2011, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by 2ndGenGranola

Food bills were never an issue for us on Feingold because we don't buy all the approved junk food. The worst mistake people on the program make is buying the "approved" junk food. I would just die listening to newbies on the program and their food bill. Ach!! A body doesn't need the packaged stuff even if it is preservative free.

We buy from the CSA every week. My regular shipment is a mixed box ($30), a veggie box ($10) and a fruit box ($10) and 1 doz eggs ($4). This feeds 6 of us for the week. Upon occasion I will buy meat from there (local, minimally processed). This is our primary for the week.

We do use whole grain rices (fill you up more than white), beans, I grind my own flour (get a major discount from the HFS for buying bulk)..look to amazon for beans (Bob's red mill). I save $1-1.50 per bag when I buy a case. Plus, I have it on ship and save which saves even more.

How do I find a CSA? Is there a membership fee? How do you find local - min processed meat?

**2ndGenGranola** · 06-11-2011, 08:49 AM

We have signed up for our local CSA. We get a 2 party coolers full of fruit/veggies and 1 doz eggs for $50. I plan my week around that. CSA is my leader so to speak.

We chop and eat the fruit fresh, make FG friendly jello from the fruit, make fruit crisps with oatmeal for desserts.

I usually steam my veggies. The steamer is quick, easy, doesn't heat the kitchen and the kids can operate it. I also make soup out of the veggies.

We don't buy all the bagels and pizzas. Those are too easy to grab instead of the fresh items. I'd be more inclined to keep the sauce frozen in ice cube trays or in small jars, frozen shredded cheese and other ingredients to make snack pizzas.

Frozen veggies make for a quick meal. My best investment for FG was a rice cooker. I buy nice brown rice mixes at Trader Joes and start that to go with veggies. I'll even add in frozen (or dehydrated - my new love) veggies to the rice. It is easy and comes out perfect nearly every time.

We bake potatoes in the crockpot. I LOVE how these turn out. Lightly oil add garlic/salt and cook on low overnight. They will be ready for b'fast or any meal during the day. MMmmm.

Meat is a condiment here when we have it. Most days are meat free.

**2ndGenGranola** · 06-11-2011, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by KimZ

How do I find a CSA? Is there a membership fee? How do you find local - min processed meat?

Google for your area.

I found a dream CSA here. They all have different rules/guidelines so I cannot really speak for what is in your area.

My CSA has a web page. You can order any way you want. I order a mixed box, veggie box and a fruit box each week. I also order a dozen eggs. They have a variety of local/min processed meat, dairy etc too along with body products.

If I keep my order over $50 (which is easy feeding 6), delivery is free.

**zakity** · 06-11-2011, 10:24 AM

I buy in bulk and have gotten a huge repertoire of meals that everyone likes. I also keep a ton of stuff on hand, so I can make most of the meals off the list.

Sample menu (this is what is scheduled for the next few weeks):
herbed parmesan sauce over pasta, veggie
steaks, baked potatoes, veggie
hamburgers, veggie
chicken casserole
fend for yourself (meaning leftovers)
steaks, baked potatoes, veggie
hamburger rice casserole
herbed parmesan sauce over pasta, veggie
chili cheese dip, tortilla chips
biscuits and gravy, veggie
tacos
hamburger rice casserole
sloppy joes, veggie
stir fry/bento
fend for yourself

The herbed parmesan sauce is just white sauce with parmesan and Italian seasonings in it. Occasionally, I will add in homemade bacon bits. I always makes extra because it serves as my "cream of" soup for casseroles (sauce, noodles, leftover meat, veggie). Sometimes, this becomes mac and cheese buy adding in cheese to the white sauce instead of parmesan and the seasonings. When it is cheese sauce, I still make extra and plan in a "cheesy" casserole (sauce, potatoes, leftover meat-veggies go on the side).

Chicken casserole is diced cooked chicken (leftover from other meals and toss in a container in the freezer), rice, cheese, spices, and broccoli. You cook the chicken, spices, and the rice in broth or bullion and water until the rice is almost done. You add on some cheese and some broccoli and let it melt and cook a little. And, serve.

Hamburger rice casserole is cooked hamburger, rice, broth or bullion and water, Italian seasonings, and peas and carrots. You put the hamburger, rice, broth or buillion and water, and Italian seasonings in and cook the rice until it is almost done. Add in your frozen peas and carrots and let them cook a little, and serve. This is a lovely recipe because you can put any seasonings in that you want: curry, Mexican, etc. Just change up the veggie that you add in to match the flavor of the spices that you are using. You can also make it without any spices and everyone can add what seasonings they want to their own bowl. DH and the oldest son puts spicy curry in theirs a portion of the time because they are the only two that like it that way.

Chili cheese dip is just a can of chili with some cheese mixed in it. You zap it in the microwave and dip tortilla chips in it. It is one of our "junk food" dinners. The guys have an activity that day and we will be getting home late. It is quick and easy.

Taco meat and sloppy joes are pretty much the same thing at my house (ssshhhh, don't tell the guys). The sloppy joes are just a little more "juicy". I use chili powder, garlic, salt, and oregano as my seasonings. I toss an extra can of diced tomatoes into the taco meat to make it into sloppy joes and serve it on a bun with a slice of cheese.

Stir fries/bentos are meat, rice, and veggies. I cook up all the meat in a little olive oil first. I then make each person's individually. The only thing we really season it with is a little soy sauce or Bragg's. We do have teriyaki sauce that they are welcome to add at the table of they want.