Fitting Paleo Groceries into Your Budget
My top tips for Fitting Paleo Groceries into Your Budget can help you stick to an ancestral diet!
It seems one of the hardest things to do in this day and age is to get control of our health. And it doesn’t help that everywhere you turn there is a new health guru or diet trend that promises the gift of true health but rarely delivers. The problem with these ‘quick and easy’ health solutions is two-fold.
First, even if something helps you to lose weight that doesn’t mean that you are getting healthier. And secondly, many times these diet trends are not well-tested and can actually cause health issues for you in the future.
Getting Back to the Basics
If you want to get truly healthy, it is as simple as going back to basics and eating in a way that gives nourishment to your body instead of destroying it. This is where eating grass-fed meats and organic fruits and vegetables comes into play.
Can you lose weight by eating non-organic fruits and veggies? Of course. Will you be able to save a few bucks on your grocery bills if you forego those more expensive organic and grass fed items? Definitely.
But what about your health, what good is reaching your goal weight if you are still setting yourself up for a long term sickness? I say this as a means of encouragement if you are doubting whether budgeting for this diet and lifestyle is actually worth it. Spoiler alert: you are 100% worth it!
Fitting Paleo Groceries into Your Budget: The Cost of Health
Eating truly clean can be pricey in the beginning but WILL save you in the long run. But what does that even mean? I got you…
When you first start to eat clean, your body is going to go through an adjustment period of sorts. This means that you may still get sick or struggle with an existing chronic condition that you have. But if you continue to eat this way then you will discover something amazing happens over time!
You will begin to not only feel better, but you will notice that over the course of your beautiful lifespan you are spending less on supplements, medications, and doctor bills as well.
Still need some actual cost-cutting ideas, though? I got you covered in the next section below.
How I Cut Budgetary Corners
Sometimes we really do have to make-do with what budget we have because there never was a drive-through $5 daily coffee habit to cut out, there aren’t multiple pricy kid’s activities or shopping sprees we can taper down, nor a gym membership to cancel, or toll tag fees to exchange for free side roads…all in an effort to use that money for food instead.
Meaning: we are already maxed out as far as cutting back goes, and we still need to eat as healthy as we can with the amount of funds we have left. Trust me,I feel you, hun!
Here are some ideas that we use in our household which may help you get healthy Paleo food on the table even when you are pinching the last few pennies:
#1) Join a co-op.
I purchase most of my grass-fed and pastured meats through a local co-op! I pre-order the cuts I want in an online group, then meet the rancher face-to-face 20 minutes from my house for bi-weekly deliveries on the days he delivers to my area. They offer a 5% discount to co-op members who order ahead and pay in cash. (Hello, ATM, we have become friends again!)
Just this past week I purchased a 3-lb tri-tip beef roast, a beef liver, a pork liver, chicken feet, farm eggs, 3 pounds of bacon, 2 beef filet steaks, 1 lb of marrow bones, and 1.5 lb of pork steaks – the motherload for $90!
Click here to find a pasture-based co-op in your area.
#2) Look into seconds and irregulars.
Just like when something at the grocery store gets dinged, or they have too much on hand, or an item is close to expiry and they put it on sale rather than discard it, so does IMPERFECT FOODS. They obtain the too-large heads of cabbage or the too-small shrimp from local and nationwide food suppliers at a discount then pass that discount onto us!
As of Jan 2022, Imperfect Foods even has a program where you can save an extra 15% on each order if you are currently receiving SNAP benefits.
Ready to get $80 in free “ugly” groceries? Here is my special link that will get you an awesome discount on your first 4 orders!
#3) Hit up the famer’s market about 30 minutes to close (with discretion – read below).
If you are honestly in need of getting the cheapest veggies and fruits due to your budget barely covering the cost of your diet, then show up to the farmer’s market shortly before close of day. You may find that local famer’s stands are discounted or that they’ve even bundled the last few fruits and veg together for quick, lower cost sales.
Now I say this with all love and respect – only do this if you are in dire need to make your budget work, rather than to just “snag a deal” when in actuality you can afford to pay full price.
The first reason for this: The farmers rely on selling their produce at full price to pay for their own expenses and family costs, and we wouldn’t want to ALL show up 30 minutes before close in hopes of shaving off a few bucks – IF we can afford to pay retail value. We need to help keep these amazing farmers in business, not put them out.
Reason #2: There will be less variety and selection right before the market closes, as most of the popular produce has already been purchased. You may miss out on your favorite ripe tomatoes because they already had been purchased (and nibbled upon on the drive home, most likely) by all of the early bird customers who showed up before you.
#4) No co-op, famer’s market, or local delivery in your area?
You’re in luck, my friend. FarmFoods offers *nationwide grass-fed, pastured meats delivered to your doorstep for FREE (with orders of $99 or more) packed in dry ice. You shop 100% online and receive high-quality, well-priced meats that are clean and full of nutrients and flavor!
*They deliver to most areas in the US – click here to see if FarmFoods delivers to you! Be sure to check their SALES page while you’re there for meats at a bargain!
#5) Organic produce & clean proteins over-extending your budget?
If you are finding there is simply not enough wiggle room in your pocketbook for these higher-end finds (I’ve been there!) then don’t stress or take out a second mortgage. Chronic stress is terrible for the immune system!
Eating a diet prepared at home with grain-fed meats and conventional produce is still FAR better, in my opinion, than a diet laden with packaged convenience foods and fast food! There are some ways you can mitigate the amount of toxins you consume from conventional Paleo-friendly groceries:
a) Make your own bottle of veggie wash to remove some of the toxins and pesticides from the conventional produce.
I make my own wash at home for about 25 cents a batch by adding to a spray bottle: 1 Tbsp castile soap, 1/4 cup vinegar, 10 drops each lemon and orange essential oils, then filling with warm water and shaking to mix. Store under the sink or with your cleaning supplies.
Shake well before each use. Spray produce liberally, then soak in an empty sink or in a bowl for 5-10 minutes. Rinse produce off, then dry fully with a towel before storing or using in recipes.
b) Choose lean cuts of conventional meat, but purchase pastured animal fats.
The majority of toxins found in CAFO-raised and grain-fed meats (chicken, pork, turkey, beef, etc.) can be found in the fat and skin. So the fattier cuts of meat, like in brisket or highly-marbled steak, or in skin-on chicken, or in bacon or pork belly, are going to be the most toxic cuts of meat.
Instead, try purchasing lean cuts of steak (like sirloin tip, top round, eye of round), pork (like tenderloin, center steak), and poultry (like skinless breast, skinless thigh). Then cook these lean cuts in a high-quality, grass-fed / pastured animal fat like Fatworks. This way you can enjoy both the insanely delicious and rich flavor of the toxin-free fat, plus be able to afford the proteins you very much need on a Paleo diet!
Tipping the (Financial) Scale
In other words, even though it might not seem possible right now, over time things will balance out and you will very likely be able to keep your same household budget while still experiencing the health benefits that come with eating clean.
Can eating truly clean be frustrating? Yes.
Can it be a hard adjustment in the beginning? Definitely.
But if we are being honest, anything that is worth achieving is worth being hard to do. The sad fact is that many times people don’t know that they are suffering from an autoimmune disorder (raises hand) or cancer until the disease has progressed to the point where they start to become truly sick and unfortunately by that time a change in diet alone might not be enough and the interventional and long-term care costs start to pile up.
Fitting Paleo Groceries into Your Budget is Rewarding
While it might seem intimidating to think about adding the cost of a new diet to your budget, you’ll find that you feel more at ease when you put you and your health first.
There are many ways to make Paleo work for you and your budget, and I would love to hear in a comment if there are some ways that you’ve found to do just that in your home!
Remember, you are worth this, my friend!
