Keto is an easy and effective way to lose weight and improve your well-being. However, many of us who would like to try this way of eating avoid doing so because they think it’s too expensive.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be. With a little extra ingenuity and planning, keto can be very affordable. Here are seven tips on how to eat keto on a budget.
- Buy in Quantity
If there are foods or ingredients that you use a lot of, buy them in bulk when possible. For instance, you can get chicken several times cheaper when you buy it by the 10-pound bag instead of small packs.
You can purchase meats like pork and beef in larger amounts for less. Many butchers and some grocery stores will offer discounted prices on half or quarter cows or pigs. Freeze what you can’t use quickly.
Vegetables are essential for proper nutrition, so don’t count them out of your budget.
You can also get keto-friendly frozen vegetables cheaper in bulk. If you have a wholesale or food service store nearby that sells to the public, they will have many options.
When you find a good sale on staples you like, such as spices or oils, take advantage. Buy them by the case, and you could cut your overall grocery bill for months.
- Cook in Bulk, Freeze the Leftovers
Buying in bulk means you can also cook in bulk.
Cooking large amounts at once and freezing it gives you readily available and nutritious meals. Doing so saves you time and keeps you from impulsively buying easy food when you don’t want to cook.
Take one day and use it to prep enough meals for the week. A lot of us prefer doing this on Sunday, but you can choose a day that fits your schedule. Take this day to plan your menu, make a list, buy groceries, cook your meals, and portion them out in storage containers.
If you make too much to eat in a week, just put the excess in the freezer. If you have available space at home, it’s easy enough to purchase a small deep freezer for this purpose. It’s an ideal piece of equipment for keto because you can also store your bulk meat in it too.
- Buy Online
In rural or sparsely populated areas, there aren’t a lot of local options for good deals. Thank goodness for the Internet! Many popular online retailers can offer fantastic deals on almost anything you need.
Special dry goods like almond meal, nuts, coconut flour, and protein supplements are usually cheaper and easier to find online. These things are often prohibitively expensive in local stores – if you can find them there at all.
Other potentially money-saving resources include websites that offer subscription services for grass-fed beef and other quality meats. You can even buy your favorite vegetables online through similar websites. Best of all, it gets delivered right to your door, saving you money on gas.
- Use Cheaper Versions
Vegetables vary in price just as much as they do in their carbohydrate content. Fortunately, the most versatile veggies are also some of the cheapest.
Leafy greens, green beans, and broccoli are widely available and inexpensive. You can use them to dress up a variety of meals or eat them as snacks.
A cauliflower costs more, but it can be used to replace potatoes, rice, and pasta in recipes.
On the other hand, avocado, peppers, and tomatoes, while versatile, tends to cost a lot. Buy these sparingly or look for canned options, but watch their carb content.
This method also applies to different meats.
Ribeye is expensive, so save it for a treat. For everyday meals, stick to cheaper cuts like chuck steak, chicken leg quarters, and canned fish. Also, consider adding more eggs to your menu as they are affordable, nutritious, and keto-friendly.
- Buy Whole Foods, Not Processed
Pre-cut or processed foods are convenient, but they’re pricy. For instance, skinless, boneless chicken costs more than whole or cut-up chicken. The same applies to things like pre-cut celery, bagged salads, and lunch meats.
Do the work yourself, and save a good chunk of change in the process.
- Make Your Ingredients
Do you like nut flours, dressings, sauces, or nut butter in your meals? You can save a ton by making these things yourself.
It also guarantees that there are no unhealthy additives or hidden carbs. You can even make your own keto version of many condiments that normally would be off-limits.
- Stick to Your Grocery List
With no clear plan for shopping trips, you’re more likely to buy whatever looks good. Before you know it, you’ve gone way over your budget. Before you even leave the house, make sure you have a list and that you buy only what’s on it.