Are you trying to live a low carb lifestyle on a budget? Do you feel like it costs a ton of money to eat this way? In this post I am sharing my top five tips of how to eat low carb on a budget.
I get it. Food can be expensive, especially when it feels like we need one hundred different products these days to “be healthy.” But, I am here to tell you babe that that is not the case!
5 tips to following low carb on a budget:
Tip #1-Shop at budget-friendly grocery stores
This is my biggest tip because I could give you the best budget-friendly grocery list but if the items are expensive or double the price then what would be the point right?
My favorite grocery stores for inexpensive food are Aldi and Lidl. They offer items at a much cheaper prices than your average grocery store. For example, almond butter can cost up to ten dollars per jar and at Lidl, it costs under five dollars.
You can also go to grocery stores where you can buy certain things in bulk like Costco or BJ’s. Of course, certain things that you don’t use a lot of you may not want to get there but it can be great to get frozen veggies, meat that you can freeze or items that last a long time such as nuts.
Tip #2-Make a shopping list and don’t deviate
I know, much harder said than done-trust me! It’s challenging not to be tempted to purchase the newest low carb snack on the market but let’s be realistic, many of these products are totally unnecessary for our weight loss journey and overall health while living a low carb lifestyle. Sticking to whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, healthy fats like nuts and avocado and quality protein should be staples of our diet. Also, eggs are so versatile and can be a great addition to a meal or snack without costing a lot of money.
Tip #3-Look for sales and buy the store brand
A lot of stores offer a variety of sales and coupons in their weekly shopper. I know this is old school but a catalog could definitely help save you some money. I’m not suggesting to go all “extreme couponer” on me (Have you seen that show? Crazy how much money those people save!) But, looking for coupons for produce or other various items you intend to buy really can make a difference in how much you spend.
Consumer psychology when it comes to purchasing a certain brand has always intrigued me. Many of us are willing to pay for an item that costs more money just because we associate a brand with that item. Now, don’t get me wrong, sometimes the brand quality is what we are looking for. If anyone tries to convince me that Godiva chocolate is the same as Hershey’s chocolate we have a serious problem. All jokes aside, a lot of the time, the store brand is much cheaper and the flavor and texture are pretty much the same.
Tip #4-Plan Out Your Meals for the Week
I find this so helpful when it comes to budgeting and saving money. Even if you just plan two to three dinners, you will know exactly what ingredients you need and it will give you a plan to follow rather than just winging it and grabbing Chipotle after a long day when you haven’t planned dinner.
Nothing wrong with getting Chipotle, they have some great low carb meal options for you.
You can check out my video HERE on how to order low carb Chipotle.
Tip #5-Meal Prep
This brings me to my last tip-meal prep. Now, I’m not suggesting to prep every single meal ahead of time because I don’t know about you, but I don’t want salmon from Monday on Thursday. However, prepping one to two items can really be a game changer. Whether that be grilled chicken or a vegetable to add to a meal, preparing something will make your life easier and keep cash in your wallet.
Free Resources:
If you want more information on how to eat low carb and lose weight without counting calories, check out my free workshop.
Check out my free one week low carb meal plan to learn how to implement a low carb lifestyle.