Low Carb Diets Support Thread

jasonwatkins

hi,

hope it's ok to ask this here. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a few days before christmas and i've been trying to figure out a way forward.

I've looked at low carb and keto but my problem/worry is that I have a very, very small budget for food shopping due to being on ESA benefit.

I live on my own as well and i can't really justify (or afford really) to spend £30 odd quid a week on food on top of what I already allow myself for a daily budget.

I also have this weird situation (well it's weird to me I suppose ) that I keep thinking that if i do a big bulk buy of shopping at the beginning of the week to save money and get everything for a week's worth of meals then I've got no reason to go out for the rest of the week.

At least if i shop daily, which i fully accept is the wrong thing to do as it's the most expensive way of doing things, i have a reason to go out.

(Yes, it's stupid but i'm stupid .. heh ).

So I guess my question is, is low carb and/or keto really feasible on a small budget ?

Bathory

I stick to a budget with food shopping so it is possible to do cheap Keto if its kept simple. The fatty cuts of meat and organ meat such as liver are much cheaper. Tinned fish, fresh or frozen veg, eggs, cheese, cream and butter can be supermarket own brand. Cooking in beef dripping or lard is cheaper than oil. The 2 things I spend more on are free range eggs and 90% Lindt chocolate.

jasonwatkins

My budget is very small though - maybe £3-£5 a day.

pamsdish

It is possible as Bathory has mentioned, above ground veg, and the fattier less desirable meats are perfect for LCHF, eggs and bacon done anyway you like, I am appalled every time I go into a supermarket, the carb loaded foods are stacked high and so cheap, that`s how we got where we are.
It is much better to meal plan you can then make for example a cauliflower last for 3/4 meals, it will keep for quite a few days. I had last night, mashed swede, kept the rest in a dish covered in fridge, a quarter of a cabbage shredded, still got a quarter to go, in veg drawer, and 2 out of a pack of y.s. bacon chops, the other 2 will be eaten tomorrow, not sure of cost 4 bacon chops had been reduced to around £1.30, half that, veg was bought before Christmas, swede was about 40p enough for 2 more meals, cabbage was also around 50p, so possibly less than a £1 for meal.

jasonwatkins

i do think an idiot's guide would help in that respect. i've been watching a lot of youtube videos for ideas but I'm looking at meal ideas as well.

My problem is that i don't like to think too much when i'm in the supermarket - i just go for easy and familiar

pamsdish

look at https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb you can access recipes without joining up. there`s lots of info on there, then meal plan, copy me that is a good site for saving recipes, there`s a meal planner and a shopping list, I have a linked account between lap top and phone so when browsing I can save recipes make a list of what`s needed and access when shopping.

jasonwatkins

thanks, i'll give it a look

mooch

jasonwatkins wrote: »

hi,

hope it's ok to ask this here. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a few days before christmas and i've been trying to figure out a way forward.

I've looked at low carb and keto but my problem/worry is that I have a very, very small budget for food shopping due to being on ESA benefit.

I live on my own as well and i can't really justify (or afford really) to spend £30 odd quid a week on food on top of what I already allow myself for a daily budget.

I also have this weird situation (well it's weird to me I suppose ) that I keep thinking that if i do a big bulk buy of shopping at the beginning of the week to save money and get everything for a week's worth of meals then I've got no reason to go out for the rest of the week.

At least if i shop daily, which i fully accept is the wrong thing to do as it's the most expensive way of doing things, i have a reason to go out.

(Yes, it's stupid but i'm stupid .. heh ).

So I guess my question is, is low carb and/or keto really feasible on a small budget ?

Sorry to hear about your diagnosed condition. It must be a lot to take on board. I don't have diabetes, but I am trying to control my eczema with a Keto diet. I only started last month, but I have learnt an awful lot in a short time. Much from youtube but also by experimenting and reflecting on what I eat. I say that just let you know that changes can be a lot easier than you would imagine and I think this is especially true of a Keto diet as once you get used eating fat as your fuel, your appetite is much more under your control and your desire for non-keto foods goes away.

If you search on youtube for 'keto on budget' you will find lots of video.

I like this one from Keto Connect https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH7qGrcrBC4&t=251s

Personally, I still shop and cook for my whole family and so I really notice the difference in the amount of food I buy for them and the cost compared to what I spend on myself.

Keto really can be a cheap diet.

My big takeaways.

- I don't buy or eat any processed food anymore, or takeaways or eat out. All of which can be expensive.
- Supermarkets are always discounting meat and now that I eat it everyday, it's easy to buy cheap, freeze and defrost as req.
- Organ meats are super cheap especially from a local butcher. Beef liver is costs hardly anything and is incredibly nutritious and satiating.
- Keto food (fats and protein) in general is very satiating, so I eat much less
- In fact, I have been intermittent fasting for the last 2 years and now that I'm on the Keto diet I eat OMAD (one meal a day). Eat less, spend less.

I do bulk shop, but I think you could save even more shopping everyday if you shop at the right time. All the supermarkets around me discount heavily around closing time. If you keep going, you'll know when to pick up the bargains. I've been to some before where the sales person recognizes me and tells me to bring her food I want double discounted

shwetaa

I followed these two low carb recipe pages while looking for one, which are http://!!!!!!/2Cxistv and http://!!!!!!/34YO9bB

pamsdish

Will make a note of some of them.