Budgeting Food

How much do you spend a week on food for yourself (or family if you have any)?

I'm about to move out and rent so I want to cut my budget a bit. If I wasn't going to the gym it woud be dead easy to live off £15-20 a week.

But because of the gym, at the bare minimum I will be looking at around £30 to feed myself, nearly a tenner of that being milk.

I will have to cut all the chicken since it costs £2.50 for one meals worth, which is crazy. Instead I can buy 16-pack sausages which cost £1.80 and with 4 sausages a meal will do 4 meals.

My planned daily intake will be:

Breakfast - bown of bran cereal, banana
Lunch - 4 sausages in 2 bits of wholemeal bread, banana
Snack - apple
Dinner - 4 sausages in 2 bits of wholemeal bread, apple
Drinks - 2 litres of milk spread throughout the day

I worked out that is around 3,200 calories a day. And I will maybe need a cheap protein supplement to make up for no longer having the chicken.

Any tips for cutting costs?

And for the gym crew, is this plan OK?

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Originally Posted by Rhyfelwr

And for the gym crew, is this plan OK?

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I'm not on Strike's level in terms of workout knowledge, but that is way too little food to put on muscle (if that is what you're trying to do).

Well it's not that much less than what I ate to put on 3 stone over about 6 months. All I'm cutting out is 1 bowl of cereal, 4 bits of bread, and replacing chicken with sausages (which have more calories anyway). And I cut junk like chips and crisps, but I didn't eat them much anyway.

I get 1,500 calories and lots of protein from the milk alone. And it works out at over 3,000 a day.

But yeah I feel it should be maybe 3,500. More milk is the cheapest solution I think.

But how much can I rely on milk?

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Originally Posted by Rhyfelwr

Well it's not that much less than what I ate to put on 3 stone over about 6 months. All I'm cutting out is 1 bowl of cereal, 4 bits of bread, and replacing chicken with sausages (which have more calories anyway). And I cut junk like chips and crisps, but I didn't eat them much anyway.

I get 1,500 calories and lots of protein from the milk alone. And it works out at over 3,000 a day.

But yeah I feel it should be maybe 3,500. More milk is the cheapest solution I think.

But how much can I rely on milk?

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Egg whites, tuna, and kidney beans are all high in protein and really cheap. I've read some really bad things about milk, but I'm not qualified to discern how truthful they are.

Nonfat Greek yogurt has a good bit of protein in it. In the US it comes in big tubs that can last for several days. FWIW, I don't know if it's a good idea to eat 4 sausages 2x/day. If you have high cholesterol in your family, this might make it worse. Are there any other meats that you can afford? How about canned tuna, or the tuna that comes in the foil packages? PanzerJaeger is right about beans, as well. IIRC, dried beans in the big bags might be cheaper than canned, you just have to remember to soak them over night. A lot of grains have protein and don't have fat or cholesterol, and you can get them in bulk. Quinoa is a good one.

My Shopping List for the week usually

5lb black beans
36 Eggs
Coffee
2 Gallons Green Tea
10 Gallons water
2.5lbs Tuna
Olive Oil
Orange
1lb of blueberries
Bananas
Spinach
Broccolli
Walnuts
1lb of Turkey
5lb chicken breast
White onion
Bell Peppers
1lb of Greek yougurt
2lb of Peanut Butter
Oats
Whatever meat or fish is on sale


Then every two weeks I grab those family size bags of chicken breast

Runs me about 80 USD

Cut out the bloody bread and add some beans. How is chicken not cheaper than sausge?

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

My Shopping List for the week usually

5lb black beans
36 Eggs
Coffee
2 Gallons Green Tea
10 Gallons water
2.5lbs Tuna
Olive Oil
Orange
1lb of blueberries
Bananas
Spinach
Broccolli
Walnuts
1lb of Turkey
5lb chicken breast
White onion
Bell Peppers
1lb of Greek yougurt
2lb of Peanut Butter
Oats
Whatever meat or fish is on sale


Then every two weeks I grab those family size bags of chicken breast

Runs me about 80 USD

Cut out the bloody bread and add some beans. How is chicken not cheaper than sausge?

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Food in the US is soooo cheap. That'd run up well over $150 dollars, and if you add the bananas and better brands then it'd be around $200.

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Originally Posted by Psychonaut

Food in the US is soooo cheap. That'd run up well over $150 dollars, and if you add the bananas and better brands then it'd be around $200.

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Really? That smells

How does one get swole in OZ?

I figured foodstuffs would be cheap there.....at least meat

Pasta, lots of it. Three cheap basis you can expand on,

Tomatoe + onion + basillicum
Cream + 1 egg + cheese (mix like an omelet and throw ad pasta)
Olive oil + chopped garlic + parmasan cheese

Also, liver, learn to love it, really nutrisious and delicious when done well.

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Originally Posted by PanzerJaeger

Egg whites, tuna, and kidney beans are all high in protein and really cheap. I've read some really bad things about milk, but I'm not qualified to discern how truthful they are.

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Agreed. :yes:

Get into more fish and beans. Sausages taste god but they are not a healthy staple food; too much salt and mystery meat. And though I refuse to put anything but milk in my tea - I'll tolerate soy or almond milk in my cereal - two liters of milk a day sounds like way too much cow fat. Good short term, maybe, but they put ugly things into cows these days and that **** goes right into their milk. The long terms effects are questionable at best.

A can of inexpensive tuna packs about 30 grams of protein in it. Beans will get you about 15 grams or so per cup. Potatos are wicked healthy and cheap. Bananas are cheap almost everywhere and they pack an excellent punch. Tomato juice is cheap and is good. (Good for the ol' prostrate!)

And lay off the sausages and milk. Your future will thank you. :smile:

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Originally Posted by Rhyfelwr

How much do you spend a week on food for yourself (or family if you have any)?

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Me, the woman, and two kids: $200CDN a week at least. We eat pretty well. Lots of organic stuff, fish, good bread (not cheap these days!), and fruits and fruit juice (no sugar aded kind). Not much meat, but most of the meat we buy is organic.

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

Cut out the bloody bread and add some beans. How is chicken not cheaper than sausge?

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But I thought wholemeal bread was healthy and good for protein?

As for beans... well they cost 48p for a small can, so if I wanted one each night that's an extra £3.50 a week. I eat them just now but I was trying to cut down. But I think I can maybe get store brand ones for a lot cheaper.

As for the chicken, you kidding? To get a store brand packet of two chicken breasts is £2.50. I can get 16 sausages for £1.80.

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Originally Posted by Beirut

And lay off the sausages and milk. Your future will thank you. :smile:

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I'm not eating sausages atm, still on chicken. But what's with all the milk hating? I heard people use GOMAD for the gym which is a gallon a day, I only do half of that. It adds weight, gives plenty of protein etc...

Do they have any wholesale clubs where you live? The places that sell in bulk? I buy my meats and such there. Just need some room in the freezer, much cheaper than the supermarket.

buying a life goat and slaughter it yourself will save you a lot of meat, actually that's cheaper

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Originally Posted by Rhyfelwr

I'm not eating sausages atm, still on chicken. But what's with all the milk hating? I heard people use GOMAD for the gym which is a gallon a day, I only do half of that. It adds weight, gives plenty of protein etc...

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Here are two different articles, one in favor and one opposed to milk consumption, on the same website. :inquisitive:

Pro.

Anti.

I would definitely go organic, although I suppose that costs more.

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Originally Posted by Rhyfelwr

And for the gym crew, is this plan OK?

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I don't know about the 'gym crew', but your intake would probably give a dietician a coronary; how can you live on sausage sandwiches, apples, bananas and milk? I could see you getting bored of that diet very quickly.

If you're moving out and you're going to be strapped for cash... well, sometimes you've got to prioritise and foresake some of your luxuries, such as the gym; can you not simply exercise at home? :/

budget whatever you want... dont budget your food!

but bread and water is cheap, delicious and nutricious

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Originally Posted by Secura

I don't know about the 'gym crew', but your intake would probably give a dietician a coronary; how can you live on sausage sandwiches, apples, bananas and milk? I could see you getting bored of that diet very quickly.

If you're moving out and you're going to be strapped for cash... well, sometimes you've got to prioritise and foresake some of your luxuries, such as the gym; can you not simply exercise at home? :/

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Well right now I live off chicken, bread, apples, bananas and milk. And put on nearly 3 stone doing it. I get a bit bored of it but I'm a creature of habit.

This way I get my calories (well over RDA), I get my protein... I don't see why its so bad.

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Originally Posted by Psychonaut

Food in the US is soooo cheap. That'd run up well over $150 dollars, and if you add the bananas and better brands then it'd be around $200.

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wtf... week worth of groceries for 150 dollars :O thats a bigload of money.

what he buys would be about 30-50 euros depending on what supermarket and what quality brand you buy.

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Originally Posted by PanzerJaeger

Egg whites, tuna, and kidney beans are all high in protein and really cheap. I've read some really bad things about milk, but I'm not qualified to discern how truthful they are.

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Milk should be fine in UK it will be actual milk just like we have in Ireland as opposed to the fake stuff the rest the world drinks apart from NewZealand.

Well as he lives on an island out beyond another island everything will cost him a bit more, perhaps.

I also think he is in that pound zone rather than the regular €U.

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

Really? That smells

How does one get swole in OZ?

I figured foodstuffs would be cheap there.....at least meat

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Thats cos a lot of the time it actually is proper ingredients as opposed to filled with things to bulk it up like sugar, salt, water etc etc course we have the rubbish too.

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Originally Posted by Fisherking

Well as he lives on an island out beyond another island everything will cost him a bit more, perhaps.

I also think he is in that pound zone rather than the regular €U.

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UK is not self sufficient in pretty much anything agricultural related, the country is too urbanised

Luckily there is another low populated island next door who need to export there produce and have lots of spare capacity.

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Originally Posted by Rhyfelwr

But what's with all the milk hating? I heard people use GOMAD for the gym which is a gallon a day, I only do half of that. It adds weight, gives plenty of protein etc...

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I love milk. All I'm saying is that it is something best consumed in moderation. And half a gallon every day is more than a moderate consumption.

Take the money you spend on milk every day, and buy organic milk instead. Consume less in quantity, but better quality. That's what we do with meat these day; less, but better.

When it comes to food, it doesn't really seem like anyone have too much of a clue about the topic at hand - so called food experts seem unable to agree even on the simplest of issues. Beyond no food = starvation, "too much" food = obesity, most seems to be in the grey. Probably, there are chances that your genetical composition could have critical impact on some topics. In sum, it does not necessarily make too much sense to debate detailed food intake at present.

dude....... buy bulk.....

large bags of rice and beans are ridiculously cheap.

buy cheap large packages of chicken like necks or drumsticks (which are delicious anyway)

and btw not enough calories to gain weight there you need like AT LEAST 2k more. and protein supplement is expensive as hell. my current protein powder, muscle milk lasts for about 3 weeks if used right and its like 20-30 bucks i think.

Related: does anyone know what to do with freshly killed rabbit young? The cat just brought me one. He seems a bit reluctant to share, though.

YOU PEOPLE ARE ALL MAD

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Originally Posted by Tellos Athenaios

Related: does anyone know what to do with freshly killed rabbit young?

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At last, some sanity, some food talk in here.

Well done to your cat. Old rabbits are tough meat, so they taste best young. Roast it with forrest fruits, raspberry, blueberry. Accompany with a nice, rich pinot noir.

Nobody touches the front legs but you, which is perhaps ver ungentlemanlike, but such is nature's hierarchy and besides, they should count themselves lucky they do not have to wait for you to finish and to see what leftovers you've granted the weak.

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Originally Posted by Viking

When it comes to food, it doesn't really seem like anyone have too much of a clue about the topic at hand - so called food experts seem unable to agree even on the simplest of issues. Beyond no food = starvation, "too much" food = obesity, most seems to be in the grey. Probably, there are chances that your genetical composition could have critical impact on some topics. In sum, it does not necessarily make too much sense to debate detailed food intake at present.

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I disagree. A concensus can be found, even amongst "experts" about many foods. As for the rest, moderation.

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Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat

Well done to your cat.

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Yeah I was impressed: he was definitely struggling with the weight as he carried it over the doorstep and it was a very clean kill, too. Nothing messy what you sometimes have when they catch birds, you know, when there's feathers pretty much everywhere and entrails and bones are sticking out in the wrong places.

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Old rabbits are tough meat, so they taste best young. Roast it with forrest fruits, raspberry, blueberry. Accompany with a nice, rich pinot noir.

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Sounds reasonable: I've had the back of a hare before and that's basically the same idea. Difference is to let it simmer in a few glasses of the wine with some accompanying vegetables. :yes:

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Originally Posted by Centurion1

and btw not enough calories to gain weight there you need like AT LEAST 2k more. and protein supplement is expensive as hell. my current protein powder, muscle milk lasts for about 3 weeks if used right and its like 20-30 bucks i think.

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If I re-add the beans then my plan willl take me to 3,500 calories a day. Surely that is enough to gain weight? If I'm 13 stone?

Are you trying out for the NFL? ~;)

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Originally Posted by Beirut

Are you trying out for the NFL? ~;)

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Rhyfelwr is too tired to understand anything that isn't laid out plainly and clearly right now...

You saying there's enough in my diet plan?

whats thirteen stone.... sorry give me kilos or pounds im guessing around like 160? im at about 180 and have around 5k calories if i can. but you arent just trying to gain weight thats easy your trying to gain muscle as well which is hard work requiring copious amounts of energy.

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Originally Posted by Centurion1

whats thirteen stone.... sorry give me kilos or pounds im guessing around like 160? im at about 180 and have around 5k calories if i can. but you arent just trying to gain weight thats easy your trying to gain muscle as well which is hard work requiring copious amounts of energy.

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13 stone = 182lbs

lol then yes. You need more food to gain good healthy muscle.

I am impressed with your result so far though you must have looked like a waif before! I presume its good weight of course.

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Originally Posted by Beirut

Are you trying out for the NFL? ~;)

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Nah, he's the next Superheavyweight Olympic champ in the making.

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Originally Posted by Centurion1

I am impressed with your result so far though you must have looked like a waif before! I presume its good weight of course.

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Yep. I was always notorious for being very scrawny and malnourished-looking, but no more!

I've got a lot of comments from family and other people, especially when they haven't seen me for a while. It is good weight though, my brother said it must be all muscle I have put on. Obviously it hasn't all been muscle, but still healthy weight I reckon.

I seem to be maintaining weight eating what I am right now.

I guess I could splash out on food a bit more, I've got plenty of savings, no student debt for me. :yes:

But I'm a miserly Scots ****, I can't help myself. :embarassed:

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Originally Posted by Psychonaut

Nah, he's the next Superheavyweight Olympic champ in the making.

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Believe!

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Originally Posted by Rhyfelwr

Rhyfelwr is too tired to understand anything that isn't laid out plainly and clearly right now...

You saying there's enough in my diet plan?

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Just curious why you want to put on weight?

Looking to be more fit, or looking to be a big fella?

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

Really? That smells

How does one get swole in OZ?

I figured foodstuffs would be cheap there.....at least meat

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Taking a guess I'd say because our minimum wage and average weekly pay would offset it. From what a can glean from some google-fu the US average weekly wage is around $750, whereas the average weekly wage here breaks the $1000 mark. Some things are cheap - beef is relatively cheap, anything imported from Asia is cheap (like rice for example). Stuff like tuna, bananas ($12 a kilo currently) and walnuts are pricey here. The other issue is it's not easy to buy bulk. Everything (except liquids) comes in half kilo packs, not always possible to buy 2.5 kilos of something and save money that way.

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Originally Posted by The Stranger

wtf... week worth of groceries for 150 dollars :O thats a bigload of money.

what he buys would be about 30-50 euros depending on what supermarket and what quality brand you buy.

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I consider it a cheap week if I spend $150 on groceries (for a family of 2). Usually it is $150 to $200, and that is from a store with extremely good prices. That also does not include meals out, which will be done for lunch probably 4 times per week, nor does it include wine. However, it does include non-food products, like dish detergent and toiletries.

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Originally Posted by Beirut

Just curious why you want to put on weight?

Looking to be more fit, or looking to be a big fella?

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So the two are mutually exclusive?

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

So the two are mutually exclusive?

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You can be fit without being a big fella and you can be a big fella without being fit. You can also be both or neither.

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Originally Posted by TinCow

I consider it a cheap week if I spend $150 on groceries (for a family of 2). Usually it is $150 to $200, and that is from a store with extremely good prices. That also does not include meals out, which will be done for lunch probably 4 times per week, nor does it include wine. However, it does include non-food products, like dish detergent and toiletries.

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But I trust you are not living off bananas and sausages. ~;)

I think my diet is very healthy. Only thing I would change is replace chicken with sausages. Today for example I had:

breakfast - bran cereal, banana
lunch - 5 chicken thighs with wholemeal bread, banana
dinner - 2 chicken breasts with beans and wholemeal bread, apple
supper - i will have bran cereal with an apple

With my 2 litres of milk throughout the day. How is that not healthy?

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Originally Posted by Beirut

Just curious why you want to put on weight?

Looking to be more fit, or looking to be a big fella?

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Both I guess. Other people I know my age that go to the gym are all trying to cut and look 'ripped'. But they are not that strong, one guy that thinks he is ripped is 11.5 stone/160lbs. You can't be that strong at taht weight. Screw that, you want to be properly big.

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Originally Posted by Rhyfelwr

Both I guess. Other people I know my age that go to the gym are all trying to cut and look 'ripped'. But they are not that strong, one guy that thinks he is ripped is 11.5 stone/160lbs. You can't be that strong at taht weight. Screw that, you want to be properly big.

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The guy I work with, my tree climber, is about 160. Not an ounce of fat on him. He's in excellent shape and he is strong by anyone's measure. You don't have to be big to be strong. Then again, "strong" is very a subjective word. I've worked with guys who had "fifteen-minutes" strength. For fifteen-minutes they can juggle manhole covers. After a couple of hours of steady hauling, however, they're out cold on the lawn. So, again, it's all subjective.

As for your diet, that's a lot of chicken. Chicken ain't too clean these days unless it's organic. I'm not sure it's a good idea to eat that much all the time. Mix it up; eggs, beans, fish, tofu, meat. Your body needs variety. A pound of potatos will give you about ten grams of protein. A can of tuna fish has 35 grams of protein. There are all kinds of ways to take in what your body needs, but I think few people would suggest a long term overdose of any single food.

Nothing wrong with being a big fella, but don't mistreat your body in order to get there. You won't be doing yourself any favours.

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Originally Posted by Rhyfelwr

Both I guess. Other people I know my age that go to the gym are all trying to cut and look 'ripped'. But they are not that strong, one guy that thinks he is ripped is 11.5 stone/160lbs. You can't be that strong at taht weight. Screw that, you want to be properly big.

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That's just below middleweight boxer weight. You 100% can be "strong" at that weight. You may not be able to dead-lift 200lbs, but you certainly could knock a man out with one punch if you are training right.

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Originally Posted by Tellos Athenaios

But I trust you are not living off bananas and sausages. ~;)

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Certainly not. Though sausages (at least, non-frozen ones) are actually more expensive. We eat a lot of fresh produce, and that stuff is usually pretty cheap. Generally about $30-40 for the entire week. Meat and processed food always costs a lot more.

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Originally Posted by Psychonaut

That's just below middleweight boxer weight. You 100% can be "strong" at that weight. You may not be able to dead-lift 200lbs, but you certainly could knock a man out with one punch if you are training right.

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.....lol wut

what my dear sfts is trying to point out is that dead lifting 200 pounds is a very low weight that should be pretty achievable by anyone with a modicum of fitness. Especially using a rifle grip.

I really feel the need to point out that buying organic is a waste of money. If you have the cash to waste, go for it I guess. But if you're on a budget- skip it. It's the same food, it just costs twice as much. It's 90% marketing hype.

Secondly, the rBGH in milk scare is scientifically unsound nonsense. Your digestive system breaks it down, it doesn't enter your bloodstream.

I realize this is the front room- so I'll just say my piece and move on. Look into the info yourselves guys. It just kills me to hear people are throwing their money away like this.

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

.....lol wut

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200 KILOS. Stupid USA measurements. And clean and jerk, not deadlift. Now let me go back to sleep, I'm ill.

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Originally Posted by Xiahou

I really feel the need to point out that buying organic is a waste of money. If you have the cash to waste, go for it I guess. But if you're on a budget- skip it. It's the same food, it just costs twice as much. It's 90% marketing hype.

Secondly, the rBGH in milk scare is scientifically unsound nonsense. Your digestive system breaks it down, it doesn't enter your bloodstream.

I realize this is the front room- so I'll just say my piece and move on. Look into the info yourselves guys. It just kills me to hear people are throwing their money away like this.

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Some people prefer "cleaner food" with less things sprayed on or added in. Granted, not all things sprayed on or added in are bad, but buying organic gives the consumer a choice, and that's the whole ball game right there. Certainly where cows are inloved, given what they are given, buying organic milk isn't a bad idea.

And organic cereal stays crunchier in milk longer. I'll testify to that in court. :yes:

Try to supplement you calories with food from the trash. Eating from the trash is also good because when you call in sick for work or school they will never question you again if you just say "that food from the dumpster must have been from someone with the flu." I prefer Arby's and Taco Bell trash personally. I also steal grease from the grease traps its cheaper than Wesson

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Originally Posted by Major Robert Dump

Try to supplement you calories with food from the trash. Eating from the trash is also good because when you call in sick for work or school they will never question you again if you just say "that food from the dumpster must have been from someone with the flu." I prefer Arby's and Taco Bell trash personally. I also steal grease from the grease traps its cheaper than Wesson

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this. this is when i wish that the org had a like button.