Monday, June 12, 2017

Fruits and Vegetables-Shocking Register Result


Fifty percent of what I bought at Aldi's was fruit and vegetable. I'm planning to prep  a ton, and get my 5+ a day, plus with DD2 off school she needs good healthy things for her lunches. Still, I was shocked that my register rang at over $118. Yikes! I will not be meeting my $350 a month goal for food and household, but I do feel good about the quality of what I purchased. Added to this was Greek yogurt and lean deli meat for sandwiches, items for salads and chili, hummus for raw veggies, eggs, cottage cheese, tortellini, and some chicken. 

I want my family eating better than last week. I think I can still keep the overall budget to under $450 per month for the summer, and considering I'm not buying school lunches, I think I'm doing OK. While I'll be loading up with fresh and steamed vegetables and salads, the rest of the  menu this week, in no particular order or day,  will be:

Veggie Curry, with Rice-Sunday
Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs, hummus, and Greek salad
Chili with extra beans and tomatoes
Hamburgers and oven fries
Cheese tortellini with marinara-
Tuna hot dish with vegetables
Chicken Lo Mein with extra vegetables

I have my bean, tomato,and corn salad for a couple lunches, and yes, corn is a simple carb. It has a lot of fiber though and is filling. I'll also make a broccoli salad. I should have bought more carrots as after curry, I'm down to just two rather small ones left but have extra broccoli, cucumbers, and celery for hummus. I bought some bean burgers, easy for convenience, but also have ingredients to make my own. I'm am determined to reach a scale milestone on Friday. The high cost of veg will just have to be accepted.

12 comments:

  1. If you are buying produce in bulk, Costco is typically a cheaper source for us. That said, we don't have an Aldi, so I don't have an apples to apples comparison point. We buy our bulk produce at Costco (6-8 kinds of fruit/week depending on the season, and 4-5 veggies), and then fill in with smaller quantities at our produce stand, which is held year round here. When I tracked my grocery spending in 2016, fruit was our most expensive category.

    I had a rough eating week, towards the end of the week. Not enough protein, too much junky snack food, and way too much sodium. The scale is very displeased with me. Like you, I need to get back to healthier choices.

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    1. I've thought about it but would be a special trip or out of the way. Aldi isgood but must be eaten soon I find.

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  2. I fell off the healthy eating plan while travelling and then it continued through to this past weekend. But Monday is always a good day to kickstart things again so I'll be off to the grocery store for my allotment of veggies. Hopefully it won't be long til the roadside stands of veggies, in season, are set up as they are much less expensive that those that have been shipped thousands of miles, and they'll taste better too. Good luck for Friday's weigh-in - right now I'm too afraid to get back on the scales!

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    1. I've had a few bad days but won't let it do me in. You can do it if I can-I'm the worst for longevity.

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  3. Yikes and applause at the same time. Fresh food just cost more, take more time,and take up more space, but they are so worth it. Now I have to quit this cheap talk and go buy a ton of veggies cause I have been less than stellar lately also.

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    1. It was yikes but now I have a kitchen full of healthy.I'm eating steamed broccoli and cauliflower with avocado toast-on seedy bread as I type.

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  4. I do similar big fruit/veg shops then feel super-smug when I open the fridge door and see all these healthy foods!! Jx

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    1. Now, I need to make sure it all gets eaten.I can't wait for local produce.

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  5. I stopped buying deli meat when we got food poisoning. Now I buy chicken breast/ham/whatever meat you like when it's on sale and slice it thin for sandwiches. Way less sodium as well as less money.

    I know it sounds like a lot of work to make your own hummus but it isn't (and you don't need a ton of extra ingredients) and you can save a lot of money. When I'm lazy, I buy a can of chick peas (already cooked, they go on sale in Canada for 70 cents so 50 cents USD), add some garlic, olive oil, lemon/lime/citris juice and salt (I don't use tahini and you can't tell). Blend it in whatever machine you have and sprinkle some paprika on top for look. Takes a few minutes and everyone loves it. My secret is that I peel the outside skins off the chick peas. Takes me an extra 10 minutes but it comes out way smoother. You could add anything extra that you have in your fridge that you need to get rid of.

    Thanks for sharing. Besos Sarah.

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    1. A few things I just buy ad I het home after 6:00 but I'd like to try making hummus.I usr chick peas on many things as well.

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  6. I make my own hummus because it's easy and much nicer. I also never buy deli meats as way too expensive and as we don't eat sandwiches it's easy not to. Salad stuff lots of fruit and veg and organic meat and fish with lots of beans rice and pulses and natural yoghurt makes up my grocery list oh and wine and Gin lol trying to reduce these two some what.

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    1. I like a good homemade hummus but I have to cut minutes somewhere.Both hubs and kid like sandwiches sndvthe portability mskes them easy on the go. I still habe my wine.

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