- Messages
- 92
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
As someone on a low income (just the basic State Pension - which I am told is the lowest in Europe!), I have been considering the costs of eating low carb.
I am frequently told that high carbs are cheap, and it is just too costly to change. Certainly our supermarkets have aisles and aisles of bright and aggressively marketed carbs. First of all, cakes, biscuits, crisps etc. Eating low carb, you are just going to give these up - so that's a saving rather than extra expense!
Breakfast cereals swapped for Greek yoghurt, or eggs and bacon are just about cost neutral in my reckoning. Rice - swapped for cauliflower, pasta swapped for courgettes, maybe a slight increase when these veg are out of season, but nothing drastic. Aldi sell 250g of prepared cauli rice for 79p, or make your own and save a little (but be prepared for a messy kitchen!)
A very important issue that must be factored in to cost is the carb addiciton problem, the more you eat, the more you want to eat! I have never been able to open a pack of biscuits without finishing the lot (before they go soft I tell myself). And cake, don't talk to me about cake. Take a delicious shop bought carrot cake, serves 8 the label says - who are they kidding. My husband and I can finish such a cake off in one sitting, and be back in store a few days later for another! (It contains carrots so there must be some goodness in it!) But there are major savings to be had when you finally banish those carb cravings.
Give low carb a little time (probably took me a year or so) portion sizes automatically get a little smaller and become very satisfying with no cravings within an hour or so of eating, (see that saving element creeping in again?)
Low carb shopping consists of lots of yummy veg, shop in season or snap up bags of frozen veg - Farmfoods frequently have large bags of veg on offer at 6 for £5, and fruit such as cherries, raspberries, blueberries at 3 for £5. Bacon, good quality mince and sausages, chicken, steak for a special treat make up the rest. With a little bit forethought my low carb shopping is certainly no more expensive than my previous carb laden supermarket sweep.
I am frequently told that high carbs are cheap, and it is just too costly to change. Certainly our supermarkets have aisles and aisles of bright and aggressively marketed carbs. First of all, cakes, biscuits, crisps etc. Eating low carb, you are just going to give these up - so that's a saving rather than extra expense!
Breakfast cereals swapped for Greek yoghurt, or eggs and bacon are just about cost neutral in my reckoning. Rice - swapped for cauliflower, pasta swapped for courgettes, maybe a slight increase when these veg are out of season, but nothing drastic. Aldi sell 250g of prepared cauli rice for 79p, or make your own and save a little (but be prepared for a messy kitchen!)
A very important issue that must be factored in to cost is the carb addiciton problem, the more you eat, the more you want to eat! I have never been able to open a pack of biscuits without finishing the lot (before they go soft I tell myself). And cake, don't talk to me about cake. Take a delicious shop bought carrot cake, serves 8 the label says - who are they kidding. My husband and I can finish such a cake off in one sitting, and be back in store a few days later for another! (It contains carrots so there must be some goodness in it!) But there are major savings to be had when you finally banish those carb cravings.
Give low carb a little time (probably took me a year or so) portion sizes automatically get a little smaller and become very satisfying with no cravings within an hour or so of eating, (see that saving element creeping in again?)
Low carb shopping consists of lots of yummy veg, shop in season or snap up bags of frozen veg - Farmfoods frequently have large bags of veg on offer at 6 for £5, and fruit such as cherries, raspberries, blueberries at 3 for £5. Bacon, good quality mince and sausages, chicken, steak for a special treat make up the rest. With a little bit forethought my low carb shopping is certainly no more expensive than my previous carb laden supermarket sweep.