Tips for Doing the Keto Diet on a Budget
Going on a keto diet doesn’t have to be expensive. The following tips for eating keto foods on a budget will help you stick to your diet without breaking the bank.
If you’re ready to go on a keto diet you may be wondering how you can do it without breaking the bank. Fortunately, the keto diet doesn’t require special expensive ingredients or specialty foods. Keeping a couple of things in mind will keep your keto food budget low and your chances of success high.
As with any diet, shopping the perimeter of the store and cooing from scratch using real food are going to help you save money. However, there are a few ways to make this process easier. Here are my favorite tips for following a keto diet on a budget.
1. Make a plan.
Planning your meals is one of the best ways to save money on any diet. First, shop your fridge and pantry, so that you know what you have on hand. This will prevent you from buying duplicates. Then check the sales at your favorite stores re there any keto-friendly foods on sale. Make a menu for the week based on what you have on hand and what’s on sale at the store. Base your grocery list on this menu. Be sure to plan out your breakfast, lunch, diner, and even snacks. Planning out your meals will help you avoid impulse shopping and resist the temptation to eat out—that can become expensive.
2. Have a weekly food prep day.
On a Saturday or Sunday—or any day of the week that works for you—spend a few hours to prep meals and snacks. It’s worth some extra effort to have easy meals prepped ahead of time. Stock up on freezer bags. Boil a dozen eggs, bake a dozen egg muffins for the freezer, prepackage meat and cheese in baggies, precook chicken, beef, etc. and place in containers in the fridge and freezer to grab and go.
3. Avoid pre-packaged food.
Pre-packaged meals and snacks are convenient, but they’re more expensive and usually less healthy than homemade meals. Some items like beef jerky and pickles are staples of the Keto diet and are worth the “splurge”. However, most keto staples can be made at home for a fraction of the price. Some keto foods that you can easily prepare are boiled eggs, shredded cheese, nut butters, salad dressing, “keto bread”, and fat bombs.
4. Stock up on keto basics.
The keto diet consists of low carb, high healthy fat, and moderate protein. It’s good to keep some basic ingredients on hand and use keto compliant condiments and spices to give yourself variety. Make sure to stock up on keto diet foods when they’re on sale. Many keto foods can be frozen or have a long shelf life. Here are my favorite keto staples to keep on hand:
Eggs
Beef
Chicken
Avocados
Cheese
Butter
Frozen low-carb veggies like asparagus, broccoli, and green beans
Fresh spinach
Nuts like almonds and walnuts
Cream cheese
Heavy cream
Pickles
Beef jerky
Coconut oil
These items can be made in a huge variety of delicious dishes from breakfast to dinner and snacks in between.
5. Stick with water.
Try to drink water instead of other beverages. If you’d something a little tastier, sparkling flavored unsweetened water os a great substitute for soda and juice. Diet sodas may technically fit into the keto diet, but the artificial flavors aren’t good for you and they’re expensive. Want something with some more substance? You can add flavoring extracts and low carb berries to you water for a little more punch of flavor.
Do you have any tips for following a keto diet on a budget? I’d love to hear them!
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