Keto will help you lose fat, but it’s also going to change your eating habits drastically.
You’re going on a high-fat diet, and you’re not going to be able to buy the cheap pastas and carbs that people normally stock up on from the grocery store.
But don’t worry: you can do keto on a slim budget.
1. Invest in the Right Type of Beans
Beans are a go-to item that can add healthy protein to your meals without the high price tag that comes with meat. The trick is finding the right beans that fit into the keto diet. Most beans have too many carbs, but black soybeans are an exception. Black soybeans have around 1g of carbs per serving versus canned black beans, which can have 11 g of carbs.
2. Keep Meals Simple
Limiting the number of ingredients in each meal is going to help keep you on a tight budget. When you start adding in new ingredients, costs rise. It’s best to buy in bulk, use high-quality ingredients and keep it simple.
Meal planning is also much easier when you keep things simple.
3. Whole Chickens Instead of Cuts
We’re all guilty of not wanting to do extra work when cooking, but that extra work can save you money. A lot of people go into the grocery store and purchase expensive meat cuts. But you can often find whole chickens for a lot less than their cut counterparts. You’ll save more on your chicken costs, and you can also use the carcass to make chicken broth.
4. Start Meal Planning
Meal planning allows you to save money and save on waste. You’ll discard less food, and you’ll have a general idea of how much you’ll spend each week at the grocery store. I recommend keeping your receipts and making a list of how much certain foods cost.
Nuts, for example, will be a healthy part of your diet and a go-to snack.
Knowing how much your favorite nuts cost will allow you to plan your meals for success. You’ll be able to have a list of the foods you plan on eating this week and can come up with a general overall cost per week. If you’re over your budget, you can cut out some of the high-priced meals or ingredients you’ve chosen.
You can also skip organic, grass-fed options if your budget is restricted.
Add in eggs as an additional healthy fat (which is also relatively cheap to purchase). A large egg has 6 g of protein and nearly 5 g of fat with just 0.5 g of carbs. Eggs also allow for a lot of versatility in your diet. Add in cheese or leafy greens for a delightful breakfast.
Low-cost oils can save you money, too.
Avocados are expensive, and while they provide an abundance of healthy fats, they may not fit into your budget. You can opt for avocado oil instead, which is less expensive and still provides you with healthy fats that will help you stay in ketosis.