April Primal/Paleo/Grain-free thread! - Page 3

[lil_earthmomma]

Thank you so much FairyRae!

And Lisa, those baked sweet potato cakes sound scrumptious! I think my boys would love them!

[MoonStarFalling]

Subbing. We've been grain free for a couple weeks and doing great. I am trying to get my blood sugar down. I need to learn about using grain free flours. I'm also feeling a hurt in the pocketbook from buying so much meat. How do you do grain free frugally when you have no freezer?

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by MoonStarFalling

I need to learn about using grain free flours. I'm also feeling a hurt in the pocketbook from buying so much meat. How do you do grain free frugally when you have no freezer?

If you're working on your blood sugar, I'd suggest staying away from most of the GF flours for now. Almond flour or coconut flour should be good, but most of the others are starchy and can have negative effects on the blood sugar. They'll also all have negative effects on your pocket-book if you're already feeling it.

As for the frugality... honestly, when we first started on this path years ago, we couldn't. DH and I could sit down to 5# of chicken wings and eat the whole thing. Years later we've adapted and don't eat nearly as much volume. I also concentrate on other sources of filler - mostly vegetable, sometimes legume, and I try to always serve 3 things for the (dinner) meal. So like tonight for dinner I sliced up 1/3 of a lamb sirloin roast (leftover from the other night), served it with half a dozen fried baby potatoes and 2 heads of broccoli with a compound butter. I had lots of fat in the meal from frying the potatoes (in CO) and the butter on the broccoli, but the actual meat was a small component - just enough to get us the protein we need. Last night was similar - HUGE salad (with avocado and homemade dressing for fat), maybe 1/3 lb each of skirt steak, and 1/4 pound each of fried haloumi (grilling cheese). Again, plenty of fat, smaller amount of protein, plenty of volume, plenty of flavor. For me, those are the keys - plenty of fat and plenty of flavor can mask the smaller amount of protein, and the extra volume fills you up. We do get a CSA delivery every week though, and even eating like this, most weeks I have to work to make sure we're eating all the veggies (for a while there I was throwing some away every week - wasted money). My point being that I only bought 2 pieces of meat to get us through the week - a roughly 2 lb flank steak (2 meals), and a roughly 3 lb lamb sirloin roast (3 meals). I had some other meat in the fridge from the week before (skirt steak and sausages), but usually weekends are leftovers, or we have plans, or I just grill up some sausages. I shop weekly and pay a premium for my meat by doing so, but I just don't have the freezer space right now to buy 1/2 a cow - that's going to have to wait until little boy is weaned, since the freezer is being used for BM.

For myself, today went pretty well on the food front. I had 3 fried eggs for breakfast (realized yesterday that 2 was not enough), lunch was a bowl of homemade onion dip, the last of the bag of potato chips and almost half a bag of baby carrots. Dinner was the aforementioned lamb roast, broccoli and potatoes.

My big challenge is going to be that we're having company for dinner on Saturday, and then again next Saturday. I already have the menu decided for both nights, but I'm going to have to try really hard to avoid dessert this weekend (although the accompaniments to dessert are strawberries and cream, so I should be okay) and the side-dish next weekend (anyone have any thoughts on making something similar to mac & cheese grain free?).

[sarah_bella1050]

Ugh, yesterday and today I didn't have enough calories in the first part of the day. Does anyone else have this problem? Sometimes I just don't want to stop and make something to eat! I think part of the problem is feeling full from all the wonderful fat, that I forget to eat enough. Today I only had a green smoothie, pate and a Lara bar until dinner. After an hour at the gym I was not feeling so hot. So anyways, I could really use some easy lunch ideas that don't require to many dishes.

I know tomorrow I am going to have some fried eggs for breakfast and some lettuce tacos for lunch, cause I need to feel better.

[cristeen]

Around here, lunch is usually leftovers in some form. Unless I'm having a craving like I did today with the onion dip. But even that was just one bowl and a fork.

I also really like make-ahead lunches/snacks like deviled egg, egg salad, tuna salad, etc. On a bed of lettuce, as a dip for celery, or even just with a fork. I know years ago we'd have tuna melts in a bowl for dinner every so often - just tuna salad, slice of tomato, some bacon topped with cheese and heated until it's all melty... never really missed the bread with that one.

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by MoonStarFalling

Subbing. We've been grain free for a couple weeks and doing great. I am trying to get my blood sugar down. I need to learn about using grain free flours. I'm also feeling a hurt in the pocketbook from buying so much meat. How do you do grain free frugally when you have no freezer?

I agree that gf flours are not only not very healthy (lots of rice flour and starches usually) but expensive. Coconut flour is cheaper than almond flour, though you won't think so the first time you buy it. Remember that you only use about 1/4 to 1/3 of the amount of flour you would use regularily. So for example a dozen muffins only have 1/2 cup of coconut flour.

As for frugal primal living, we are students on a strict budget! First peice of advice, get a freezer!

If that's not possible, go with lots of soups and stews, where you can S-T-R-E-T-C-H the meat with veggies and bone broths. We don't do legumes.

Eggs are another great cheap source of protein. We easily go through a carton of eggs every day!

I just made my family breakfast sausage using a mixture of ground pork, ground beef and bacon fat and various spices. (I cut the ends off of the bacon, yk the fatty part that has no pink, just white? and save them in a little bag) I'm saving SO much money by making them rather than buying good quality breakfast meat without any fillers or crap. Yay!!! You could make enough for the work week and keep them in the fridge and just fry them up each morning?

You will get the hang of it soon!

Oh and for a treat that doesn't involve any flours at all, try my brownies:

2 cups almond butter, smooth roasted
3 eggs
¼ cup honey or maple syrup
1/2 cup espresso or strongly brewed coffee
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup cocoa powder
½ teaspoon salt (a bit more if your almond butter is unsalted)
1 teaspoon baking soda
optional:
1 cup chopped roasted hazelnuts (or other nuts)
(dried cherries, etc are really yummy too!)
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Bake at 325 for 30-35 min.
mmmmmmmmmmm brownies...

[425lisamarie]

lil_em your so cute ......how do you make your breakfast sausages? My kids are SO particular about them!! I've made them *too* seasoned/spicy before. I used some dark meat ground turkey and they were really good, but DH wants some like regular pork fatty sausages LOL.

[Zenzero]

Originally Posted by cristeen

(anyone have any thoughts on making something similar to mac & cheese grain free?).

Not sure what you mean by similar but we often have cauliflower and/or broccoli in a cheese sauce (and nowadays I just make the sauce with a lump of butter, carton of heavy cream and plenty of cheese all melted together, rather than the usual sauce with flour and milk) as a side dish....very yummy!

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by 425lisamarie

lil_em your so cute ......how do you make your breakfast sausages? My kids are SO particular about them!! I've made them *too* seasoned/spicy before. I used some dark meat ground turkey and they were really good, but DH wants some like regular pork fatty sausages LOL.

Hee hee, hopefully cute in a good way!

Breakfast sausage:

1/2 onion and 6 cloves of garlic
1 pound ground pork, 1/2 pound ground beef, end trimmings of bacon, or 1/2 a pkg of bacon
1 tsp sage
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp Thyme
1 tsp ground fennel seed
1 tbsp salt
pepper
1 Tbsp brown sugar or real maple syrup
1 tsp worchestershire
1 tbsp dijon mustard
4 eggs

Cook your onion and garlic until carmalized then throw into the food processor until a its a rough pulp. Add to meat and eggs and seasonings.

Chill overnight and make little patties. Fry in bacon grease. Mmmmmmmmmm!

[Millie Ivy]

Originally Posted by lil_earthmomma

Oh and for a treat that doesn't involve any flours at all, try my brownies:


mmmmmmmmmmm brownies...

um. Thank you sooo much for this recipe.

My oldest and I just popped a pan in the oven and it looks deeeevine.

I am low carb right now, and gf. I want to add in some more carbs, but not alot, and grain free seems to be a must for me. This is perfect!

[Millie Ivy]

Oh Crap, these are flippin good. Hardly sweet at all and my kids are loving them. I love the texture, and I could stomach nut butters easier than the bean brownies I have made before. (tasted great, but my tummy can only handle so many beans. )
Kids want them for brekkie tomorrow. I'm looking back at ingredients and am like, "yeah, sure!"

[cristeen]

It's tempting to bake up a batch of those brownies, but I'm trying to be super-restrictive right now while I detox.

I did pretty well today... breakfast was 3 eggs and a sausage, morning snack was a pint of strawberries and half a pint of heavy cream (whipped), lunch was an artichoke with garlic mayo, a piece of cheese and a handful of apple rings. Afternoon snack was a handful of pear rings (dried), I had a few bites of apple and a few of banana as I was loading the dehydrator, and dinner was braised greens (kale and chard), the last of the leftover potatoes and some leftover steak.

[MamaEli]

I'm here...going low carb/paleo again after a month or so off. Amazing how I'm a much nicer Mommy and even keeled person without the sugar and carbs. Doing well this week and down a couple of pounds. Anyway, this is what I ate today: coffee with heavy cream, three pieces of local bacon. Some coconut oil and a cheese stick. Grilled venison hamburger (leftovers from last night) with tomato, a dill pickle, mushroom and onions sauteed in butter, and part of a mango. Supper was beef stew and sauteed/steamed kale. Nightime snack was a cheesecake type thing I do with cream cheese and stevia and cocoa, but once I made it I didn't have a taste for it and just ate the homemade whipped cream off the top. For some reason the kids and I were really hungry today and I felt like I was getting snacks for someone in the kitchen all day.
I loaded up on meats, vegs, and fruit at the farmers market and Costco yesterday, so I have no excuses for not cooking or eating right!

[MoonStarFalling]

Thanks for the ideas! I'm used to spending like $50 a week on groceries for 4 people. Is there any way I could ever come close to that without eating soup every night? So do most of you still eat potatoes, legumes or dairy?

[Millie Ivy]

Ooh, I always underestimate Peanut Butter. Made me sick last night

DD wanted to make them and I had a jar of PB on hand so we used it, but I will try again with almond butter soon. Oy, the nausea,

Moon Star Falling- I don't know about 50 a week, I hope others have suggestions, because we have just had to tighten the budget since I lost my job. Some things I do to keep it down tho are-

Plan Plan Plan. A good thought out menu makes the most of what you have-little to no waste saves money

Have several uses for one thing, like I just made bone broth (with the free bones I get when I order beef from the farmer) froze the gelled broth, and then stuck the bones in my veggie/soup container in the fridge. I will be able to have a nice veg broth out of the same thing. When you serve meat, put away what you need for leftovers/2nd meals before the clan attacks the food. etc etc etc

Volunteer- Do you have any csa in your area? I have been part of a coop for a few years and am going to start volunteering in exchange for food credit. money towards produce and my raw cheese!

And yes, I do use raw, full fat dairy. Easy quick nutrition for all the family members, and I don't have a dairy sensitivity. But I also have been buying conventional cheese at the store and am trying to cut down on general cheese consumption so I can cut that out. I don't eat grains or legumes (will add back very occasional beans when I am at my goal weight) but my family does. I will cook rice in bone broth, or roast chicken drippings, make my own refried beans, etc.

hth!

[KathleenSLP]

Originally Posted by MoonStarFalling

Thanks for the ideas! I'm used to spending like $50 a week on groceries for 4 people. Is there any way I could ever come close to that without eating soup every night? So do most of you still eat potatoes, legumes or dairy?

I am amazed at your grocery bill! Where do you shop?

[MoonStarFalling]

Back at our home base I shop at Kroger and buy manager's special items (items that are almost expired so they are half off) almost elusively or we freegan. I buy one pound of meat per week usually costing me $2 or less and we get free free range eggs from the inlaws. Since we live in a camper I only buy 3 days worth of groceries at a time and we don't have much room for keeping left overs. I'm hoping when we get back home we can just take meat from my in laws freezer. Or I've thought about making DH hunt. We will likely end up grilling outside a lot even though I know blackened meat isn't healthy.

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by KathleenSLP

I am amazed at your grocery bill! Where do you shop?

I think the more relevant question may be what part of the country she's in.

I know for me, there's no way I could feed the 2 of us on $50/week - unless I were eating a full-blown SAD diet. My CSA alone is $30/week during the winter and double that during the summer. That's half what I was paying at the farmer's market, and doesn't even touch the animal products portion of the bill.

I do still eat potatoes on occasion - I try not to buy them, but we get them in the CSA box, and I'm not going to waste them. As for beans - again, on occasion. I'm more likely to eat lentils or chickpeas than any other kind of legume. But I might make a big pot, eat them 2 or 3 times in a week and then not again for a month.

We definitely still do dairy - I've gone dairy free before, but honestly, going full paleo is very hard for me, even though my body does beautifully. I may do that once I've adjusted to grain-free again, but my DH won't unless I really press the issue (and we have a drawer full of cheese, so it'd be a bit of a waste).

[OvenSeeksBun]

Hi! Subbing to this thread. I'm cutting waaay back on grains, as well as soy and corn to see if I have sensitivities. I've been suffering from chronic fatigue since my mid-teens, unexplained, so maybe it is allergy related. Keeping eggs and dairy, meat, all fruits and veggies (except potatoes), nuts.

Are there nutrients that I'll be missing that I should make an effort to get more of from other foods?

In the spirit of food logging, today I've eaten:

- 1 cup blueberries + 8 strawberries with sunflower seeds, walnuts, cinnamon, a few raisins and 1 cup full-fat natural yogurt for breakfast, with coffee.

I'll eventually be cutting out the coffee as well, but it is REALLY hard for me and I only have 1-2 cups per day. Once I'm happy with my diet, it will come next.

I should add that DH and I have been TTC for over a year and a half now, so I'm looking into possible explanations for infertility.

[celestialdreamer]

I'm really appreciating the frugal grain free tips We have a family of 6 (one is still EBF though) and our budget is low right now. Pretty much we are spending the majority of our money after bills on trying to get good quality food. We buy pastured eggs and raw goat milk direct from the farm at good prices and we do have *some* meat in the freezer. We aren't eating legumes right now so our food costs are pretty high.

The main way we've cut back has unfortunately been to buy some conventional produce I truly hate it because one of my children has an autoimmune disorder and was very ill this past fall. But when it comes between buying organic and running out of produce halfway through the week and buying some conventional and having enough...what would you choose? I try to buy things like apples & lettuce always organic because I can totally tell the difference. We are sticking to 100% grassfed animal products though as I have gallbladder issues that are triggered by conventional meat, etc. I figure that is supposed to be more important anyway. I'm really looking forward to getting our garden going and having lots of yummy organic produce We are moving to 5 acres next year so we will be able to have a much bigger garden. That's why we've opted out of doing a CSA share this year - to save money and work on our own gardening skills. This year is just a rough transition as we don't have preserved items to fall back on.

I need some quick suggestions from you all. My kids have all just gone through a terrible week long bout with a tummy bug (the 4 month old just came down with it last night, ugh). My 4yo who has the autoimmune disorder (and is still weaning off his steroids to suppress his immune system) lost a bunch of weight really quickly because of it. I need some ideas on what to feed him to help him fill out again as the poor little guy looks so thin now He just finally got his appetite back on Thursday, but isn't up for eating full amounts yet but his tummy doesn't seem to be bothering him anymore. He is dairy and nut free, but can eat seeds and coconut. We are doing a SCD/GAPS type diet. He can't have raw eggs or ferments due to his immune status. TIA for any help