Whole30 on a Budget - Laura's Whole Kitchen

Whole30 on a Budget

When I did my first Whole30 back in 2015, there were very few (if any) Whole30 Approved options. I was also a full-time graduate student at the time and had a very limited budget, so I would have needed to stick to homemade options anyway. Now, there are tons of Whole30 Approved condiments, spice blends, coffee creamers, nut butters, meal delivery services, and so on, which has certainly made the Whole30 feel more doable for many people, and I’m grateful to have these options myself! However, they’re typically more expensive than their non-compliant counterparts or homemade versions.

As a Whole30 Certified Coach, it absolutely pains me when people tell me they spent twice as much on groceries during their Whole30 as they usually do, and this is not uncommon. If you prioritize convenience during your Whole30 (and there is no shame in this), then you can expect to spend more money on food during your Whole30. This may be the best option for you depending on your circumstances. However, if you can afford to spend a little more time preparing food, and if you’re willing and able to be flexible and shift your mindset, you can absolutely complete a Whole30 on a budget. The beauty of the Whole30 is that you don’t need to buy any fancy products, shakes, or pills to do it.

During my January Whole30, I challenged myself to spend as little on groceries as possible (and I only ate out twice for lunch, never for dinner). My goal was to spend $500 on Whole30 compliant groceries for two people for 30 days. I spent $506.37, including the cost of some meat that I already had in the freezer. (This does not, however, include all of the cheese I bought for my husband, as he was not doing a Whole30.)

Here are my top tips for sticking to a grocery budget—whether you’re on a Whole30 or just trying to eat healthy:

  • Buy frozen vegetables—this is my favorite trick! You can thaw out as little or as much as you want and they don’t even have to be cooked because they thaw soft! They’re also cheaper than buying fresh and they don’t go bad so quickly.

  • Do not underestimate the power of meal prepping! My clients are probably tired of hearing me talk about this, but honestly, meal prepping saves you time and money. If you have all of your meals prepared in advance, you are way less likely to buy convenience items or expensive prepared foods. I love teaching people my meal prep method, so if you’re interested in learning how to do this efficiently, get in touch with me!

  • If I look at a recipe and it has an ingredient that I can’t find at Trader Joe’s (or Aldi’s, or your favorite basic grocery store), and the recipe would really suffer without that ingredient, I tend to skip that recipe. The harder it is to find an ingredient, the more expensive it often is. However, if the ingredient is pretty minimal and likely won’t make a huge difference to the taste of the recipe, I often leave it out. I won’t buy a whole jar or bottle of an ingredient if I’m only going to use a teaspoon of it.

  • Stick to cheaper cuts of meat, such as chicken thighs and ground meats (like beef, chicken, turkey, and pork). There are so many different ways to make ground beef beyond meatballs and meatloaf.

  • Make a grocery list and stick to it! Don’t buy those little treats and specialty items that catch your eye—if it’s not on your original list, you don’t need it.

  • Don’t get caught up in buying alllll the Whole30 Approved dressings and sauces. They are very convenient and I am thankful they exist, but making my own mayo and dressings (or just using oil and vinegar) is so much cheaper.

  • If it’s unclear how much an item costs, ask! On one shopping trip this month, I grabbed a head of iceberg lettuce; I just needed a few pieces to make sliders. There was no price on the shelf, but I assumed it would only cost around $1. I went to pay and it was $4! I foolishly bought it anyway because I was already in the checkout. Lesson learned.

  • I find that when I buy fresh herbs for a recipe, I almost never use the entire package. Once I’ve used whatever the recipe calls for, I put the herb in a freezer bag and put it in the freezer for the next time I need some. This works beautifully for cooking (just don’t use previously frozen herbs for garnish).

  • Remember: all you really need is meat, veggies, healthy fats, and some seasonings.

Here is a list of the all of the budget-friendly recipes I made this month (I love cookbooks, so many of them are from physical cookbooks, which are linked):

This month reminded me that the Whole30 does not need to be fancy or expensive. There are so many fantastic options for condiments and meal delivery services, but all you really need is real, whole food. When in doubt, keep it simple, and focus on the fact that you are doing your body and your wallet so many favors by doing so.

WellnessLaura Ricciardi, Ph.D.whole30Comment