Over the course of the past few weeks I have been attempting to purchase and prepare healthier foods. I’m trying to avoid processed food, really sugary foods & most “junk” food. I know there is going to be a transition towards healthier eating and I’m not trying to jump in all at once and dramatically change our eating habits. I believe slow steps are in order, especially to avoid frustration, giving up and going back to some of our old habits. I’ve found a lot of helpful information on the site Passionate Homemaking in my attempt to make wise choices about the foods we eat and still stay within our budget.

I’m not, at this point, attempting to purchase and consume 100% organic foods, that’s just not feasible for us at this point.  I will be purchasing meats and produce that are conventionally raised.

Today we had our first grocery shopping trip of the month. We went to Whole Foods in Franklin for our first grocery stop. Whole Foods is a great store. I like that it is smaller and I really like the bulk foods aisle!!

Here is the Whole Foods Purchase:

2.00 pounds Bread Flour  (@$1.39/lb) $2.78

0.83 pounds Black Beans (@$1.69/lb) $1.40

1.95 pounds Pinto Beans (@$1.99/lb) $3.88

1 bunch Leaf Lettuce $1.99

7.91 pounds Split Broilers (@$2.59/lb.) $20.49

14 ounces Coconut Oil $9.99

Total spent: $43.47 (Whole Foods takes $.10 off per bag you bring!!)

Then we went to Kroger Marketplace (everything we purchased happened to be “conventional”):

4.5 pounds Pork Chops (@$1.99/lb) $8.96

3.28 pounds Loin Back Ribs (@$1.39/lb) $4.55

10.35 pounds Whole Cut Up Fryers (@$.88/lb) $9.11

Kroger Salsa $2.55

8 ounces Maple Syrup $4.79

1 bunch broccoli $1.59

10 ounces  Parmesan Cheese (not pictured) $6.99

Total spent: $43.47

Grocery total: $86.94 ($43.11 pre-tax was on meat!)

Here is the $43.11 worth of meat divided and ready to be frozen:

Pork Chops

5- 2 packs

3- 4 packs

Ribs

2- Racks

Chicken

2- packages cut-up Breast chunks

1- 4 pack thighs

1- 4 pack legs

1- 5 pack legs

1- 2 pack chicken breast

7- 1 pack chicken breast

6- Half Chickens for boiling (breast meat on bones, thighs & wings)

29  meals (for us…we keep our meat portions small, 1 chicken breast will feed both of us!!)

It  will cost $1.49 per meal for meat!