My Paleo Grocery List

Many people have asked me what I eat, where I buy it, etc....  So tonight I thought I would write it all out and share it with the world.  Please note, I am not as strict as others are in regards to organic/grass-fed.  I try to stick to it as much as possible, but I am also human and don't spend a fortune at the grocery store.  For more information, google search "paleo".

Weekly Purchases and Where I buy them:

• Medjool Dates:  Trader Joe's or Earth Fare
• Almond Butter:  Trader Joe's is cheap, but I like Earth Fare's better
• Unsweetened coconut:  Earth Fare
• Eggs and Bacon:  Kroger
• Veggies:  Green, Red, and Yellow Peppers, Carrots, etc... :  Kroger or Aldi's
• Fruits:  Bananas... for recipes or freezing:  Kroger or Aldi's
• Frozen Fruit for smoothies or recipes:  Trader Joe's or Aldi's
• Almond Milk, no sugar:  Trader Joe's  (pink carton, on the shelf)
• Variety of nuts:  Trader Joe's
• Guac:  Aldi's

What should ALWAYS be in your pantry, fridge, or freezer:

• Sundried Tomatoes:  Trader Joe's
• Frozen Veggies  (no excuses not to have veggies)
• Meat!!!  I bought a grass fed cow last fall.  Best investment ever.  When you see meat on sale, stock up!  I have enough flank steak in my freezer to feed an army.  
• Eggs
• Ghee:  Earth Fare
• Coconut or Almond Flour
• Coconut Oil  (Trader Joe's has, you have to ask for it!)
• Seasonings  (garlic, basil, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc...)
• Honey:  Use sparingly people.  (Trader Joe's)

I make A LOT of food on Sunday nights.  I usually bake (Yes, bake on a cookie sheet) a pound of bacon so it is readily available throughout the week.  Do not, I repeat, do not eat a full pound of bacon at one sitting!  Think of it as a side dish.  I add it to eggs, chicken, brussel sprouts, etc....  I also make fruit n nut bars, paleo muffins, or some type of energy muffin/bar to get me through the week.  (Again, these are all still paleo.)  I also cut up veggies, hard boil some eggs, brown a pound of beef, and create any marinades I might need.  You can find a billion recipes online.  Or I strongly recommend you use pinterest.  Here is a link to my Paleo Main Dishes board.

Happy Shopping!!!

How to manage it all...

I have decided that for some, managing money is a lot like trying to lose weight.  What is simple for one person, is harder than hell for another.  People are now beginning to notice that I have lost weight.  18 pounds of weight to be exact.  (Thank you God!)  If I told you it was easy, I would totally be lying.  You see, I am a lover of food.  I can tell you what things go together to create a wonderfully creamy and rich tasting dessert.  All my life food has been the main subject.  As a kid I can remember hearing, "If you score a goal we will stop by UDF for ice cream."  Or, "if you behave while we're at Beerman's you can have a treat."  Food was always looked at as a reward in our family, not just fuel for the body.  So to lose this weight and eat the Paleo lifestyle I had to make some major changes.  I now keep a daily food journal, I only buy healthy foods, and I limit my cheats.  This all requires WORK.  Annoying work.  Dreadful work.  But now I am almost at two months of eating this way and it's becoming second nature.  I tell you all this so you can see how hard it is for me to manage what I eat, but I am very good at managing something else.... money.

I was raised in a home where money was talked about daily.  Just as some people talk about work, or their health, we talked about money.  We still do.  My parents raised my brother and I to be very frugal shoppers, to save when we can, and to always plan for the future.  The future, that truly is the hardest part because you never know what that "future" is going to be.  Right now I am saving for a new car.  I plan on paying cash for it.  And by saying "I plan on..." that means I have a budget.  I know where my money goes every month and I can pretty much project where it will go over the next 12 months.  Only occasionally is there something that catches me by surprise.  Such as the THREE baby showers this weekend (slit my wrists now please).  Too me, managing finances comes super easy.  I can look at someone else's lifestyle who is up in shambles and quickly tell them where they can cut expenses, make extra money, and save.  It's second nature.  (Annoying, huh?)  

So while finances come super easy to me, managing my food is extremely hard.  Maybe you are the opposite?  One thing I can tell you, to learn about Paleo I researched it.  I read books, blogs, recipes, etc....  So if you are someone who says, "I just don't get how to get out of debt?!".  I suggest you pick up a book, listen to Clark Howard or Dave Ramsey, or ask someone who knows.  Knowledge truly is half the battle.  And if you ever want to ask me, I am happy to listen.  I have done this for several friends and the information shared never goes beyond us.

To show you the similarity between the two, I just thought I'd show you some of the items I mentioned above.  The less calories and crap you eat, the more weight you shed.  The less money you spend and waste, the more money you save.  

Food                                        Money                                  

Food Journal                           Budget

Only buy healthy                      Only spend what I can afford

Limit cheats                             Don't blow the bank!

MORE Price Increases - UGH!

It's been a long time, 2 years to be exact, since I've posted.  But I feel with today's current economic condition that I need to get back to airing what is on my chest.  Today's rant : Price Increases.

For the past year or longer I have been cutting coupons, shopping at Aldi's, and stocking up on goods when I find deals.  Many have thought that I have officially gone crazy.  But now it seems like the reality is starting to set in.  Just yesterday Hershey's announced they will be increasing their prices 10%.  News makers are warning us gasoline will reach $7 per gallon by the end of the year.  And the cost of standard groceries will see a 10-15% increase this year.  So what does all this mean?

It's time to cut back.  Find balance.  If you didn't cut coupons before, start.  There are some great websites out there that will email you weekly with all the local store savings.  You can also print coupons directly from your computer.  And even better, stock up.  It's not like toilet paper is going to go bad.  Come on people, think!  Do you have rewards points that are collecting dust.  Turn them in.  And yes, I know it's a "reward" but that doesn't mean you get to congratulate yourself.  I mean seriously, you're getting rewards for spending money and going into debt?!  Once again... think about this.  Turn those points in for things that you use and need.  Like a gas card.  Not Starbucks.

So I know you're thinking, "Heather, you own a company and are doing good.  Why do you care?".  Honestly, I didn't get where I am today by buying foo-foo drinks at Starbucks.  I cut pennies any way I can.  Don't get me wrong, I still go to Indian Lake.  And I will fill that boat up with $5/gallon gasoline a few times this year.  But I also buy my shorts at Goodwill.  ;)  Balance.