Does anyone manage bootcamp on a budget?

[FelixFelix]

I've done bootcamp before, last year, and I will be joining in again this time. I've since become a SAHM and I'm trying to cut down out food shopping budget since finishing maternity leave as we spend far too much.

Does anyone manage to do bootcamp/eat LC without spending a fortune? If so, how do you do it? We shop at Aldi and meal plan every week so save money there, but I ended up falling off the wagon last year as eating things like rice/pasta veggie meals etc is just so cheap.

Any tips appreciated

[BeyondTheTreelights]

Very interested to see answers to this, we now have a significantly lower food budget than last time i did bootcamp. I also did a lot of bc light last time, but am aiming to be stricte now, which in my head is making it more expensive...?

[Yuleloglatte]

Eggs are cheap and great. Aldi do great ripe avocados which I often have for lunch with some spinach salad. Tinned fish, aldi full fat mayo and their cheese is good too. At the moment they have duck breasts which are big - 1/2 does for 1 person. Chicken drumsticks can be cheap too. Swede is cheap and can be used for loads of things.

[FelixFelix]

Thanks Yule, I've never tried duck but might give it a go. Unfortunately I've gone off eggs which is very annoying!! I need to retrain myself to not be grossed out by them

[VikingLady]

Fortunately fattier cuts are cheaper, as is offal. If you have access to snarky that might help too. Reliable bargains here:

Market - large chicken legs (almost a quarter chicken) for 70p, discounts on multibuys. Also offal/weird stuff like hearts, tails, marrow bones and they can tell you how to cook them!

Supermarkets - offal, try and catch ticketing time!

Morrisons - if you are lucky enough this really helps. They mark their fish down a day earlier than other supermarkets, so it's clearance when other shops would still have it full price! They also have one cut of meat half price at any time (not sure how often they change it) so you can get it in bulk and freeze portions.

I've been broke most of my life and managed really well! You just have to know when ticketing time tends to be and know what can be frozen. Meat, fish, cheese, butter can all be frozen.

[FelixFelix]

Thanks Viking that's really helpful. I think I will need to start shopping around for the best deals. Unfortunately I've just moved out of Leeds away from a huge amazing market with loads of butchers and fishmongers. I miss it so much All we have near my new house is a 'farmers market' once a month which is hideously expensive.

[BIWI]

Cheaper cuts of meat are fattier, so are perfect for low carbing! Breast of lamb, for example, is often in the Sainsbury's Basics range.

Go for chicken thighs (with the skin on!) instead of skinless chicken breasts, or belly pork instead of pork fillet.

Higher fat mince can be cheaper too - make meatballs or burgers out of these.

And make casseroles with stewing beef - ideally shin of beef. Don't use braising steak, and make sure you avoid anything that is lean!

[FelixFelix]

Thanks BIWI I admit I'm not very adventurous with meat (only just tried steak last year!) but I'm going to start trying more things. New year, new meat and all that

I'm really looking forward to bootcamp starting. I may even start earlier than the official date.

[thenightsky]

Aw Felix.... I moved out of Leeds area many years ago and still miss that lovely Kirkgate market

[BeyondDoesBootcamp]

I have a real weakness for smoked salmon...

Buy the value offcuts for £1 then mix it up with value cream cheese

[BeyondDoesBootcamp]

Oh and 15 eggs are currently £1 in my asda, so stocked up a little... Dont forget that even if an egg is out of date, they're usually fine to eat. I've eaten them over a month out of date before, no problem.

[Palooza]

yy to out of date eggs. If they float in water they aren't good to eat. If they sink or go on one 'end' they are ok. Just got back from 3 wk holiday and had 12 eggs in fridge from before we left, filled a big pan with water and did that test, most were fine and I just boiled them all to have boiled eggs ready for salads, snacks, egg mayo etc.

[BeyondDoesBootcamp]

Rolled breast of lamb in aldis, less than £4 :)