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Low-carb diets

Share advice and experiences of following a low-carb diet.Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Is it possible to do the low carb diet on a budget?

18 replies

Sally99 · 19/08/2020 09:01

I do eat some meat but prefer fish and both are expensive.

I normally lean towards a vegetarian diet out of choice (love veg and salad) but there are only so many eggs one can eat (from a digestive point of view)! Nuts are expensive too.

Other than cheese, where else can I get low carb protein from please?

OP posts:
Sally99 · 19/08/2020 09:03
  • get protein from not low-carb protein!!
OP posts:
Fooshufflewickbannanapants · 19/08/2020 09:04

Eggs are brilliant!

BippityBobbityBoo · 26/08/2020 10:52

I’m finding the diet quite cheap to be honest. Chicken thighs, eggs, minced beef, salad etc are all cheap. I did get lucky in Aldi where they had lots of quality meat red stickered with 50% off so filled the freezer.
I got a cheap spiralizer this week so having lots of courgetti (3 pack 45p in Aldi) with Bolognese and cheese and more expensive stuff like flours I’m just building up slowly. But yeah eggs eggs and more eggs!

BippityBobbityBoo · 26/08/2020 10:55

Also I’m foraging blackberries quite often at the moment!

Handsnotwands · 26/08/2020 10:56

i found it started out expensive but really tailed off as i was eating so much less. but little tips are things like morrisons do a side of salmon for £13, you can cut it into 8 or 10 pieces. sardines / mackerel isn't hugely expensive. make a huge batch of mayo (surprisingly easy) and chuck it on everything then it all tastes delicious

FunorFitness · 26/08/2020 10:57

Yeovalley so a thick yogurt which is pretty high protein. Not sure if it fits into the low carb bootcamp but it's a great protein source.

BippityBobbityBoo · 26/08/2020 11:15

Another one: white cabbage. They’re huge, cheap and keep ages. I’ve used it as noodles, coleslaw, sauerkraut and just as a buttered side

Iamnotacerealkiller · 26/08/2020 11:21

Don't replace your carbs with meat. Replace with more veg. Simple as that. I make big batches of bacon and veggie soup. Lots of stock and garlic. I aim to have eggs only once a day for digestive reasons.

Go for Asian flavours which go well with minimal meat. Basically it's really important to find ways to make vegetable delicious and varied so you don't get bord.

squiglet111 · 26/08/2020 13:46

I second what @Handsnotwands says. Once your in ketosis you don't feel hungry anymore so eat a lot less. I serve our dinner on side plates now as we don't each much anymore.

2ndAugust · 14/02/2021 13:32

Aldi frozen fish is good value. Tuna steaks, haddock and cod. And their fresh salmon. I don’t eat any meat, and think the frozen fish is decent quality for the price.

Manzanilla55 · 18/06/2021 16:51

A tin of pilchards costs just 50 pence. Great on toast.

Gullible2021 · 18/06/2021 17:00

I'm not finding it that expensive. I get my food from Aldi and Lidl mainly - all the basics like meat, poultry, dairy, fish, seafood,
nuts, veg and berries are cheap there.

I also pick up yellow stickered meat in Booths and dairy products or frozen foods in Heron.

Cottage Cheese, Turkey and Prawns are excellent high protein foods. I bulk buy my Longley Farm Cottage cheese in Heron for just over a pound and the others in Lidl (I prefer the quality of Lidl's meat, poultry,
fish etc than Aldi, Tesco, Asda etc). Turkey breast mince is cheap, so are chicken thighs, beef mince etc. Lentils and Beans are high protein (though also have some carbs) and cheap but I use them in small quanities to bulk out other meaty dishes like lamb curry, beef stew, bolognese etc.

BIWI · 18/06/2021 17:02

ZOMBIE THREAD!

Wantubackforgood · 29/06/2021 19:45

Frozen sea bass,salmon and prawns ,king prawns buy from Iceland or farm foods .
Sugar free tomato sauce ,mayonnaise,spices ,garlic ginger and soy to vary flavours .
Salad leaves ,balsamic vinegar ,olive oil,
Tuna ,frozen green beans ,olives and an egg as a salad .
Except tomato sauce -all from Aldi

Agree that as you progress your appetite reduces .

Ninkanink · 29/06/2021 19:47

Yes it’s definitely doable on a budget. Just takes a bit of thought and planning and once in a while splashing out on whatever low carb treat you really love.

Ninkanink · 29/06/2021 19:48

ARGH @BIWI!! Sorry!

StevieNix · 29/06/2021 19:56

I find it easy to do on a budget when you get used to it. We shop at Lidl or Aldi and find we can get a lot for your money.
Some suggestions:
Chicken drumsticks and thighs (can add all sorts of herbs and spices to jazz it up and great to have in the fridge already cooked up for lunches)
Eggs
Tuna (Aldi’s tuna steak in a can are £1 and really nice quality)
Cottage cheese
Small frozen prawns
Skyr (the Lidl’s or Aldi flavour ones are lovely)
Tons of veg to replace the carbs (I’m a huge fan of courgettes at the moment with everything)

Oddbutnotodd · 06/07/2021 13:58

Tinned sardines and mackerel are cheap too. Can use oil to dress the salad/veg as well. Hard cheese like cheddar is cheap as well.

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