How much do you spend per month on food? Per person?

Also, not in the poll, but what is the percent of your income dedicated to food per month?

Go to http://www.mint.com and you will find a free online budgeting tool that can allow you to categorize all of you monthly expenses, including food. With this you can track everything, and learn what percent of your spending goes to food. Make a budget for food at http://www.mint.com and try to stick with it!

Also FYI food prices are rising. Check out---   http://dailyreckoning.com/the-food-shock-of-2011/

Also check out ---    http://dailyreckoning.com/the-end-of-cheap-food/

Actually, I probably will end up spending less than the lowest amount, but I'm not there yet, as my research has not figured out how to do this super-cheap at this point.  I did go over a bit this month, but since I'm living off of financial aid and student loans, I am frugal as heck and expect to be able to figure it out.  Yes, I bought some uncured turkey organic bacon (yum--and on discount and an in-store coupon, it was still expensive), but I also bought a heck of a bunch of dried beans.  I make my own ghee.  It's a bit harder to be frugal and follow this, as I used to just buy what was "healthy" as I knew it at the local Grocery Outlet.  Instead of buying the whole wheat pasta at $.99 a pound, I am now buying the brown rice pasta at slightly double that.  So many things that I thought were fine have vinegar in them. I'm still reeling from the price of turkey, which seems to never go on sale.  

I am trying to become frugal, hence the poll...

In July, I spent about $750, in August about $650, and it is looking like October will also be about $650. However, just this month, I began using more dried beans. I am also starting to make my own bread from scratch. I hope that these purchases (flour, beans, bread making yeasts etc..) will last a few months.  

I spend around $850 or easily more in a household of two. But then this cannot an apple-to-apple comparison because I live in Asia and to follow the BTD I have to buy mostly imported food coz local food is laden with pesticides/herbicides and hormones, hence the high cost

Too much!

Thanks for asking this. I have easy access to this info, but haven't looked at an average in awhile. Good motivator for me to plan a bit better-- because I believe this will go down.

$874 is our 2 person average, including dining out.

I confess I am shocked   - I always thought food was cheaper on average in the US than here in the UK.
We spend around £400 per month for three of us sooo... approximately $200-$220 per person (depending on exchange rates). Of course I am only one following BTD which helps, being an A and being able to have plenty of rice and tofu  

Quoted from Ekalia

I always thought food was cheaper on average in the US than here in the UK.
We spend around £400 per month for three of us sooo... approximately $200-$220 per person (depending on exchange rates).

For our household of 3, we are spending somewhere around $650 to $800 per month.  We are all following GTD mostly and don't eat out much.  We don't have much meat in that total, as we are Teacher / Warrior combination.  We do have fish and have been buying some foods based on convenience rather than absolute frugality recently.

For all supermarket items, we spend at least $500 per person per month.  That includes food, and supplies (such as wax paper, aluminum foil) as well as cleaners and supplies, personal care products, and so on.  Pet food is extra.

We spend more now for BTD than we did before.

Conscious eating is an investment in yourself. Doesn't mean I can't get better at managing the costs. My husband was shocked at how much cheaper produce and other items we buy were in California. We pay for distance, and being the oddballs here- little competition price wise. Our real estate is so inexpensive though in comparison.

I am betting the A's have the lowest cost diets...

I don't know.  I'm as frugal as I can get and eat for an O.  Probably around $400 a month, more or less, depending (on how often we eat out, holidays, company, and other variables).  Food prices are not as high here as they are in other places in the USA, depends on what you're shopping for.  We also eat out, but not more than once a week.  That's not included in the $400.

I put 450 but that  would be over the top, but I think it would be more than 350.  I buy much in bulk and I buy other items at the same time. There are some weeks I might only spend $25.00 others more. I order some item online and they might be for others who will pay later, and sometimes will last longer than a month. Two in house. Others BD, my dad, and sometimes neighbor.

Quoted from Jared

I am betting the A's have the lowest cost diets...

I would go with that, eliminating meat costs would make a difference.

I think it would take me a while to come up with an accurate estimate of monthly costs. I often buy stuff in bulk either because it stores well or I can freeze it for later use and there is always the opportunity of a special sale price on something or other. I do make an effort to get the best food value and rarely eat out. Life has been cheaper on BTD just from eliminating the eat out/take out/delivery options on eating as well as buying basic foods.

Quoted from Jared

I am betting the A's have the lowest cost diets...

It's all relative....purchasing all organic produce in the health food store and eating fish like wild salmon, I see the cost goes up..  But when I consider beans, whole grains, soy products and
nuts/seeds, the cost is less than those who are eating grass fed beef/veal and other meats.

Still, organic turkey, chicken, eggs, butter to make ghee add up.  As does my Teacher cheeses.  And adding on good quality olive oil, plus some super fruit juices like blackberry and pineapple, the cost is high.  And I'm forever buying green tea. Other herbal teas.

Organic walnuts can be $10.00 per pound.  Peanuts cheaper...but my organic peanut butter
is $7.00 per jar. Making my own doesn't save very much and the peanuts aren't as fresh tasting.

Depends on the time of year....what is grown locally....what is difficult to find in the dead of winter here-- fruits like blueberries which can cost $6.00 for a small container.... which might
come to $3.00 per serving...These are the types of things I like to eat all year long.  Often cheaper to buy dried wild blueberries when fresh ones are ridiculously expensive and out of season.

Can't grow vegetables in my back yard in winter.  But overall, I do think As who eat more plant
foods might have less expenses.

I know my food costs are less, just eliminating soda, and all the sweets, chips, crackers that I use to get. I only buy the foods we eat and there is no waste. I can often get our  beef steaks on sale for under 3.00 and then I freeze. I can make 5 salmon patties with one can for about 2.00. I always have some leftovers for WH to take for lunch the next day. I can use 2lb ground turkey for meatloaf and get one or two lunches. While meat is a biggy for O's we still need lots of vegetables per meals. I find that many of the cheeses that are for A's would be a big ticket item on my list. Some cost as much or more than the meat I get. Almond milk and Cow's milk is about the same. I believe this diet saves everyone. We all get the best food for our type, food which our bodies uses to the full.  

Quoted from deblynn3

I believe this diet saves everyone. We all get the best food for our type, food which our bodies uses to the full.  

I could go with that. I went with $250 a month as it struck me as a reasonable estimate. I do a lot of storage and sale buying so it would take months to come up with an accurate figure.

I spend about $200 or more per month per person on food, and I really need to get it down to about $175 per person. It's hard. I can't really afford to spend $800 a month on food. I'm just dividing my whole food budget by 4, not trying to calculate how much less DS eats and therefore how much more I have to spend on the 3 "adults" in the house.

This doesn't include non-foods such as  aluminum foil or dish detergent, and my "eating out budget" is $0. If my kids eat out with friends occasionally, they pay for it themselves.

I'm definitely spending more money on BTD than I was before. I never bought soda, chips, or other packaged foods on a regular basis. I used to do my own baking with wheat flour instead of spelt and other grains. Even when I went gluten-free, I was using a lot of inexpensive cornmeal and potato starch. So, basically, I was already doing all the frugal food prep stuff, but with cheaper ingredients so it cost less. I had food costs under $100 per person per month at one point- we ate lots of dried beans and homemade whole wheat bread.

I get $100 free groceries a month...I have business credit card that pays me back 1% ...total just me $250.00....which includes 50% organic produce and grass fed meat and free range poultry/eggs directly from a local farm

I can't believe how cheap some are able to eat!  

Makes me wonder if you are eating grass fed, antibiotic, hormone and pesticide free meats?

Poultry is it organic?

How about fish,.... is it fresh caught and not farm raised and free from industrial toxins?

Is the dairy you are purchasing organic?

How about fruit and veggies are they organic?

I buy as fresh as I can and don't let it sit long and so for this month we will easily hit $750 and maybe more.  Perhaps I am wasteful because once I cut my fruit or juice it, like pineapple, cranberries or watermelon, I eat it within a few days, if it is in the fridge longer than that I will toss it.

It is very difficult to find fresh fish here in Arizona.  The one place that use to fly it in daily is no longer in business.  I don't trust the market and their so called freshness. They have done expose's here on the news and it isn't fresh like the market says it is.  Much of it is bacteria ridden.  I buy flash frozen fish if I eat fish and I love atlantic salmon, but haven't found it other than farm raised and it is still very expensive.

Perhaps the questions should be how much do you spend and is it organic, free range, grass fed foods?

Quoted from Frosty

I don't trust the market and their so called freshness.  They have done expose's here on the news and it isn't fresh like the market says it is.  Much of it is bacteria ridden.  I buy flash frozen fish if I eat fish and I love atlantic salmon, but haven't found it other than farm raised and it is still very expensive.

Not to dampen your enthusiasm for fresh fish but there is also, apparently, a danger of fraud i.e. cheap fish sold as a more expensive variety. I buy canned ocean fish myself as they were at least canned 'fresh' and can be identified. My knowledge of ocean food is pretty limited and I would have no idea what I was buying otherwise.

Quoted from Frosty

Perhaps the questions should be how much do you spend and is it organic, free range, grass fed foods?

On this people pretty well have to go with what they have available. Depending on food budget, what is available, how dependable supply is, whether products are seasonal ect. it is a matter of doing the best you can with what you've got. The popularity of organic varies from place to place and I think that in some cases pricing is severely limiting the market if not killing it. There is a spectrum of products from rubbish to pristine and the consumer has to fit themselves in as best they can.

Quoted from SquarePeg

For all supermarket items, we spend at least $500 per person per month.  That includes food, and supplies (such as wax paper, aluminum foil) as well as cleaners and supplies, personal care products, and so on.  Pet food is extra.

We spend more now for BTD than we did before.

Hi Squarepeg..I get over this little accounting problem by separating out the actual food from what I call 'supplies' which you mention. Also I sometimes buy clothes in the supermarket, so they get listed under 'clothes' of course.Personal care products are listed as 'hair & cosmetics. I also add my very occasional eating out under 'food', noticing how much of the allocation goes to this in comparison with cooking at home. Not a good look. But it is good for the spirit to be out with friends, and feeling part of normal society, so I do it a bit.My red wine which I have now found in the form of NPA (no preservative added) gets listed under 'food'.

I’d estimate $600 per month but that includes food, beverages, household supplies, vitamins/herbs, pets, etc.   I’m trying to learn to be more frugal.  Instead of bottled tea, I’m drinking more bag tea.  I’m actually looking on line for coupons when I go to Whole Foods.   I’m trying not to be so wasteful and come up with ways to use up the food I already have.  I’m also trying to curb my impulse buying.  A year from now if you asked that same question, I’m hoping my answer would be less.

I alternate my shopping.  One week at WF the next at HFS & TJ.  I need to hit more farmers’ markets in season.  I also can buy in bulk on line and have it delivered.  Maybe I can look for some stuff in the local grocery stores.  With my travel schedule, I just don’t have the time to shop around.

Quoted from Frosty

I can't believe how cheap some are able to eat!  

Makes me wonder if you are eating grass fed, antibiotic, hormone and pesticide free meats?

Poultry is it organic?

How about fish,.... is it fresh caught and not farm raised and free from industrial toxins?

Is the dairy you are purchasing organic?

How about fruit and veggies are they organic?

I eat "cheaply" because I have to. I only have so much income and I'm making the best choices I can within my means. I'm still pushing my budget with my food choices, even with the compromises I have to make.

I'm simply not able to buy all organic and free range. I do buy the grass fed organic milk for DS, but for cheeses, I go for "hormone free" (not organic or grassfed) because that's what's available. Fish is canned sardines (low mercury choice) and canned tuna (since it's all my kids will eat.) I can't afford the kosher organic chicken or beef.

For produce, I've been buying organic for the "dirty dozen" or not buying them at all. In some cases, this means spending more money on organics (such as lettuce) and in other cases it means buying different produce (such as mangoes instead of peaches.)

I would say DH and I spend around $300 per person per month on food. We are not the same genotype, but we are both A's and food is not  cheap, especially produce. Even some of the locally grown produce is still not cheap. Droughts and sometimes excessive rain play a role in the price of locally grown food. Once a month we shop at Costco and on average that ends up being more than $100, but not everything we buy is a food item either.

I buy chicken, turkey, sometimes lamb and sometimes beef, but these items are not always organic and most of our fish we catch ourselves and  freeze the rest. Venison is on my neutral list so I hope I can start eating more of it.

Good quality cheeses and nuts can also be costly as well. But my mother in law has a pecan orchard and pecans are on my diamond list. Almond butter is too expensive and quite frankly I could do without it, not really fond of it anyway. Walnuts and hickory nuts are great if I can beat the squirrels to them. The only grains we eat are oats, rice and quinoa and occasionally spelt.

I spend 700-800 dollars for Emma and I ( without supplements etc)
and Denmark have some of the higest food prices in the world- but some of the bedst prices on organic food. The price difference are not big.
1 liter full fat milk
organic 9 kr/1,68 $
regular 7,50 kr 1,40$

My food

all dairy is organic
Most of our veggies are organic
75 % of fruit organic
eggs always organic
Meat; all pork is( but I only tiny amounts of that )
- beef about 50 % the rest is grass fed local stuff.'
Turkey regular - can´t get anything else.
Fish regular - salmon organic raised or wild.
Chocolate. coffee, tea and sugar are always fairtrade and most of it organic.
grains and flours organic
nuts - sometimes but often nut.
wine - no but often fairtrade.

I make ALL food - bake my own bread- cakes etc- never buy readymade desserts, icecream etc.
I have my own bees(honey) and hens ( eggs)
I grow a variety of veggies, fruits and nuts- so in the months July - octobre I don´t buy much.

I'm not sure but, to estimate high, I put $550.  

I cannot believe how much I spend on groceries!!!  In some ways, my pure, whole foods, organic lifestyle is cheap:  for example, I buy a bag of onions, a bag of sweet potatoes, organic eggs.  Things like that, imho, are an excellent bargain.  But then on other things I spend SO MUCH!  The cat and dog food brands I buy are through the roof, as are the Applegate Farms luncheon meats, the little packaged herbs I buy, the fresh and frozen organic fruits and veggies, the olive oil (although my HFS has great sales quite often on olive oil), the supplements (CoQ10 and glucosamine sulfate), frozen organic meats, etc.  They are all great bargains in the sense of they keep me healthy, but somehow, for instance:  last Friday I spend $146.00 at the health food store.     Now, granted, I bought organic Halloween candy to the tune of about $21.00, so take that out because it is unusual/atypical and I "merely" spent $125.00.  But, to be honest, I spend about that much ($125.00) every week!  That is to feed myself and my three pets.

Scary.

Since this is conveniently the first of the month, I'm going to start tracking my food expenses.  I've never been sure what my food costs are because so many things are mixed on the same receipts:  food, herbal supplements, body care products, and cleaning supplies.  I'll know more by the end of this month.  

for myself a month i put the 250$ becuse 150$ is not on the list. i am cheep as dirt...or is it poor as dirt? when i get stuff i get it in bulk and make it last, and i do that with non food items as well. i rarly eat out so it dose not even factor in. my animals eat almost as much as me. the goats eat about 60$ worth every month. the cats get a 14$ bag every two months with this brand. the 25$ bag for the ferrets will last them four months with the big boy eating as much as all three girls. most of my bill is the meat i buy all at one time for a month. if it is a good month or i have bought a bulk item (like raw organic cacao powder) it might go as far as the 250$.

Quoted from Peppermint Twist

the little packaged herbs I buy

have you tried growing the herbs you love in pots? i grow mine in the kitchen window and it is so much cheeper and better tasting than the pakaged ones. i hcurrently have rosemerry, thyme, three kinds of basil, oragano (a second kind outside as well), terragon, and salad burrnett wicht i really have not used but is still cool.
oh an even though it is outside i have enouph cylontro for a really big family of mexicans when it is in season.

I can't get basil to grow in my yard (too much shade and/or needs consistent watering, like, DAILY, which I'm bad about), and I fear that if I grew it in the house, I could never grow enough, as I eat a TON of basil.  But it is surely worth a try because a little container of organic basil costs $2.99 at my HFS.  PLUS it goes bad very, very quickly.  (Spearmint, on the other hand, lasts and lasts and I'm finding that it is wonderful in a variety of savory dishes.)  I think I will try growing some basil and spearmint inside.  Thanks for the idea.  I'll have to keep the kitties out of it, although I don't think either one is poisonous for them.  Thank goodness Hurley (my puppy) can't jump up high enough to get to those.  If he likes the remote control and cat poop, just think how much he'd love to get into potted herbs!

p.s.  Speaking of herbs, I also am getting really into using a LOT of organic dried spices and, whew, those are expensive!  I go through tons of Frontier Adobo seasoning, granulated garlic, oregano (oregano is currently my herbal love affair) and curry, just to name the ones I use most.  Oh, and of course my sea salt, which is $8.99 for a little shaker (Celtic brand).

All I know is, every week I go into the HFS and leave having spent around a hundred dollars, more or less.  And then, usually another time during the week, when I just go in for ONE THING, not for my big weekly "chi spree", I STILL end up spending WAY more than I intended, which is why I selected "550", because I have no idea, but it seems that my monthly food spending is way, way, way up there in orbit.  And that is with trying to be frugal!  I AM frugal in many ways, I mean, no processed foods, no things like sodas, etc., lots of onion, sweet potato, brown basmati rice, eggs, canned wild salmon which is often on sale at my HFS, el cheapo staples like that.  Yet SOMEHOW...they love to see me walk in the door at my HFS!!!

p.p.s.  How do I pay for my "organic habit" on my salary, you ask?  Simple:  no cable, no internet, basically no furniture, house is disintegrating, no entertainment budget, no vacations, etc.  Little things like furniture and a solid house pale in comparison to how precious it is to me to keep myself healthy!

(No sunglasses, either.)

Quoted from Peppermint Twist

I think I will try growing some basil and spearmint inside.  Thanks for the idea.
...
If he [Hurley] likes the remote control and cat poop, just think how much he'd love to get into potted herbs!

The spearmint will grow like a weed and is usually very hardy...  Mint is also a spreading plant, so it is good to keep it contained in a pot...

Oh, yes, Hurley will LOVE moving all of the dirt out of the pot onto the floor, if he gets the chance...         

Quoted from ABJoe

The spearmint will grow like a weed and is usually very hardy...  Mint is also a spreading plant, so it is good to keep it contained in a pot...

Oh, yes, Hurley will LOVE moving all of the dirt out of the pot onto the floor, if he gets the chance...         

Oh, trust me.  

He's going to the dog park tonight, to play with his BFF, Bella.  His favorite, favorite thing is being chased, but he also enjoys tugging on the same stick that Bella has, AND digging holes.*  He also loves to horse around with Bella and he isn't averse to chasing her and/or other dogs, but again, his FAVORITE thing is to be the chasee.  No one can catch my little Italian Greyhound-Border Collie-other stuff mix!

Note:  Both he and Jamie, my beautiful doggie who passed away in December, enjoyed digging up bromeliads in the yard, including and especially pineapple plants.  Dude, I just now realized something:  bromeliad and bromelain have the same root!  Pineapple is a bromeliad and bromelian is the pineapple enzyme.  Duuuuuude, my mind is blown.  I'd better log off now.

To the dog park!

* He often digs holes very enthusiastically and all the dirt (or a lot of it, anyway) goes into the holes of my Crocs Classics.  Ya-HOOOO.

FYI, we have oregano growing indoors.  Our three cats ignore it, even though they will bite other plants.

I weighed in on 650...but is more like 600 for two.  of course the poll is skewed since people are either voting as one or two or whole family...but still a good exercize.
I face it, we like the best food...organic, grassfed, etc. I cook virtually all our meals from scratch.

Quoted from jayneeo

of course the poll is skewed since people are either voting as one or two or whole family...but still a good exercize.

The poll specifically states per person

i grew more than i could eat in oragano this year before it went to seed. i exspect i will have at lest as much or twice as much next year.
oh btw mint likes a shady yard. my chocolate mint in growing on the north side of the house like there is no tomarrow. makes a nice ground cover.
vacation? whats that? is that were you splurge on a nice bottle of deep red wine and a good library book? and intertainment is watching ferrets wrestle right? whats wrong with furnature that some one left on the curb i ask? you are reading from the queen of recycle and "fine living" by reduction. you reduced your stuff and i reused it.

I tried growing herbs outside this last summer and it was a futile effort.  To much sun and perhaps not enough water even though I had them on a drip system, it just wasn't enough.  They just got so dry and brittle.  I don't have a green thumb at all, that is Johns thing.  Plants grow for him!  Maybe that is why they died?  He wasn't here to keep an eye on them.

Now that John is home and it has cooled off considerably, only 85 here today , I think I will try growing some herbs again..  With Johns help of course   We could even do some topsy turvy's with tomatoes and other compliant veggies.  

which ones did you try frosty? oragano likes hot dry sun. mine sat out at the beginning of the driveway with no watering all year and grew outragasly. i really should have cut and dried some of it, i just don't use that much of it. if i had cut dried and crushed it i could easily have had a gallon bag of the stuff... in both greek and european variaties.

Yes, I'm wondering, too, Frosty.  We actually have trouble with mint.  It tends to get infested with spider mites and shrivels up starting with the bottom leaves and working up to the top.  Spider mites like certain plants and prefer them dry, so it's important to keep spraying the leaves of a plant they might infest, and you have to get under the leaves, too.

Have you taken a specimen to a local nursery?  Make sure you seal it in a ziplock bag so as not to contaminate anything it comes into contact with.

Quoted from battle dwarf

oh btw mint likes a shady yard. my chocolate mint in growing on the north side of the house like there is no tomarrow. makes a nice ground cover.

REALLY?  Interesting!!!  THANKS!  I might do a ground cover of it along one side of the house.

Wait a minute, spider mites?  I'll have to rethink, maybe.  But that one side of the house is a candidate for some sort of fabu, edible ground cover.

I spend a fortune on foodl (I voted $950). Everything I buy is organic/biodynamic and all meat is grassfed. I also grow some of my own vegetables and fruits in my garden. Food is my main expense - I am not a big shopper - and I love cooking. And I am slim, just in case you wonder ....

Quoted from Jared

I am betting the A's have the lowest cost diets...

It's true O's pay more for food.

Quoted from battle dwarf

which ones did you try frosty? oragano likes hot dry sun. mine sat out at the beginning of the driveway with no watering all year and grew outragasly. i really should have cut and dried some of it, i just don't use that much of it. if i had cut dried and crushed it i could easily have had a gallon bag of the stuff... in both greek and european variaties.

Oregano, rosemary and basil.     All of them dried up.  100% sun all the time in an average temp of 110 (in the shade) doesn't do well.  I am assuming the direct sun like that the temp is hot, hot, hot, so, they fried, fried fried.  Even with a drip system they didn't do well.   And I don't have a green thumb at all.  My indoor silk plants (at my office) would die if they could.

Quoted from Henriette Bsec

I spend 700-800 dollars for Emma and I ( without supplements etc)
and Denmark have some of the higest food prices in the world- but some of the bedst prices on organic food. The price difference are not big.
1 liter full fat milk
organic 9 kr/1,68 $
regular 7,50 kr 1,40$

My food

all dairy is organic
Most of our veggies are organic
75 % of fruit organic
eggs always organic
Meat; all pork is( but I only tiny amounts of that )
- beef about 50 % the rest is grass fed local stuff.'
Turkey regular - can´t get anything else.
Fish regular - salmon organic raised or wild.
Chocolate. coffee, tea and sugar are always fairtrade and most of it organic.
grains and flours organic
nuts - sometimes but often nut.
wine - no but often fairtrade.

I make ALL food - bake my own bread- cakes etc- never buy readymade desserts, icecream etc.
I have my own bees(honey) and hens ( eggs)
I grow a variety of veggies, fruits and nuts- so in the months July - octobre I don´t buy much.

Great food list
Do organic eggs taste better than the usual ones? Ive always wondered..maybe I should buy some and see

Quoted from Victoria

Since this is conveniently the first of the month, I'm going to start tracking my food expenses.  I've never been sure what my food costs are because so many things are mixed on the same receipts:  food, herbal supplements, body care products, and cleaning supplies.  I'll know more by the end of this month.  

I'm doing the same thing starting the first of November. It's good information to have.

Quoted from BTypeAUS

Great food list
Do organic eggs taste better than the usual ones? Ive always wondered..maybe I should buy some and see

YEP-at least mine do
Eggs are very much a matter of HOW you treat the animal
IF the animal is kept in a cage/battery and fed conventional feed with lots of additives eggs are rather boring and I can often taste some fishysnes from soy/canola/fish meal.
If the animal is running outdoor eating a pure diet of grain, grass, sluggs the eggs are sooo mcuh better

Henriette, yes I can always taste the fishiness in the eggs I buy !
I will defintely try organic eggs now

OOooooohh:  On an "Lidia's Italy" episode I watched yesterday--don't worry, I NEVER actually make her recipes, as virtually all of them are wheat-centric, but I love to watch cooking shows, even the ones that I just sit there smugly doing my little internal "superior dance" (remember Dana Carvey's "Church Lady"?) about, such as all the wheat Lidia uses, or how singularly AWFUL that supposed "health oriented" Christina of "Christina Cooks" is, nutrition-wise (she has GOT to be Type A to even be alive, given her diet--she lives on a vegan diet that is very heavy on rice syrup and soy products and VERY low on protein).  Anyway, where was I?  Oh yeah, so I'm watching Lidia and it was the first episode I've ever seen, btw, in which she does an entire meal WITHOUT a speck of wheat, ...but that isn't the point of my post.     The point is:  she showed how chickens are raised on one particular farm in Italy and, oh my, they looked so happy and healthy, with the free range of the beautiful area they were given outside, and all these different bowls of grains, herbs, fruits and goodness knows what all to choose to nibble on.  Lidia talked about how raising organic, happy animals with respect (I love that she used that word, as this is my philosophy, too) is how you end up with an animal that is better for US to eat, too, and happier and better for the earth.

Go, Lidia!  Now, if we could just get her to stop centering EVERYTHING she makes around FLOUR!  I think she's an O, as she has a lot of edema in her body, from her hands to her face, and I maintain it is from subsisting on a diet heavy on wheat lectins.

P.S.  And the eggs they opened up to show us from several varieties of those chickens were beautiful.

Quoted from Victoria

Since this is conveniently the first of the month, I'm going to start tracking my food expenses.  I've never been sure what my food costs are because so many things are mixed on the same receipts:  food, herbal supplements, body care products, and cleaning supplies.  I'll know more by the end of this month.  

You should do it for several months Victoria to get an accurate average.  I've been saving receipts since July and am surprised at how much variance there is from one month to the next.  

Quoted from MileHighRob

You should do it for several months Victoria to get an accurate average.  I've been saving receipts since July and am surprised at how much variance there is from one month to the next.  

Really. If you do a lot of storage or bargain buying it can be a little difficult to untangle and would take quite a period of time. When I buy stuff this way I don't usually consider how long it will last just that I have a supply of whatever to last 'awhile'. My post on the poll was an educated guess really.

One of our local Natural Grocers offers these month long sales they call "hotline specials".  They are significant savings.  Whenever there's anything on sale which I frequently use, I purchase extra throughout the month.  This way, I rarely have to purchase for full price again as it will usually hit the hotline before I've depleted my stock.  

Quoted from MileHighRob

Whenever there's anything on sale which I frequently use, I purchase extra throughout the month.  This way, I rarely have to purchase for full price again as it will usually hit the hotline before I've depleted my stock.  

That is certainly the way to go. Lucrative but not easy to fit into a $/ per month model. Thankfully many retail outlets put certain items on sale on a regular basis so you can predict how much to buy to tide you over.

Eerie thing just happened. I calculated out how much I spent on food in October, it came out to be exactly $666 US dollars!

Quoted from Jared

Eerie thing just happened. I calculated out how much I spent on food in October, it came out to be exactly $666 US dollars!

This is very interesting.  I try to keep ours to $250 per person, but it is difficult.  Hubby likes a lot of 'treats' as he calls them.  He doesn't follow any protocol, just wants what he wants.  I usually cut back on my meat to make up the difference.  Of course, my supplements are about $120 a month, and his meds are the same.  Those are not included in the $250.  I do cook from scratch, with the exception of hubby's treats.  If I started baking those, I would have to indulge myself!

Hi,

No vote

I spend less than 250$, about 150$... but it is difficult... vegetables, fruits (if not grown in my tiny garden) and meat are not organic...

I spend more money to comply the diet than before...

Next spring, I increase the size of the garden.  

Is that in francs, euros, or converted to U.S. dollars? This poll may not be as valid for international members.

BTW, is France using euros now or are they still using francs?  The last time I was there (19 years ago) they were using francs, but that was before the euro was introduced.

hi Ruthiegirl

I converted to US dollars ($) for common understanding.

No more francs in France ; we have used Euros since january 2002.

OK, I was there in January of 92. No euros yet.

I tracked my food spending for the month of November and came up to $368 (I realize Nov isn't quite over, but I don't plan on spending before the 1st of Dec). This includes eating out (twice) and alcohol (red wine). Not bad. Since I gave up wheat and sugar, I've not been buying processed/commercially prepared foods (except for WF deli a couple of times), and I think this is helping to keep my costs down. I know I used to budget $450-$500 on food just for myself.

Wow. I must be doing something right!  I checked the lowest amount, $250, but only because there wasn't anything lower to check.     I only buy for myself, spending between $160-$200 per month. Eating minimal amounts of dairy and rarely eating desserts and snack food, I'm able to keep my food expense fairly low while having plenty to eat. Naturally, I cook from "scratch", and buy only fresh produce. I don't eat a lot of fruit, but will have a serving or two every day. Looking for the lowest prices and sticking to a diet of high protein and plenty of greens/oranges/reds (veggies) with a reasonable amount of dried beans and brown rice---and Ezekiel bread---does the trick for both me and my budget.  

I think between having money issues to consider and money for kids college bills.. I am certain that I spend 50 dollar a week or less...

I mean I eat:
meat  
vegetables kale, romaine, broccoli, occasional sweet potatoe, zuccini.
avocado, mango or prunes, pineapple chunks..

Drinks, sometimes grapefruit juice.
and cocoa in hot water..

going out is once a week for no more then 15.- with friends is extra.

OMG - We spend about £800 (min) or at the very top end of your scale in $/month  

Having said that, we are both 'O' Hunters and eat a lot of organic meat and veg.  Very scary actually when I put it on paper (metaphorically) like this!!

Must review to see if I can improve this.

Andy  

Quoted from BTypeAUS

Perfect touch, that little devil smiley.  

OMG, I was shopping at whole foods yesterday, and I was standing in line behind this 40ish year old woman who looked like a stripper. (fake boobs, make up...) She bought $615 worth of food! Now I know why she strips!!!

I would guess we spend $250+ per person... all I know is that it's a lot.  It's very expensive to eat healthy...worth it, sure, but I'm thinking I may have to go back to work to support our food habit.  

I can not say that I spend that much or anywhere near that.  

I spend on a steak, that lasts me days, I eat twice a day at least 3 if I had to or 4 -5 oz (so a pound lasts 2 lunches and dinners - 2 days of main meals) top round is what Dr D suggests and that is ok, so is sirloin.  When I wish to cheat I have a rib steak- those cost about ten dollars a piece, but I have seldom need for such a treat.

I live alone so I have no need for many choices others need, I do not cook burgers at home, but have them out in one place where they make good ones at about 10.- a meal with vegetables or salad. I find chop meat sort of waisting in terms of grease being drained out of the lesser quality meats.  I am fussy and cut of all visible fat, even when on rare occasions I make a stew or pot roast. The fat and grizzle goes to the dog.  Even there I think I stay within my budget - not when I have guest, then all bets are off.  

My cheapest food mainstay is eggs.. when I wish to be frugal, I make all kind of eggs.  with mayo as a treat, with Parmesan sprinkles as a treat, you name it - eggs go a hundred ways, omelet strips in soup, or dropped into broth from cooking some meat scraps and vegetable pieces (for the dog).

My vegetables are not massive, and since there is no dairy and no grains, that is what I spend money on - guessing at 100.- a month or much less...?  Cocoa powder is cheap by comparison of coffee.. instant coffee has dobbled... tea is expensive also when used as throw away.. I happen to like weak tea so a bag last me all day.. limes are reasonable, especially when I remember to cut and add them to whatever- even over meat.

To that I add nuts and fruit.  in moderation now... I used to eat much more.. but I am retraining myself to reduce intake, so as to keep my weight in check.. which is a long term plan.

People living alone can do much more with fewer choices.. Much shopping is done to please others, or to spoil or to impress or not to be boring.  I think IT REALLY helps if all in the family understand the restrictions within my diet.. then the sort of sameness of choices.. is understood much easier and so tolerated KNOWING that I am building HEALTH.

Now with kids and elderly I would add rice in many forms and grains and beans and dairy, oats and the like and with that create gravies and fill in requirements they have.  

I save money on not eating avoids, and hardly adding sugar to anything other then in coffee for guest.  I am able to save by being well (now) and not needing or buying sups all day. My meds are few, at about 120- a year.  add 200 for other health things Chiros here and there and I think I am done.  

I spend money instead on my car gas, I drive a big car, old and paid for.   I don't go to far for now, but still a trip to sis cost me 5.- , that is my biggest expense.  I lowered my car insurance by several hundreds just by asking my agent about such a thing.. same coverage.. I will do that from now on every year when I need to renew..  

My haircuts are few, I can do some trimming my self, but I found one cutter who is less expensive who - was better twice in a row - then all others throughout my life.. If her prices don't go up I will go to her twice as often..  and I had spent all sorts of money on that trying to get a good cut.
I do my own color and look better then sis. Time is my issue there, I can not sit around like that..

Now if I went to a bakery and saw pastries, then all money is off the table, I can't resist, and so I don't go.. I spend money on ice cream, more money by the cone, but having gallons in my house would not work..
  


  

i voted for $250 per person per month but i think it is actually less than this. My weekly regular grocery store budget is $200 per week for my family of 5. i buy a lot of organic but not exclusively and i do not buy grass fed beef, just the no-hormones stuff like Laura's Lean beef. i also shop Trader Joes for almond butter and a few other things but that is not weekly, probably bi-weekly spending about $50 each trip and i do a year-round organic food co-op which is $25 per week. so my total food bill is $1000 per month for 5 people (2 adults, 3 kids 6 and under)

may swiss francs count too   

here all is + - very expensive.... especially farmer products, and a lot so called bio or organic products do have also chemicals in... but brave as I am... I lurke for bio stuff...all about I think 800.-- CHF but without having eaten by my beautiful greek friend Iaoannis....

I spend a lot of money on food.  I joined a meat coop and have been able to cut the per pound price of my meat and poultry by quite a bit.  Instead of $10-$20 per pound for 100% grass fed meat, I spend about $8 per pound.

In the spring-fall, I can get organic veggies at a great price at a local organic farm, so I start there.  Then I go to our local health food store, and then if I have not been able to find all I need, I go to WF's.  Unfortunately, the farm closes in late October, so organic produce is much more expensive in the winter, which I imagine it is in any climate with four seasons.

I guessed around $850 a month for my husband, daughter and me.  When my son is home from college, those bills skyrocket because I am feeding him and all of his friends.  That's when I shop at Costco to have some "junk type food" around, like buffalo chicken wings, etc.  I can't afford to feed his large group of friends my organic and grass-fed food  

On average I'd say I spend about $500 per month. I like my conveniences and I like the best food.

WE are abit frugal because of five kids. We are going to garden and have fruit trees, and raise chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducks, get milk cow. We are hoping this will lower our big grocery store bill. WE will be canning alot and storing and eating those things as much as possible.

Moving to the country will help in the long run, by getting rid all those extra city charges(trash pick up, high water rates, sewer hookup, etc.).``````````````````````````  

I don't even want to try figure out what we spend. I know it is alot.

Quoted from angel

WE are abit frugal because of five kids. We are going to garden and have fruit trees, and raise chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducks, get milk cow. We are hoping this will lower our big grocery store bill. WE will be canning alot and storing and eating those things as much as possible.

Moving to the country will help in the long run, by getting rid all those extra city charges(trash pick up, high water rates, sewer hookup, etc.).``````````````````````````  

Good for you. I would love to be able to do that. I seem to have misplaced my green thumb somewhere.

I am glad this was brought up. I think I spend about 200 per month, and I eat alot of fish and grass fed beef. Sometimes, it is more, but I think that is it. I thought I was spending too much, but I think I am doing ok.

I pack my lunch/dinner and bring it wherever I go- never eat out. If I go to WF, I bring my salad and get some grilled fish or chick from the bar to add to it, so I wont pay for the salad bar price.

I know it is a lot for almost being a vegetarian, but I afford organic almost all of the time, if I can get it.

I spend 20 bucks a week on food.  I can't even vote in your poll.

Quoted from Kibble

I spend 20 bucks a week on food

How do you do that!?!?!??!

Quoted from chrissyA

How do you do that!?!?!??!

I buy in bulk and freeze stuff and I don't buy organic because I can't find it.  I don't buy pre-made foods, just simple plain food and cook or make everything at home.  

Quoted from Jared

How much do you spend per month on food? Per person?

Also, not in the poll, but what is the percent of your income dedicated to food per month?

Go to http://www.mint.com and you will find a free online budgeting tool that can allow you to categorize all of you monthly expenses, including food. With this you can track everything, and learn what percent of your spending goes to food. Make a budget for food at http://www.mint.com and try to stick with it!

Also FYI food prices are rising. Check out---   http://dailyreckoning.com/the-food-shock-of-2011/

Also check out ---    http://dailyreckoning.com/the-end-of-cheap-food/

Or you can do it the good old fashioned way we did it before the information superhighway was even invented: pen plus paper plus calculator plus pocketbook plus $$$ pain!

Kibble - Impressive - bravo!!!  

I didn't read all the entries, but I want to comment that the amounts to choose from are very big!
There should be $200 or less for a category!
I know that I eat the most expensive diet as I am an O, but the average for us should be less than the least amount to choose from. We rarely eat out & get most of our veggies from a huge fruit market with cheap prices. The past few years, we have been ordering our beef from an area with lots of Amish farms. It isn't certified organic IMO, but is better quality. We do use olive oil in large amounts. I get a few items from Whole Foods sometimes.
It's too bad that few folks garden(& can their food), sew their own clothes or repair things that used to be done by the homeowners. In the cities, we need to cut down on driving, etc. We have become too dependent on outside professionals which could break bad.........

I selected my shelf stable food from the O-type diet.

Once I had stocked the shelf stable food, I purchased family packs of hormone-free red meat and salt-water fish, I repackage for taking one portion out of the freezer. I purchase fresh vegetables and only resupply what shelf stable food or freezer food has been used up.

I do have frozen vegetables in the freezer due to availability problems, in Montana.

If I had a garden, I could have a better selection of vegetables than I can get at the grocery store.

I do purchase fresh fruit: raspberries and blueberries.

I also purchase chockcherry syrup to put on spelt flour pancakes or waffles, if I do not have fresh fruit available.

I do make freezer jam with fresh raspberries.

This keeps my food costs down and helps me keep the O-type diet recommendations.

In a stock-up month I will spend $300. In other months, at most $150.

I'm  brand new to the lifestyle change so I haven't really done the $$$ tally yet.

As a B type I'm encouraged to eat venison,lamb,rabbit and mutton and I'm finding these meats to be much, MUCH more expensive that the pork and chicken that I now must cut out.One 3-4 ounce piece of venison cost me a whopping $10 and a single small rabbit $23 yesterday.I' thinking I need to buy me a rifle and take up hunting and become the true nomad that is apparently ingrained in me...!

Take it to the next level and upgrade to organic fruits,veggies eggs etc and GRASS fed organic meats and add in some of Adamo's supplements and the cost will rise substancially.

I'm going to try to counter the higher meat costs by keeping to 4 ounce portions instead of the accustomed much larger portions 8 ounce of chicken and pork that I had been eating.

Other than the apparent raised co$t$, I'm going into this lifestyle change fully committed and excited.

Cheers!

I have purchased lamb direct. I asked the rancher/farmer to keep 1 lb, 2 lb. and 3 lb. roasts for me, I purchase from their personal freezer. I didn't ask for chops or leg of lamb, because they are the expensive cuts. I make slowly cooked roasts.

I used to get milk from farms with Dairy of Merit signage at their driveway. I would take a Nalley's gallon pickle jar, obtained at a restaurant, washed and dried carefully. I had to get to the farm before the dairy truck arrived in the morning. I had to separate the hard cream (first rising) and second cream (second rising) to get the percentage cream in the milk I like. I liked Jersey cows best. Now, I know about Blood Type and Genotype food lists I avoid dairy products.

We had a small rabbit hutch in our backyard, in the city. I thought they were pets. I was a little girl, then. We also had one-third of our yard in vegetable garden and we had three fruit trees. We canned and froze our own produce.

I have heard, recently, people have buyers clubs with ranchers and farmers. I think that costs more.

In college, we had a buyer's co-op. We purchased wholesale. I think there was a $500 minimum order, so we had to rent storage with a walk-in refrigerator.

In a small town, we ordered a pallet of food wholesale from a distributer.

I also used to pick up wholesale food at a Cash and Carry.

There is a lot you can accomplish with a 5 cu ft freezer.

I have even had a patio container garden. I can be certain that is organic.

Quoted from 18545

I spend 20 bucks a week on food.  I can't even vote in your poll.

I'm wondering what your diet looks like and where (approxiomately) you live. Food costs are higher in certain areas of the world than in others. I'm also wondering if you're eating "the ideal Type O diet" or if you need to  cut  corners on nutrition for the sake of economy.

I don't think that $20/wk/person would be realistic for my family, living where I currently live. I used to keep the food budget under $400 a month,  but that's when I had two preschoolers and a husband, (2 adults, 2 small kids) not 2 teens and a 10yo (3 adults, 1 big kid). That was also 15 years ago when food prices were lower than they are now. The same food would probably cost $500 a month with today's prices. Baltimore food prices (where I lived then) are comperable to Long Island food prices (where I live now.) I imagine food may be cheaper in some rural areas.

And the only way I kept the food budget so low was  by eating lots of beans and grains and very little meat. I baked a lot of whole wheat bread (spelt flour is WAY more expensive!)

chicken 1.70 lb
beef 3.50 lb
sardines 1.80 lb
eggs 1.25 dozen
onions .80 lb
broccoli 1.25 lb
carrots .50 lb
sweet potatoes .75 lb
brown rice .75 lb
bananas .44 lb
greens the price varies but cheaper than broccoli
sometimes I get salad and it is organic and 3.50 a pound

I buy other stuff if I find it on sale.  My big splurge is a 5 buck BIG jar of artichoke hearts that lasts all month and I don't get them every month.
I also have olive oil, can't remember what that costs and I don't use it to cook, just drizzle or if I bake.  
Oh and green tea which is like 40 tea bags for under $2.

Like I said I don't buy organic or grass fed.  Someone gave me a huge box of Laura bars as a gift so that's a freebie.

Salt is like 50 cents and lasts forever and I buy few spices but they are from bulk jars and I just buy a little and it's always cheap.  

I would love to plant some container veggies and herbs but there are demon girls that destroy things in the neighborhood so I don't want to waste my time and money.  When I do bake it's from brown rice flour at 1.50 lb. and I use egg as the binder and sugar for cakes and cookies.

I have two kinds of beans in the cabinet but don't do as well on beans so I haven't cooked them.

PS
Last night while doing my urban walking I found AA extra large eggs for 1.05 a dozen.  Yes, they
are not organic, but yes, they fit into my budget and the expiration date is the end of June so I bought two dozen and stuck them in the backpack.



  

150$ per week for an optimal diet, can not complain.

Kibble- it looks like you live in an area where food is cheaper than it is where I live. The veggie prices are comperable but your meat and fish prices are way lower.

I haven't done a tally yet, but I am sure it is quite high. The meat bill for a B can be quite expensive for sure. Lamb, rabbit and venison are much more expensive than my avoids which are chicken and pork. Grass fed organic beef is about $25-$30 per pound and so is venison out of season.I'm trying to eat grass fed and organic as much as possible and that has doubled and sometimes tripled the cost of the food.

Add to the expense some suplements like D'adamo's protien powder,cholrella, a greens mix etc etc and juicing a tall glass of veggie juice daily and some great  high end green teas and it's getting expensive.I'm cutting costs somewhat by buying bulk,growing kale,wheatgrass and some other greens and have cut my expensive meat portions down to 4 ounce chunks compared to the 6-8 ounce portions I used to eat.I'm also not buying any junk food or dining out to much so that helps as well.

Fact is ,is that I'm doing fantastic,full of energy and I'm feeling great!!! Sometimes I wonder if I can afford to do this,but then I realize I can't afford not to.

Cheers!