Recently a number of paleo  friends have said how turning paleo has made their shopping bills go through the roof. Whilst cutting out ‘filler foods’ from your diet such as pasta, rice and beans can mean your shopping bills increase; if you’re smart about it, you can still buy free-range and organic without having to remortgage your house.

Grow your own veg!

Grow your own veg!

Below I have set out a number of paleo meal ideas, to get your frugal juices flowing!

But firstly, I wanted to start by sharing a few tips for when you actually hit the stores to shop paleo. The reality is that buying free range, and organic produce, is going to mean that your food bills increase; it’s a fact that organic food is more expensive than its ‘normal’ counterparts. Whilst this is a very real fact, it is also a fact that feeding your body good quality, free range, organic produce, is going to have a wonderful effect on your health, your waistline and your mental health. So balancing these two aspects is a worthy consideration.

Chicken thigh burgers

Chicken thigh burgers

If you do take a smart approach to shopping, going paleo doesn’t have to be prohibitive, from a cost point of view. Hopefully here are some simple tips which  should  help you keep cost increases to a minimum!

GET A GREAT BUTCHERS

Great butchers are worth their weight in gold. To find a great butcher, simply put your postcode into:-

 http://www.qguild.co.uk/your-local-butcher/

If you’re in the Harrogate area I would recommend that you speak to Gordon and his team at Elite Meat http://www.elite-meat.co.uk/. A great butcher will be able to advise you on the most thrifty cuts of meat, and give you frugal recipe tips so that you get more bang for your buck!

Chciken Thigh Bites!

Chciken Thigh Bites!

In addition, keep your eyes open for super deals in the supermarkets. Sainsbury’s always have free range chicken thighs, at around £2.50 for 4. The other day I bought 4 pork cheeks (outdoor reared) for £1 at Waitrose- so, there are bargains out there, you just need to get creative about what it is that you cook! Don’t shy away from more unknown cuts of meat and offal.

GROW YOUR OWN

Have you thought about growing your own veg? We are just moving out of the grow your own season, but it is something to consider for next year. Get your name on a list for an allotment or why not have a go at square foot gardening. Growing is not only great for the wallet, it is great exercise and good for the soul! Grow chard, carrots, beetroot, leaves…. The options are endless.

Sweet potato and chard quiche

Sweet potato and chard quiche

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/leisure/Pages/Grow-your-own.aspx

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicgardening/gh_sqft.php

If growing your own isn’t for you, there are some great companies out there who sell organic veg at great prices. Take a look at the Organic Pantry, based in Tadcaster, they do home delivery and offer very reasonable prices.

http://theorganicpantry-co-uk.php5.hostingweb.co.uk/page.html?id=2

At the supermarkets, look for seasonal produce and check out the buy one get one free offers. There are some good value deals out there.

BUY IN BULK

For your non perishable items and pantry staples such as flours, oils, and vinegars, why not buy in bulk online, or hit supersaving stores such as Costco’s. You can make valuable savings if you buy in bulk. Consider splitting bulk items with friends!

Chciken Liver Salad

Chciken Liver Salad

Also check out Milles Leeds, for buying almond flour and coconut oil in bulk!

http://www.milliesleeds.co.uk/

Pork Cheek, four for £1

Pork Cheek, four for £1

Ten Top Ideas for Cheap but Delicious Paleo Dinners

Frugal Mid-Week Recipe Ideas

  1. Paleo Burgers- Grab some good quality mince, add some seasoning and onions, and you have your own paleo burgers, eat between 6-8 for around £4.
  2. Slow Cooked Belly Pork- Slow cooked belly pork is meaty and tastes divine serve 4 people for around £5. I love making jerk belly pork and serve it with my red cabbage slaw.
  3. Chicken Livers- Chicken livers are cheap as chips! Probably even cheaper. Get 200g organic free range chicken liver for around £1! Make a foragers chicken liver salad.
  4. Slow Cooked Brazing Steak – Make a gorgeous warming winter stew, for around £6 per kilo- This will serve around 5-6 people.
  5. Paleo Broth- Buy an organic chicken, have a roast, then eat the legs, then, make a delicious stock, and use the remainder of the meat to make a glorious warming paleo soup. You can make a decent chicken go far. 1 large organic chicken, £7-11 but lasts 3-4 meals.
  6. Chicken Thighs– £2.50 for 4 free range chicken thighs. Make chicken burgers, by blending the boneless thighs, with garlic, chilli and coriander. Roast and serve with paleo courgette spaghetti. The possibilities are endless.
  7. Pork Cheek– Slow cook, delicious, gelatinous chunks of meat. Serve them in a salad, or as a winter warmer with cauliflower mash! £1 for 4! Outdoor bred. Can you believe it.
  8. Paleo Quiche- How great are eggs! My favourite cheap protein.  £2-3 pounds for 12 from your local farmshop or supermarket. Shred some sweet potato as a base. Then add whisked eggs and veg or bacon lardons! Delicious!
  9. Slow Cooked Neck of Lamb- My nan always raves about neck of lamb. A thrifty cheap cut, being quite tough, it needs to be cooked slowly! Use it to make a lamb hotpot with sweet potatoes! Delicious. This is one to get from your local butcher!
  10. Paleo Balls of Fire- Take either pork or turkey mince! Add onions, garlic, chilli flakes, green pepper; mix into balls, and serve. £3-£4 to serve 4 people.

  

Paleo Polly

Great tasting food has always been my passion. Obsessed with cookbooks from a young ages I have enjoyed exploring the world of food, recipe by recipe. 2004, aged 20, I was reading Law at University; money was tight, and meals were often made up of vegetables and starchy carbohydrates, washed down with ample alcoholic beverages of choice. Always made from scratch, taste championed calorie content; many delicious creamy pastas and carb-loaded rice and pitta dishes were consumed.Being in my early twenties, I was quite capable of getting away with my not exactly nutritious diet, however following Law School I noticed that I’d put on a few pounds. Being a food lover, I became extremely interested in the power of food; its nutritional value, its healing, health benefits. I read pages and pages of nutritional information; I followed fitness blogs, and read health cookbooks. I then made the decision to turn paleo; I really tightened up my diet and saw amazing result. Most importantly however, eating the right food made me feel great. For the first time, I did not feel bloated, I felt energized, health issues cleared up. My skin was the best ever, I slept well at night. The Paleo Diet involves eating mainly vegetables and protein, with small amounts of fruit, nuts and seeds. Eating Paleo is in essence eating the foods your body was designed to eat. The Paleo Diet mimics the diet that our hunter-gather ancestors ate; pre-agricultural revolution. My love of paleo, has brought me to my new found hobby; CrossFit and a combination of exercise and diet are an unbeatable solution. Paleo Polly is a blog dedicated to my journey. Although I am not a qualified nutritionist, my personal journey has enabled me to make great changes to my life and to my well-being. I would like to share my journey, and my life experiences and guide and assist anyone wanting to make a positive change.

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