Beauty Detox Solution on a Budget: Groceries for $60

The Beauty Detox Solution is a program by Kimberly Snyder, which focuses on plant foods to ease digestion, make your body more alkaline, lose weight, improve health, and improve skin and hair. Her plan is gluten-free, dairy-free, mostly vegetarian, and focuses on lots of fruits and vegetables. People often say that these kind of diets are too expensive to follow, but I am going to follow her basic concepts for one week for $5 per person per day. I followed the basic principles of her diet and did notice a great difference in how I felt.

The basic principles of her diet that I am following this week are: warm water with lemon first thing every morning, green smoothie for breakfast, eating "light to heavy" throughout the day (which means saving any protein for dinner), eating mostly raw foods, eating probiotics, and eating tons of fruits and vegetables.

I am going to modify some things. The Beauty Detox is done in stages, with the last stage being completely vegan. That's not realistic for my husband and I, so we are including meat for dinner a few times over the week. She also advocates eating mostly organic. This is difficult to do on a budget, and so I have bought almost nothing organic. I did, however, buy a bunch of parsley and cilantro. We will have about 1/4 cup of parsley or cilantro each with lunch and dinner, which works to cleanse the body of toxins that might be found in non-organic food.

Here is our menu:

First thing in the morning: Hot water with lemon
Breakfast: Green Smoothies
Snacks: Fresh Fruit
Nuts
Lunches: Mediterranean Chopped Salad (2 times)
Lebanese Salad (2 times)
Baby Greens Salad (2 times)
Dinners: Salmon Cakes with Vegetables
Sweet Potato and Zucchini Street Tacos with Beans
Fried Rice
Chicken Calabasa Stew
Butternut Squash and Chick Pea Stew ( 2 times)
With Dinner: Lactose-Fermented Pickles

Shopping List:
7 Bananas
Romaine Lettuce (2 heads)
Baby Spinach (big container)
 10 tomatoes
5 cucumbers
Baby kale, mixed greens or spring mix, or baby spinach (1 big container)
1 bell pepper
2 avocados
1 large or 2 small red onions
Fruit (for snacking)
Parsley
Cilantro
Calabasa Squash or Zucchini (4)
1 pound sweet potatoes
1 bag pre-cut butternut squash (4 cups)
2 cans of Rotel
1 can of diced tomatoes
32 ounces chicken broth
1 can chick peas
1 can black or pinto beans
 Chicken breasts (1 pound)
Package of tuna (optional for salads)
1 can salmon
1 package of steam-in-bag frozen brussel sprouts (or other vegetables to go with salmon cakes)
1 package of frozen peas and carrots
1/2 dozen eggs
Orange Juice (I spend the extra for Simply Orange)

From my pantry: garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, balsamic or other salad vinegar, rice, cinnamon, cumin, corriander seeds, chili powder, crushed red pepper flakes, cinnamon, pecans (for snacking), soy sauce, Siracha chili sauce, raisins

Week 5 Food Costs: $50

I'm back! I had lots of craziness in my life with family illnesses that prevented me from blogging. I did come up with some great strategies to get through those times on a budget and I will post about that later. Meanwhile, here is our menu and grocery list for this week:

Breakfast: Green Smoothie (tasty, quick, fruit AND vegetables in the morning!)
Lunch (about 3 days): Mediterranean Salad with Chicken
Lunch (about 2 days): Bacon, Tomato, Avocado Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries
Other 2 days of lunches will be leftovers from dinner

Dinner: Pasta with Broccoli and Pesto
Dinner: Sopa de Lima with Quesedillas
Dinner: Chicken Stir Fry (2 days)
Dinner: Chicken Broccoli Parmesean
Dinner: Salmon Cakes with Brussel Sprouts and Spring Vegetables
Dinner: Tamales with Refried Beans

I am doing a low-carb crash diet for three days this week (salad for lunch, chicken stir fry, chicken broccoli parmesean, and salmon cakes for dinner). If you don't want to do low-carb, simply add rice and pasta to these meals, for an extra week's cost of about $2 to $3.

Grocery list:
Cilantro
5 tomatoes
1 avocado
ginger
Romaine lettuce (I bought the bagged because the store was out of the heads, but the heads are MUCH cheaper)
1 cucumber
6 bananas
1 bag spinach
3 to 5 long green chile peppers or poblano peppers
1 jalapeno
2 large heads of broccoli
1 red bell pepper
1 package of snow peas
a few oranges (for snacks)
1 pound of chicken breasts
frozen brussel sprouts
frozen "spring vegetables" (get whatever kind of frozen vegetables you like)
frozen bag of sweet potato fries
Can of black beans
Can of pinto beans
Can of diced tomatoes
Box of chicken broth
Orange juice
Shredded cheddar cheese
1 rotisserie chicken

From my pantry: parmesean cheese, 1 box pasta, 1/2 jar pesto sauce, 1/2 package bacon, sandwich bread, tortillas, olive oil, lemon juice, lime juice, soy sauce, 1/2 jar spaghetti sauce, 1 can salmon, 1 onion, garlic salt, crushed red pepper flakes, mayonnaise, mustard, tamales (my mom makes tamales for me!)

Thanksgiving Week, Including Thanksgiving Dinner: $70

I am very proud of myself this week! Dave and I are eating for a full week, including feeding seven people Thanksgiving dinner, for only $70! To make this happen, before Thanksgiving we are eating vegetarian meals, but that is okay. Experts say that periodically eating vegetarian is very good for you.

Week Menu
Saturday lunch: leftovers from last week
Saturday dinner: Moroccan Spiced Lentils and Couscous
Sunday lunch: french toast and bacon
Sunday dinner: Moroccan Spiced Lentils and Couscous

Daily Breakfast: Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal
Dinner 1: Polenta, Spinach, and Roasted Chick Peas
Dinner 2: Tortilla Soup with Nachos
Dinner 3: Pasta with Tomatoes and Pesto Sauce

Daily lunches are leftovers from the previous night's dinner.

Thanksgiving Menu
Now, for the good stuff.

Lemon Pepper Turkey Breast (8.5 pounds)
Homemade Turkey Gravy
Homemade Citrus Cranberry Sauce
Tater Tot Casserole (the only really unhealthy thing on the menu, but it's a Holiday!)
Roasted Red Cabbage, Cauliflower, and Butternut Squash
Ginger Carrots
Crescent Rolls

*While this would be a complete meal, my mom is bringing her famous Sausage Dressing, my mother-in-law is bringing appetizers and another vegetable, and my friend is bringing dessert.

Shopping List:
Milk
Butter
Turkey Breast (there aren't enough of us for a whole turkey and no one eats anything but the breast)
5 Lemons
1 Orange
Calavasa Squash
1 Avocado
Cranberries
Red Cabbage
Cauliflower
Butternut Squash (2 pre-cut bags for a total of 8 cups)
2 Boxes + 2 Cans of Chicken Broth
2 Bags of Extra Crispy Tater Tots
2 Pounds of Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Pint of Sour Cream
1 Liter of Ginger Ale
2 Cans of Crescent Rolls
Apple Cinnamon Tea
1 Box Cous Cous
2 Cans of Chick Peas
1 Can of Black Beans
1 Can of Pumpkin
1 Can of Rotel
1 Canister of Oatmeal

From My Pantry: Sugar, Lemon Pepper, Garlic Salt, Ground Cumin, Garlic, Ground Cinnamon, 1/2 Package of Bacon, 2 Onions, Brown Mustard, 3/4 Bag of Carrots, 1/2 Bag of Lentils, Pasta, Pesto Sauce, 2 Tomatoes, Corn Meal, 1/2 Bag Frozen Spinach, Tortilla Chips, Corn Meal

Recipes coming soon!

Week 4 Food Costs: $55

My experiment last week with using leftovers from dinner for lunch the next day worked well, so I am continuing that again this week. We spent $55 on food this week for six days ($4.58 per person per day). Here's what we are eating:

Friday night: Date Night
Saturday Lunch: Bacon, Avocado, Tomato Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries
Saturday Dinner: At My Mom's House
Sunday Lunch: Pancakes and bacon
Sunday Dinner: Bacon, Avocado, Tomato Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries

Weekday Breakfast: Toast with Peanut Butter and Banana
Dinner 1: Deconstructed Italian Stuffed Peppers
Dinner 2: Lasagna
Dinner 3: Chicken Stir Fry with Ginger and Bok Choy
Dinner 4: Chicken Calabaza Stew
Weekday Lunch: Leftovers from Previous Dinner


Treat: S'mores!

Shopping List:
Tomatoes
Avocado
Bok Choy
Carrots
Calabaza Squash
Bananas
Frozen Spinach
Bacon
Italian Sausage
Chicken
Mozzarella Cheese (big bag)
2 Cans Tomatoes
2 Cans Rotel
Bread
Tortilla Chips
Graham Crackers
Marshmellows
2 Hershey Bars
Milk

From My Kitchen: Garlic Salt, Chili Powder, Cumin, Sweet Potatoes (4 small), Onion, Fresh Garlic, Pancake Mix, Syrup, Peanut Butter, 1/2 Bag Baby Bell Peppers (leftover from last week), 1/2 Large Carton Mushrooms (leftover from last week), 1/2 Bag Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese, Lasagna Noodles, Rice, Ginger, Soy Sauce

Week 3 Grocery Costs: $56

I spent $56 for six days of food for Dave and I this week ($4.67 per person per day). We had date night out on Friday night and have a wedding to attend tonight. We are eating pretty high on the hog this week too! I bought a bottle of wine and some frozen halibut. By not buying junk food and having one vegetarian meal, I can afford food "luxuries" like wine and halibut (which cost me $1 per ounce!).

This week, I am trying a new method for our lunches. We are both getting tired of eating the same thing for lunch every day for a week. So, I am going to try making a little bit extra for dinner every night, and then we will take leftovers from the previous night's dinner for lunch.

Menu:
Friday night: Date night, dinner out
Saturday lunch: leftovers from date night
Saturday dinner: We are going to a wedding
Sunday lunch: french toast, eggs, bacon, hashbrowns
Sunday dinner: leftovers from the week with a salad

Breakfast: Make-Ahead Egg, Potato, and Cheese Buritos
Dinner 1: Halibut Mediterranean Stew
Dinner 2: Italian Sausage Spaghetti
Dinner 3: Italian Sausage and Potato Soup
Dinner 4: Red Beans and Rice

Grocery List:
fennel
garlic
baby bell peppers (a bag of these is cheaper than 2 red bell peppers)
2 yellow onions
1 red onion
mushrooms
romaine lettuce
4 potatoes
french bread
frozen halibut
Italian sausage
4 cans of diced tomatoes
1 can Great Northern beans
2 boxes of chicken broth
dozen eggs
flour tortillas
bottle of Pinot Noir
milk
spaghetti

From My Pantry: shredded cheese (1/2 bag), barley (you can use rice), crushed red pepper, lemon juice, garlic salt, olive oil, red beans, rice, Tabasco, chili powder

Recipes coming Monday!

Week 2 Food Costs: $51

This food cost is 7 days for my husband but only 4 days for me. I was with my brother's family this weekend, and they graciously fed me. Cost per person per day is $4.63.

Also, since I  am getting back home late tonight and won't have time to cook this week, I am having frozen lunches this week. We are maximizing our grocery budget and wasting as little food as possible by eating all of our leftovers from last week before this week begins.

Menu:
Friday lunch (Dave)- pizza buffet with his dad ($7). He didn't eat dinner because he was full of pizza. (My cost for food this week includes this $7).
Saturday lunch (Dave)- sandwich and vegies
Saturday dinner (Dave)- steak, Brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes
Sunday lunch (Dave)- leftovers from last week
Sunday dinner (Dave)- leftovers from steak dinner

Weekday breakfasts- toast, peanut butter, banana, milk
Weekday lunches (Dave)- sandwich with baby carrots
Weekday lunches (me)- frozen Healthy Choice lunch
Dinner 1: french toast, bacon, eggs
Dinner 2: turkey lettuce wraps
Dinner 3: Halloween pumpkin chipotle soup
Dinner 4: Greek turkey patties with salad and rice

Grocery List:
Romaine lettuce
Bananas
Onion
Green Onions
Mushrooms
Baby Carrots
Brussel Sprouts
Ginger
Ground Turkey (1 pound for 2 people)
Steak (on sale)
Frozen lunches
Eggs
Bacon
Sandwich Meat
Can of Pure Pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
40 ounces of chicken broth

From Pantry: bread, milk, peanut butter, 2 tomatoes, 1 potato, garlic,  leftovers from last week, soy sauce, dried Asian seasoning, dried oregano, garlic salt, lemon juice, olive oil, rice, Siracha chili sauce, ground cumin, jar of adobo peppers.

This grocery list feeds two adults. Add larger amounts of each ingredient to feed additional family members.

Check back for recipes by Tuesday. 

Week 1 Food Cost: $55

My first week's food cost is $55. This is actually only for 6 days ($4.58 per person per day) because we will be out of town to visit my brother's family on Friday.

Here is our menu for the week.
Saturday and Sunday lunch: french toast, eggs, bacon
Saturday and Sunday dinner: vegetarian street tacos (potato and zucchini) with cheese (leftover from last week) and black beans

Husband Breakfast: toast, peanut butter, banana (left from last week), milk
Husband Lunch: Roast beef sandwiches, small salad

Weeknight Dinners:
1. Roasted vegetables, polenta, black beans
2. Curried quinoa and vegetables
3. Squash, spinach, and sage riostto
4. Leftover Smorgasbord

For my breakfast and lunch this week, I am taking advantage of Subway's buy one sandwich, get one free. I will spend $4 per day on a breakfast and lunch sandwich. This $16 cost is added into my total food cost for this week.

Grocery list:
Milk
Eggs
Dried figs (snack)
Peanut butter
Parmesan cheese
Barley
Corn meal
Can black beans
Fresh sage
Cubed squash
Red cabbage head
Cauliflower head
2 bunches of kale (my husband loves sauteed kale as a snack)
Red bell pepper
2 potatoes
4 zucchinis 
Bacon
French bread
Roast Beef