Saving money by eating less...impossible?

[denham]

:-/

I know how to save money shopping for groceries. I'm pretty darn good at it if I do say so myself.

But my problem is I can't stop eating so dang much. I loooove my food. And yes it shows!

I'd really love to learn how to eat less, but even the prospect of saving money hasn't gotten me to do it yet.

Anybody else have this problem...

[Katrina-Sisu]

I'm hypoglycemic so I have to eat every 3-4 hours to stabilize my sugars lol. It's costly to say the least but I'm blessed that carbs regulate my sugars as well as protein does.

We've moved to cheaper snacks and more 'binding' meals. I try to make a side item now since if we eat a bigger meal, we actually eat less.

I'm weird I suppose lol!

Kat

[walls0stone]

I'm 6ft 4 inches... *149lbs..29 Y/O *not enough time in the day to eat more than I do.

[tufhelp]

Basically I have/had the same problem - I LOVE to eat! - and it showed (past tense). I read this book on metabolism and how what you eat effects you body’s control mechanisms (You on a Diet, the owner's manual for waist management, by Michael F. Roizen, MD and Mehmet C Oz, MD.

Basic summary: Stop eating ALL white food. We now eat only whole grain, made from scratch wholesome food "brown" food. Eliminated almost all processed food and we now eat more that we ever did before and we both have lost a big amount of weight. (Me 255 down to 215 since last October and still counting.)

Anyway, it is how your brain processes the signals that the food you eat sends. I used to sit an finish a whole bag of chips and still be hungry. Now with little sacrifice we have started eating sensible meals that are "filling" to the brain, 2 to three snacks a day and we are loosing weight!

Worth a look see if you get the chance...

[anna]

Follow a diabetic diet counting carbs and you will lose weigh. My dh is allowed 4-5 carb units (15 carbs) per meal and 1-2 carb units for snacks. Three meals and 3 snacks per day. He immediately dropped his weight from 200+ to 170 and has stayed fairly close to that until recently its started creeping up towards 180. That's because he's snacking too many carbs. You can eat whatever you choose as long as you keep the carbs within limits. I've learned to search out snacks that he can have more of so he feels better even tho the carbs are okay. Now if I could just convince him that 4 cups of popcorn is the right amount instead of 4 quarts he prefers!

[Shamrock1121]

If you do what you've done, you'll get what you got..... Try some new ideas.

- Learn what a serving size portion is and how many you need per day http://www.mypyramid.gov/.

- Choose whole foods and avoid junk foods and processed foods. Food high in fiber and nutrition are more satisifying and filling than highly processed food.

- Choose a variety of foods from all the food groups and eat both raw and cooked foods.

- When you eat, do so without distractions (TV, computer, reading, doing other things). Get in the habit of eating any meals or snacks at the table. Take the time to enjoy each bite of food.

- Sit down, take a small bite of food. Put the fork or food down, and with conscious effort, chew completely and swallow. No more gulping food of shoving large quantities of food into your mouth.

- Think about the food in your mouth. How does it feel? What is the texture? What flavor combinations can you detect?

- Only eat when your are mildly hungry. Don't eat out of habit or because you are bored, nervous, distracted.....

- Place less food on your plate than you normally would.

- Don't eat out of the bag. Place a portion on your plate and put the bag away.

- Only eat until you feel satisfied and not hungry anymore - not when the plate is clean. You no longer belong to the "Clean Plate Club".

- Once you have that feeling of satisfaction without being stuffed (every meal shouldn't feel like Thanksgiving), you are done eating. You no longer need to finish what's on anyone elses plate nor will you need to lick all the serving bowls and spoons clean.

- Fill the plates in the kitchen and leave the extra food there. Don't put all the prepared food on the table where you are tempted by seconds (or thirds).

-Karen

[Buck]

One can save money on food by eating everything they put
on their plate to not waste a single morsel. It's all to common,
in America, for food to be wasted because, for many, there's
so much of it.

Never throw good food away!!

[walls0stone]

take all you want, eat all you take.

[flatwater]

Eat before you go shopping , that way you won't buy as much. WallsOstone at 6 foot four and 164 lbs you have to be one skinny stone mason. I remember once when still working at the jail and finger printing a stone mason. He could have past for a silver back gorrila. His fingers were so thick it took me two spaces just to roll them.
Flatwater

[walls0stone]

no... one hundred and FORTY NINE pounds as in less than one fifty...as in 25 LBS under weaght....

My Doc added 3,000 Caleries to my daily intake with a heck of a diet, and lots of those shakes for body builders... toss in stacking stone by the ton every day..swinging hammers and climbing ladders with 40 pound stones on your shoulder... I needed the change..

then I worked for a guy who worked for the Food network. the cooking at his place was GREAT...but living on his diet..I lost it all..

most men in this business are like me...or very very big

[Dawgus]

I'm a pretty gig guy myself (6'4" and 225) and I eat CONSTANTLY. As a pipefitter, I burn it all of fast, so I never stop. I tend to graze all day instead of big meals. At home or work, its usually the same thing though. I carry small cucumbers, green onions, carrots, homeade granola bars, etc. Small grab & carry foods. I definitly get some odd looks when I pull a cuke & salt shaker out of my tool belt. lol
There was a time when all of this little food was prepackaged lunch cakes and candies, luckily thats been 10 years ago. Everything I take now is grown at home, so therefore no expense at the store. In the winter I take some things from the pantry, or homeade beef jerky via the dehydrator.

[TNDadx4]

Tips: Drink plenty of water. It'll help you feel full. Eat lettuce... seriously, have a small (cups of lettuce) salad with your meal.

I used to eat 2 cups of lettuce with tuna, salad dressing and a piece of pita bread for a snack (or small meal). It's pretty filling

[Maranna]

I'm 40 pounds over weight, problem is, I hate whole grain foods. I hate wheat bread too.

Right now I have a terrible diet, because I can't afford to eat decently. I do the best I can. I don't buy things like hamburger helper etc. But can't afford a lot of fresh vegetables or fruit either. In fact I can't even afford canned vegetables often. I eat rice or macaroni with a bit of meat in it. Eat a lot of toasted cheese sandwiches too.

I'm planning a large garden this year, so hope that will help out on the grocer bill.

Even though I'm handicapped, I don't have enough expenses to qualify for food stamps, so I usually have less than $50 a month for food and dry goods.

[redlandnwoods789]

eating less isnt healthy but you can eat six times a day spaced about 2-3 hours apart eat small portions have half a sandwich and a salad in stead of a full sandwich save the other half for the next day only put mayonaise on one slice of bread and no more than 4 slices of lunchmeat. at breakfast have one egg, one toast,with jelly no butter hashbrowns(freshly grated),and cup of coffee or juice .and 2 nomore than 2 sugary snacks a day. granola bar-snack size candybars.and for dinner hamburger/or porkchops.you can make what ever you like. id say only one salad aday and one apple,orange,banana,pear etc. each day leave out something you ate the day before then put it back in anotherday.rotate items so you dont get bored with what you eat.

[denham]

I wrote this post back in July and I still am eating too much! In fact I have been eating more, probably due the feeling of impending doom hanging over my head . I do need to cut way back on carbs. If I do that my appetite decreases substantially. However the cheapest way I have found to eat is using carbs.

Also homemade comfort food is pretty much the only enjoyment that I allow myself, at least until I no longer have a car payment. No tobacco, alcohol, dining out, movie nights, etc.

Maybe I am just making excuses... *:P

[gump]

Eating smaller portions more frequently is better for your metabolism.

I eat healthy most days of the week. The grains aren't bad in terms of price but the fruit sure does seem to add up. The way I see it, I will hopefully have fewer health issues over the years which carry costs that can far outweigh a few dollars a week.

I have found that eating almonds as a snack is a great way to stay full. Also, as noted, drink water often.

[Buck]

Follow a diabetic diet counting carbs and you will lose weigh. *My dh is allowed 4-5 carb units (15 carbs) per meal and 1-2 carb units for snacks. *Three meals and 3 snacks per day. *He immediately dropped his weight from 200+ to 170 and has stayed fairly close to that until recently its started creeping up towards 180. *That's because he's snacking too many carbs. *You can eat whatever you choose as long as you keep the carbs within limits. *I've learned to search out snacks that he can have more of so he feels better even tho the carbs are okay. *Now if I could just convince him that 4 cups of popcorn is the right amount instead of 4 quarts he prefers!

Tip: As a diabetic I found that once you reach your carb limit is helps
a huge bunch to stop there by just changing the taste in my mouth
to stop wanting more. Example, popcorn then sugarless cough drop or
candy. I call it "taste misdirection" and it works for me.

[Penny_Plinker]

Buck, that's an interesting tip, change the taste in your mouth. The cough drop prob gets rid of the salt taste from the popcorn. That's really observant that you've learned this, i'll try it, too. Sorry you have diabetes.

Maranna, i'm saddened you have too small a budget to afford healthy food. If i was you i'd buy some big bags of frozen vegetables. When i do stir fry i add one small potato and cut it up in the oil first. Then add the vegetables and potato flavors the vegetables, and makes the bland vegetables quite tasty without an overabundance of carbs. Someone on here once said they lived for awhile on oatmeal. That's a real food bargain, but it tastes a lot better as granola if you have a few things to add to it.

Penny

[pcrowder]

I've tried to eat less, but as I have to inject insulin, the weight will not come off no matter how little I eat. I am eating healthier, just can't seem to lose weight.

[michiganmom]

My 16 year old eats us out of house and home. It doesnt seem feasably possible for all that food to fit in that child. He is 6ft and around 190 pounds but has broad shoulders. He eats at least tripple of what my hubby or i would eat. Alls i can say is thank God i can bake and cook.

[Country_Mike]

One thing that might work is to brush your teeth if you want to quit eating for the day. Ever tried to eat afterwards? It tastes bad!