The Paleo Mama

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The Paleo Mama’s Weekly Meal Plan #2

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Please forgive me for being a few days late posting this. I was at the Florida Parents Educators Association Convention for the past 2 days with my husband. It was awesome! It’s an annual state convention for homeschoolers… loaded with workshops, exhibits, and encouragement for homeschooling families.

However, I’m making time tonight for you all!!! I want you to have this for the coming up week. The first meal will be Memorial Day themed, followed by 4 other simple, budget-conscious, Paleo meals.

I included two crockpot meals because I know this is a busy week for everyone. Many families are running around crazy trying to wrap up the end of the school year for their kids. I hope this week’s meal plan makes your life easier!

Hope you have a Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to those who have served this wonderful country and for those who have given their lives. I am forever thankful.

Weekly Meal Plan #2

***Bookmark this page so you can come back over the week to find the recipes you need***

Meal 1 (Memorial Day): Spanish Burgers  & Sweet Potato Wrapped Bacon Bites.

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If you are going to a party and you want to impress your friends with some Paleo food, the Sweet Potato Wrapped Bacon Bites are AMAZING! We call them “Little Bites of Heaven” because you just want to savor every bit of it.

There are a few additional things you can add to the Spanish Burgers if you want to get fancy. The recipe has a caramelized onion chile relish and a roasted red pepper sauce you can make to go with them. I know it is Memorial Day and having “Spanish” burgers may sound silly, but they are really good and we use them as our regular burger recipe now. If you don’t like chorizo, you can use ground pork or just some more ground beef.

Meal 2 (Crockpot): Chile Cilantro Lime Crockpot Chicken & Tomato, Avocado, Cucumber Salad

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***see note below on saving the bones and making homemade stock***

I just love easy crockpot meals! Paleo Pot put together a golden recipe with this one! Add in the delicious salad and you have a simple meal for those days when you don’t have time to cook dinner!

Don’t forget to marinate the chicken overnight!

***Save your bones from the whole chicken and make stock according to my method here. Save the stock for meal 5 in this plan***

Meal 3: Salmon Patties with a Creamy Lemon Dill Sauce & Faux-Tato Salad

salmon patties

This meal is a little bit more intricate. Make this meal on a evening you have enough time for all the prep work. Savor your extra work…it will be worth it. I’m always trying to find more frugal ways to get seafood into my family’s diet!

Meal 4: Green (or Red) Chile Pork Taco-Salad

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With all the veggies in this, no need for a side dish. Pile your salad high and enjoy the simplicity of it! It’s one of our best pork dishes!

Meal 5 (Crockpot): Creamy Chicken Tomato Soup with Almond Bread

We just had this soup tonight for the 10th time, or so, and it’s so delicious. The Almond Bread recipe is another family favorite! We love dipping the bread into soup and stews. The Almond Bread is much like cornbread.

My family enjoys soup on, even, the hottest days! It’s just a healthy, frugal way to utilize all that stock that you are making if you are following my simple recipe.

<<<Printable Shopping List>>>

Are you enjoying these meal plans??? Let me know!

 

Shopping Paleo at BJ’s Wholesale Club

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I did my grocery shopping today at BJ’s Wholesale. I didn’t want to sign up for a membership because I have a Sam’s and Costco membership, but I received a free 2 month membership incentive in the mail and thought I would give it a try.

I have to say…I am quite impressed. They have MUCH more organic produce than Costco even does. I love Costco and find a lot of Paleo items there, but it’s a 20 minute drive for me. BJ’s is right down the road!

Here’s a few things I loved about BJ’s:

***Note: I buy organic when I can find it and when I can afford it into our budget***

  • They are CHEAP! REALLY cheap…even their organic foods are cheap.
  • They have Kerrygold butter!
  • They have a MUCH larger selection of natural household cleaners.
  • They have large quantities…but they also have small quantities. So, if you are single, or it’s just you and your partner, then BJ’s would still be awesome! They had large packages of their meats (5lbs) and smaller packages (2lbs)!
  • LOTS of organic produce!
  • A good selection of healthy snacks for the kids (nuts, fruit leather, Buddy Fruit applesauce pouches, organic yogurt (if you do dairy), cases of olives, and good selection of fruit (some organic).

Here’s a few things I bought at BJ’s and what I spent:

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  1.  Stretch Island Fruit Leather (all fruit), 30 pieces: $6.99 – These are usually $0.50 a piece in the grocery store.  At BJ’s, you can get it for half the price!
  2. Organic Girl Superfoods Green Mix, 1lb: $4.99
  3. English Cucumber, 2ct: $2.79
  4. 1lb bag of Kale: $1.99
  5. Green Pepper, 4ct: 4.99
  6. HUGE bag of Organic Peas: $6.49
  7. Red Pepper, 4ct: $4.99
  8. Bananas, 3lbs: $1.49
  9. Almond Milk, 86oz: $3.49
  10. Organic Celery, 3 hearts: $3.79
  11. Applegate Smoked Turkey Deli cuts, (2) 7oz packs: $7.69
  12. Applegate Forest Ham Deli cuts, (2) 7oz packs: $7.29
  13. Applegate Beef Hot Dogs, (2) 12oz packs, $8.29
  14. Organic Fuji Apples, 5lbs: $8.99
  15. Black Olives, 6 cans: $6.89
  16. Organic Carrots, 5lbs: $4.49
  17. Blueberries, 18oz: $6.99
  18. Ground Pork, 2.5lbs: $4.98
  19. Beef Stew Meat: 5lbs: $17.08
  20. YoKids Organic Yogurt Squeezers, 16 tubes: $5.99 (this is the only dairy my kids get…I freeze them)
  21. Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes, 6 cans: $5.99
  22. Kiwi, 3lbs: $5.49
  23. Buddy Fruit Applesauce Pouches, 12ct: $7.79
  24. Lara Bars, 12ct: $10.99 – *unfortunately, these were the Uber Lara Bars which have brown rice syrup in them…so not 100% Paleo

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Non-Paleo Food Items (yes, I am human) and Household Stuff:

  1. Giradelli Chocolate Chips, 5lbs: $8.99
  2. Veggie Straws: $4.99
  3. Jimmy Dean Turkey Links: $8.99
  4. Basmati Brown Rice: $4.99 – (I buy this to go with my Asian foods at parties where some people don’t get Cauliflower Rice)
  5. Kids Shampoo, 4pk: $5.99
  6. Hydrogen Peroxide, 2pck: $2.29 (I use this for bleaching)

Total Spent: $210.00 – $10 over my weekly food budget

I allot $200 a week to groceries. This covers all household supplies, dog food, cleaning supplies, and anything else. This week, I am using these meats from my freezer: Tilapia, chicken breasts, and Salmon. I, always, buy my meat in larger portions and split them up, then freeze.

What else do you find at BJ’s Wholesale Club that is Paleo-worthy?

 

 

 

Week’s Worth of LOCAL Groceries & My Budget!

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I am such an advocate of shopping local! Since my daughter was born, I made the decision to pursue healthier eating and shopping at local Farmer’s Market’s is one of the healthiest, most frugal way to eat better!

This week I’m gonna show you all that I got from my local Farmer’s Market and talk about my weekly food budget. We are a family of 4 and my grocery budget for EVERYTHING (paper products, dog food, household items, batteries, etc) is $200 a week. I get about 80-90% of our food from my local Farmer’s Market and supplement with trips to Costco or Publix.

Today I spent $91 at the market and came out with TONS of groceries! There are a few things that I don’t buy at the market because of the cost. These are…

  • Bacon – I buy that at Costco for cheap
  • Spices
  • Beef and Pork– too expensive for us. I either find a local meat market to purchase “Family Packs” or buy from Costco.
  •  Alcohol – my husband will never give up his beer!
  • Oils, vinegar, and Maple Syrup – I buy them from Costco.
  • Eggs – I usually get these from a local hobby farmer but she was out of them so I bought some today from the market. I usually get them for $3. I found this local lady off Craigslist. At the market today they were $4.
  • Milk – my kids just started drinking raw milk again because I found someone local who sells it. I buy this for $10 a gallon and they get a gallon a week. When it’s out, it’s out.

Here is what I found at my Farmer’s Market…if I remembered the price, I listed it…

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From left to right…

  • 9 bananas, 4 for $1
  • 2 large heads of broccoli, 2 for $3
  • pack of 6 large nitrate free hot dogs, $6
  • HUGE box (6 pints) of strawberries, $9
  • 6 large carrots
  • 2 green peppers
  • 5 yellow squash
  • 3 zucchini
  • 4 avocados, 2 for $3
  • 2 pints of blueberries, $3
  • 5 tomatoes
  • lots of small red potatoes
  • 2 heads of romaine lettuce
  • 1 large cabbage
  • 6 sweet potatoes
  • 1 green onion, $1
  • 1 large bunch of spinach leaves, $1
  • 1lb of Amish butter, $6
  • 2 pints of white mushrooms
  • bunch of red grapes
  • 12 dozen eggs, $4
  • Asparagus bunch
  • 2 whole chickens, 2 for $15

Total = $91!!! Can’t beat that, eh?!?!

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I got a few other things at Publix to supplement this trip:

  • 2 bottles of local wine, BOGO free $9.99
  • Yengling beer, $6.99
  • Yo Kids organic yogurt, $3.50 (I put these in the freezer for a frozen treat!)
  • BOGO watermelon chunks, $1.50 (I make popsicle with these)
  • Thyme – forgot to grab some at the market
  • Parsley – forgot to grab some at the market
  • Vanilla
  • Smoked Paprika
  • 1lb of Boar’s Head chicken cuts, $9

Total = $57

This brings my total spending to $148 for the week!

A few budget points:

I have 2 lbs of ground beef in my freezer and 2 whole chickens from the market today to use in our meals, as well as bacon for breakfast.

I will need to use $10 on milk and $10 on more eggs (we average 4 dozen eggs a week) which brings my total to $168.

I will use the other $30 on buying more meat at some point during the week from Costco. I hope to get a roast and some chicken thighs. We eat out once, maybe twice, a week and never more.

I will not go over my $200 budget. I am pretty good about that. I operate on cash, so when the cash is out, so is the food and I need to be creative with how we use it. Also, I can, and have, cut this budget in half to only $100 a week, while still eating 75% Paleo. I supplement our meals with some rice, discount foods from market deals, and non-organic produce. It is possible, but it is more challenging. You have to really shop around.

Tell me what you find at your Farmer’s Markets and how you work your family budget!!!

 

Grocery Deals 3/14/03 – 3/21/03

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Publix

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BOGO DEALS

1. Green Giant Frozen Vegetables, 7-10 oz, at $1.99 (99¢)

2. Blue Diamond Almonds, 6 oz, at $3.39 ($1.69)
-$1/2 Blue Diamond almonds, 4 oz +, SS 1/27
-$1 off Blue Diamond whole natural almonds, 6 oz (Facebook) printable

3. Bertolli Extra Light Tasting or Classico Olive Oil, 17 oz, at $7.89 ($3.94) THIS IS GREAT FOR MAKING MAYO!

More Deals

4. Publix Greenwise Top Round London Broil at $4.99lb

5. Brothers or Millstone Coffee, 10-12 oz, $8.49
-$4 off Millstone coffee (home mailer) printable
-$1.50 off Millstone coffee, 10 oz+ bag or K-Cups (regional), RP 2/03
-$3 off Brothers or Millstone coffee 10-12 oz bags or 1 lb whole bean bulk (Publix coupon), Easter Savings Flyer
(use store and $4 off, makes it $1.49)

6. Petite Red Potatoes, 3 lbs, $2.49

7. Green Cabbage, 29¢ lb

8. Red Delicious Apples, $1.49 lb

9. Premium Tomatoes, $1.49 lb

10. Green Bell Pppers, $1.49 lb

11. Baby Bella Mushrooms, 8 oz, $1.99

12. Publix Baby Carros, 16 oz, $1

13. Florida Strawberries, 16 oz, $2

14. Land O Lakes Butter, 16 oz, $2.50
.50/1 Land O Lakes butter spread printable

Winn Dixie

BOGO Deals –  there are some great BOGO meat deals this week!

1. Fisherman’s Wharf Shrimp, 12-16 oz, at $10.99 ($5.49)

2. Boneless Bottom Round Roast, 2 lb, at $5.39 ($2.69)

3. Center Cut Bone-In Pork Chops, 2 lb, at $4.99 ($2.49)

4. Sanderson Farms Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts, 2 lb, at $4.69 ($2.34)

5. Fisherman’s Wharf Flounder, Cod, Perch, Whiting, Grouper, or Tilapia Fillets, 12-16 oz, at $7.99 ($3.99)

6. Pompeian Olive Oil, 16 oz, at $5.99 ($2.99)
-$1 off Pompeian Olive Oil printable
-$1 off Pompeian oil, 16 oz+ printable

 

 

Paleo Foods on Sale at Publix (3/7-3/14) with Coupon Matches!

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Every Wednesday I’m going to do a quick write-up for all the Paleo foods that are going on sale at certain stores for the coming up week. This week I am choosing Publix because there are a lot of great deals. Publix starts their weekly ad and new sales on Thursdays.

Please note that I do not only include organic items. However, all the items I choose will be Paleo-approved and affordable and list any coupons that you can use to save EVEN MORE!

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Buy One Get One Free Deals This Week!

1. GreenLine Fresh Green Beans, 12oz at $2.99 ($1.49)

2. So Delicious Frozen Dessert, 1pk, at $5.99 ($2.99) – if you feel like indulging in a coconut ice cream

-.55 cents off So Delicious dairy free item PRINTABLE

-$2 off So Declicious Dairy Free Dessert in the Publix Yellow Advantage flyer (EXP 3/8)

3. Caribou Ground Coffee, 12oz at $9.99 ($4.99)

-$2 off Caribou Coffee in Smart Source in the 3/03 Sunday Paper

4. Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 32oz, at $11.29 ($5.64)

-$1 off Pompeian Olive Oil PRINTABLE

5. Del Monte Tomatoes, 14.5oz, at $1.59 (.79cents)

-.50cents of 2 Del Monte tomatoes, PRINTABLE

Other Sales Worth Noting

6. Publix Greenwise Whole Chicken, $1.99lb

7. Earth’s Best Organic Smoothie or Baby Food Puree, 4.2oz, $1

-Buy 3 get one free Earth’s Best baby food (Target coupon), Target Baby home mailer *

8. Yellow or Zucchini Squash, $1.29lb

9. Green Cabbage, .49 centslb

10. Fuji or Red Delicious Apples, $1.29lb

11. Premium Tomatoes, $1.49lb

12. Navel Oranges, .99centslb

13. Russet Potatoes, 5lb, $2.99 (if you eat white potatoes)

14. Florida Strawberries, 16oz, $1.67

15. 4 Grain Eggs, 12ct, $2.29

-.35cents & a .55 cents off 4 Grain Eggs, Smart Source printed in 10/14 Sunday paper

16. Cascadian Farm Organic Frozen Strawberries, 10oz, $3.49

-$2 off 2 Cascadian product (Publix coupon), Yellow Advantage Buy Flyer (EXP 3/08)

17. So Delicious Dairy Free Soy Free Coconut Milk Ice Cream, 1pt., $5.99

-.55 cents off So Delicious Dairy Free item PRINTABLE

-$2 off So Delicious Dairy Free Dessert, (Publix coupon), Yellow Advantage Flyer (EXP 3/08)

18. Cascadian Farm Frozen Broccoli Florets, 10oz, $3.49

-$2 off 2 Cascadian Farm product (Publix coupon), Yellow Advantage Flyer (EXP. 3/08)

19. Filippo Berio Olive Oil, 25.3oz, $6.69

-$1 off Filippo Berio Olive Oil PRINTABLE

-$1 off Filippo Berio Olive Oil, (Publix coupon), Yellow Advantage Flyer (EXP 3/08)

20. Muir Glen Tomatoes, 14.5oz, $1.33

-$1 off 2 Muir Glen products, look for sticker on the can

21. Spice Islands Pure Vanilla Extract, 1 oz, $2.99

*Publix accepts competitor coupons! So save those Target coupons!

Let me know if you find any other great Publix deals this week!!!

 

 

 

Affording Paleo & Fruity Kombucha Jell-O Bites

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Affording Paleo: On Any Budget

chickenI have a few guest posts out that I wanted to direct you all too. The first one is on the Paleo Parent’s blog and is about affording Paleo and making Paleo work for your budget. Included is my frugal technique of stretching 4-6 meals out of ONE CHICKEN! Please go check it out and get some great tips on affording Paleo for your budget.

Paleo Parent’s was my lifeline when I started Paleo over a year ago. They had kids and a baby and they were making Paleo work. After 30 days of eating Paleo, I, also, wrote this guest blog for them on how Paleo changed my life, helped my depression, and lowered my husband’s cholesterol so much that he is now STATIN drug-free!!!

Fruity Kombucha Jell-O Bites

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My awesome and hilarious REAL LIFE friend, Summer, over at The Dirty Floor Diaries asked me post for her. I love Summer and I love her blog. It’s so real and I just want to be like, “thank you…I’m not alone in how I feel.” Summer speaks my language!

I posted on these awesome Kombucha Jell-O bites that I had recently made for my kids. My kids keep devouring them and they are so healthy! Go check out my recipe on The Dirty Floor Diaries!!

Where can I get Kombucha? You can either buy Kombucha at health food stores, or you can easily make it yourself at home!

Click here to get Kombucha cultures to make at home.