Inexpensive meat by the bulk

[Tricon7]

This may have been asked before, but being new to Atkins, I plan on eating lots of burgers w/cheese. It would be more economical if I could get larger amounts at a time. My wife isn't fond of the meat prepared at Wallymart, but it may be the cheapest. Would I just go to the local supermarket (it's usually the most expensive)? Would it be worth it to buy a membership to Sam's Club to get this?

I might add that the cheese is going to be the costliest. I don't want to buy a big block of cheese if it means hand-carving every slice I want and get arms like Popeye over time! Is there a cheap alternative for this, too? Thanks.

[Slapshot]

Bulk buying is invariably cheaper. I have a wholesale membership, but the savings I initially make buying in bulk is often eaten up in (a) waste due to spoiling and (b) buying bags/containers to keep the excess in. So, for meats/veggies, etc, I stick with the supermarket. For frozen stuff, I'll do the wholesale club.

I don't shop at Wal-Mart often, so I'm not sure of the quality of their meat compared to a supermarket (which, of course, would vary from supermarket to supermarket).

Cheese can be frozen in an airtight bag or container.

[sadie147]

Check your local supermarket flyers, i find that almost every cut of meat is on sale at some grocerystore on any given week. When you find it on sale, stock up.

A costco membership here is $50 i can't imagine i would save that much on buying bulk meat there to justify this cost over checking the flyers for sales on meat? Things like chicken breasts and ground beef can go on up to 50% off at the groceries..you just have to watch for the sales.

I would try to have more variety in your diet rather than stick to cheese burgers..is there a reason why you are planning this?

[Tricon7]

Originally Posted by sadie147

I would try to have more variety in your diet rather than stick to cheese burgers..is there a reason why you are planning this?

Yes - I love burgers and cheese! I lost quite a bit of weight when I was on Atkins before, and I ate this a lot. But I'm not against variety. Being on a low-fat diet - eating bird-sized portions, no beef, no dark meat, white-meat-only chicken - is really the pits.

[imagood1]

I shop Walmart meat department quite often - there is nothing wrong with their meats, they are fresh daily here and when they do have something marked down for a "quick sale" it still have several days left to the code. It amazes me how people diss Walmart - but that's neither here nor there for this post. Last week I found pork chops (3 to a package) for under $4.00 a package - they are good size and tasted wonderful. I bought 5 packages so we will have them later also. They also have 3 pound packages of chicken breast (no bone or skin) for under $6.00 - the portions are good size and there is no waste. I also buy large packages of chicken wings and make my own Buffalo Wings at home with ranch dressing and celery sticks on the side.

I watch the weekly sale ads for stores in my area to get the best prices on meats. As far as cheese if you shop your grocery store and buy large portions of cheese you can ask the butches to slice it for you - then you won't ave Popeye arms.

Sam's Club memberships here are $45.00 and just yesterday I bought 4 large beef roasts - the price per roast came out to just over $5.00 per. Not bad when I will be able to get more than 1 meal out of each roast.

[sadie147]

Originally Posted by Tricon7

Yes - I love burgers and cheese! I lost quite a bit of weight when I was on Atkins before, and I ate this a lot. But I'm not against variety. Being on a low-fat diet - eating bird-sized portions, no beef, no dark meat, white-meat-only chicken - is really the pits.

If you were successful on atkins the first time around..why did you leave?

Just curious if you have the book and followed the plan as written. It seems unusual you would be so successful then end up on a low fat/low cal diet?

I don't mean to sound harsh, but I am wondering if it was the limited choices. I too enjoy certain foods that are legal, but i try to add variety to my diet to avoid food boredom.