Question:
Food Costs Pre vs Post Op
I've heard a lot of people state they save on their food bills after surgery. I'm wondering...rough estimate, how much is saved. Every month I spend about 350 on food for my husband, myself, and our 2 year old son. Granted I still have to buy for them, but assuming I am not eating as much and therefore stuff will last a little longer...how much might I save? — Renee B. (posted on May 28, 2003)
May 28, 2003
Renee,
Good luck trying to figure that out, I thought once I was port op I would
save money, in actuality I think I spend more money, I'm 12 months post op,
and it seems that healthy,(Protein shakes and bars) low calorie, low fat
foods, vegtables and fruits are so expensive, I didn't do any of them
pre-op, the fast food run was what Idid and that $.99 cent hamberger never
broke me, Now-a-days, it's a $4.95 Protein Shake, at the smoothie bars, or
a $2.50 protein bar, ... I also eat allot of fruits and vegatables, and
they vary but are not cheap..
I also find it allot easier to watch my portions, by eating micro-wave
meals (Lean cusine) , With being 12 months post op, I think I've used my
kitchen maybe 10 times, over the last 12 months, the micro-wave is really
getting a work out, I no longer cook for the "Man" as he's begun
to eat healthier as well, seems I've spread the healthy disease (A Good
one)...... He too eats the micro meals, and on occasions he'll spark up the
Bar B Que for a big steak.
Over all I think I spend way more post op then I did pre op. I even price
search to find deals, on everything I eat, but no matter what I seem to
spend more...
Hope this helps.
Post op 12 months down 133 pounds
— tannedtigress
May 28, 2003
It DEPENDS:( My tastes changed some and once you dont eat volume you might
crave more expensive good food. Like cooked shrimp. This may offset some of
the savings Eating out Jen and myself both post ops sometimes split meals,
that saves 1/2 the cost if theres somethibng we can agree on. You will save
$$ but it depends on your tastes.
— bob-haller
May 28, 2003
I too feel like I actually spend more - $70+ a month for protien bars is a
lot of money! The flip side, though, is that I DO spend a lot less on SOME
things - no more icecream (which is expensive), and when we go out to eat,
I'm a really "cheap date". If we spend less on our grocery bill
after my surgery, it's negligble - the man still eats as much as he did
before (sometimes more, because I end up feeding him my leftovers if my
eyes were bigger than my stomach - which they usually are nowadays, lol).
— johanniter
May 28, 2003
Hi Renee- I'm hoping that with all the money I will be saving on food, I
will be buying my new wardrobe! :o)
— Mea A.
May 28, 2003
Boy, this is a tough one! I think the answer will be different for
everyone. A lot depends on how much you you go out to eat pre-op vs.
post-op, and what kind of food you buy pre vs. post-op. For some (like me)
the savings are fairly substantial, as my family of 5 no longer goes out to
eat 3-6 times a week, and I no longer buy ice cream at $2.50-3.00 a pint,
or any other junk food for that matter. On the other hand, the protein
shakes add up in a hurry, and I now find that I buy a lot of more
'expensive' foods.s...soy ribs that are $1 per 2.5 oz serving, deli lunch
meat that is $7.00 a pound, cheeses that are $5-15 a pound, jerky that is
$4.00 per 1/4 pound, king crab at $14.99 a pound, deep sea fish that run
$6-8 a pound, not to mention all of the organic fresh veggies and fruits,
etc. But you know, in the end, even if it is more expensive, it has been
so worth it to have myself, and my hubby and three kids, be eating much
healthier...and who can really put a price on that?
— eaamc
May 28, 2003
Its just hubby and me but I think I spend about the same. Although alot
less trips to fast food places ($ saved there), I find that I cook more at
home now, and buy healthier foods, such as meats and poultry, fresh veggies
and fruits, which were not high on my list before. Veggies and fruits are
expensive! Also, protein bars are not cheap, though it may even out as
they have replaced candy bars in my life. As for eating out, I don't do
the appetizers, just the main dish and always have leftovers but if hubby
is along, he usually takes care of those! I think in the beginning when
your not eating much of anything, you may see savings but the further out
you get, the less so.
— Cindy R.
May 28, 2003
I would say that I spend a lot more! I eat less, but I eat better quality
foods which are more expensive. Now that I am at my goal weight I am also
trying to change my kids eating habits to eat a high protein, low fat diet
with fresh fruits and veggies for snacks. High carb foods like pasta and
rice are usually the cheapest that you buy. Quality meats and produce are
the most expensive.
— Linda A.
May 28, 2003
I find I have saved already. I am not eating lunch out (yet anyway) and
when I do, I get to use my discount card. If I do fast food, it will be 1
soft taco or something of that nature ... $1.00 verses $5.00 fast food
meal. It's just me and my kids, so I'm finding I can buy family size packs
of meat, portion it out into two serving meals and freeze. I'm making 5
meals out of one pack of meat. I'm sure it will be different as I get
further post op. But I know I am not spending $$ on junk food, and my
daily fix of candy and diet coke. I've saved a fortune in diet coke alone.
If you ad it all up, I'm sure you'll save!
— Happy I.
May 28, 2003
I suppose it does depend on what your starting point is. I've always
cooked fresh meals at home, and so have been buying produce and fresh
meat/fish as a regular part of my grocery shopping. But now, an
"old" dinner of two chicken breasts, two mashed potatoes and a
bowlful of brocolli becomes two dinners and two or three lunches, and
without the mashed potatoes. I do not use many protein drinks and don't
use protein bars at all. The savings will vary depending on how you spend
your grocery budget now, and what you choose to do with supplements after.
— Vespa R.
May 28, 2003
I'm sure that if I was shopping only for myself that I would see a savings,
but I can honestly say that my grocery bills are much higher now than
pre-op. My family and I are eating much healthier now and that comes with
a price! Fresh produce, fresh meats and fresh fish can be very expensive
these days! When I also figure in the cost of vitamin supplements, protein
powder, splenda, bottled water, high protein snacks, etc...my food costs
have gone up by at least $100.00 a month. However, everyone is different.
That's just food...don't even get me started on my monthly clothing bills!
LOL Good luck!
— pam29922
May 28, 2003
Count me in as one who spends more. Junk food is a whole lot cheaper than
fresh produce and high-protein foods! My restaurant bills are about the
only thing that's cheaper, since now I skip appetizers and desserts and
order an appetizer for my meal. And I am also saving on bar tabs, since
I'm staying away from sugary margaritas/daiquiris...but any savings that I
see there is quickly eaten up by the grocery bill!
— Amy W.
May 28, 2003
Cheaper here but mostly because we don't eat out nearly as often. I can
feed the family healthy food cheaper than eating crap at a restaurant...and
since I eat so little it doesn't appeal to me to eat out much. Secondly,
the kids' lunch treats last 10 times longer since I'm not helping myself to
them. A steak dinner that used to last one meal, now makes it through 3
meals for me. Definitely cheaper!
— [Deactivated Member]
May 28, 2003
I'm not sure if I spend less or more. It seems like more when I have to
shell out so much money on calcium, multivitamins, b-12, and protein drinks
that I can tolerate. I have found that online there are some places to get
these things cheaper than at the local health food store. Now if I can
just get my soon to be 3 year old out of pull-ups that'll be where the huge
savings kick in! LOL
— [Deactivated Member]
May 29, 2003
I'd say I spend about the same. It's just Jayme (teenage daughter) and
myself. I would say that right now I'm spending about the same. I now buy
soy milk and all the protein stuff. It has replaced all the 'bad' or no
longer tolerable foods pre-op.
Protein can really eat up the $$ especially while in the trial & error
period.
Good luck!
— Diane S.
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