How expensive?

	Back to Autism Information >> Next Topic
	I posted this in the biomed section, but I am thinking some of the diet people may not visit that area.  We are about to start GFCF and the budget is stretched before we even begin!  Since both girls will have to be on the diet I am wondering just how expensive this could get.  Can anyone give me a really rough estimate of monthly cost if I try to make most of the stuff myself and buy a few ready-made snacks to supplement?  Thanks! It can get very expensive if you rely on the health food store's convenience items. Cookies, crackers, cereal, etc etc. Some things you will need to buy, like pasta or occasional ice cream. But the more you can make yourself, the more money you will save. And your girls will be healthier, too. At first it can be costly to buy several bags of gf flours,etc but invest in a good bread machine and make your own! There are great recipes available now. If you use real meat and veggies (gravy made wiht rice flour), and homemade bread, fruit, tons of water, some juice, you should be able to keep costs about the same overall. Your girls are young enough that they wont know they are missing out on all the 'commercial' lure foods! If you're worried about cost, you might want to prepare yourself to be doing a lot of your own baking. I don't really have a solid number, but on one questionnaire I guessed it's costing me an additional $300 in groceries a month. I bought a mill and mill beans to make flour. I have used garbanzo and black eyed peas (which I like because the little black parts don't break completely, so it has a "grain" feel to it.) For cookies and cakes, in place of butter, I use half olive oil, half apple sauce to equal the amount called for. You can also make your recipes healthier by using honey and syrup instead of sugar. You have to cut other liquids from the recipe though so it isn't too wet. I love love love baking!!! Theres nothing better than when the kids truly enjoy something I made.    We eat very old fashioned, its the Grandma method on GFCF. Meat, veggies, salads, rice/taters, etc. Here is a quote from : http://gfcf-diet.talkaboutcuringautism.org/ "$ - This is the “Grandma” method. I’m going to take you back in time for this one. Think about the way your great-grandmother used to cook before food came in boxes and was heated in microwaves. She made a meat, a vegetable and a starch, that was it. No muss, no fuss. It’s a healthy, simplification of cooking that uses no pre-made ingredients. That’s the whole process and you’ll find meal ideas and more in the Meal Plans page on our site. I found this method actually even saved me money compared to the way I used to cook before GFCF because I wasn’t paying $5 a box for his favorite pre-made junk food that he ate 3 boxes a day of because he was addicted to them." Thanks for the replies!  It looks like I'll be making everything myself, DH got laid off from work the VERY DAY I posted this question.
	Copyright Autism-PDD.net