I did a back-of-the envelope thought experiment to see if carnivore is possible within the SNAP benefits allocations. I needed a number for what would be considered inexpensive, so that’s why I chose SNAP.
We don’t receive or need food stamps, but our grocery list isn’t far off.
2 adults. Assuming an average to small women and a average to tall man. The estimated average benefit for a household of 2 is $372 a month.
I’m the small woman, and my macros for 2:1 keto works out to about 20-22oz raw weight 80% beef per day, including all the fat. Using 75% gives me a little protein wiggle room for fish, chicken, eggs/egg yolks, and liver.
Daily for two adults:
3# 75% ground beef/ day.
~1# bone-in chicken quarters (1 10# bag a week)
weekly:
1 pound butter
1 head garlic
Salt/ baking soda
1-2 dozen eggs
1# chicken liver
2 cans sardines
$370 ish month for the least expensive options of each at my local Walmart.
Much higher at Dollar General ($540 +).
If pork/ game/ arrangements with a local butcher okay and available in place of some beef, price could be lower. (I haven’t reintro’d pork.) Pork around $1 a pound less at WalMart, but is often less expensive on sale from other stores. I can’t do mayo or seed oils, but most people would have these things in their cupboard/ fridge if not strictly carnivore.
This assumes retaining/ consuming all fat from cuts and making bone broth from chicken parts. It also assumes access to freezer/ fridge, range, baking sheets, salt, baking soda, pots and pans. I use zipper sandwich bags for precooked meal sized portions, so about a $1 a week.
IRL, hubby eats only half his food at home, work provides lunch. He currently is not fully carnivore, but should be considering some of his specific health concerns. He is able/ happy to eat cheap pork cuts. I eat a lot of $6/# chuck steaks at dinner. I break them down from on-sale roasts, so it works out about the same unless we have company. When grandkids are around, I buy single serving carbs and some fruit, which is expensive. My local grocery discounts produce 10% for SNAP recipients, though.
Note that this does not include coffee, teas, bottled drinks, etc. Cafe Bustelo would run $12ish a month for cup-or-two-a-day couple, but that assumes they have a coffee maker that will do small amounts or a refillable pod for a Kerig-type machine.
Caffeine tablets run $5/ month
Supplements:
Some of the more common supplements, although many carnivores don’t bother.
Nature-made Calcium with D and K runs $30 for 150 days, so $1.40/ week.
Nature-made Burpless Fish Oil is $20 for 150 days, so 0.94/ week.
Sometimes stores have a buy one get one on vitamins.
I use baking soda for electrolytes if I need them. I do some distance running.
Again, just a thought experiment, but I hope it’s helpful to someone who needs therapeutic levels of carnivore keto.
If you have carni/ keto $ savers, make a comment. This was just me puttering around when I was awake overnight.