Products I Used

Being on a budget, I tried to minimize the "special" foods I bought that are only used on the diet and rely on my pantry whenever possible.  Since I've done the diet before, I was able to watch for sales and markdowns on meat.  By buying in advance and freezing the meat, I saved at least 50% off the regular prices. 

I tried to note where each item was purchased and if I already had it in my pantry staples.  I do most of my shopping at Aldi, but occasionally visit Kroger and Trader Joe's.  I'm also lucky to have an awesome international grocery, Jungle Jim's International Market not too far away.  If you're in the Cincinnati area, I highly recommend a trip!  (They even have a low-sodium area in the gluten-free section that had many products I'd never seen, including salt-free broth and tomato paste.)

Since manufacturers change ingredients and methods frequently, always read the label.


Unsalted Matzos.  Purchased from Jungle Jim's International Market from the Kosher foods section.



Unsalted Fleischmann's margarine.  Purchased at Kroger from the refrigerated case.

Ground turkey with rosemary extract.  Purchased at Kroger from the meat case on a markdown day and kept in the freezer.

Whole roaster chicken, only water added.  Purchased at Kroger from the meat case on a markdown day and kept in the freezer.

Pantry staple, purchased at Kroger from the frozen foods.

Pantry staple, purchased at Kroger from the frozen foods.

Pantry staple, purchased at Trader Joe's in the frozen foods.

Boneless pork loin (nothing added, just pork!).  Purchased at Kroger from the meat case on a markdown day and kept in the freezer.  It was still frozen when I took this picture.

Pantry staple, purchased at Aldi.

Pantry staple, purchased at Aldi.  Be sure to check the label as some corn tortillas do contain salt.

London broil (nothing added, just beef!).  Purchased at Kroger from the meat case on a markdown day and kept in the freezer.

Morton's Plain (non-iodized) salt.  Pantry staple, purchased at Kroger.

Pantry staple, purchased at Target.

Pantry staple, purchased at Aldi.

Pantry staple, purchased at Aldi.

Purchased at Jungle Jim's International Market from the gluten-free section.

Trader Joe's Lemon Pepper Pappardelle pasta, contains egg whites but no yolks or salt. 

Trader Joe's unsalted white corn tortilla chips.

Trader Joe's Puffed Wheat cereal.  The ingredients are puffed wheat and agave syrup.

Trader Joe's creamy unsalted peanut butter.

Trader Joe's Fire-Roasted Tomato Salsa.  No salt added!

Pantry staple, purchased at Aldi.

Pantry staple, purchased at Aldi.

Pantry staple, purchased at Kroger from the frozen foods.

Pantry staple from Trader Joe's.

Purchased at Kroger but I have also seen it at Big Lots.

Pantry staple, purchased at Aldi.

 

Pantry staple, purchased at Aldi.

Pantry staple, purchased at Aldi.

Woodstock unsalted tahini.  Pantry staple, purchased at Kroger from the natural foods section.

Penzey's Forward! no salt-seasoning.  Pantry staple, purchased at Penzey's Spices.  They have several stores in the Midwest, or you can visit their website at http://www.penzeys.com.