Mum reveals how she lost a massive 21kgs on a tight grocery budget

Kaitie lost an incredible 21kgs* with the Healthy Mummy and maintained her weight for two years. Check out her top tips on how to lose weight on a budget!
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Kaitie lost an incredible 21kgs* with the Healthy Mummy, and has continued to maintain her weight loss over the last two years.

Check out her top tips on how to lose BIG on the Healthy Mummy’s 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge while on a tight budget!

Kaitie Pursell_Before_After_3

Mum reveals how she lost a massive 21kgs on a tight grocery budget

Our queen of meal prep, Kaitie says, “It’s totally possible to lose weight AND follow The Healthy Mummy’s 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge on a budget!”

Kaitie budgets $120 for her family’s weekly grocery budget. This $120 feeds two little kiddies and two adults.

How Kaitie got started

On getting started with the Healthy Mummy, Kaitie says, “Being a stay at home mum can make it tough to spend extra money, not to mention big events like our (then) up and coming wedding.”

Kaitie admits she has never been one to ‘splurge’ on herself, but had her eye on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge for a long time, althoughshe was worried about spending the money on herself or wasting money on yet another fad diet.

“A budget monthly offer came up so I decided to take the daunting leap and jumped on it.

“I was so so nervous! My plan was to just do one month and see how it went, planning on losing about 4-6 kilos (that most ladies lose per 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge) and then cancelling.”

Despite her initial thoughts, Kaitie says she couldn’t have been more wrong.

“Oh how wrong was I?! Over two years later, I am still a long-standing 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge member!”

Meal planning on a budget

Kaitie has fallen in love with all of the fabulous recipes and meal plans while on the Challenge and has even been able to save money on her week to week groceries following the program.

Kaitie Purssell_Pasta

Image Source: Supplied (one of Kaitie’s Healthy Mummy meals)

The Healthy Mummy App can help!

The new Healthy Mummy 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge App is an AWESOME tool for meal planning on a budget.

You can select the option to find ‘budget friendly’ meals in the recipe hub (as shown in the image below), and you can also filter the recipes you see to cater for dietary requirements, such as gluten free, nut free or vegetarian.

Budget Friendly_App

Other meal planning tools

The Healthy Mummy also has lots of other tools to help you get the most out of your buck. Check out our Meal Planning on a Budget blog which gives you the option to download your very own weekly planner, grocery list planner and meal planner.

And our blog on 250 Money Savings Tips For Mums on a Budget is sure to offer some light bulb moments that will help with meal planning for you and your family.

Kaitie’s top tips to help you meal plan like a pro and save on groceries

It’s official… Kaitie has busted the myth that the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge can’t be done on a budget!

Check out Kaitie’s top 10 tips that will help YOU meal plan like a pro and achieve your weight loss goals on a budget too!

1. Customise, Customise, Customise!

Kaitie says, “Customise your meal plan around what you already have in your fridge, freezer and cupboards.

2. Swap expensive items for cheaper options

Kaitie says, “Swap out meals or snacks with expensive ingredients like almond butter or almond meal for some of the many cheaper options in the Challenge hub.

Swap expensive vegetables for suitable cheaper options and seasonal vegetables such as onions, carrots, baby spinach & zucchini.”

3. Bulk out meals with added veggies

Kaitie says, “Bulk out mince meals with lentils and grated vegetables. “

Why not use up the leftovers veggies sitting in the crisper of your fridge?

Boost Your Immunity With What's In Your Fridge (Or On Your Bench)

4. Make Meals & Snacks in Bulk

Snacks are often the easiest meals to make in bulk, particularly when you’re time poor, or only have or can only afford a few ingredients.

How to lose BIG numbers & follow the 28 Day Challenge on a budget!

Image Source: Supplied by Kaitie (bliss balls prepared in bulk)

5. Use dried herbs and spices instead of fresh

If you still prefer to use fresh herbs, rest assured, they needn’t go to waste. Check out this mum’s ingenious way of storing herbs, fruit or veg. Our Healthy Mummy Community mums are so creative!

Frozen-Fruit-and-Herbs

Image Source: Supplied

6. Shop online or shop around for specials

Kaitie says, “I love online shopping as you can see exactly what everything costs and you can take things out of your cart as often as you need.”

7. Stick to your meal plan and shopping list

Kaitie says, “Don’t be fooled into buying all the things you DON’T need on those enticing sale racks!”

Refer back to those weekly planners and shopping lists ladies!

Weekly planner

(Healthy Mummy weekly planner – download yours here)

8. Buy the cheaper brands and minimise wastage

Kaitie says, “Buy cheaper [home] brands and plan your week around a couple of certain ingredients to minimise wastage.”

9. Freeze everything you can!

Kaitie says, “If you open a jar of tomato paste, curry paste, passata, coconut milk or even vegetable stock, pop it into an ice cube tray and freeze it for the next time you need it. Normally these types of things only last 3-5 days in the fridge once opened.”

Freezer
Image Source: Istock

10. Be kind to yourself

Kaitie says, “Be kind to yourself, be realistic and don’t give up. You ARE WORTH IT!”

Today Is Your Day Motivation

Thanks Kaitie for your incredible tips and PROVING that weight loss on a tight budget is totally POSSIBLE!

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To find out more on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge click here.

*Images and references to kilograms lost are as supplied by the individual in the story. The Healthy Mummy assumes information and photographs supplied to be true in nature and is not responsible for any false misrepresentations or claims relating to their programs or products.

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