How I Eat Carnivore for Under $3 a Meal
In a Nutshell
The carnivore diet can be done for under $3 per meal using budget strategies like Dollar General shopping ($19.53 for multiple meals), Walmart yellow discount tags (saving $61 on one trip), and Sam's Club bulk purchases (prime rib at $5.98/lb). Focus on affordable cuts like chuck roast ($5.77/lb) cooked in a slow cooker with butter and salt, plus BBBE power bowls made from eggs, ground beef, and bacon. Skip expensive restaurants and processed foods while building relationships with local farmers for the best deals on quality meat.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Eating carnivore does not have to be expensive and can actually be more affordable than typical American food when calculated correctly. Many carnivore meals can be prepared for under $5, with many falling under $3 per meal.
The creator visited Dollar General with daughter Emma to demonstrate what can be purchased with $20. The trip resulted in $19.53 worth of purchases, which included:
- A box of 100% beef with only one ingredient listed
- Plain butter
- Plain ground beef
- Plain eggs
Even if you eat bologna, salami, and the cheapest deli meat, it's still a thousand times better than Twinkies, donuts, or the typical American diet
Multiple packages of ground beef were examined with varying fat percentages:
- 20% fat
- 15% fat
- 10% fat
- 7% fat
Fat intake is essential on the carnivore diet, requiring higher fat content rather than lean options.
The $19.53 purchase at Dollar General provided enough food for multiple meals. A single restaurant meal at Culver's cost more than the entire week's food budget, and a comparable cheeseburger with bacon and egg at Red Robin costs approximately $13. Eight equivalent meals could have been made from the $20 budget.
The creator addresses the misconception that carnivore diet is expensive by pointing out that people often fail to account for all expenses in their calculations. Additional costs avoided include:
- Starbucks purchases
- Sauces and spices
- Side dishes
- Medications for metabolic health issues
Previous medication costs included doctor visits, prescription refills, and insurance for conditions like depression, heart disease, sleep problems, acid reflux, and statin prescriptions.
The secret trick for buying meat at Walmart involves looking for yellow discount tags, which can save hundreds of dollars per trip. The creator saved $61.29 on a single trip. Key points:
- Yellow tags appear in the morning
- Best to shop mid-week
- Must go in the morning as tags are applied then
- Applies nationwide, not just specific locations
Specific discounted items found:
- Beef tenderloin purchased for $40 (original price higher)
- Rib steak and ground beef also discounted
- Items typically need to be used same day or next day, or can be frozen
A Sam's Club membership was purchased due to the significant savings available. Notable deals include:
- Prime rib beef steak sliders at $6 per pound (24% discount, saving $15)
- Prime rib ground beef at $5.98 per pound
The creator recommends getting to know local farmers and purchasing directly. Key advice:
- Don't need expensive cuts like T-bone or ribeye
- Hamburgers are very affordable whether made at home or purchased
- Chuck pot roast at $5.77 per pound is preferred over strip steak at $16 per pound
Chuck pot roast preparation involves:
- Placing meat in slow cooker without adding water
- Adding salt and butter
- Cooking overnight or during the day
- Results in tender, delicious meat at significantly lower cost
An Angus chuck roast weighing 1.7 pounds cost under $10. This is prepared in the slow cooker with butter and Maldon sea salt, eaten 2-3 times per week as a favorite meal.
Following Dr. Berry's recommendation, the BBBE Power Bowl combines:
- Beef
- Butter
- Bacon
- Eggs
Ingredients purchased: 24 eggs, one pound of ground beef, approximately 3 pounds of bacon. The Power Bowl can be made in a cast iron skillet and provides energy for up to a week when consumed repeatedly.
For those claiming they cannot afford the carnivore diet, the advice is to go to the market and avoid purchasing unnecessary items that won't be needed.
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