Trying something inspired by Paleo but modified to be something I can do with my current skillset, with mental earmarks to acquire the skill I need to do what I'm shortcutting.
My goal was and still is weight loss. The last time I got checked the only risk factor my doctor identified was weight. Cholesterol and blood sugar and triglicerwhatevers are fine.
Grocery shopping:
There is literally nothing I buy now that I used to get from 3 months ago. In that 3 months, I've lost 45 lbs.
I buy meat, whatever looks like the best deal per pound. It's usually at the end of it's grocery store shelf life, so it's going home to be immediately cooked or frozen. It's always beef or pork, sometimes fish though cheap fish is...you deserve what happens to you...
I buy eggs, whatever eggs are cheapest per unit. Sometimes I'll pay slightly more for larger eggs, but usually not.
Butter. This is the only "processed" food I buy, but it is essential to get enough fats, for me. This is something I have earmarked to do better at.
Vegetables. I know I need a double handful of veggies for each meal, so I look for whatever I can steam or stir-fry that will get me that cheapest. I avoid the higher calorie ones, as I'm trying to lose weight.
Salt. I can't really cook for shit yet, and I didn't like vegetables to begin with, but I found that by salting them I can force the whole thing down. I'm starting to both like vegetables and realize that by not eating any baked goods or sweets, I'm probably not getting enough salt. I base that on salt tasting really really good now and my sweat no longer tastes salty.
My grocery bill has gone from $90/wk to $28/wk. I don't buy milk, cheese, soda, beer, chicken, bacon, anything baked, anything that comes in a box (aside from butter and eggs). Everything I get fits in a backpack, only feeding one person though.
I occasionally buy in-season fruit as a treat. Seeded grapes are particularly cheap, and I prefer them so I usually won't pass them up.
The dinner meal is usually a portion of grilled meat with 2 handfuls of vegetables, buttered and salted to delicious. Lots of pepper as well. If I am really hungry (like worked in the yard all day or whatever) then I'll crack an egg over the grilled meat and let it cook on the stove until the egg is done. I cook more than I'll eat, and the leftover goes into a microwavable dish to take to work tomorrow.
For breakfast it will be some more of the grilled meat with some eggs and some sliced veggies in a skillet, just mix until it's all done. Some would call it an omelette, my presentation looks more like a mash.
It's all quite tasty most of the time.
Health benefits:
Weight loss, I am in total shock over how much I eat and how much weight I've lost. I eat literally to the bursting point all day long, bread was just doing something to me.
Acid reflux: I'd gotten to the point where I could no longer tolerate things like beef. At least, I thought it was the beef. Turns out it was the sugar and flour. This has gone away completely. Tums used to be a line item in my budget, I haven't had one in 3 months.
Attitude: I seem better able to focus on projects and get things done. I no longer feel like total ass all weekend. It's easier to get through the day at work, I don't get sleepy after eating.
Sleeping: I'm having trouble sleeping, but I think this is just a side-effect of how quickly the weight has changed. I don't have quite as much fat holding me at night, feels lonely!
What's also surprising is that this has been effective despite me cheating on it all the time. I have no willpower when it comes to food. The girl scouts got me, 8 boxes of cookies eaten in one week. Pizza at lunch meetings at work, donuts in the morning. Free soda everytime I turn around. But as far as what I buy at the grocery store, Paleo saved my budget and my waistline.