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Why you need big freezer deep freeze frozen Paleo Network-min

Why You Need a Big Freezer on a Paleo Diet

I’m lucky to have a fairly big freezer, and I can’t recommend it enough, for so many paleo reasons. Here's why a good size freezer could transform your paleo diet

Why you need big freezer deep freeze frozen Paleo Network

Once a week cooking

I’m a huge fan of batch cooking – if you’re going to go to the effort of cooking dinner, why not make 8 dinners out of it? Whatever I’m making, I always at least double up the ingredients. I freeze individual portions in large freezer bags that I lay flat. This means they’ll defrost far quicker than if you freeze them in a big lump.

Grass-fed meat in bulk

So many farmers will sell amazing quality grass-fed beef – but only if you’ll buy a whole cow, or even just a quarter. This is great to share with friends – it’s far cheaper, you get some great cuts you might otherwise overlook. But it will need a lot of freezer space. With a big freezer, you could get all the meat you need to last for months and months in one purchase.

No wastage

If you’ve had a big harvest of home grown veggies, just freeze it for fresh home grown produce, all year round.

Smoothies always ready

Fruit is another great reason to have a good size freezer. Grad a handful of berries and add to your blender mix for an instant ice cool smoothie.

Paleo ice cream

Who needs an ice cream maker when you can make your own paleo ice cream and have it waiting for you in the freezer!

Budget conscious

A freezer is the best way to eat on a budget. Whenever you find special buys of meat or produce – buy and freeze!

Emergency paleo meals

We all have those days when we’re too busy, too tired, or just not in the mood to cook. This is where your freezer can truly save the day. Having a stash of fully cooked Paleo meals means you’ll never be tempted to reach for takeaway or processed foods. Simply defrost and reheat a healthy homemade option — no compromise, no stress.

Freezing bone broth and stocks

Bone broth is a staple of the Paleo diet thanks to its gut-healing properties and rich mineral content. Make large batches and freeze them in portion-sized containers or even ice cube trays. This way, you’ve always got broth ready for soups, sauces, or sipping on its own for a nutrient boost.

Prepping your own frozen veg

Instead of relying on commercial frozen veg (which often contain additives), blanch and freeze your own. This is particularly handy when your favourite veggies are out of season or if you've found a great deal at the farmers’ market. You’ll avoid waste and have instant access to clean, additive-free sides for any meal.

Frozen herbs and aromatics

If you grow your own herbs or buy them in bulk, freeze them in olive oil using an ice cube tray. You’ll have flavour bombs ready to go for cooking — no wilting or wastage. Garlic, ginger, and even chopped onion can be frozen and added straight into your cooking, saving prep time while keeping things Paleo and fresh.

DIY frozen snacks and treats

Use your freezer for pre-made bliss balls, energy bites, or chocolate bark made with coconut oil and raw cacao. These are perfect for when a craving strikes — without reaching for non-Paleo treats. You can also freeze bananas and blend them into a soft-serve style dessert, or keep avocado halves ready for guacamole in minutes.

Seasonal eating made simple

A freezer makes seasonal eating effortless. Buy or grow produce when it’s at peak ripeness and price, then freeze for year-round access. This means you can enjoy mango, stone fruits, or asparagus long after their season ends — all while keeping your diet varied, nutrient-dense and local.

Time-saving marinades

Marinate your meat before freezing. This not only saves time but results in deeply flavourful meals, as the marinating continues during the freezing and defrosting process. Store them in flat freezer bags with all the marinade ingredients already added, ready to cook straight from thawing.

Organised meal planning

A large freezer lets you organise by meal type — breakfasts, dinners, snacks, sauces, broths, and so on. Use labelled containers or bags, and you’ll always know exactly what’s available. This makes it much easier to stick to your Paleo plan without resorting to quick-fix meals that don’t align with your goals.

Freezer must-haves for Paleo eaters

  • Pre-cooked grass-fed mince dishes like Bolognese or chilli
  • Homemade soups and stews in single serves
  • Portion-sized coconut flour muffins or breads
  • Raw meat and seafood, portioned and labelled
  • Frozen bananas and berries for smoothies and treats
  • Bone broth cubes or jars
  • Pre-cut stir-fry veggies
  • Stocked-up frozen herbs and aromatics

Freezer tips and tricks

To maximise your freezer’s potential:

  • Always label your bags or containers with the name and date.
  • Use airtight, BPA-free containers or silicone freezer bags to preserve flavour and avoid freezer burn.
  • Cool hot food completely before freezing to maintain texture and avoid condensation.
  • Group items by type or meal category using plastic bins or baskets for quick access.
  • Rotate stock frequently to use older items first — Paleo and practical!

Whether you’re a seasoned meal prepper or just starting out, investing in a big freezer can elevate your Paleo lifestyle from good to great. It reduces stress, increases variety, saves money, and ensures you always have clean, delicious food ready to go. What are your favourite Paleo freezer staples? Let us know in the comments!

Can you eat paleo healthily on a budget finances-min

Can you eat healthily on a budget?

6 Comments

I wrote the other day about my $50 weekly food budget – and how hyper aware I've become about how much food costs.  I'm only shopping for one, I work from home, love cooking and have time to shop around. How hard must if be for families on tight budgets to eat well?

Can you eat paleo healthily on a budget finances-min

I really struck me how difficult it must be for families when I saw this in my local Aldi store:

Aldi-cheap-pizza-paleo-network-food
That's just $3 for a big pizza. Assuming you'd need two to feed a family of four that's $1.50 per person for dinner. Preparation time is zero and cooking time less than 20 minutes.

Contrast this with a healthy paleo meal? Let's say a large free range chicken: $12, some steamed kale $5 and spinach $3 and some $4 cauliflower made into rice. That's $24 – so $6 a head. For families living on tight budgets there's a huge difference between spending $6 on dinner and spending $24.

And how about lunch? You can buy an entire loaf of bread for about 85 cents and some cheap processed meat for about $3. That's a cheap lunch, well under a dollar a head. Contrast that with a typical paleo lunch – that wouldn't even cover a decent cut of meat, never mind salad or veggies.

As for breakfast I doubt anyone could make an free-range egg and veggie omelette for less than the $2.2o an entire box of cornflakes costs.

So what's the answer?

Wouldn't it be good if fresh whole food could be subsidised? Unfortunately I can't see how that could ever be implemented, since everyone has such wildly different ideas about exactly what is healthy and what isn't.

Do you think families struggling to make ends meet are priced out of eating healthily? What do you think the answer is?

Stretching Paleo Meals Without Stretching the Budget

While a single meal can feel expensive, the key to affordable Paleo eating lies in planning ahead and getting more meals out of every cook-up. A $12 chicken may sound like a lot, but when you roast it and then turn the leftovers into a salad, soup or stir-fry, suddenly it covers multiple meals.

The carcass can be turned into bone broth, which you can use as a base for sauces, soups, or simply sip as a nourishing drink. This type of whole-use cooking not only saves money but significantly reduces waste.

Batch Cooking and Freezing

Batch cooking is one of the best ways to stick to a Paleo lifestyle without blowing your weekly food budget. When you cook large portions of meals like slow-cooked stews, soups, meatballs or casseroles, you can freeze single servings for future lunches or lazy nights.

Cooking in bulk means you buy ingredients more economically and reduce the temptation of convenience food. A few hours in the kitchen on Sunday can result in meals for the whole week — without having to touch your wallet again.

Try cooking meals that use cheaper cuts of meat like beef chuck, lamb shoulder or chicken thighs. These cuts are not only more affordable, but also more flavourful and perfect for slow cooking.

Prioritising Protein Choices

Grass-fed and organic meats are ideal, but if you’re working with a strict budget, don’t let perfection stand in the way of progress. Choose the best quality you can afford. Free-range chicken thighs, budget beef mince, or even kangaroo are often more affordable options in Australia.

Canned fish like salmon (in spring water) or sardines can also be economical protein sources. Just watch out for added oils or sauces. Eggs are another budget-friendly powerhouse, especially when used in frittatas, stir-fries or baked dishes.

You can also add bulk to meals using eggs and grated vegetables. A small amount of mince can stretch into multiple servings when combined with shredded zucchini, carrot and herbs.

Shopping Smarter: Aisle by Aisle

Smart Paleo shopping means comparing prices across supermarkets and stocking up when staples go on sale. Aldi continues to be a reliable option for affordable basics like fresh produce, eggs, nuts and some oils.

Look for markdowns in the meat section close to expiry — you can freeze immediately for later use. Check farmers markets towards closing time for discounted produce, and don’t shy away from “ugly” vegetables — they taste the same and often cost less.

The freezer aisle can also offer savings. Frozen spinach, cauliflower rice, broccoli and berries are just as nutritious as fresh and can be stored for months with no waste.

Mastering the Art of Scratch Cooking

Convenience comes at a cost. Pre-cut vegetables, sauces and pre-made Paleo-friendly meals are convenient but usually come with a higher price tag. Cooking from scratch using simple ingredients gives you better control of both your health and your wallet.

Instead of buying cauliflower rice or zoodles, try making them yourself with a grater or spiraliser. Bake your own sweet potato chips, prepare sauces from basic pantry ingredients, and make dressings using olive oil, vinegar and herbs.

By learning to cook with what you have, you’ll waste less and rely less on packaged options.

Reducing Waste and Using Everything

One of the biggest money drains in any household is food waste. A Paleo approach can actually be more economical when you embrace the “use it all” philosophy.

Save carrot peels, celery ends and onion skins in a bag in your freezer to make homemade stock. Use leftover herbs to make salsa verde or pesto. Freeze overripe bananas or leftover berries for smoothies or baking.

Plan your meals around what’s already in your fridge and pantry. Leftovers from dinner can become tomorrow’s lunch. Cooked vegetables can be added to omelettes or blended into soups. With some creativity, yesterday’s meal becomes today’s savings.

Budget Breakfasts Without Cereal

Ditching boxed cereal doesn’t mean breakfast has to be pricey. Eggs, even the free-range kind, are still a cheap source of protein and fat. Pair them with leftover vegetables or cook up a simple breakfast hash using chopped sweet potato, onion and greens.

You can also prep breakfast muffins using eggs, grated veggies and herbs — cheap, portable and easy to freeze. A big batch of chia pudding made with coconut milk can stretch across multiple breakfasts for under a dollar a serve.

Tips for Families Eating Paleo on a Budget

Feeding a family Paleo-style doesn’t mean gourmet cuts at every meal. Think of ways to build meals around filling, nutrient-dense ingredients like eggs, root vegetables and leafy greens.

Use cheaper protein sources more often and reserve pricier cuts for weekends or special meals. Let children get involved with prepping vegetables or helping in the kitchen, which makes them more engaged and less resistant to trying new things.

Create theme nights like “slow cooker night” or “taco bowls” using lettuce wraps and seasoned mince to make mealtime fun, structured and economical.

Reframing the Value of Real Food

Yes, a $3 frozen pizza feels cheap. But it doesn't nourish. It doesn’t support long-term health, reduce inflammation or improve mental clarity. Sometimes, eating Paleo on a budget means zooming out and looking at the full picture: the savings on future health bills, improved energy, and fewer sick days.

Paleo might cost more at the checkout, but it can save more where it matters — your health, energy and time spent in the healthcare system. Investing in real food is an act of self-care, even if it takes a bit more planning and creativity.

It’s not always easy to eat Paleo on a budget, especially when processed food is so cheap and accessible. But with a plan, smart choices and a bit of prep work, it’s absolutely possible. Your health is worth the effort.