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The Grapefruit Diet

It seemed like a good idea at the time…

I got suckered into buying an 18-lb bag of grapefruit from Whole Foods for $4. Luckily grapefruit is part of my favorite pre-run breakfast… although it might not be anymore, by the time I get finished with this bag!

Grapefruit is good post-run fuel as well, as I discovered this morning:

zucchini oats

I sliced up some ruby red to go with my Zucchini Bread Oatmeal.
Half a grapefruit down, twenty (?) to go!

zucchini oatmeal

Feeling super-creative, I threw in a blob of Raw Cheesecake.

Best decision ever? Yes. Yes it was. When the raw cheesecake filling melted in to the cinnamon-y oats, it tasted like a gooey cinnamon roll.

Wait, but there was zucchini in there. A zucchini cinnamon roll? Hmm, so maybe it doesn’t sound all that great. But it was delicious, I swear! The filling acted like icing. And what’s a cinnamon roll without icing, right?

NYC2010 1716

Question of the Day:
Do you ever buy food or household products in bulk?

I often bulk-buy Jocalat bars and almond milk so I can get a case discount. In terms of household products, I’ll purchase things like toothbrushes and toilet paper in bulk– things I know I’ll use! But now that I think of it, I guess the real question of the day ought to be: got any good grapefruit recipes for me? 😉

Published on January 7, 2011

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93 Comments

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  1. Lindsey says

    I buy apples and oatmeal in bulk. I bought clementines in bulk in December and it took eating about 4 a day to go through them before they went bad! Haha. That’s a huge bag of grapefruit! I’ve seen some people sprinkle a little sugar (or agave or stevia) on top of half and bake if for a little while and it looks great!

  2. Matt @ FaveDiets says

    Ha, that bag is awesome! I’m a big fan of grapefruit, but I think it would take me a while to go through a bag like that. Truthfully I’m shocked you were able to find such a great deal at Whole Foods!

    I love bulk foods, but unfortunately I no longer live anywhere close to a bulk food store. I used to stock up on massive bags of brown rice and dried beans.

  3. MaryBe says

    I love grapefruit and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice! I have to sprinkle something sweet on it though. It’s just too hmm pucker-y without it!
    And yes that was a great price!
    I buy hummus in bulk at BJ’s Wholesale Club, along with V8 and Almond Milk and a few other staples

  4. e says

    oh katie, that bag looks bigger than you! your so cute hahaha :). i love buying in bulk at costco. they have the best deals sometimes. and did you know they even sell larabars? i was so excited when i found this out! well have a great friday.
    xoxo

  5. Jennifer JCD says

    Have fun witht he grapefruit! We had an interesting salad with grapefruit once. You could make grapefruit muffins or grapefruit cheesecake! A little searh yielded a few more ideas: broiled grapefruit, grapefruit cookies, and grapefruit lemonade.

    We belong to a food coop so we buy a lot of things in bulk, and most of it organic: almond milk, lentils, dried beans, rolled oats, nuts, and more. They even have Dandies vegan marshmallows! I wish they had Medjool dates, but they don’t. (yet) Sometimes it’s a bit much… 10 kg of dried chickpeas lasts forever!

  6. Julia (The Veggie Side) says

    Lol! That’s a lot of fruit! I just bought a huge bag of carrots for juicing this week. I managed to shove the whole thing into my fridge but now there’s no room for anything else. I love your blog btw! So fun!

  7. Heather says

    Four dollars for that giganto bag?! What a deal! I otten buy things in bulk at SAMs, though I have to be careful not to buy too many different things at once so they don’t spoil. Right now, I am just finishing up a big bag of honeycrisp apples (LOVE) and I have about 1/2 of a 8 pound bag of potatoes that I’m still trying to get through!

    Your zucchini bread oatmeal looks fantastic! Never thought of adding vegetables to oats before!

  8. Alisa Fleming says

    Holy mother of grapefruits! I can’t say we would go through those fast enough around here! We aren’t Costco people, no major bulk buying around here (I have a fear of having “too much stuff”), but if you count Amazon as bulk, I do buy tea and coconut oil in larger quantities!

  9. Stefanie says

    I pretty much buy everything in bulk! Hello, Costco! <– my love. But I've never been a big grapefruit fan–I'd have to add a bunch of sugar to eat it!

  10. VEGirl says

    Haha, LOL! My grandma would die for that huge big of grapefruit! That is pretty lucky you got it considering the crop this year! I don’t eat them very often but if YOU could come up with some awesome recipes for them I might?

    Oh, and bulk is THE word in my family. I should post a picture of our kitchen sometime– we have huge glass jars lining the walls and the pantry, all filled with everything form raw beans and lentils, to nuts and seeds, to raisins, to baking soda! Love LOVE LOVE the bulk section! The only catch, for my mom and I, is if the bin is right next to a bin containing wheat products. Then we steer clear.

    VEGirl

  11. Disturbed says

    I usually don’t buy things in bulk since it is just me I am feeding at school. Things like fruit I might because I can go through fruit rather easily. I usually eat at least 3-4 grapefruits or oranges a day. Easily. I love grapefruit, and can go through them like there is no tomorrow. I am the only one in my family who can eat them because they hurt everybody elses’ stomach.

    I actually have a question for you that may bee a bit too much information, but I figured you would be someone good to ask being you can give me an answer that is vegan lol. Being I am recovering from anorexia, my digestive system is very screwed up. I am consistently eating 1,500 calories or more a day now and slowly adding more, but my digestive system is still not great and it needs some work. My main concern is that I can go up to five days without having a bowel movement (I know too much info), but it is worrying me. On a normal day I eat bran cereal for breakfast, something small like a salad for lunch, a citrus fruit or two throughout the day, and dinner is usually either an oat bar or a citrus fruit or something else small. So, I was wondering if you had any ideas on something I could add into my diet (that I could get at Wal-Mart) that would help me. Sorry if I grossed you out lol.

    • Melissa says

      I know I’m not Katie but I wanted to ask how you’re sure you’re doing 1500 a day? I eat about that since I’m watching my weight and I eat a LOT more food than what you are saying you eat.

      I’m thinking your issue might be due to just not eating enough, period. If you don’t have a lot of bulk/mass in your stomach, you don’t have to pass it very often. I eat about 1400-1600 a day and I go to the bathroom at least 2-3x a day.

      If you haven’t yet, try writing out the calories you’re consuming and make sure you’re actually eating what you think you are. I’d guesstimate your calories at under 1200 (which is bare minimum for survival). You also don’t mention any real sources of good fats or protein in your meal plan. Can you add some peanut or other nut butter to your diet? How about tossing some beans onto your salad? The fiber in the beans will help your digestion and the protein will help you build/heal muscles.

      I’m struggling a bit with disordered thoughts/eating myself so I sympathize with you. I really think you’re overestimating your calories consumed, though, and you aren’t eating the protein, fat and whole grains in amounts you need to be healthy.

      Add nut butters or other forms of good fat (avocado, whole nuts/seeds), see if you can find chia seed since it’s incredibly nutritious and provides essential fatty acids and fiber/vitamins. If eating more freaks you out, maybe start by eating (a lot) more fresh fruit/veggies? They might be less scary/triggering than other food that might seem “bad” to you still. Honestly, though, definitely find a good source of protein you can eat. Grains and veg do have some protein, especially when you eat half a pound of brussels at a go like I do, but nuts/seeds/tofu/tempeh/vegan meats are much more dependable sources. I like the Clif Builder bars, too, if you can handle eating that. They are tasty and have 20 grams of protein plus vitamins/minerals that your body probably needs after having food reduced for a while.

      Maybe do hot oatmeal with fruit, chia, nut butter and almond milk for breakfast rather than cold cereal? That’s my go-to and it’s wonderful. I use the recipe over at http://www.katheats.com/kaths-tribute-to-oatmeal/ and it’s fantastic. Oatmeal also has a lot of the fiber you need to keep things moving.

      Also, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. Water + fiber = healthy bowels.
      Best of luck to you and I wish you the best as you get well. *hugs*

      • Melissa says

        Oh, and only figure out calories if it’s not going to trigger you badly.
        If you don’t think you can do it, then I’d just highly suggest adding some higher fat/protein foods into your meals and seeing how you feel.

        • Disturbed says

          I actually use Cron-o-meter which counts my calories for me, and very precisely. The oat bar that I eat is about 360 calories by itself, and I am known to eat two. Chai Latte’s also give me about 240 calories.
          I get a range of about 35-50g of protein a day. 30-40g of fiber.
          I know I need to add more depth to my diet, but I don’t have much money being a high school student 4 hours away from my family to get a wide array of food, and so that hurts me. My school’s cafeteria doesn’t have much vegan things either, so I have a hard time getting bulk. I do need to up my calories though because I am still loosing about .4 lbs a day and I shouldn’t be, so I will try to add more bulk to things.

          • Melissa says

            Ah yes, serving size makes a difference, for sure. I’m glad you’ve got an accurate handle on it, though.

            Does the caf have peanut butter, bagels – stuff like that? Brown rice, pasta? Rather than eating a salad at lunch why not have something a bit heavier – brown rice and veggies with some beans, pasta with beans and marinara, things like that? Even just adding some nuts/seeds, cooked beans, olives, dressing, etc. to the salad would help. Plus, since those things are calorie dense but not super filling it might be less of an issue with you not being used to lots of bulk?

            I wasn’t vegan in HS so I’m having trouble remembering what things were like. I seem to recall a lot of fast food garbage covered in cheese and meat. So I feel your pain. I know Walmart sells the Builder Bars I talked about. They are super good and easy to tote around. Adding a Builder to your salad at lunch might help?

            I’ll shush now ’cause Katie reminded me that I really shouldn’t be giving out advice when I’m not qualified. :/ I just want to help but I don’t want my helping to end up hurting… if you can find a counselor at school who can get you in touch with a professional, that might be good? You ought to be able to quietly see someone without your family knowing – though, eventually, it’d be nice to have their support, I’m sure.

            I’m just now starting to vocalize about my troubles with food/calories/exercise/bad brain stuff to my friends and SO and I’m finding it helpful to just talk about it. That said, I still haven’t outright told my Mom or anything. :/ So, once again, I feel you.

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Hey sweetie pie!
      No no, you didn’t gross me out at all! Bathroom talk is a completely normal thing, right? 😉 We all do it… lol at least I hope we all do!
      But the BEST advice I can give you on this is to please be sure and see a doctor who specializes in eating disorders (if you don’t already). Like Melissa worried, I also worry that you might not be eating enough, especially just having a salad for lunch. But I am NOT a doctor, and I don’t have any kind of medical training, so I would be way off base to try and offer you medical advice. Please do see someone more highly-qualified. From getting to know you through the comments you leave, it is OBVIOUS you are a sweetheart who deserves only the best. So you deserve the best medical care available, too… much better than any advice I could give you, because I’m not trained.
      Lots of love (and chocolate hugs),
      Katie

      • Disturbed says

        I actually don’t see anybody about my eating disorder and recovery because my family doesn’t even know of my illness. I am going at recovery alone, and I have come to terms with that.

  12. Nichole (Flirting with Food, Fitness & Fashion) says

    I love grapefruit, my Great Grandma used to scoop a grapefruit into a bowl with brown sugar and warm it a little in the microwave for me when I was little! It was so good from what I remember, I know you are thinking warm grapefruit ?!?! & even though I haven’t had it in years – it is good! Now I need to stock up on grapefruit. Ha Ha Ha.

  13. Melissa says

    OMG KATIE OMG.

    I made your coconut cream pie and this is what I did:
    flesh from one young coconut
    stevia and cinnamon to taste
    TBS of coconut butter

    Blend blend blend, chill in freezer.

    EPIC! HOLY COW.
    Also, I’m such a huge fan of coconut water agar pudding.
    You should try it! 😀

  14. Erika @ Health and Happiness in LA says

    I buy in bulk all the time. Last spring I found a 5 pound bag of oranges for 3 bucks and I ate tons and tons of oranges! Then a month or so later I found another bag and did it again!

    I got sick of grapefruit for a while once and left a couple in the fridge for a few months. Then I ate them and they were totally fine. So you should have a while to finish all those up!

  15. Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free says

    Sadly, I am not the biggest fan of grapefruit…I just don’t really like it! I know there must be something wrong with me!

    I buy almost everything I can in bulk!!! I LOVE costco!!! THE BEST!!!! apples, oatmeal, cacao nibs, spinach, rice, peanut butter, almond butter,s and any kind of nut and dried fruit!

  16. thefruitpursuit (Sabine) says

    the grapefruit diet, auch! well, at least it’s better than the MAPLE SYRUP DIET my grandma told me she once did.

    I hardly buy in bulk, its not that common in Holland to have access to that without owning your own store/bar or whatever! very sad…

      • thefruitpursuit (Sabine) says

        The MS diet I was told about… was JUST maple syrup. 6 tall glasses a day I think. Nothing else. I almost fell off my chair when I heard that. Makes atkins and the like seem pretty awesome, compared :p

  17. Rach says

    That is a serious amount of grapefruit! Haha! I buy in bulk any time it’s something I know we already eat a lot of. Bananas, apples, oranges, onions, etc.

  18. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says

    I only buy things in bulk like spices or dry goods that I know are shelf stable. Or cleaning/household products, like laundry detergent or TP or kleenex, that kind of stuff.

    Well, I take that back, certain fruit like apples and oranges which i know can sit in a veggie drawer for awhile…I will buy 5 lbs at a time, not really “bulk” but big enough 🙂

    Enjoy all those grapefruit! I just like my sliced with a little bit of sugar. Super old school and basic 🙂

  19. Eleanor@eatinglikeahorse says

    When I found out I could eat oats again (post coeliac diagnosis) I also found 3kg bags online for less than £4, result.
    Only problem was, as I found out when the postman heaved it to my house, I hadn’t realised just how big a 3kg bag would be!
    I had to put it in the cupboard under the stairs but how much oaty goodness?! 🙂

  20. Melissa says

    I buy oats, PB2, chia seeds, dates in bulk.
    I use the bulk bins at work and buy most of my staples that way – I love being able to just get enough cinnamon to refill my shaker, for instance. I go through oats and bananas like a wild woman, though, so I always buy a LOT of them at once. I also have a small vanilla and cinnamon problem…

  21. Gill (snaxandthecity) says

    Hmmm not really, primarily because in central London there’s nowhere TO buy things in bulk! But if I could, it’d be household stuff I think! And maybe quinoa or other grains…

  22. Alexandra (Veggin' Out in the Kitchen) says

    Wow – that looks so good! Oatmeal combinations are the best!

    I always buy oat bran and most other grains in bulk. I used to my walnuts in bulk, but then I started having a hard time with the walnuts gushing out and ending up on the floor. For the sake of the walnuts (and the clean up crew), I decided to stop buying walnuts that way. 😉

  23. bitt says

    I buy chia seeds in bulk, like 17 pounds at a time.

    Some people like grapefruit/banana smoothies but I haven’t tried it myself. My husband would love to help you with the grapefruits, he eats one daily too in the winter.

  24. melissa @ the delicate place says

    sometimes i buy avocados or coconut flour in bulk. as for the grapefruits, i like to use 1/2 in a green smoothie. it really brightens up the flavor!

  25. Namaste Gurl says

    If Costco bulk items count, then yes indeed! Carrots, Sabra hummus, frozen berries, spinach…. for some items it’s nice, but for others such as tofu, cheese, bread, etc. it’s not. Especially for us single ladies 🙂

      • Melissa says

        Freeze ’em!
        They defrost just fine and freezing them keeps them for a long time.
        I freeze my loaf of French Meadow Sprouted Cinn Raisin bread, too (cause it’s $$$) and my Arnold’s flat buns. Bread freezes super well. 🙂

  26. Kat says

    I frequently buy in bulk. Costco is my favorite store!
    I believe you when you say cheesecake is good on oatmeal. I’ve tried pumpkin pie on mine before. And as I learned while in Japan, a thin slice of cake in a crepe is heaven!

  27. emma says

    Hi sweetie! You should totally make a grapefruit cheesecake….or a fresh fruit pizzert with grapefruit pieces….or a fruit slushy with frozen grapefruit…..
    ….hee hee I think you might turn into a grapefruit! 🙂 xx

  28. Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) says

    I’ve never had a grapefruit before…are they nice?
    I buy chocolate in bulk too! Cheaper that way, and it doesn’t go off quickly! Isn’t around for long though! 😉

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Oh goodness! You MUST try them! They are sweet and sour at the same time. They’re amazing, especially the pink ones. But if you try one and it isn’t sweet, don’t give up on all grapefruits; it just means you got a bad one. The good ones are delicious :).

  29. Mary @ Bites and Bliss says

    I remember trying to get into grapefruits when first starting to eat healthy because I had always heard they were a health food..but then I’d have to load it with sugar to make it taste good! haha I like them now..but it took a while to get used to them.

  30. Katie says

    Katie,

    I just did this same thing 2 weeks ago. I love them for breakfasts, snacks, and for my favorite “cocktail”–freshly squeezed grapefruit juice & sparkling water. This drink comes in especially handy when you get toward the end of the bag when you are fighting the freshness clock!

    Happy eating!

    Katie

  31. Kat says

    I love grapefruit, and what an awesome deal for Whole Foods. I like to add grapefruit to my spinach salads. After reading the comment about grapefruit cheesecake … well lets just say I wouldn’t say no to that!

  32. BroccoliHut says

    Ever since Seth and I went in on a Costco membership together last fall, I’ve been all about buying things in bulk. I buy bell peppers, almond butter, and pasta sauce.

  33. Claire says

    That’s a lot of grapefruit! You could make grapefruit marmalade if you still have people you want to give gifts to. Have a look at this too, some may take your interest: http://www.ultimatecitrus.com/grapefruit.html and if none do sounds like they’re for you I’m sure you’ll be able to come up with some variations, we’ve all seen how creative you are when it comes to recipes. 😀

  34. Ann Claire says

    Wow that’s a lot of grapefruit! I love grapefruit. I really don’t know of any recipes with grapefruit because I love them so much plain! You could always just send some my way 😉

  35. lorne says

    Toilet paper………..if it is on special, we buy it. In almost every cupboard in my house you’ll find toilet paper ;0) ( I also keep it in the car and most of my friends have a roll in their car just for me, I am known to take my own roll into a public loo)We also bulk buy toothbrushes when we are in Korea and bring them back to New Zealand as they are sooooooooooo cheap in Korea.

  36. Kristi says

    I buy a lot of things in bulk, since it is a little cheaper sometimes.
    I’m not really a grapefruit fan, but it’s been a long time since I’ve tried it. I might need to give it another chance.

  37. Heather Eats Almond Butter says

    CD and I love buying in bulk, and we save so much money doing so at Costco. We buy rolled oats, spinach, mustard, Brussels, mushrooms, and almond butter from there as well as most of our toiletries and paper goods. Love that place, and I love the thought of the raw cheesecake blog melting in a bowl of oatmeal. Mmm, bet that tasted good.

    Dying to try these Blueberry Larabars, but until then, I have carob fudge babies to keep me happy. 🙂

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Oh darn it, I really wish I’d sent you some! I ended up giving all of the samples away; they just weren’t my favorite… I missed the chocolate ;).
      P.S. my favorite thing from Costco is the heat dish. I know you love yours too :).

  38. beccah says

    i buy peanut butter,some nuts,rice/grains andbeans/legumes in bulk.oh ya and costco has an awesome vanilla soy milk 🙂

  39. Mary Beth Myers says

    Hahaha I came HERE looking for grapefruit recipes! You’re my go-to. It doesn’t look like you found any. LOL!

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