How to Eat Vegan on a Budget
One of the main questions I get asked form people who are curious about the vegan lifestyle is: "Isn't eating vegan (plant-based) expensive?"
The truth is that it can be if you are buying processed and packaged vegan foods; however, if you stick to whole food nutrients it's very affordable!
Here are a few tips on how to eat vegan on a budget:
1) Buy whole foods. This means staying away from packaged foods. Buying pre-prepped meals are much more expensive than buying food that requires you to do the work.
2) Stick to simple recipes. Some vegan recipes require the use of extravagant and fancy ingredients, such as high priced superfoods. Although these ingredients offer great nutritional value they can gouge the pocketbook. Recipes that keep it simple, using your basic fruits, veggies, beans, lentils and nuts and seeds are more affordable.
3) Reduce the use of nuts. If you eat a raw vegan diet you may have noticed your consumption of nuts and seeds increase. Many raw vegan recipes, which I love and make myself, call for nuts and seeds. However, nuts and seeds can be very costly. If you are eating on a budget cut down on your consumption of nuts and seeds. This will not only save you money but will also save you calories.
4) Use dry beans rather than canned. Beans and lentils are one of the cheapest foods you can buy. They are nutrient dense and provide you with an abundance of protein and complex carbohydrates. Dried beans and lentils can be purchased for pennies as opposed to canned goods that can be up to $5 a can!
5) Grow your own. The amount of money you will save by growing your own produce will be huge! Make the investment to set up a an area in your yard to have a garden or purchase my favorite produce growing system, the Tower Garden.
Tower Garden by Juice Plus+ is an indoor/outdoor growing system that allows you to have fresh produce everyday.
Why choose the Tower Garden?
It is vertical, aeroponic growing system so it takes up little space and saves on water
Allows you to grow up to 20 vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers in less than three square feet—indoors or out.
Grows plants three times faster and produces 30% greater yields on average.
Automatically delivers water and nutrients when they’re most needed, you’re able to grow strong, healthy plants with minimal effort.
You don’t have to deal with weeds (or getting dirty) because there’s no soil.
Perfect for sunny small spaces, such as balconies, patios, rooftops.
Better for the environment.
Keep it simple, delicious and fun!
Wishing you healthy abundance,
Rachel
