Vegan on a Budget: Being Vegan is Easy When it’s Cheap
Yesterday I proclaimed it silly to think that being vegan is hard. Today, I received a question from a college friend about keeping veganism cheap. And as we all know, a diet is easier to follow to if it is affordable.
So how is being vegan easy? It’s cheap.
My friend writes: I started delving into [being vegan] in March and haven’t had any problems because I’ve been living at home. But I move in a week to go to Grad school and I will be on a very limited budget. I was hoping you may have some helpful hints/ideas on how to maintain my healthy lifestyle because I really cant imagine going back to just being vegetarian.
Tips for Being Vegan on a Budget (something I know a lot about):
1. Find a good bulk store. In Philadelphia, I go to Nuts to You, a local chain store that has inexpensive bulk nuts, dried fruits, grains, baking needs, and even candy. On top of their low prices, they also greater discount the more you buy. Giant grocery stores and natural food co-ops are other places that I have found low cost bulk foods.
2. Eat less processed foods. Veganism becomes expensive when you start buying lots of frozen veggie burgers, Amy’s meals, prepared foods, and other processed stuff.
3. When you do eat out, know how to work the menu. It is not worth the price you’ll pay to order something that usually had meat and ask them to leave it off. Usually, you still pay the with-meat price. Instead, try asking the waitress if the chef is willing to put something together for you or order a few side dishes. I recently got beans, rice, and sauteed veggies at Chili’s for only about $6 by ordering side dishes.
4. Use things up. It may sound obvious, but it really helps. Don’t let any food go to waste. If fresh vegetables, especially spinach, are starting to go bad — freeze them. Also, don’t worry about keeping a fully stocked pantry; rather, use what you buy before you buy more (except for foods that are cheaper in bulk, of course).
Those are my best suggestions for keeping veganism affordable. What tips can you add? Leave a comment!
July 30th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Compassion Over Killing’s Eating Vegan On A Budget
July 30th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Student’s Go Vegan Cookbook
July 30th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
PETA’s College Vegan Cookbok
July 30th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
A pressure cooker is useful too. Dried beans that dirt cheap but that would take 90 minutes to cook will cook i 15 minutes.
If you don’t mind non-organic soy Asian markets sell *cheap* tofu and soymilk.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
You can grow some of your own too.
October 18th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Eating vegetable is good for health
December 15th, 2009 at 12:55 am
i know “nuts to you!” i think my in-laws live near there…
i find that frozen fruits and veggies are pretty cheap and an easy way to bulk up a meal….and of course, it doesn’t get any cheaper than dried beans…
January 11th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
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