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There is a common misconception that adopting a vegan diet is expensive. It is easy to see why this is the case with the prices for vegan options at restaurants and meat substitutes soaring through the roof. However, it is possible to eat a vegan diet without breaking the bank. This post aims to provide practical tips and strategies for embracing veganism on a budget. Creating a budget and planning meals in advance, buying in bulk and stocking up on pantry staples, making homemade alternatives, and prioritizing whole foods can all help to keep costs low.
1. Create a Budget & Plan your Meals
Creating a budget and planning your meals in advance can not only save you time and money but help you to reduce food waste and make sure that you are covering all the essential nutrients. Step 1: Before you even create a shopping list, the first thing you need to do is create a budget. Your budget can vary depending on the area you live in, the number of people living in your household, specific dietary needs (gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, etc.), and your eating-out budget. Your budget can also vary based on other financial responsibilities such as rent/mortgage, household bills, debt repayment, savings, car note or insurance, monthly subscriptions, and any additional costs.
A standard guideline is to allocate around 10-15% of your monthly income toward food, including any other groceries you might need. However, before you allocate an arbitrary number or percentage for groceries, figure out how much you already spend each month. Not only will this allow you to see how much you spend on particular items, but also how you can cut back or increase your allocated funds to accommodate your budget/costs.
Step 2: Next, take a look inside your pantry and fridge to see what you already have. This step is important because you don't want to buy more or something you already have unless you're running low. This is especially important for fresh produce because you are less likely to waste them by letting them go bad in the fridge. Take note of the items you use frequently as you want to make sure to include those on your shopping list.
Step 3: Once you have determined your food budget and taken stock of what you already have, it is now time to make a shopping list! There are many ways to organize your shopping list. You can organize items based on food groups: fruits/veggies, grains, proteins, dairy alternatives, fats/oils, and sugar/sweets. You can organize your list based on store sections: produce, frozen, bulk, dairy alternatives, pantry staples, and snacks. You can even organize your items based on meals or recipes. Pick a system that works best for you!
Step 4: You've gathered all the ingredients you need to make delicious home cooked meals... Now what? Planning your meals in advance is a simple to save time during the week. You might have heard of meal prep. Meal prepping works for a lot of people because it allows them to prepare their ingredients or meals on a day when they have more time, so that when they actually want to eat, they will have minimal to no additional prep time. Depending on the meal, you can make the entire recipe and put it in the fridge or freeze it or you can prepare the ingredients (chop lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.) to put together later. The latter option gives you more options because it allows you to mix and match ingredients to make your meal. For instance, you could prep rice, beans, potatoes, and a sauce. You could make rice and beans or burritos with tortillas, cheese, and salsa. With this option though, you have to be careful not to prepare too many ingredients that you might not completely use.
If you plan to take a lunch to work, you can buy food storage containers and portion out your meals in advance so that all you have to do is pop open the fridge and grab the dish.
2. Buy in Bulk & Stock Up on Pantry Staples
3. Make Homemade Alternatives
4. Prioritize Whole Foods
Going vegan has perks for your health and your wallet. Follow the 4 tips in this article to save money and save the planet. Switching to a sustainable and budget-friendly vegan diet is key, so it's worth considering these ideas for a healthier tomorrow!
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