Question for you VEGANS out there on a budget?!
I am trying to start eating vegan but I am on a very tight budget and it seems like a lot of the specialty foods are so expensive!. I am nervous about cutting dairy products from my diet, well more my babies' diets!. How can I go vegan without breaking the bank and still know I am giving my children all the vitamins they need!?
Do I need to get B12 supplements for my children or any other vitamins or anything!?
also what kind of "milk" do you like best, we have only tried Silk and my kids spit it out!.
Thanks for any help you can give me, and if you know any good websites where I can get more info I would appreciate it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Do I need to get B12 supplements for my children or any other vitamins or anything!?
also what kind of "milk" do you like best, we have only tried Silk and my kids spit it out!.
Thanks for any help you can give me, and if you know any good websites where I can get more info I would appreciate it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Try to make as many things as you can from scratch!.
Ex!. rather than buying mac and cheese from a box (rip off), get some noodles in bulk, and make some cheese sauce from the traditional vegan creamsauce recipe (2 tablespoons oils, 2 tablespoons flour, cup of milk) and add nutritional yeast (god's gift to vegans!) for cheesy flavor!.
Something else you can do w/ NY is sprinkle it over toast with margerine (try Earth Balence for margerine)!.
As for the milk, silk is usually the best!.!.!.so if they're not liking liking that (and it's ok, some don't), I suggest rice milk!. It's sweeter!.
also, be sure to combine that w/ nut or oat milk, as consuming an excessive amount of rice milk can cause constipation!.
Or you can just go completely nut milk!. It's probably even healthier, actually!.
The brand is Pacific Natural Foods and I personally reccomend the hazlenut :-)
Here's a great article on B12: http://www!.pamrotella!.com/health/b12!.htm!.!.!.
I'd also check PETA, they have some wonderful information!.
For example: http://www!.peta!.org/accidentallyVegan/
If you need anymore help with this, just ask another Q and include the link in your comments!.
I will do my best to answer it :-)
Www@FoodAQ@Com
Ex!. rather than buying mac and cheese from a box (rip off), get some noodles in bulk, and make some cheese sauce from the traditional vegan creamsauce recipe (2 tablespoons oils, 2 tablespoons flour, cup of milk) and add nutritional yeast (god's gift to vegans!) for cheesy flavor!.
Something else you can do w/ NY is sprinkle it over toast with margerine (try Earth Balence for margerine)!.
As for the milk, silk is usually the best!.!.!.so if they're not liking liking that (and it's ok, some don't), I suggest rice milk!. It's sweeter!.
also, be sure to combine that w/ nut or oat milk, as consuming an excessive amount of rice milk can cause constipation!.
Or you can just go completely nut milk!. It's probably even healthier, actually!.
The brand is Pacific Natural Foods and I personally reccomend the hazlenut :-)
Here's a great article on B12: http://www!.pamrotella!.com/health/b12!.htm!.!.!.
I'd also check PETA, they have some wonderful information!.
For example: http://www!.peta!.org/accidentallyVegan/
If you need anymore help with this, just ask another Q and include the link in your comments!.
I will do my best to answer it :-)
Www@FoodAQ@Com
fortified breakfast cereals for B12 etc!. they're like a palatable multivitamin!. The vegan kids I babysat in high school ate multigrain cheerios, which had 100% of B12, and many other vitamins they might lack, like zinc, riboflavin or iron!.
brown rice and black beans make a super-cheap healthful combo (with a low glycemic index) (with spices, onions, and other things)
go to your local produce store (they pick up the perfectly healthful produce major stores discard because of appearance, size, color, etc!.) for fantastic deals on veggies/fruit!.
make your own hummus:
CHEAP: chickpeas (1 can), oil (to taste) salt, vinegar
less cheap (healthier):chickpeas (1 can) tahini (a few tbsp to taste) lemon juice (fresh squeezed) and garlic (1 clove)
flaxseed is 1$ per pound, and is enormously healthy (if you blend it first in a blender/ coffee bean grinder)
frozen vegetables in bulk!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
brown rice and black beans make a super-cheap healthful combo (with a low glycemic index) (with spices, onions, and other things)
go to your local produce store (they pick up the perfectly healthful produce major stores discard because of appearance, size, color, etc!.) for fantastic deals on veggies/fruit!.
make your own hummus:
CHEAP: chickpeas (1 can), oil (to taste) salt, vinegar
less cheap (healthier):chickpeas (1 can) tahini (a few tbsp to taste) lemon juice (fresh squeezed) and garlic (1 clove)
flaxseed is 1$ per pound, and is enormously healthy (if you blend it first in a blender/ coffee bean grinder)
frozen vegetables in bulk!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I use rice milk quite often!. I'm not home to read the label so I'm not sure of the nutritional values!. I like it because it doesn't have to be refrigerated until opened and it tastes pretty good!. It's a little sweet so your kids might like it!. Although I'm not actually a true vegan, I don't eat a lot of meat or dairy and I do eat a lot beans, whole wheat pasta, brown rice and fresh vegetables which are all filling and inexpensive!. I found a website that might be helpful!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
For vegans on a tight budget there is one simple rule: Avoid processed foods!. Buy produce, whole grains, dried beans, peas and lentils, (one bag makes a pot of soup for just pennies!) pasta, etc!.
I wood find a good children's multivitamin for your kids regardless of their being vegan!.
My son never cared for Sillk or the other soymilks!. Try "Rice Dream" and "Almond Breeze," I like both better than soy!. They come in plain, vanilla and chocolate!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I wood find a good children's multivitamin for your kids regardless of their being vegan!.
My son never cared for Sillk or the other soymilks!. Try "Rice Dream" and "Almond Breeze," I like both better than soy!. They come in plain, vanilla and chocolate!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
well im not vegan --u should try westsoy nonfat plain milk its good-- i like it-
and yes get some supplements like b6 and b12
and calcium --as for ur kids--try the skim milk first for about 2-3 months then try the soy milk--its a process --i eat lots of brocolly its not really expensive 1lbs is 3 dollar- cabbage is cheap and caulilower too-- try the cheap veggies---also try fortified cereals like all bran kellog i think its really good with milk--aplles and bananas are cheap too-- apples are good fro kids==
Www@FoodAQ@Com
and yes get some supplements like b6 and b12
and calcium --as for ur kids--try the skim milk first for about 2-3 months then try the soy milk--its a process --i eat lots of brocolly its not really expensive 1lbs is 3 dollar- cabbage is cheap and caulilower too-- try the cheap veggies---also try fortified cereals like all bran kellog i think its really good with milk--aplles and bananas are cheap too-- apples are good fro kids==
Www@FoodAQ@Com
You can get lots of low cost inspiration from the Vegan Lunchbox blog!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
"I am on a very tight budget and it seems like a lot of the specialty foods are so expensive"
That's right, the *specialty* foods are so expensive!. Frozen vegetables/fruits, dried beans, grains, pasta, and breads are not!. Sometimes, you can get frozen veggies/fruit for about a dollar a pound!. It's a fabulous deal!. Frozen is better than canned anyway!.
"How can I go vegan without breaking the bank and still know I am giving my children all the vitamins they need!?"
I explained above how you can prevent breaking the bank!. Now, you're going to hear opposition, so just listen to me carefully so you can better understand what's going on: people on omnivourous diets don't always get all the nutrition they need!. Just because you eat more kinds of food (eggs, dairy, meat, and honey) doesn't mean that you're getting better nutrition!. The obesity rates in the US are not mostly from vegans or vegetarians: the obesity rate is thanks to all the omnivores that don't know how to feed themselves properly and instead rely on McDonald's for a "well-balanced" meal of meat and fries!.
That being said, all you need to do is ensure that you're getting well-rounded nutrition for yourself and your children!. You're going to be getting protein, minerals, vitamins, carbs, and fats from all-vegan sources!.!.!.and that's what your body needs: well-rounded nutrition!. The only difference between a vegan complete protein, like avocado, and a non-vegan complete protein, like milk, is that avocado is better absorbed by the body!. They have the same amino acids, and the amino acids are all you need to repair cells!.
Ensure that you and your children have well-rounded diets!. Again, frozen is going to be your best friend here!. Buy fresh when it's cheap!. Stores like Kroger's will put close-dated stuff on sale!. I just bought tons of pre-packaged salads for only $1!.49 each when they're normall over $3!.00!. Then I put them in a Green Bag so they wouldn't go bad as quickly (yes, the Debbie Meyer Green Bags do work)!. This way, you can buy the cheap stuff in bulk and not have to worry about it!. I got 20 Green Bags for $9!.99 by the way!.
As for Silk, ask yourself what milk means to you: milk means a source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D!. If your kids really hate Silk, you can try other "milks" (rice, almond, hemp seed, etc!.) or their chocolate milk, OR you can just feed them other foods that will provide protein, calcium, and vitamin D!. I also learned that having them help you in the kitchen makes them more interested in the food!. I blended silken tofu with a little soy milk with the help of a kid, and she was all about helping season it and dipping tortilla chips into it!. She absolutely loved it! Have your kids help you in the kitchen, and also have them go to places like foodnetwork!.com or vegan recipe sites and pick out foods to help you cook!.
B12 can be found in brewer's yeast, which is vegan!. Just add some to a smoothie and you're all set!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
That's right, the *specialty* foods are so expensive!. Frozen vegetables/fruits, dried beans, grains, pasta, and breads are not!. Sometimes, you can get frozen veggies/fruit for about a dollar a pound!. It's a fabulous deal!. Frozen is better than canned anyway!.
"How can I go vegan without breaking the bank and still know I am giving my children all the vitamins they need!?"
I explained above how you can prevent breaking the bank!. Now, you're going to hear opposition, so just listen to me carefully so you can better understand what's going on: people on omnivourous diets don't always get all the nutrition they need!. Just because you eat more kinds of food (eggs, dairy, meat, and honey) doesn't mean that you're getting better nutrition!. The obesity rates in the US are not mostly from vegans or vegetarians: the obesity rate is thanks to all the omnivores that don't know how to feed themselves properly and instead rely on McDonald's for a "well-balanced" meal of meat and fries!.
That being said, all you need to do is ensure that you're getting well-rounded nutrition for yourself and your children!. You're going to be getting protein, minerals, vitamins, carbs, and fats from all-vegan sources!.!.!.and that's what your body needs: well-rounded nutrition!. The only difference between a vegan complete protein, like avocado, and a non-vegan complete protein, like milk, is that avocado is better absorbed by the body!. They have the same amino acids, and the amino acids are all you need to repair cells!.
Ensure that you and your children have well-rounded diets!. Again, frozen is going to be your best friend here!. Buy fresh when it's cheap!. Stores like Kroger's will put close-dated stuff on sale!. I just bought tons of pre-packaged salads for only $1!.49 each when they're normall over $3!.00!. Then I put them in a Green Bag so they wouldn't go bad as quickly (yes, the Debbie Meyer Green Bags do work)!. This way, you can buy the cheap stuff in bulk and not have to worry about it!. I got 20 Green Bags for $9!.99 by the way!.
As for Silk, ask yourself what milk means to you: milk means a source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D!. If your kids really hate Silk, you can try other "milks" (rice, almond, hemp seed, etc!.) or their chocolate milk, OR you can just feed them other foods that will provide protein, calcium, and vitamin D!. I also learned that having them help you in the kitchen makes them more interested in the food!. I blended silken tofu with a little soy milk with the help of a kid, and she was all about helping season it and dipping tortilla chips into it!. She absolutely loved it! Have your kids help you in the kitchen, and also have them go to places like foodnetwork!.com or vegan recipe sites and pick out foods to help you cook!.
B12 can be found in brewer's yeast, which is vegan!. Just add some to a smoothie and you're all set!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
hi
i've not been vegan for very long, in fact i'm still in the process of changing over to (almost) vegan!. main reasons for me are actually that meat and dairy products are so expensive now!. I have a son who is 20 mths old and who can't have dairy or eggs!. I am breastfeeding him until he self weans and this is the only reason I am happy for him to be (almost) vegan aswell!.
I agree that the best way to do it is not to rely too much on processed foods!. beans, pulses, lots of veg and fruit obviously!. Saying that i have found vegan "mince" and vegan sausages to be cheaper than the organic meat sausages or meat i would usually buy so i guess it depends on what kind of food you bought before!.
the other thing i do is order a veg box to be delivered once a week, for me it costs 25 pounds and has all the veg and fruit we need for that whole week - maybe that wuold be an option to keep the cost down a bit
oh and i like rice milk best Www@FoodAQ@Com
i've not been vegan for very long, in fact i'm still in the process of changing over to (almost) vegan!. main reasons for me are actually that meat and dairy products are so expensive now!. I have a son who is 20 mths old and who can't have dairy or eggs!. I am breastfeeding him until he self weans and this is the only reason I am happy for him to be (almost) vegan aswell!.
I agree that the best way to do it is not to rely too much on processed foods!. beans, pulses, lots of veg and fruit obviously!. Saying that i have found vegan "mince" and vegan sausages to be cheaper than the organic meat sausages or meat i would usually buy so i guess it depends on what kind of food you bought before!.
the other thing i do is order a veg box to be delivered once a week, for me it costs 25 pounds and has all the veg and fruit we need for that whole week - maybe that wuold be an option to keep the cost down a bit
oh and i like rice milk best Www@FoodAQ@Com
I eat soups, salads, veggies!. I had to change the way I eat do to not being able to work for the last 2 1/2 years!. Very tight on money!. My kids don't mind and neither do the grand kids!. They would rather have little snacks through the day then huge meals!. Peanut butter and celery, or crackers, trail mix, fruits,cereals including oat meal!. Oat meal is all I eat for breakfast!. I might throw in some raisins, or nuts or some other type of fruit!.Example we had soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner!. You just need to try things to see what everyone likes!. Good Luck!!!!!!!!Www@FoodAQ@Com