Vegan and specialty food is so expensive! How can I save money?!
Vegan and specialty food is so expensive! How can I save money?
Answers:
1. Don't rely on processed meats
These can be fun and yummy, but they are not necessary. You can get your high-protein foods by cooking with beans in your meals. Cans of beans are cheap. Butter beans are great in garlic and oil dishes. Black beans are great in Mexican foods. Chickpeas are the best. Mash them up and season and add Veganaise for yummy "tuna" and "chicken" salads. There is nothing wrong with incorporating the fake meats, but don't become like many meat eaters and think those foods need to be in every meal.
2. Get the basics.
Nothing has to be all fancy and expensive. Pastas and rice are cheap; even the whole grain versions aren't munch. Stock up on in-season fruits and veggies. Buy the freshly frozen versions for any veggies that are too expensive. Beans, grains, fruits and veggies make up the basics of the vegan food pyramid. Everything beyond that is just fun food.
:)
3. Freeze your tofu
Tofu can be the best food on Earth. It can also go bad easily. If you are cooking for one or two, simply drain the cube of tofu, cut into halves or quarters and freeze in separate ziplock containers. When you want to use them, thaw 24- 48 hours in advance. Freezing your tofu also gives it its "meaty" texture if you like that sort of thing.
3.) Don't be fooled by health food stores.
The little co-ops may have their hearts in the right place, but the big stores generally are not in business to cater to veg*ans. ***** Know this now because it is important: They are catering to people with a lot of money who want to eat fancy and expensive health food. Your food just happens to be there. :) ***** You can find lots of the food you want at regular grocery stores. Also, I enjoy hitting up dollar stores and other cheap places. Often times generic and cheap food does not contain animal ingredients. This is more fun for people who enjoy walking around stores and having good “finds.” Yes, this is my idea of fun.
Anyway, that is all I can think of at the moment. Vegan shopping is not more expensive than meat-eating shopping unless you want lots of specialty foods. Even then, meat eaters have lots of specialty foods as well. Many people find that shopping vegan is even cheaper.
Good luck
http://www.vegansociety.com/html/...
http://www.vegsoc.org/newveg/fft/index.h...