Vegan on a budget

'Isn't so expensive to eat that way?' It is a question us vegans are far too familiar with...right after 'where do you get your protein?' I believe that majority of plant based foods are actually cheaper than meat and dairy! But, any diet can be expensive, you could be a meat eater who wants steak every night, or wants to eat out at a 5 star restuarant nightly. Same thing goes with a vegan diet. There are numerous ways to go about it, but here are my tips for saving money, while staying healthy, on a vegan diet. Here are my top ways to save, shop, and thrive on a vegan diet!

1. Check your weekly flyers for sales, make a list, and then stock up! My favorite foods to stock up on are rice, pasta, tomatoe sauce, and beans. If you see your grocery store is having a major sale on dry beans, snatch them up! They will last forever in your pantry, and always good to have on hand! Comparing prices between a few local shops can be a huge saver! Sticking to your list will also make shopping easier, less complicated, and will keep you from straying to the snack isle!

2. Buy frozen fruit and veggies! I love to have a fridge full of frozen broccoli, it is my go to veggie. I love it with almost every dinner! Not only are frozen veggies cheaper than their fresh counter parts, but they are almost always on sale somewhere! Stock up! Frozen fruits and veggies are a great way to enjoy out of season foods without over spending. Fresh blueberries are almost impossible to find in the dead of winter...but you can enjoy frozen blueberries in your smoothie for about $2.50 a bag!

3. Buy seasonal fruits and veggies! I know it is nice to have an occasional exotic fruit or watermelon in the winter, but those will cost you! Stick to seasonal fruit which is usually plentiful and less expensive. During the peak of mango season I was able to find the for 69 cents each, and watermelon during the summer can run as low as $3.99 per melon!! There are also staple fruits you can buy year round at a great price like bananas, dates, and pineapple!

4. Cook!! That is the biggest money saver, and the easiest way to stay healthy! Eating out, for the
most part, is more expensive, loaded with added salt and lots of fat. Cooking allows you to use fresh ingredients, control what you are adding, and you can make enough to freeze! Sadly cooking seems
to have become a lost art, more and more families are eating on the go, frequenting fast food joints, and spending too much cash! Some of my favorite budget friendly meals are bean chili, veggie soup, and  rice and broccoli!

5. Keep it simple! Your meals do not need to be fancy or complicated! Vegan dishes are tasty even when they only include a few ingredients! You don't need a big center piece, something like steamed potaoes with tomato sauce and a salad makes a delicious meal! Not only are there fewer ingredients (which saves you lots of money) but it makes cooking quick and easy! Who wants to follow long complicated recipes? Not me!

6. Always make enough to have left overs! This will make lunch time the next day a breeze, or even save it for another dinner! Ordering lunch out at work can cost more than $10.00 a day, that is crazy!
Left overs can be really help you stay on budget!

Here is a list of vegan foods and their prices!! You will be shocked how inexpensive it is!

Organic rice $4.99 per 2lb bag

Organic dried beans $2.00 per 16 oz bag

Organic whole wheat pasta $1.50 per 12 oz box

Vegan stuffing $2.29 pet 10oz bag

Fat free vegan baked beans $2.50 per 28oz can

Frozen broccoli florets  $2.50 per 2 lb bag

Organic pasta sauce $2.50 per 24 oz jar

Organic potatoes $4.99 for 3lb bag,  $2.99 for non organic

Corn pasta $1.50 per 12 oz bag

Mushrooms $2.89 per 8 oz container

Organic tofu $2.50 per 14oz container

Lettuce $2 or less a bunch/head

Almond milk $2.50 per half gallon

Organic oat cereal $3.99 per box

Oatmeal $2.00 per box

Watermelon in season $3.99 per large melon

Pomegranate in season 2/$5

Grapes $2.99 per lb

Cucumbers $0.79 each

Frozen veggies, corn, peas, etc $1.89 per large bag

Canned tomatoes $1.29 per can, organic $2.50 per can

Organic oat nut bread $3.99 per loaf, none organic bread $2.50 per loaf

So, as you can see these are extremely affordable foods, these aren't even sale prices, just the average prices I pay at the store. Not only are these foods cheap, but they can make large healthy meals for the entire family! Don't get me wrong, there are some amazing vegan snacks and goodies that can break the bank, but those are special treats, not daily meals. Basic vegan foods are totally affordable! It is a family friendly and budget friendly lifestyle everyone can follow!