With World Vegetarian Day and ample Vegetarian inspired competitions in the month of October, it might be helpful to learn how to be a vegetarian on a tight budget. Becoming vegetarian or vegan has a lot of expensive stigmas surrounds the lifestyle, but you can enjoy this way of living for very cheap if you know how to! There’s lots of ways to transform vegetarian meals into a healthy and delicious treats that will actually impress the family without having to pour out your wallet on specialty buys! There are quite a few ways to work around the vegetarian meal plan, so don’t hesitate to get started on this healthy diet. It doesn’t matter if you’re only a vegetarian for a day, month or the rest of your days because these tips will help with your overall grocery bill no matter your diet plan!
1. Bulk Buys
If you’re going to be eating a lot of produce the bulk buys are the way to go. It will cut down on the amount of times you have to go to the grocery store each week, which will save a lot on transportation and your time. Most bulk stores, like Costco, Sams and BJ’s Warehouse, will have plenty of produce on sale in large packages. Before you buy you may want to make out a few meal plans though so you don’t end up buying items you don’t actually need. If you’re worried the larger bags or produce may go to waste then create bags for each meal you’re going to make. Anything that is left over can be frozen for another meal plan. This will keep the food edible so you won’t have to spend more money later on. You may also want to split the produce with friends or family. Make a list of items you’d like and if you have the same plans the split the price tag and the food. It’ll cut down your budget significantly without having spoiled food left over!
2. Farmer’s Market
One of the best ways to find produce at a great price is to shop your local farmer’s market. If you don’t have one in your own town, then look online and see if you have one near by. Farmer’s markets are a great way to buy fresh produce at a price that won’t make you feel sick after shopping. The produce is fresh, comes from your area and best of all isn’t GMO. This means its all the more better for you, so you won’t have to worry about what you’re feeding your family. You can also find other items like honey, breads and oils at the market, which make a great addition to your vegetarian meals. Shopping at a farmer’s market is actually incredibly important for your body and your local community. Locally grown produce and harvested honey can help boost your immunity and reduce allergens, which is always a bonus. It also helps boost the local economy so your area will thrive!
3. Garden
If you’re a hobbyist then gardening might already be on your agenda, but those that don’t might want to pick up the art pretty soon. Gardening is a great way to relax, get some exercise and enjoy quality time with those you love. It’s also a great way to cut down on your grocery bill. If you’re planning on planting soon you may want to do a little research to see what can be grown outdoors in your climate. You may also want to find a way to plant items inside. It won’t take long before you’re completely enthralled with your very own garden. There’s a lot more to a garden then just having your own fresh produce in the home. You can base your meals around what’s blossoming in the garden which will take away a lot of the expense for your vegetarian diet. If you have extra produce then your friends and family will probably be more than willing to share in the tasty treats, or you could sale it at your local farmer’s market!
4. Avoid High End Stores
There’s a lot of stores out there that boast the vegan or vegetarian label that probably aren’t going to do you any favors when it comes to price. There’s also a lot of generic stores that will boost up the price of their groceries to support their high end name. This is especially true of stores that sale organic items. If you’ve ever walked into one of these stores then you probably know that you’ll want so many of the items despite the astronomical price. Try to refrain whenever possible though because the items are no better than groceries you’d buy anywhere else. Instead of falling into the trap head to your local discount store to find the items you need. You can usually get a good price and you may even get lucky and find something in the clearance section that will suit your meal plans for the night. If you’re looking for specific spices then you may want to visit an ethnic store instead. They generally have a larger selection and offer bigger packages for less money.
5. $1 a Pound Rule
When it comes to shopping on a budget try to keep the $1 a pound rule in mind. This will help you not spend too much money while you’re planning out your meals. Although it might not seem like much for the amount of food you’re getting it will stop you from buying items that may be over priced at the store. Another simple rule to follow is to not buy anything that the average person wouldn’t know what it is. This is especially true if you walk up to the check out counter and you have to explain to the clerk what it is you’re buying. Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule! When you follow these rules you’ll notice you’ll save more and more every time you go shopping. The rule will become so second nature that you’ll easily pin point where you need to get your produce at every time you’re shopping. Sometimes it’s okay to splurge on an exotic item though, so don’t let your taste buds miss out.
6. Dry Foods
Produce isn’t the only important part of a vegetarian diet. There’s plenty of dry foods that also aim to to make your meals healthier and more delicious. The best thing about these dry foods is they’re usually incredibly cheap to buy so you can stock up on them without spending a small fortune. Items like rice, beans, oats and wheats are the perfect way to make your meals go so much further without raising the price of each meal. These products can be purchased in bulk at just about any grocery store and shouldn’t cost over a few dollars when it comes to your shopping bill. Dry foods may require a little more prep than just produce, but when you cook from scratch using these items you’ll know your family is getting the best possible meal every day.
7. Avoid Vegetarian/Vegan Marketed Foods
We’ve all seen them and might have even been curious about them. You know, the vegetarian foods that are meant to taste like meat, so you don’t have to change up the flavor or texture of your favorite meals. These items can be great for some people, but if you’re on a budget they’re probably a lot easier for you to skip then you realize. Typically these items in stores can cost a lot more than meat, so your bill will skyrocket before you know it. Unless you plan on going vegan you can still use dairy products in your foods, so don’t buy this stuff if you don’t have to. It’s actually not as good for you as you think it is and as mentioned its cost won’t help out either. Instead try giving tofu a try. There’s lots you can do with it and it doesn’t cost a lot. You could also just stick with the basics and avoid all the extra stuff, especially if you’re just on the vegetarian challenge!
8. Shop Seasonal
We all have out favorite fruits and vegetables that we wish we could eat all year long; however, this just isn’t the way the world works. Sure, you might see your favorite as you pass down the produce aisle, but if it isn’t in season you should keep on walking. There’s a few good reasons for this. The first, obviously, is when an item isn’t in season it’s going to cost a whole lot more. It has to be flown in from somewhere else in the world, which adds to the price tag and thus isn’t worth buying right this second. It’s also not going to be the freshest on the market. Different things grow at different times of the year for a reason, so follow Mother Nature’s cue and eat seasonal. You may notice a difference in your health and you’ll definitely notice a difference in your shopping receipt. Of course, if you hate waiting for some items to come back in season then buy them in bulk when they’re in season and freeze them for all those days you just have to have them.
9. Frequent the Freeze Aisle
So, fresh produce is great and all but it doesn’t always suit our current budget. Instead of always shopping in the fresh section you can mix things up by checking out what’s in the freezer section. Here, you may want to stock up on any big bag of vegetables you can find. These are perfect for side dishes and they work brilliantly in soups and stews. You should also look for big bags of fruit which makes great smoothies or pie fillings that are healthy for you and the family. Try to avoid the small steamer bags and mixed vegetable/stir fry bags as these are generally priced up. After buying a couple of frozen bags of food you should be stocked up and ready to go for numerous meal plans that are incredibly budget friendly price that doesn’t even come close to what you’d pay for fresh items.
10. Browse Recipes
If you’re knew to the world of vegetarian food then you probably aren’t aware of too many recipes that will make your taste buds go crazy. Luckily, with the tap of a few keys on the keyboard you can find a wide range of recipes that will make this whole vegetarian thing a whole lot easier. You can run searches based on ingredients, user reviews or difficulty levels, which will ensure you get just what you’re looking for. It may seem overwhelming at first, but just pick out a few things to try and go from there. You may also want to browse thrift stores or second hand book stores for other recipes books that might help out. If all else fails then take to your social media page and ask your friends and family what their favorite vegetarian meals are. By the time you get a hang of it all you’ll feel like a gourmet chef!
Bring vegetarian dishes to your table can really help with weight control, health and your financial budgeting, so don’t let the expensive stigma stop you from trying something new. With these easy tips you should be able to enjoy your shopping experience more while trying a few new dished that will impress your family and make you think twice about eating your vegetables.
