Vegan Dollars [Part 2]

      As a college student who eats healthy, you may think that I have to spend a lot of money on food.  I will gladly admit that this is not the case at all!  Out of desperation springs creativity and I have found that now I actually spend less on food than I did before I was vegan.  I do not buy meat (which is expensive anyways), dairy, or junk food anymore so all of that money stays right where it should: in my bank account.

If you are just joining me, feel free to also read Part 1 of Vegan Dollars.

Here is Part 2 of my tips on how to eat healthy without giving up your precious money!

1. Drink water (and only water).  
• This cuts out all of the other extra drinks that you would buy, such as soda and juices, which are full of unnecessary sugars.  
• Don't waste your money on bottled water either. Instead invest in a water filter that you keep in the fridge and simply refill it daily.  
• If you want a change from water then make tea, lemonade (using real lemons), and/or squeeze some oranges or grapefruits.
2. Split the bill. 
• Find foods that you and a roommate frequently eat and offer to split the bill with them on those foods.
3. Write out a grocery list, then revise it.  
• Let it sit for a little while and then go back to it.  Read over it and decide which items are likely to run out quickly.  Replace those items with foods that will last longer.
• For example:
• Lettuce goes bad quickly, replace it with spinach.
• Fresh fruit goes bad and runs out quickly, replace it with frozen fruit or freeze it yourself.
4. Freeze the fresh fruit. 
• When considering quantity, buying fresh fruit is actually cheaper than buying frozen fruit. The problem? Fresh fruit needs to be eaten quickly. The solution? Freeze it after you buy it. Many fruits do well when frozen, so buy them fresh and freeze them yourself.
• Fruits that freeze well:
• Bananas
• Grapes
• Berries
• Refer to this website and that website for more detailed tips on freezing your fruits.
5. Read the ingredient list.  
• The packages of many food items may claim to be healthy, but read the ingredient list just to make sure.  If it has a long list of added preservatives, whey (milk), meat, or dairy then hopefully this will deter you from buying the item.
• Most bread is not actually vegan, so read the ingredients to make sure.

I hope that this helped, look forward to Part 3!
(And don't forget about Part 1)


Que te vaya bien!

Vegan Dollars [Part 1]

Isn't being vegan expensive?

 Answer: No.
There is a rumor going around that being vegan means spending more money than 'normal' people. I would like to take some time to show you that this is not the case.  With a little bit of brains, common sense, and a love for the kitchen, being vegan can in fact be cheaper than being a non-vegan consumer.

Here are a few tips on how to shop with a healthy mind and pocket:

1) Walmart.

Yes I know. It's Walmart. Ugh! Who really likes to go in there anyways? Well, I do because they really do have the lowest prices.  Buy "Great Value" whenever possible, but also check the other brand's prices because sometimes the Walmart brand is not necessarily the cheapest (nor the tastiest). If you still refuse to go to Walmart, try another store, such as Harris Teeter, that also has their own brand of foods. If you have a Trader Joe's in your area, lucky, then of course buy there.

2) Frozen Fruit.

If you are a fruit lover like me then you know that fresh fruit is the best.  Unfortunately, many of my favorite fruits are not usually in season and therefore they are very expensive.  So, instead, I tend to buy the cheapest frozen fruit that I see.  Frozen fruit still has many of the same vitamins that fresh fruit has (because they were frozen, not canned) and therefore you still get the same benefits. Plus, frozen fruit is so versatile and it lasts a long time!  You can put it in oatmeal, smoothies, cereal, and whatever else you want.  Just defrost the pieces you need and keep the rest in the freezer for future use.

3) Bagged Fruit.
Although the fruits sold in a bag are not usually organic, they are cheap. As healthy as I am trying to be, I am willing to sacrifice organic fruits for bulk fruit. For example, a bag of grapefruit with 6 pieces will most likely cost less than buying 6 grapefruits individually.  Compare the prices and decide for yourself which is better for your budget.

4) Dried Beans.

Yes I know, canned beans are so much easier than dried beans. You can just open the can, throw them in the pot, and voila-la! They are finished.  Despite the ease of canned beans, I recently switched over to dried beans because they are cheaper and come without the preservatives that are in the cans.
Just throw them in the crock-pot (along with a few cups of filtered water) before you go to bed and turn it on low.  By the time you wake up you have a ton of beans ready to go!  If you do not have a crock-pot, soak them overnight then boil them the next day.  My advice, add a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of cumin while they soak/cook.  This seasons them and makes them easier for your body to digest.

5) Rice.

Any person on a budget knows that rice and beans are cheap.  They are also vegan.  Eat a lot of both!  Buy rice in a bag versus rice in a box. Cook a lot of it at once on the weekend so that you have it at your disposal throughout the busy week.

6) Green bell peppers vs. colored peppers.

I love red, orange, and yellow bell peppers, but sadly they tend to be 2x more expensive than green bell peppers! Instead of buying the colored ones (which can be almost 2 dollars each), buy two or three green bell peppers (which tend to be between 50 cents and a dollar).  With a tight budget comes sacrifice.  In this case I am sacrificing a colorful meal.

7) Must-Haves
There are a few items that I will forever and always buy, no matter the cost.  For me, these items are avocados and mushrooms.  Avocados tend to be expensive here in the states but thankfully mushrooms are not so bad.
If there are 'must-have' food items, allow for them in your budget. If you need to, sacrifice something else for them.  In my last shopping trip I sacrificed a bag of lemons for two avocados and 3 kiwis. Silly? Maybe. But it's my thing, I'm sure that you have your own as well!

8) Cook your own food.

I think that 'being vegan' implies that you do this, but some people still insist on buying their food pre-made and pre-packaged.  Pre-packaged food will forever and always be more expensive than making it yourself, plus it is not fresh and will most likely come with nasty preservatives that scream "I WILL KILL YOU. Eventually." Stay away from that and get yourself into the kitchen!
If you do not know how to cook, teach yourself. Start with something simple like pasta and pasta sauce (read the ingredients before buying the sauce, many are not vegan but many are as well!) and when you get the hang of that add some of your own ingredients to the mixture.  Before you know it you will be on your way to becoming a professional chef! Well, in the eyes of your friends and family at least.



Do you have any tips for frugal vegan shoppers?