You may be thinking that eating a vegetarian diet includes specialized foods that will rack up your grocery bills. While it can sometimes be true that healthy foods, organically grown and raised may have a higher price tag, there are ways you can mitigate the cost, eat a clean vegetarian diet and stay fit and healthy.
What is a Vegetarian Diet?
People often confuse vegetarian with vegan, which can lead to the assumption that it is more expensive. Vegetarian diets are different from vegan diets, as animal products can still be consumed to a certain extent. Vegan diets don’t allow for any animal products to be consumed, including eggs, and gelatin. So a vegetarian will not consume animal meat, but they may consume things such as eggs and certain food produced with animal by-products. Some vegetarian diets will also still allow for cows’ milk to be consumed.
The first step to take when deciding your diet, which will affect the pricing, is to decide what class of vegetarian diet you will follow. If you will still be eating eggs, then you have a cheap source of great protein still available, while going ahead and cutting ou animal flesh. What type of products are consumed will depend on your specific views, be ethical, religious, or otherwise. Once you know what you will allow yourself and not allow yourself to consume, you can get a better idea of the cost of your diet.
Great food Options for Vegetarians
Oats
Oats are often a staple of vegetarian diets, they are very filling, give you lots of nutrients and fiber, and can be prepared in many different ways. Oats are often well priced, and you can buy bulk oats to reduce the cost even further and make sure you will always have a good supply. From baked goods to a hearty bowl of oatmeal in the morning, oats are one of the staple ingredients in many vegetarian dishes due to their diversity and ease of use.
Vegetables
As the name would dictate, vegetarians will consume several vegetables. From root vegetables to sprouts to fresh fruit, there are a plethora of options available for vegetarians. A great way to reduce the price of vegetables and ensure you are receiving quality products is to purchase directly from the source. Finding a farm that will provide fresh vegetable cuts out the middle man of the store, reducing the overhead prices they need to charge to make business. This results in a greatly discounted price for your purchase. Finding a local farmer or farmers’ market to provide all your produce direct from the farm is often a lot easier than you may think. This is a great way to reduce your food costs, but also to know exactly where your food is coming from and that it was produced to meet your specific beliefs.
Chop your Produce
Often the cleaning and cutting process on vegetables increases their price, as it increases the labor required to produce and provide it. One way to lower your food expenses is to purchase whole fruits and vegetables in bulk. If you take the time to clean, chop and process your foods, you will find some incredible deals that will dramatically reduce your spending on food. While you may think bulk purchases need to be consumed right away, that isn’t the case, You can do home canning and preserving of your food so that your bulk purchase can feed you and your family for a few months to come. When looking for your fresh produce provider, ask them about the different prices for processed and non-processed vegetables, and you may be pleasantly surprised at how much money you can save following this method.
Growing Your Food
Growing your food at home can not only reduce your food budget but give you a great hobby that will allow you to access fresh herbs and vegetables on demand from your backyard. Growing your food is also a great way to ensure that your food is organic, without the use of pesticides, and any other considerations you may have regarding your produce. Having an at-home garden is also a wonderful activity to have with your family and to teach your children about responsibility and sustainability. If you have been considering the option of having a garden at home, now is the time to take action on that plan, you can’t go wrong with fresh, almost free food from home; and the taste of fresh vegetables cannot be beaten.
Buy Frozen, not Fresh at the Grocery Store
While you may have heard that frozen vegetables are not as healthy as fresh, that’s not always the case. And frozen vegetables will often have a much lower price tag. Granted some foods just taste better fresh, and it’s up to you to decide how and when you want to buy your items. But don’t be afraid to check out the freezer aisle. That large bag of peas or carrots may be one of the cheapest products you can buy, which will allow you to make multiple tasty meals.
Once you have decided what type of products you are comfortable eating, you can start to make your food budget. If you review all of your options for pricing, check with local farmers, and aren’t afraid to check out the freezer aisle, you are sure to find everything you need to make tasty and wholesome vegetarian dishes with low price tags. When starting a vegetarian diet, the most important thing to remember is to go slow and make changes as you are ready for them, rather than jumping in blind. So do your research, find a great provider, and purchase the foods you are comfortable consuming.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to eating a vegetarian diet, so make your diet your own and make it work for you. As with any diet, the most important concern is to make sure you are eating the nutrients you need, and taking on the diet because you choose it’s right, not due to external pressures. Once you decide to eat vegetarian, you will find what works for you, and with these easy tips, you can save some money along the way!