Submitted by guest blogger Kat Calvin.
So you’ve seen PlantPure Nation and you’re ready to make a change. There’s just one problem: Plant-based diets are expensive.
That’s what we’ve all heard, right? Organic food is too pricey. Whole Foods is Whole Paycheck. Getting healthy means going broke.
Luckily, it’s not true. With a little strategy and planning, eating a plant-based diet won’t just be good to your body, it will be good to your budget.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Focus on the basics
Look for sales and stock up on the foods you’re going to eat every day.
- Rice (brown, black, wild, the list goes on)
- Beans (black, white, kidney, and more)
- Produce (fresh and frozen)
- Vegetable broth
- Herbs and spices
With these five things you can make an endless selection of delicious, healthy meals. You can make soups, salads, and big bowls brimming with whole grains and vegetables. You can eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a couple of snacks. The possibilities are endless and, best of all, affordable.
2. Prep on Sunday
Sunday meal prep is a miracle for budget- and time-conscious plant-based eaters. Just a few hours on Sunday can set you up for a healthy and budget-friendly week. Best of all, when you’re only buying food once a week, it’s easier to travel a little further to the grocery store if you have to.
Plan out your menu for each day of the week, repeating a few meals but mixing things up to keep it interesting. Focus on foods you love and look forward to eating.
Buy beans and rice in bulk, which saves money, and find produce that’s in season and on sale. Then, spend a few peaceful hours in the kitchen cooking up a storm while jamming to your favorite tunes.
Freeze or refrigerate all of your meals for the week and voila! You just saved money at the grocery store and now that you’re prepared for the week, you won’t need to go out to eat because you’re too tired to cook.
3. Spice it up
Get to know your herbs and spices. You could make the same meal every day and totally change its flavor by using cilantro instead of rosemary or sauteing some garlic and onions in veggie broth and tossing in a dash of cayenne. Herbs and spices give flavor and depth to your meal, and they have health benefits that will keep you glowing from the inside out.
4. Find a co-op, community garden, or CSA
Find a local co-op or community garden where you can even volunteer and get to know other plant-based foodies. Or join a community-supported agriculture (CSA) group and get a box of local, farm-fresh produce delivered straight to you. These options are often less expensive than the grocery store because the cost is spread among members and the produce doesn’t have to travel as far since it’s coming from a local farm.
These are just a few ways that you can make plant-based living work for you. With a little practice, soon your body and your bank account will be healthier than ever.
Kat Calvin is a brand and marketing strategist, a writer, and a Netflix aficionado. Kat became a vegan three years ago after learning about the health, climate, human, and civil rights impact of the meat and dairy industries. Now she does her best to eat plant-based and share the joy of a plant-based life with others. Find her @katcalvinLA on Twitter and Instagram.
With thirty entrees to choose from, PlantPure meals are the most convenient, healthy and inexpensive delivered foods available on-line! Our meals have no added oils and are priced lower than most fast foods. Order today at: PlantPureNation.com/collections/Foods