The Cost of a Vegan Diet

A lot of people I've met have said that they would love to be vegan, but they just can't afford it.  This always baffles me.  I look at the grocery bills of non-vegan friends and am always stunned by how much more they pay than me.  The cost of butter, milk and meat in the store always shocks me.  But then again, the cost of packaged veggie 'meats' and other imitation products always surprises me too.

Being vegan can be inexpensive, if you done properly.  For example, store bought soy products (such as milk, tofu, and imitation meats) are quite expensive.  And often packed with chemicals.  Homemade soy milk is incredibly cheap, and with 28 grams of protein a cup it's a lot more healthy.  Tofu is quite simple to make from scratch out of soy beans.  Imitation meats can be made by flavouring vital wheat gluten mixed with water.

In fact, making almost anything from scratch at home instead of buying it from the store will save money and turn out a healthier product.

Pre-made packaged meals are ridiculously over-priced (as they are with non-vegan meals).  Making lasagne from scratch (right down to the noodles) is very inexpensive and healthier.  Same goes for pizza, burritos, and anything else you might find in the frozen food section of your store.  If you like having frozen food at home, just whip up huge batches of your favourite foods to store in the freezer.  Let everything you make freeze on a pan not touching any other food.  Once your food is frozen you can take it off the pan and throw everything in a box or bag together.  This way none of your food will freeze together and you can avoid having to package everything individually.

Another way to save is to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, which are quite cheap.  I know a lot of people who shy away from vegetables because there are tastier things out there.  This is silly.  If you cook them right, vegetables can be delicious.  Or, you can just hide them in other foods.  Make foods such as tacos, wraps, or sandwiches.  I try to toss a handful of vegetables into every pot of pasta I cook.  When your body is craving a sweet snack, it actually wants fruit.  Try to get into the habit of reaching for fruit as a snack instead of candy.  You could even have a few strawberries dipped in chocolate, or an apple with a small slice of cake.  Your body craves what you normally use to fill certain needs, so after some time of incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet, you will begin to crave them.

There are so many other ways to be a vegan and spend less money on groceries than non-vegans.  There's tons of information on the internet, so take a look around.  Or you can check out my zine full of ideas on how to save money as a vegan while still being kind to your body and the environment.