Tips for an Economically Challenged Vegan

Poor is such a offensive sounding word. I feel that people that use it, do so in poor taste  ;) One can lack money and still be rich in spirit, knowledge, friends, experience, and all the important things in life. 

Anyway, many people believe that you need to have a lot of money to be a vegan. Its easy to see why one might think this when you see the different celebrities eating at gourmet vegan restaurants wearing dresses that cost more than my rent...for a year.  Or when you go shopping and see the heaps of expensive faux meats, and super-fruit, organic, non GMO vitamin powders sprinkled with gold. (Ok, maybe the vitamin and protein powders don't contain with gold dust, but you would think so at those prices!)

Yes, celebrities can make being vegan look really glamours, and trying out different fancy vegan products can be fun, but those things don't make you vegan. Veganism isn't fancy restaurants, elite foods, and fancy clothing. Veganism is eating a compassionate diet, and doing what you can to reduce unnecessary suffering in the world. Can you eat a compassionate plant based diet and be satisfied AND healthy on a budget? Yes you can. Here in this post I share with you my top tips for thriving as a vegan on an 'economically challenged' budget.

Veganism Can Be Cheap! 

1. Keep it Simple:

Faux meats and other things are nice when you are transitioning, but they aren't really necessary.  Neither are the fancy supplements, powders, and vitamins. If you are eating the right combination of foods, you will get everything you need. (Some vegans choose to supplement with a B12 vitamin, but there are mixed reviews on this subject, and I'm not going to get into it in this post. I believe that you can get everything you need from your food, but it never hurts to supplement if you want.) If you eat the rainbow every day, you'll be fine!  :D

2. Buy in Season:

When you buy things that are in season they are less expensive because they haven't been shipped in from somewhere where the weather is more agreeable. Figure out what fruits and vegetables grow in your area in each season, and buy those!

3. Buy in Bulk:

Single serving packets are nice for on the go lunches, but the price can add up. Usually when you purchase produce in bulk the price is more reasonable. The same goes for the pre-cut vegetables. If you buy a head of broccoli vs. pre-chopped florets it will be cheaper. Try talking to the produce manager at your grocery store, he/she might be willing to give you a deal as well!

4. Plan Out Your Recipes:

When you have an idea of what meals you will be making for the week or even the month, you are less likely to buy extraneous items. Make a list of the things you need when you go shopping and stick to it!


5. Shop With a Like-Minded Friend:

Personally I think grocery shopping is fun. Some people might think that's weird, but I get excited when I get to buy new foods and make different recipes. And I think it's even more fun when you get to shop with a like minded person! When you shop with a friend you're more likely to get excited about the healthy foods you buy, and less likely to buy unnecessary junk food for fear of embarrassment in front of your health conscious friend. ;) Prepping meals together afterwards is even more fun!

6. Prep Meals for the Week:

If your like me, you're usually too lazy to cook after work. So I advise you to make several dinners ahead of time, and have them ready to heat up when you get home. This will keep you from being tempted to spend money on take-out on the way back from your job. The same goes for your lunch break. Make your lunch in the morning when you still have energy for the day and bring it with you. You will be way less likely to make a fast-food run partway through the day. Make sure you also have healthy snacks to keep from overeating precious groceries later on!

Keepin it Simple and Healthy! 

If you have been keeping up with this blog, you know that I am living in working in Peru. What you may not know is that Peru is a 'developing' or 'third world' country. I don't many dolla' dolla' bills. At all.  But I'm not in Peru for the money, I'm here for the experience. If I can eat a completely plant based diet on my budget, anyone can! In fact, being vegan is almost necessary for me at this point. Veganism is not a luxury, meat and and dairy are the most expensive things that you can buy at the market. So when you think of veganism, don't think of super organic, vitman water or sunbaked, 6 dollar a box, flax seed crackers. Think of beans and rice, sweet potatoes, peas, spinach, carrots, and bananas. Plan your meals, eat a rainbow, and thrive my vegan travelers!

Love From Peru 

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