I’ve blogged before about my top money saving tips for being gluten-free and today I’m sharing some tips for those on a vegan or plant-based diet. As you know, I’m not vegan myself so I’ve recruited Yaz Purnell; a frugal living blogger over at The Wallet Moth, where she focuses on providing practical lifestyle advice to help her readers create a life that works for them – check out her ultimate list of frugal living tips for more inspiration!
When I first made the decision to cut animal products out of my diet I was, like many people, fairly overwhelmed with where and how to start.
Up until that point, I had probably eaten meat almost every single day of my life – often multiple times a day. So the decision to go from that to vegan was not something I took lightly.
Almost two years on, I’ve never looked back. Cutting animal products out of my diet was one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I’ve learned a lot from that decision. As a frugal living blogger long before I went plant-based, it’s probably no surprise that I was keen to learn how to adapt to this new diet without spending significantly more – and as it turns as, being a vegan on the cheap is so easy, if you know how.
I’ve always loved how Jenna provides such useful free-from guides for her readers, so I’m hoping today I can share a frugal guide to going free-from, vegan style!
Here are a few of my best tips for eating a plant-based diet without blowing your budget every month.
1) Avoid Always Going For Mock Meats
Being plant-based in 2019 is already so much easier than it was when I first cut out meat in 2017 – and I can’t even imagine how great it is for people who have been vegan for far longer! As veganism has risen in popularity, so have the ranges of vegan food on offer at supermarkets – from fake chicken nuggets to vegan smoked salmon (yes, really!), you can get it all these days. While this is great if you’re short on time or don’t know what to cook, buying mock meats often can soon really add up
Opt for more frugal protein-sources such as legumes, nuts, and tofu. If you’re worried about getting enough protein as a vegan, check out Jenna’s tips on making sure you’re eating enough protein on a gluten-free, vegan diet.
2) Buy In Bulk
Buying your staple pantry items such as rice, oats, dried beans, and pulses in bulk is a frugal tip I recommend to everyone, whether you’re trying to follow a plant-based diet or not. If you have a zero-waste bulk shop, even better – you can recycle old jars and fill them up, reducing waste and making a real saving on your food bill.
3) Don’t Always Go For the ‘Vegan’ aisle
This sounds a little counter-productive, so let me explain.
In the supermarkets these days, you’ll often find a dedicate ‘vegan’ and ‘free-from’ section, which is great.
What’s not so great, however, is that these items are often more expensive than their ‘regular’ counterparts. The good news is that there are actually a surprising amount of food products that are ‘accidentally vegan’, from biscuits to crisps and even chicken-flavoured noodles!
Have a look at Veganuary’s Accidentally Vegan list – you’ll be shocked at how many everyday things are fine for vegans to eat!
4) Plan Your Weekly Shop
Eating a plant-based diet does require more planning, mostly because sticking to the ‘meat, carb, veg’ plate but without the meat portion isn’t going to cut it, nutritionally speaking.
Instead, I find myself making a lot more ‘one-pot’ type of meals with a good mix of protein, vegetables (lots of vegetables!), and a carbohydrate.
Planning your weekly shop is the best way of ensuring you buy the right foods for your meals, without going over budget. Have a look at my resource of free grocery list templates to help you plan your weekly shop easier.
5) Find Your Meal Prep Favourites
One of the key things to staying frugal on a plant-based diet, for me, has been finding my meal prep staples.
For me, that’s meals that are cheap and easy to make, such as red lentil dahl (gluten-free, a great source of protein, and a good source of iron!), or burrito bowls with black beans, brown rice, roasted fajita vegetables, and mashed avocado or salsa added when everything is warmed up.
These meals are made from cheap grains and pulses that can be made delicious with the right spices, and are perfect for prepping in bulk to eat throughout the week. Being frugal doesn’t mean you can’t eat amazing food!
I hope you’ve found these tips helpful if you’re trying to cut down on your meat intake or transition to a plant-based diet altogether – if you do your research, eating vegan definitely doesn’t need to cost you!
