How much of a PRICE difference do you see on food being vegan?
Posted by val738 on Aug 13, 2008 · Member since Aug 2008 · 2 posts
Im just starting out and cannot believe all of the wonderful information on this site to help!!! Anyways, since it hasnt been a full month, Im wondering if you can help me figure out what the price difference is between being a meat eater vs vegetarian vs vegan?
Thanks for the help!
One more thing-- how do you keep from being so hungry??? I never feel full!!
I haven't bought any meat/dairy in so long (actually, have never personally bought meat) that I couldn't tell you the price difference between omni/vegan (though I believe there is a big one).
But I can tell you that there is a significant difference between buying lots of processed and prepackaged vegan "specialty" foods versus buying whole foods/fresh produce and cooking yourself. Fresh, seasonal produce and dried beans and grains, along with spices bought in bulk are some of the cheapest foods there are.
As for the feeling hungry....if you stick to things with lots of fiber (grains, beans, fruits and veggies) and whole foods as much as possible, you should be able to get full. Try eating a huge salad before a meal (I mean huge - like a big plateful) full of veggies. Fruit smoothies using three of four different kinds of fruit are great, filling breakfasts. It is cool how much you can eat of good, whole foods!
Also, I think maybe when you are first getting used to a different way of eating, there might be a habitual sensor or something in your brain that says, "wait....I'm not done yet...I didn't eat any meat/cheese/eggs or whatever." But as you get used to eating veg, and your habits change, that will go away and you will be so happy with how wonderful and delicious and FILLING veg food is.
Good luck and congrats on commiting to the switch! Everyone on here is really nice if you have any more questions.
I think the transition is the most expensive, because until you find your favorite vegan recipes, you'll likely be buying premade items. I don't remember how much I used to spend, but I spend about the same as my omni co-workers, or maybe a little less. Also, make sure you are getting a balanced diet. For me (everyone is different), when I crave simple sugars I need more protein and when I'm always hungry I need more fat.
i just found this!!
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0820/is_n212/ai_16845844/pg_2?tag=artBody;col1
I'm actually surprised! i cant believe how much cheaper it was to be vegetarian and how much less time it takes. i think thats awesome.
The not being full thing, youll get used to it. I feel like I get full, but not like omnivore full. When i was full when i ate meat. i felt bloated, uncomfortably full, but now, i feel satisfied full. i feel good, not bursting at the seams, but like i got all of the vitamins and minerals i need, so now im ready to do anything. I bet that kind of difference takes a bit to get used to. And snacking is really good for your body, so snack away if youre still hungry!
oh another note. that article is from a vegetarian, i bet being vegan would be even cheaper, cutting out the cost of eggs and dairy, especially since the cost is soaring now. using flax seed, tofu or bananas for an egg, i would think, is cheaper. and making your own milk out of nuts would be rather cheap.
neat article kelsi, thanks.
As for feeling full, you may need to add more fats to your diet. Nuts, seeds, coconut, avocado. That helps me.
I agree with HH--the transition time is the expensive time when you're just starting to stock up on things and get into. I would say that it's either cheaper being vegan or about equal since somethings vegans buy are a little more expensive then non-vegan substitutes (like agave nectar, some nuts, etc.). I havn't bought meat/dairy/eggs in a looooong time--but from what I understand all those things have really gone up in price lately--more so then produce.
In a few months you'll have it all figured out :) vegans are always smart cookies--so we know you'll have it down in no time!!!
Welcome to the community!!!!!!!!
The expensive stuff tends to be the processed stuff--the analogs, the special soy dessert items, stuff like that. If you keep it clean and green and natural, it's a lot cheaper.
But then just cutting the junkfood out of the normal family budget saves a ton. My erstwhile BFF's family is always crying poor (after all there are 5 of us! is their cry) but they must have the sodas, the chips, the cheese curls and a lot of other junk. I haven't bought chips or soda for over a year. I would only buy them for company to have at meals and then I just stopped. I don't think anyone noticed. I refuse to pay over a Euro a piece for cans of sugar water with chemicals.
i don't know if this helps, but i spend about $300 - $375 a month at the grocery store (for 2 people). i can't really compare that to an omni bill because i didn't cook much before going veg. but i also agree with yabbit - when you cut out the junk, you definitely spend less. i stopped buying chips and crackers (like trisquits) and soda mainly because they are expensive and i'm not the one who eats them at my house. if bf wants them, he gets them on his own. analogs are expensive, too. $4 for a package of crumblers (which is usually just 1-2 meals) is exorbitant... (but we still buy em sometimes.) it all just depends on what you buy.
To honest with you I find it to be a little cheaper.... I mean tofu, tempeh, beans, lentils and rice are SO much cheaper than meat! I've always been a healthy eater, tons of fruit and veggies so that has remained the same.
I find that when I'm really hungery like that eating a dish with both beans and rice, like mexican, or potato and beans....plus add a denser protien like tofu or tempeh and tons of veggies and I'm stuffed. Think casseroles (enchaladas, lasagna, polenta bakes) or thick stews (chili), stirfrys with veggies, tofu and rice, indian dishes that contain veggies tofu/tempeh and rice, a breakfast burrito filled with tofu scramble and veggies....stuff like that. There are tons of great recipes on this site! Check out the casseroles/dinner pies and all the meat alternative recipes!
I also have some great filling recipes on my blog: http://evilherbivoreawesome.blogspot.com/ I just started it so its still being populated. I hope to get a few more recipes up today.
i don't know if this helps, but i spend about $300 - $375 a month at the grocery store (for 2 people). i can't really compare that to an omni bill because i didn't cook much before going veg. but i also agree with yabbit - when you cut out the junk, you definitely spend less. i stopped buying chips and crackers (like trisquits) and soda mainly because they are expensive and i'm not the one who eats them at my house. if bf wants them, he gets them on his own. analogs are expensive, too. $4 for a package of crumblers (which is usually just 1-2 meals) is exorbitant... (but we still buy em sometimes.) it all just depends on what you buy.
if you want things like crumbles, you could buy bulk tvp or tofu. thats a good alternate to the expensive crumbles. im sure you know about tvp ap. but for the original poster. : ) and theres also some really good recipes on here for veggie burgers made out of chickpeas or tvp or tofu... those tend to be a lot cheaper and healthier than the premade stuff.
I find that we eat about 350$ per month in food. Some of that food is prosessed fake meat so if I cut that out I think I could get that down to 275 or so. If we were eating meat I`m sure it would go way up from there. Have you seen the cost of meat lately, it is outragous. I am so glad we don`t eat it anymore.
Why the hell do i even look over at the discusting stuff for anyway?
I think it would be worthwhile to read this: http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2003issue1/vj2003issue1quick.htm
I agree that not buying junk food, pre-made convience foods and analogues save you a bunch. Also, it kills me to say this, not buying organic certainly saves money.
One more thing-- how do you keep from being so hungry??? I never feel full!!
A nice big bowl of whole wheat spaghetti with marinara sauce always helps me with that! Almonds are also good and can be easily added to most dishes to fill you up a little more.
if you want things like crumbles, you could buy bulk tvp or tofu. thats a good alternate to the expensive crumbles. im sure you know about tvp ap. but for the original poster. : ) and theres also some really good recipes on here for veggie burgers made out of chickpeas or tvp or tofu... those tend to be a lot cheaper and healthier than the premade stuff.
yeah we buy tvp too. there's just something about those stupid crumblers... they're so tasty! i finally stopped buying the chicken strip ones (much to bf's dismay). so i'm slowly cutting out my analogs.
We notice a big price difference. I do my primary grocery shopping at Aldi, which is ultra-cheap. I'm cautious about luxury or high-price items, like buying tamari instead of soy sauce, and only indulge in these extra things if they are very important to me. I seldom buy organic.
But, for religious reasons we are vegan part of the year (about half the days), and the rest of the year we're a mixed vegetarian and omni family.
During vegan times, I spend about $50 a week at my primary grocery run.
During non-vegan times, it's about $80 -$100.
(neither grocery run counts extra trips for produce or specialty items, like the occasional jar of capers. Since Aldi is a no-frills store, and a little further away, I usually make an additional trip to another grocery during the week, and spend about $40 there)
So, I'd say, on average I save about $40/week on vegan weeks over non-vegan weeks.
I'll tell ya, a pound of my bf's damned lunch meat costs $6-$8. None of my proteins cost more than $1.89/lbs. About 50% of our grocery budget goes to fruits/vegetables. That's how it should be even if you aren't a vegetarian. Our grocery bill averages about $70/wk for 2 people (including the damned lunch meat, and household items like toilet paper and dish soap). Having never eaten meat as an adult, I don't have pre-gan food costs to compare it to. My bf's "special things" -- Lunch meat (1lbs/wk), Sliced cheese (1 lbs/mo), and Seltzer (at least 8 bottles/wk) certainly jack up the food bill considerably over when I just bought vegan foodstuffs for myself.
never using selzer water before, i'm curious as to how he uses 8 bottles of it in a week. hmmm . enlighten me!
is that the same water thats used in italian soda? if so, i have had it before. but thats not all its good for right?
never using selzer water before, i'm curious as to how he uses 8 bottles of it in a week. hmmm . enlighten me!
is that the same water thats used in italian soda? if so, i have had it before. but thats not all its good for right?
Seltzer is unsweetened water with bubbles or "sparkling water." If you buy generic that is labelled "sparkling water" it's pretty cheap, but if he's into brands like Evian or Perrier, that runs into money.
Does Perrier even exist anymore? In Europe now it's Evian or Volvic.
My mother used to drink seltzer by the cardload in the belief that it settled her stomach. In reality, it just makes you belch. Whatever blows your hair back, I guess.
never using selzer water before, i'm curious as to how he uses 8 bottles of it in a week. hmmm . enlighten me!
is that the same water thats used in italian soda? if so, i have had it before. but thats not all its good for right?
Drinks it. It's just carbonated water, though he buys the ones that are fruit flavored (unsweetened in any way). He drinks, on average, one litre bottle a day, with 7 days in a week, and he usually leaves one up next to the bed :P
(This is much better than the Mt. Dew habit he had when we met)