How cheap is a plant based diet

[Bitki]

Since eating a plant based diet it has surprised me how cheap it is. My grocery bill the other day was 20 dollars for the whole trolley. Its normally 60 or 70 dollars. People at work were talking about buying their hams for Christmas they were spending anywhere from 40 to 100 dollars.

I have had people always say that eating healthy is so much more expensive than junk food. I am finding the opposite. Plant based eating is way cheaper than meat or junk food. In fact its highlighted how expensive meat is. I'm saving a ton of money eating this way.

I am also looking into creating my own herb and vegie garden. That's next on my list of things to do. I can't wait.

I also feel better. I came eye to eye with a chicken on the truck on it's way to be slaughtered. I felt so bad for it. It breaks your heart, I dont want to be a part of that anymore either.

Has anyone else transitioning found the same.

 

[Three Chickpeas]

Definitely cheaper. Our grocery bill has dropped considerably, almost halving. That includes buying fresh fruit and produce. For some reason there's a common misconception that this stuff is expensive, but generally its much cheaper than the meat and dairy we've replaced. Rice and beans are the cheapest staple foods you can buy, and go a long way to dropping the overall bill on a per calorie basis.

 

[PTree15]

I agree. I spend a lot less on groceries these days. A veg*n diet can get pricy if you buy a lot of processed foods like the meat analogs and whatnot, but if you shop in season and scout out sales, you can spend a lot less. I also do some canning, so that helps in the winter months when decent fresh veggies are harder to find.

 

[Flowrydabae]

I've lived off of tons of canned fruits and vegetables when I didn't have the money to eat high end vegan foods.

 

[David3]

If you have an Asian, Hispanic, or Middle Eastern market near you, they often have low prices on fresh vegetables and fruits.
.

 

[David3]

Below: The Aymo family of Tingo, Ecuador, with a week's food that costs £19 (year 2007). Legumes, grains, potatoes, vegetables, and fruit.



(from the book Hungry Planet - What the World Eats:
https://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Planet-What-World-Eats/dp/0984074422/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OJVBTQ01CK0S&keywords=hungry+planet+what+the+world+eats&qid=1578626267&sprefix=hungry+planet,aps,276&sr=8-1 )
.

 

[Emma JC]

potatoes and rice and beans and frozen veggies are very inexpensive

Emma JC

 

[Emma JC]

this is a very old thread however I couldn't find another more suitable

eating vegan/plant-based is so inexpensive, especially at this time of year

as I mentioned in another thread my grocery store currently has local produce from the recent harvests - $3 per 10 pound bag for potatoes, carrots, onions and beets

any person or family could stock their cold celler (or in my case balcony) with almost enough food to get them through the winter and I was thinking that it is likely cheaper than trying to grow it yourself

if you have a freezer, of any size, you could chop and freeze some of it also

I am truly thankful for the bountiful foods that we have access to.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[silva]

I honestly believe we'll be facing food scarcity in addition to rising costs. I have quite the stock of dried beans, lentils, grains and cans. I don't need to shop for anything but produce, and all my stock was bought at huge discounts

 

[VegetableLiker]

Me and my friends grow a lot of our own veggies, so for us, the only cost is a bit of hard work in the sun! Another win for vegetable lovers!!

 

[Earthchild]

Since eating a plant based diet it has surprised me how cheap it is. My grocery bill the other day was 20 dollars for the whole trolley. Its normally 60 or 70 dollars. People at work were talking about buying their hams for Christmas they were spending anywhere from 40 to 100 dollars.

I have had people always say that eating healthy is so much more expensive than junk food. I am finding the opposite. Plant based eating is way cheaper than meat or junk food. In fact its highlighted how expensive meat is. I'm saving a ton of money eating this way.

I am also looking into creating my own herb and vegie garden. That's next on my list of things to do. I can't wait.

I also feel better. I came eye to eye with a chicken on the truck on it's way to be slaughtered. I felt so bad for it. It breaks your heart, I dont want to be a part of that anymore either.

Has anyone else transitioning found the same.

Wonderful post!

 

[shyvas]

I spend more. Everyone is talking about potatoes, rice and beans. However much I like them, I don't eat these foods on a daily basis. There is very little choice of high end fake meat and cheeses over here and I hardly ever buy these products.

 

[Fruity Amy]

It’s no surprise how cheap it is! Especially staple foods like rice, pasta, sugar

The similis are usually the most expensive but most of basic food is really cheap

 

[PTree15]

I spend more. Everyone is talking about potatoes, rice and beans. However much I like them, I don't eat these foods on a daily basis. There is very little choice of high end fake meat and cheeses over here and I hardly ever buy these products.

I do eat a lot of potatoes and beans, but I still spend much more than I want to, given the cost of living in my area. I can get some high-end vegan cheese at Divine Treasures, but man, it's pricey.

 

[Jamie in Chile]

If you eat a lot of regular foods that people don't think of vegan foods, like potatoes and carrots, it seems to be cheap

but if you eat vegan foods that say vegan on the packet, like a vegan pizza, it can be more expensive.

 

[shyvas]

If you eat a lot of regular foods that people don't think of vegan foods, like potatoes and carrots, it seems to be cheap

but if you eat vegan foods that say vegan on the packet, like a vegan pizza, it can be more expensive.

I don't agree. I never buy pizza as we don't get any that's vegan. I spend far more since I've been vegan as plant based food is more expensive.

Some say that eating rice and beans is cheap, but I can't eat them on a daily basis.

 

[KLS52]

I think it's inexpensive for those who manage to eat to survive. I tend to live to eat lol.

But all joking aside, for me personally, it can be expensive because number one, I don't tolerate a lot of spices that can make food tasty for most people, and number two, I'm developing health issues where more and more foods are being taken away from me that were helping me to remain vegan...some of which include tomatoes/based recipes, my favorite fruits like melon, apples, grapes, pineapple. Not to mention chocolate and coffee (and I'm cheating a bit with those). I was one of those vegans who already felt somewhat deprived but managed to make do with alternatives. It's getting harder and harder for me to be satisfied with the further restrictions.

I can eat the same thing 3-4 days in a row, but then I need to switch it up. And add, on top of this, needing to control my caloric intake, and there are days when I just want to give up. I love rice, beans, pasta and potatoes but I need stuff to go with it to make it flavorful and that ends being Miyoko's or earth balance, Daiya/violife, better than cream cheese/sour cream, Vegenaise, etc. Not the best for health or nutrition. I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.

And I haven't even touched on snack foods lol...non dairy ice cream, cakes, cookies...so expensive here. I have been limiting snacks because of my weight loss goal but it's frustrating when I go out and they are charging $5-6 for a cupcake.

I'm not meaning to sound so negative. I acknowledge a lot of my complaints are due to my own personal issues and I envy those of you who are creative or who don't have such a fussy palate, that you can make due with basic foods.

 

[Lou]

I thought for sure I had contributed to this thread already. It must have just been in a similar one.

My Answer: A plant based diet can be very inexpensive.
Whether or not it can be cheaper than a Carnist's diet - it depends.
if a person eats a. lot of prepared food it probably is going to be more expensive.
If a person eats a lot of homemade foods, it is probably going to be less expenive.

Since 2019 when this thread was started almost everything is more expensive. So the prices have gone up and just made the divide even wider.

I've got a carnist friend who goes to Costco one a week and gets one of those $5 chickens, a big box of corn dogs, and a big box of Cheeri-os. A vegan would be hard pressed to eat that inexpensively. oh sure I can buy Cheerios at Costco too, but I have to add P-B milk to it which is more expensive than any other milk at Costco.

the main thing is how little processed foods you can live on.

And this may be out of the questions playing field. but vegans Should include the price of their supplements. Although to be fair that Costco guy should be taking some supplements too.

Then there is the medications. I don't know many vegans and all the people I know my age take medications to reduce blood pressure or cholesterol.

 

[Emma JC]

If you eat a lot of regular foods that people don't think of vegan foods, like potatoes and carrots, it seems to be cheap

but if you eat vegan foods that say vegan on the packet, like a vegan pizza, it can be more expensive.

the only reason I disagree with this is that when I eat a faux vegan food I eat a lot less of it - for example - a turkey at Thanksgiving used to cost us $30 or more because we would only buy free range organic - so now my "turkey" is just a $10 turkey roll and I have all the inexpensive potatoes and squash and rutabaga and carrots etc to go with it - same with having a burger - I just eat one vegan one whereas in the past I would have had at least two - or steaks or a roast - they are all expensive and even chicken tenders - more expensive when not vegan and sausage, we just eat one each so a pack of 4 ($10) is two meals @$5 for the two of us for the "meat" portion on the meal

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Jamie in Chile]

that's a good point - meat only achieves approx cost parity with vegan "meat" if you compare to intensive industrial meat