When there is a pandemic such as the COVID-19 among us, we start thinking about long-term food supplies. Luckily, as a vegan, most of our protein sources (such as beans and lentils) are dry goods, cheap and easily stored. Another staple for plant based lifestyles is well… plants. Vegetables and fruit are some of the most valuable yet cheapest products in the store. The following tips on how to reduce your grocery bill by 30% are going to help ease the stress of budget shopping, preservation of food and maintaining a healthy lifestyle while living in abundance.
It’s funny that when there is a major rush to the grocery store, all the processed and packaged items (which are also the more expensive items) are empty and the produce section is fully stocked.
Tip #1: Cut Out The Processed Junk
Processed prepackaged items are the most expensive items on the grocery store shelves. They are usually full of preservatives and sugars and lack a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals required for sustaining a balanced diet. Our main meals in a day are important and require enough vitamins, minerals, proteins and other nutrients to maintain a balanced healthy lifestyle. I’m not saying no treats whatsoever. A treat hear and there is definitely okay. I still like that bag of chips here and there but not 6.. and not everyday. Cutting out the processed products will save you enormous amounts of money which can be allocated to more productive or valuable products.
Tip #2: Protein Sources
Buying beans in bulk, even if its that one extra bag per trip to the store, is easily affordable. Yes, it takes time to soak and cook but the value of this effort is undeniable. Beans are a vegans best friend. If you want to compare them to meat you will find that beans have more protein, more vitamins and minerals, more fiber and are more cost effective. Buying the beans dry and in bulk will be one of the main ways you will save money on your grocery bill. Meat is straight up expensive and beans are cheap. That math works for me.
Cooked beans generally provide 6 – 8g of protein per half cup. They also provide complex carbohydrates, different kinds of fiber, vitamins and minerals. They come in bulk amounts, store very easily and are reasonably priced. I would recommend checking out this website for more nutritional information on beans.
Cooked lentils generally contain 15-18g protein per 1 cup. They also contain vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and more. I recommend this website for some more information on the nutrient content of lentils.
Tip #3: Chop and Freeze Fresh Produce
Fresh produce is always abundant in the grocery stores. Seeing how you are now saving money by following the previous two steps, why not invest it in more produce. Buy a couple more heads of broccoli and that extra bag of carrots. Wash and chop these up when you get home, throw them in the freezer. You just saved money by not buying prepackaged frozen goods. You supported a local producer. You now have many meals worth of vegetables in the freezer. This math is win-win all around.
Tip # 4: Home Made Treats
Let’s face it, home-made treats are better anyway. If your stuck at home why not do some baking with your kids. They will love it and there’s a reward (or incentive) to learn a little something in the kitchen. Home-made treats are, or can be, healthier than store bought and in the long run, they’re cheaper too.
These four tips are gold. Remember to vary the types of products you get. As in buy multiple kinds of beans and different types of vegetables and fruit; they all have their different qualities.
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