Looking for creative ways to cut your grocery bill? Eating more plant-based meals can save you money! (Hey! Click here for grocery-saving tips.)
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Below is a guest post by Sophie Lane.
With grocery prices rising in supermarkets, we’re all looking for ways to save money on groceries while eating healthy.
Studies show that adding a plant-based diet to your diet isn’t just good for the planet and your health. It’s also gentle on your wallet.according to This article from The BeetA vegan diet could save a family of four about $1,200 a year in the US.
How to make more plant-based meals (and save money)
How much you save will depend on where you live and meatless alternatives, but I’ve definitely been saving money every month since going vegan a few years ago.
Sounds good?
Continue reading for 5 tips to get you started on a plant-based diet.
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1. Start with a meat-free meal once a week or once a day.
While you may want to start a meatless diet, eating turkey cold is not a good idea. Trust me on this one. When the highlight of the week is a steak dinner, chicken pie, or seafood extravaganza, going to the plant base all night can be a pain.
Vegetarian food can be incredibly indulgent, comforting, and delicious, but you need to find a few recipes you love and get used to not eating meat as the main event. , before you really get started, you risk taking advantage of all the benefits of a plant-based diet.
When I transitioned to a plant-based diet, I started with one day a week, such as “Meatless Mondays.” I found some great recipe sauces and fell in love with cooking meals from scratch before scaling to more days.
2. Get organized and plan ahead.
Easier said than done, but being organized is the key to success. At least until you get used to cooking without meat.
This doesn’t have to be more complicated than choosing meat-free recipes before your weekly shopping trip.
Before you hit the supermarket aisle, prepare a shopping list.
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3. Make meals from scratch.
I used to see cooking as a chore, so this was a real journey for me.
One pitfall to watch out for is expensive plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy. Dairy-free butter may be a great buy, but you’re better off skipping meat-free burgers and making a healthy black bean burger at home.
If you’re worried that vegetarian cooking should be time-consuming and complicated, I can assure you it’s not! You can finish it in no time.
Start with a hearty vegetable soup, as well as classics like cutlet curry and pesto pasta.
4. Buy staples in bulk.
When you’re eating a plant-based diet on a regular basis, chances are you’re consuming staples like pasta, rice, and beans on a regular basis. It’s a big part of my diet as well.
Having a few dry ingredients that you use regularly is great because it saves you the expense of buying those items in bulk.
If your local supermarket is like mine, you also need to shop inside! But the price is different.
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5. Be aware of the health food marketing trap.
Another trap to watch out for is healthy food marketing. It costs a lot to sprinkle organic sprouted seeds on every salad and add a spoonful of spirulina to every smoothie.
But eating a more plant-based diet doesn’t mean you have to buy a lot of expensive health food ingredients. It’s good for your health and your budget.
I hope these tips help you.
Adapting to new ingredients and recipes takes time, but the health benefits and grocery savings are worth it.
Related Articles and Grocery Savings Tips:
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Sophie Lane is a recipe creator and food photographer. She loves sharing simple and delicious vegan and vegetarian recipes that her whole family will love.