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Old 04-15-2016, 02:00 PM   #1
VeganIma
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Default Vegan on a Tight Budget

I need your best tips and tricks for feeding a vegan family of three (one adult and two little boys) on a really tight budget!

I'm so used to buying all organic and specialty products (I love to cook and bake!), but will soon have to live off of just the child support coming from my ex-husband's job.
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Old 04-15-2016, 03:52 PM   #2
WaitPatientlyOnTheLord
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Default Re: Vegan on a Tight Budget

There are so many ways to cook beans and rice! First off, do you know how to cook died beans in the crock pot? Life changing...

Anyways, bean or lentil loaf, with a side of rice and veg, or a side of baked/mashed potatoes and veg. Loved this recipe recently:
http://www.veganricha.com/2015/11/ch...ggie-loaf.html

Somebody on here once have me the recipe for Spanish-ish red beans and rice... I always have to look it up, but basically it's cooked rice, a can of red beans and tomatoes paste with spices (like cumin, onion, paprika, etc.) We usually serve it with cornbread or tortilla chips.

Burritos are big here.

Stir fry with either frozen veggies or whatever I have on hand.

Are either of the kids under age five? If so, you might qualify for WIC. WICks not bad for vegans now. All I had to do was tell them that my kids seems to react badly to dairy and they let us get soy milk and tofu in its place! Then there's also the other staples they provide.
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Old 04-15-2016, 04:11 PM   #3
Aerynne
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Default Re: Vegan on a Tight Budget

I think vegan and a tight budget is way easier than omnivore and a tight budget. I don't buy specialty products except for almond milk. We eat lots of:

bean burritos
spaghetti marinara
vegetable soups with noodles, beans, rice, etc.
rice and beans
"fried" rice (Chinese or Mexican flavored)
pancakes
veggie sandwiches (I buy Jimmy John's Day Old bread)
whole wheat toast with jam and/or peanut butter
homemade muffins, cookies, rolls, etc.
pizza without cheese
fruit or chocolate smoothies with a nut-milk base (either homemade nut milk or store-bought)

I really think being vegan is quite cheap if you don't buy the specialty stuff, which I don't.

My best tips:

find cheap sources of produce (Bountiful Baskets, Sprouts, etc). Only buy what is cheap. I don't mean when it's "on sale" (some sale prices are high) but keep track of what is actually cheap in your area. What we eat is determined by what is on sale. In the summer we have mostly melons for fruit and in the fall it's apples. If grapes are $1 per pound or so I will buy some. If they are $3/pound I just don't buy them that week. We only eat asparagus in the spring when it's about $1-2 per pound. If something is expensive one week I just won't buy it. I buy certain kinds of produce at Costco- cucumbers, romaine lettuce, spinach, and broccoli. I also get frozen berries from Costco and use them in my smoothies. The bags are huge but they last a long time. I won't buy frozen berries at a regular grocery store- they are way too expensive!!


bulk order from Azure standard for staples (but not their specialty products, which are $$$) or use Costco for staples that keep (dry beans, grains, flour)

Find a cheap source of good nuts. Azure Standard and Sprouts (the latter only on a good sale) are the best places I have found.

Do not use canned beans- dry beans that you cook yourself are much cheaper

buy flours, grains, beans, etc, in 25 lb-50 lb bags. Store in 5-gallon buckets with gamma seal lids for easy access.

Find a bakery thrift store for bread. I get bread that is normally $5/loaf for $1.50/loaf. It's 20 miles away so I go there and buy ten loaves at a time, then freeze them and pull them out as needed.

Bake your own of other items- rolls, pizza crust, muffins, cookies, etc.

Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes! They are cheap, filling, yummy, and versatile.

A good blender will save you lots of money. I use mine many times every day- soups, sauces, smoothies, refried beans, pureeing stroganoff because my kids hate mushroom pieces, etc.

And if you need WIC or food stamps and you qualify for them, get them!
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Old 04-15-2016, 05:05 PM   #4
bananacake
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Default Re: Vegan on a Tight Budget

We've been making a great soup: blend beans with water and okra. The okra makes it creamy. My favorite variation is chickpeas with broth powder (I make this) and curry. So good!


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Old 05-12-2016, 06:18 PM   #5
ECingMama
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Default Re: Vegan on a Tight Budget

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerynne View Post
I think vegan and a tight budget is way easier than omnivore and a tight budget. I don't buy specialty products except for almond milk. We eat lots of:

bean burritos
spaghetti marinara
vegetable soups with noodles, beans, rice, etc.
rice and beans
"fried" rice (Chinese or Mexican flavored)
pancakes
veggie sandwiches (I buy Jimmy John's Day Old bread)
whole wheat toast with jam and/or peanut butter
homemade muffins, cookies, rolls, etc.
pizza without cheese
fruit or chocolate smoothies with a nut-milk base (either homemade nut milk or store-bought)

I really think being vegan is quite cheap if you don't buy the specialty stuff, which I don't.

My best tips:

find cheap sources of produce (Bountiful Baskets, Sprouts, etc). Only buy what is cheap. I don't mean when it's "on sale" (some sale prices are high) but keep track of what is actually cheap in your area. What we eat is determined by what is on sale. In the summer we have mostly melons for fruit and in the fall it's apples. If grapes are $1 per pound or so I will buy some. If they are $3/pound I just don't buy them that week. We only eat asparagus in the spring when it's about $1-2 per pound. If something is expensive one week I just won't buy it. I buy certain kinds of produce at Costco- cucumbers, romaine lettuce, spinach, and broccoli. I also get frozen berries from Costco and use them in my smoothies. The bags are huge but they last a long time. I won't buy frozen berries at a regular grocery store- they are way too expensive!!


bulk order from Azure standard for staples (but not their specialty products, which are $$$) or use Costco for staples that keep (dry beans, grains, flour)

Find a cheap source of good nuts. Azure Standard and Sprouts (the latter only on a good sale) are the best places I have found.

Do not use canned beans- dry beans that you cook yourself are much cheaper

buy flours, grains, beans, etc, in 25 lb-50 lb bags. Store in 5-gallon buckets with gamma seal lids for easy access.

Find a bakery thrift store for bread. I get bread that is normally $5/loaf for $1.50/loaf. It's 20 miles away so I go there and buy ten loaves at a time, then freeze them and pull them out as needed.

Bake your own of other items- rolls, pizza crust, muffins, cookies, etc.

Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes! They are cheap, filling, yummy, and versatile.

A good blender will save you lots of money. I use mine many times every day- soups, sauces, smoothies, refried beans, pureeing stroganoff because my kids hate mushroom pieces, etc.

And if you need WIC or food stamps and you qualify for them, get them!
I would like to stretch our budget. This is a great list. Thanks!
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Old 05-12-2016, 06:51 PM   #6
WaitPatientlyOnTheLord
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Default Re: Vegan on a Tight Budget

I've been meaning to come back here and talk about Aldi! Not long after this thread, I went to the aldi in my town for the first time. Previously I'd been to one in an inner city a couple years ago and it was so terrible and had no produce. I thought I'd never go back. But recommendations to go there come up all the time in my natural living groups and I heard the store's quality and selection was based on the area it is located in. Anyways, I finally gave it a try. There was so much natural and organic food they're for LESS than the conventional products at the regular super market!!! I found tons that was "accidentally vegan" even labeled "dairy free" and "egg free" etc which made shopping a bit easier. Aldi is definitely going to become a part of my budget friendly shopping! Thought I'd pass the tip along!

Last edited by WaitPatientlyOnTheLord; 05-12-2016 at 06:55 PM.
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