Meat, eggs, and dairy are expensive. Beans are cheap! Is that the only tip you needed? I didn’t think so!!! Today I bring you my Guide to Shopping Vegetarian On a Budget because this is a super important skill for any novice or expert plant-based eater! Vegetarian or not, these tips will help you when you head out to grocery shop!
Tara’s Tuesday Tips:
Guide to Vegetarian Shopping On a Budget
Let’s go shopping! Follow my top tips for sticking to a budget while stocking your vegetarian kitchen with yummy plant-based foods! Here is what we do here at MVF:
- Make a comfortable budget that is sustainable
- You don’t need the brand names, just check the labels – lots of store brands are fabulous!
- Buy dry beans instead of cans, cook + store in portioned containers in the freezer
- Processed foods + frozen pre-made meals are expensive + can bust the budget if bought regularly, we consider these “sometimes foods”
- Buy in bulk (rice, oats, beans, flours, quinoa, sugar)
- Don’t buy your fruits + veggies cut up already. This is a very expensive habit, avoid it if you can.
- Buying organic isn’t always necessary (see below for more on this)
- Make a list + stick to it
- Eat produce in season + your dollar will go much further in the fruit + vegetable aisle
- Nuts can be bought in bulk + avoid spoiling by storing in the freezer
- Meatless meats are pricey if not bought on sale or make your own veggie burgers!
- Try growing a few things if you can. Something as simple as a small pot with herbs or one pepper or tomato plant can help save you money.
- Find the sales + buy extra when you do. Surprisingly, you can find some great prices at Whole Foods with weekly sales + prime discounts.
- Leftovers are your friend. Make extra at dinner + you have free lunch!
- Grocery delivery is convenient but some services tack on fees + have higher prices for the same items than what you will find in store.
What’s In The Budget Friendly Vegetarian Kitchen?
A few of our favorite staples that we always keep on hand to stick to our food budget:
Whole Grains:
Basmati Rice, Brown Rice, Quinoa, Steel Cut Oats, Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats, Frozen Tortillas
Tara’s Tips: Buying organic grains is at the top of my list of important things to eat organic. I find the best prices for organic grains at Trader Joes or Costco. I store a small jar in my pantry to use first + put the rest in the refrigerator. Check this out: Which Rice Should I Eat?
Legumes/Beans:
Chickpeas, Lentils, Black Beans, Pinto Beans.
Tara’s Tips: Buy these in bulk, cook them in your Instant Pot, freeze in smaller portions. Check this out: The Vegetarian’s Guide To Beans or Easy Ways To Eat More Beans.
Nuts:
Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts. Look for sales!
Tara’s Tips: we eat a variety of nuts based on what is on sale, what we find at Costco, and what is leftover from last week’s shopping. That way, we get a good variety + save money without wasting a giant bag of nuts! Check this out: Are Nuts Good For You Or Not?
Vegetables:
Potatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, broccoli, onions, garlic.
Tara’s Tips: frozen is awesome for saving money + just as good as fresh! I buy onions, garlic, tomatoes, jalapeños in bulk. If I have extra, I chop them in my food processor and store them in portioned containers in my freezer for busy weeknights. The chopped garlic and jalapeños I store in ice cube trays and pop a cube into a recipe when I need it! Check this out: Guide To Frozen Vegetables (Myths + Methods!)
Fruits:
Bananas, apples, pears, oranges, or frozen fruits are usually the most cost effective depending on where you live.
Tara’s Tips: buy fruits in season or buy frozen to be most cost effective. Check this out: Guide To Eating Seasonally In Summer or Guide To Eating Seasonally In Spring.
Meatless Meats:
With the rise in popularity of “fake” meat products, the prices have skyrocketed. For us, these are “sometimes” foods that we enjoy maybe once per week. Yes, they stay on my list because they are high in protein and easy to make a meal around in a pinch.
Tara’s Tips: The sales on these are awesome so if you have the room, stock up! Alternatively, you could make your own: Instant Pot Chickpea Seitan Nuggets, Easy Lentil Veggie Burger (Eggless!), Easy Black Bean Oat Burger, BBQ Chickpea Veggie Burgers, Chickpea Veggie Burgers, Pumpkin Veggie Burgers.
Check this out: Guide To Plant-Based Meat Alternative or How To Stop Meat Cravings As A Vegetarian.
Organic:
Not everything needs to be organic! When you understand which items on your list are most important to buy organic, your budget will thank you!
Tara’s Tips: I authored a few other articles that go into great detail about this! Check this out: When Eating Organic Really Matters or Guide To Buying Organic.
Food For Thought
I am pretty passionate about stocking your kitchen with what you need so it is there when you need it. Let’s face it, cooking at home is definitely cheaper than eating out but it can get boring. With so many food delivery options now, your monthly food budget can get really high if you let it! Finding the balance is key to making eating vegetarian really work for you.
Even though you stick to a budget, your food can still be fun + taste good too! These other Tuesday Tips might help:
10 Things On My Grocery List Every Week
How To Find Happiness In The Kitchen
Guide To Cooking Recipe-Free Meatless Meals
The Vegetarian’s Guide To Post-Pandemic Eating
Time To Rethink Your Pandemic Habits
Why You Should Be Eating Green
Hope these tips help, fam! Reach out to me directly: tara@myvegetarianfamily.com with any more questions! All the best, Tara 💚
⭐Did you love The Guide To Vegetarian Shopping On a Budget? Leave a comment below!
📸I love to see your creations! Follow me on Instagram @myvegetarianfamily and hashtag it #myvegetarianfamily
📩Be sure to subscribe here to my weekly emails for tips + recipes so that you never miss a veggie thing!
