How To Eat A Plant-Based Diet On A Budget
A few years ago, eating a plant-based diet was seen as a very trendy and, if we’re honest, slightly extreme trend some people liked to follow.
Now, however, it’s a movement going from strength to strength, with more and more people adopting this way of eating in an effort to reduce their impact on the environment.
And also because of the health benefits a more plant-focused diet can give you.
For a lot of people, one of the biggest deterrents to eating plant-based is the perception that it can be more expensive. I’m here to tell you that this is not the case - if you know how to shop correctly!
Just as with eating clean, eating plant-based is perfectly possible on a budget.
Best Tips For Eating A Plant-Based Diet On A Budget
Here are a few of my best tips for eating a plant-based diet without blowing your budget every month.
Shop Seasonally - Or Better Yet, Grow Your Own Veg
Buying your fruit and vegetables seasonally is a great way to save money on your groceries, particularly if you buy your vegetables from a local shop rather than a bigger supermarket.
Better still, if you have some space in your garden, why not grow your own vegetables?
Picking a few favorite things to grow like tomatoes, kale, cucumbers, and even potatoes can be a huge amount of fun for all the family, and really cuts down on the cost of your food bills.
Do Some Planning
Eating a plant-based diet does require more planning, especially if you don’t typically eat a lot of vegetarian or vegan meals, and need to spend a little more time making sure what you’re eating is nutritionally balanced.
Planning your weekly shop is the best way of ensuring you’re eating a healthy, balanced diet that’s not going to break the bank.
For example, I’ll often create a weekly meal plan of what I’ll cook each week, and then write out my shopping list using that plan.
Have a look at my resource of free grocery list templates to help you plan your weekly shop easier.
Grab a free plant-based meal plan here that comes complete with an editable and printable shopping list:
Buy Staple Items In Bulk
Staple pantry items include things like rice, oats, beans, pulses, and nuts that have a long shelf-life and that you’re always likely to need.
Since these items are unlikely to pass their sell-by date, it makes more sense to buy these items in bulk for a reduced price. This is a great frugal tip that I would really recommend to everyone, whether you’re sticking to a plant-based diet or not!
Stick To Whole Foods
With plant-based diets becoming more popular, it’s no big surprise that the number of vegan items on offer at the supermarkets have also increased.
However, vegan items such as mock meats and ready meals can be expensive if you rely on them too often. To save money on a plant-based diet, you’re better off sticking to exactly that - plants!
Find Your Meal Prep Favourites
One of my best tips for anyone looking to eat plant-based on a budget is to find a handful of cheap, healthy meals that you love to eat. I have a few recipes that I go back to time and time again, such as lentil dahl, baked tofu, or a simple black bean burrito bowl.
I’ll prep these recipes at the beginning of the week, and eat them several times - saving money in the process.
Finding your meal prep favorites is so important because it means you’re cooking plant-based meals on a budget without sacrificing on flavor!
Making this diet stick means loving what you’re eating!
Overall, eating a plant-based diet doesn’t have to be expensive at all. In fact, I now save so much money being vegan than I did when I ate meat once or twice a day - not to mention all the other fun benefits like losing weight, having clearer skin, and feeling less bloated!
I hope these tips have helped you see that eating a plant-based diet on a budget can be easily done - it just takes a little planning and preparation!
Not quite ready to go full-on plant-based just yet? Why not try a Flexitarian Diet!
Here Are Some More Easy Plant-Based Recipes To Help You Eat A Plant-Based Diet On A Budget
What is Riced Broccoli: How to Prepare and Use it
This is a great nutrient dense dish to use as a base for a veggie bowl.
Quick and Easy Pesto Broccoli Rice
Use the riced broccoli recipe above and make this pesto broccoli rice. A great option for a quick and easy lunch. A link for a vegan pesto is included in the recipe.
Vegan Tomato Cream Sauce with Pasta
This pasta is full of bright, bold flavors. It comes together quickly and is super cheap to make a big batch.
Fresh Heirloom Tomato Sauce
Buy heirloom tomatoes at the farmers market when they are in season. They will sell them in bulk for cheap. Buy a lot, make this sauce and freeze for later in the year. A great way to add flavour to a dish.
Healthy Cauliflower Soup with Carrot Cumin and Lentils
Fill up on all the good things with this super easy and nutritious soup.
Spicy Cauliflower Grilled Tacos with Nectarine Chipotle Salsa
They might sound fancy BUT these tacos are easy and delicious.
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burger
These are great for prepping ahead of time. The leftovers make an excellent addition to your lunch menu as well.
Sweet Potato and Corn Chowder
Super inexpensive yet full of all good ingredients, this is a chowder worth repeating.
Easy Homemade Chocolate
Skip the price tag attached to store-bought vegan chocolate and make your own with only two ingredients.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Don’t forget to follow Whole Food Bellies on Pinterest for more recipe inspiration! Or if Pinterest isn’t your style, bookmark this post! Let’s keep the conversation going- join my Facebook group!
Amanda Mason says
What an amazing article and those recipes look amazing!! Meal planning is super crucial. Love plant based recipes!!
Donna says
Meal planning definitely makes ALL the difference!
Amanda says
Wow — so many great tips. I can’t wait to incorporate some of them into my routine. Thank you so much for sharing!
Amy says
There are lots of great tips here! Anyway to incorporate more plants in your diet is important. Being able to stay in budget and eat healthy can be a challenge,
Michele says
I love all of your tips and advice on how to eat plant-based on a budget. It's not always easy and affordable to eat healthy. This is great!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
Shopping seasonally is what I try to do. I want to grow my own vegetables, but I don't have a backyard 🙁
Also I am moving to Chicago, where I feel like winter lasts all year round, haha
Donna says
You could always try growing a couple of herbs inside? Parsley has always done well for me on the kitchen window sill!
Jenni LeBaron says
I totally agree that eating seasonal and growing your own veggies is a huge way to keep on budget! We keep a summer garden, but I'd love to do something year-round someday.
Donna says
Me too, this is my first year experimenting with a greenhouse type set up!!
Analida Braeger says
everybody should read this and they could help themselves in more way than one ! 🙂
Donna says
Absolutely!! Even if they aren't going vegan these tips apply to make a healthier way of life overall
Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
I am so loving this! These tips are really helpful. Now we can enjoy meatless meals but still budget friendly. Thanks for sharing!
Donna says
No worries 🙂
Michelle says
You have some great tips here for how to save some money on a plant-based diet. It is definitely more trendy, but many people say they feel great and have more energy too. Learning to cook great recipes is one of the best ways to save money on a plant-based diet. Love it!
Lindsey Pine says
I'm so glad you wrote a post about this topic because I think a lot of folks believe that eating plant based is expensive with all of the specialty products promoted. thanks for dispelling that myth!
Donna says
Oh I know, and I am sure if people did just buy those targeted products they would go broke in a second!!! Nice and easy meals using seasonal produce is as hard as it has to get!
Sharon says
All these tips on how to eat a plant-based diet along with delicious recipes will make Meatless Monday even easier.
Donna says
Right!! You don't have to go completely vegan (I am not), but introducing more veggie-centric meals into your life can't be a bad thing!
Michelle says
This is such a great post with excellent tips! When we went veggie last year one of the things that made it easier was planning our weekly meals.
Donna says
Absolutely, having that meal plan in place makes a world of difference!