How to Eat Cheap on a Vegetarian Diet
The vegetarian diet is one of the cheapest. Also, if done correctly, it's one of the healthiest diets out there. Meat is--despite popular belief--incredibly expensive. High iron leafy greens, beans, eggs, and tofu are 1/4 the cost of a lean cut of beef or chicken, and they're filling enough to base a an entire meal around for an entire family. The only thing eating on a vegetarian budget really calls for is the time and willingness to cook.
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Instructions
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Eat your vegetables; they're cheap and healthy. Go by what's in season, it will not only be the freshest, but it will also be the cheapest. Look for weekly specials at your local grocery store. This will also keep you from eating too much of the same thing.
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Eat your leafy greens. Kale, spinach and mustard greens are very high in iron and vitamin A. They are also very lightweight so you can buy a lot for cheap. At under a dollar per pound, that is not a bad deal, and it's good for you.
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Buy a bag of potatoes. Potatoes are universally cheap. The more you buy, the cheaper they are. You should be able to find a bag for under $3 most anywhere in the United States.
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Buy dry foods. They are cheaper than canned. A 2-pound bag of dried black beans will make about 12 cups of cooked beans. One 99 cent can of beans will only make about one cup. Dry beans and lentils are high in protein, making them an ideal choice for a cheap and healthy staple in a vegetarian diet.
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Get ready to eat a ton of rice. Brown rice is ideally the healthiest option, but white rice is generally cheaper. The more rice you can buy at once, the cheaper it will be. Rice will always go well with beans and vegetables.
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Use eggs and tofu as high protein meat alternatives. They are also very inexpensive meat alternatives. A carton of twelve eggs or a block of tofu generally runs about $2. That is good for at least four meals.
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Be aware of where you are shopping. Take a look online. Read reviews of grocery stores in your neighborhood to see what places have good deals.
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