how to have a healthy vegan food supply without breaking the bank???!

[Guest guest]

hi

i am definitely on a tight budget, it seems like every day im going out and

buying food either it be fruits or greens.

 

what are some simple foods that wont break the bank and not take a looong time

to cook?

 

also any grocery list tips would be very helpful!

 

thanks!

[Guest guest]

hey there

well, i guess a couple questions are in order, like in what area do you live and what sorta dishes/foods do you like?

and a real quick thingee. is it really an issue if you are going out and buying veggies almost everyday? as long as you eat everything you buy and doesn't go bad, is there much of a difference between spending $15 a day for veggies, or $100 a week? if you buy to much or can't use some, you can always freeze it, or cook it and freeze it er whatever, right?

i am also on a tight budget...tho it really doesn't affect my diet that much. just means we don't eat out every week anymore. i haven't worked since august, so i would hazard a guess that my budget sucks!

anyways...do you like pasta? cheap, and easy to make, and can be done in a variety of styles/flavors/dishes. ramen? rice?

its all about buying in bulk if you can.

potatoes are cheap and can be stored for quite awhile as long as they kept dark and cool.

can you grow anything yourself? you don't even have to have a yard. planter boxes are your friends. buckets. shoes..wotever.

cheers

fraggle

joven_azucar Jun 6, 2009 9:31 PM how to have a healthy vegan food supply without breaking the bank???!

 

 

 

hii am definitely on a tight budget, it seems like every day im going out and buying food either it be fruits or greens.what are some simple foods that wont break the bank and not take a looong time to cook?also any grocery list tips would be very helpful!thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, men are scattered and smeared over the desert grass,

And the generals have accomplished nothing.

 

-Nefarious War

Li Po (Circa 750)

[Guest guest]

My favorite thing is quite easy, actually. I just steam broccoli, and

while that is going, I sautee about 4 cloves of garlic (I like garlic)

in a little olive oil (a tablespoon or so - I just eyeball it). When

the broccoli is done, I pour the garlic/olive oil over it, sprinkle

about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and that's that. quick and easy.

Veggie stir fry's with tofu are a big hit around here, too. Again,

fast and easy.

 

As for grocery lists, I just make a menu for the week in advance, jot

down any ingredients that I don't already have on hand and pick it

up. I always have broccoli, carrots, zucchini and bell pepper on hand

as well as a variety of my favorite fruits. I buy beans in bulk and

just keep them in a cool, dry place (our basement in a storage

container). Same with things like rice and dried pasta. I just keep

it on hand because we use a lot of it. That pretty much dictates how

we shop - what do we eat the most of? I also usually have a few cans

of various beans on hand for quick, last minute meals.

 

 

Missie Harhold

and Gracie the Ibizan Hound

and Jeanie the Greyhound

greyhounddog

 

“Because nothing worthwhile in this country has ever happened unless

somebody, somewhere stood up when it was hard; stood up when they were

told – no you can’t, and said yes we can.” Barack Obama

[Guest guest]

i had broccoli, garlic and tofu sautee this morning as a matter of fact.

it was nice to have the broccoli from the garden, but boi howdy was it sad

looking.

 

 

>NATASHA HARHOLD <greyhounddog

>Jun 7, 2009 11:24 AM

>

>Re: how to have a healthy vegan food supply without

breaking the bank???!

>

>My favorite thing is quite easy, actually. I just steam broccoli, and

>while that is going, I sautee about 4 cloves of garlic (I like garlic)

>in a little olive oil (a tablespoon or so - I just eyeball it). When

>the broccoli is done, I pour the garlic/olive oil over it, sprinkle

>about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and that's that. quick and easy.

>Veggie stir fry's with tofu are a big hit around here, too. Again,

>fast and easy.

>

>As for grocery lists, I just make a menu for the week in advance, jot

>down any ingredients that I don't already have on hand and pick it

>up. I always have broccoli, carrots, zucchini and bell pepper on hand

>as well as a variety of my favorite fruits. I buy beans in bulk and

>just keep them in a cool, dry place (our basement in a storage

>container). Same with things like rice and dried pasta. I just keep

>it on hand because we use a lot of it. That pretty much dictates how

>we shop - what do we eat the most of? I also usually have a few cans

>of various beans on hand for quick, last minute meals.

>

>

>Missie Harhold

>and Gracie the Ibizan Hound

>and Jeanie the Greyhound

>greyhounddog

>

>“Because nothing worthwhile in this country has ever happened unless

>somebody, somewhere stood up when it was hard; stood up when they were

>told – no you can’t, and said yes we can.†Barack Obama

>

>

>

>---

>

>To send an email to -!

Groups Links

>

>

>

 

 

 

So, men are scattered and smeared over the desert grass,

And the generals have accomplished nothing.

 

-Nefarious War

Li Po (Circa 750)

[Guest guest]

I agree that " what do you like to eat? " is the most important consideration.

 

I live in an area with lots of grocery stores, farmers' markets,

produce stands, etc., so when the advertising flyers for the grocery

stores come in the mail, I can take note of what's on sale that I use

a lot of, then plan to stop by during the week (not make an extra

trip, but stop there when I'm in the neighborhood). Grocery stores

and produce stands often have a " seconds " shelf, where I've found

ripe mangos, tangerines, and cauliflower are often good buys. For

produce, often what's on sale is what's in season, so it'll be at

peak flavor as well. Organically grown apples are often a dollar or

so a pound in the cooler months. I also look at the coupons at the

entrance to Whole Foods -- often rice is on sale, so I buy some.

 

One of my main strategies is to let go of the notion of " staples. "

Instead of always having a specific item on hand, I think more in

terms of categories: grains (I got some roasted buckwheat at a great

price, so I won't need to get rice for a while), legumes (bulk beans

are cheapest, but it's useful to have a few cans of garbanzos on hand

to make hummus), fruit, crackers or bread (I can find rice crackers

at a great price at a local " grocery outlet " store, and I rarely buy

bread because I can't finish a loaf before it goes moldy), etc.

 

One of my categories is " roastable vegetables " because they're so

easy to make -- potatoes, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, eggplant,

onions, etc. -- just wash, cut in chunks or slices, put in toaster

oven, wait 30-60 minutes. I also like " can be eaten raw " vegs, such

as cabbage (as cole slaw), cucumbers, carrots, corn (I like it so

much better uncooked!), peppers, tomatoes (only from my garden,

though), etc. I think twice about buying vegs that will take longer

to prepare unless I know I'll have the time in the next 2-4 days. For

leafy greens, I grow kales; if you like lettuce, it's one of the

easiest things to grow in a container or window box.

 

As for cooking, I love leftovers. So I usually make a whole potful of

rice or lentils and then eat it for 2-3 days, sometimes with

different vegs and seasonings. Or cook all 8 artichokes that I

harvested from the garden at once, then eat them over a couple days.

 

When I have a little more time for cooking, it's fun to make muffins

or sourdough bread.

 

 

At 4:31 AM +0000 6/7/09, joven_azucar wrote:

>hi

>i am definitely on a tight budget, it seems like every day im going

>out and buying food either it be fruits or greens.

>

>what are some simple foods that wont break the bank and not take a

>looong time to cook?

>

>also any grocery list tips would be very helpful!

>

>thanks!

>