Hi,
I am a Vegetarian and it seems like options in the supermarket are becoming more limited because prices are getting sky high. I am a military spouse so our budget isn’t very high and I am finding that I don’t have the option to eat healthy anymore because everything I want is too expensive. Do you have any suggestions on Vegetarian friendly supermarket foods?
—Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn,
Eating healthy should not be a matter of finances…it may be marketed that way or seem that way but I’d like to debunk that myth/excuse.
The #1 cost-saving tip is to buy ingredients versus already prepared (especially full ready-to-eat) items. Think DIY trail mix versus a ready-to-eat trail mix or protein bar. Think DIY tacos versus ready-to-eat ones. Another cost saving tip is use the freezer. Frozen ingredients (not ready-to-eat meals) tend to cost less than fresh but be equally good in nutrients. And a final tip is to over-cook. This doesn’t mean to ruin veggies but rather to cook several servings (and even to buy ingredients in bulk) at once so you have different options to “assemble” throughout the week versus getting take out or succumbing to already-to-eat options on your way home.
How does this apply as a vegetarian – simple ingredients like rice, quinoa, beans, nuts and seeds, frozen vegetables and fruits can all be ones that you stock at home to make nutrient-dense meals. Use the more expensive items: cheese, fish, dairy (if your vegetarian plan includes any or all of these) as “accessories” so a little goes a long way. Make nutrient dense options – like your own nut milks or nut butters versus buying them to save money (and to customize to your taste). Get the neighbors involved – I throw potlucks all the time and make sure that I let guests know that we have vegetarians attending so some if not all items are vegetarian. This is a great way to share the costs of feeding you / your family while also getting to try new items / dishes to a void boredom
[Image via Ashley Koff.]
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