Whole Food eating on a budget

Wouldn't this be better entitled "Vegan eating on a budget."

I came here with whole food ideas . . .

Frozen vegetables are often more nutritious than fresh (because they are preserved from freezing) and often go on sale. Just keep your eyes out for good coupons on items that may suit you. I have a ton of grocery coupons for things like nuts, oranges, bagged salad and such. It just takes some digging to find the best deals. Check out your local grocery stores sales online each week and shop the store with the best deal.

We have a food co-op that sells whole foods at trade price, you could see if you could get involved with something like that. Or similarly if you get involved with an allotment (even just helping out, not having your own patch) people trade and give away what they produce.

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No, lentils, beans, most vegetables, all very cheap. Nuts and seeds can be a little more pricey, but they're still not really that much more than eating meat or chocolate or something would be. Buy in season, go to local markets and don't fall for over priced superfoods.

ETA: I'm not saying that meat isn't a whole food btw, just OP said no meat!

I have a related question...

As summer approaches, we'll have lots of farmer's markets in the area. I haven't shopped them since I moved here and I'm wondering if there is a difference between a commercial chain of farmer's markets (Coleman's in my area) and the farmer's markets sponsored by cities/townships.

Any ideas on price comparisons? Do the local farmer's have to pay a larger cut at the commercial markets?

Thanks!

OP should make a new post in a Vegan group asking how to eat vegan on a budget.

Half of "whole foods" are animal based in one way or another: milk, eggs, all meats, even honey, because boohoo the poor bees in the bee farm are captive...lol

If you don't mind non organic foods, Sams club is the way to go for produce.

I have found that it is MUCH cheaper and it seems like they are better quality. When I go to the grocery store, like grapes for instance, they are small, discolored and overpriced by around $1-2 a pound. In Sams club, they are super fresh with no brown spots, super green stems and during the spring I can get 3lbs for around $5.00. Watermelons are usually around $5-6 for humongous ones that are twice the size you'd get at the grocery store for the same price, a 10lb bag of potatoes are usually $3-$5.00, again very fresh. Celery, carrots, asparagus, etc are all cheap. Oh and my favorite- you can get 6 hearts of HUGE romaine lettuce for $4.00 that are twice as big as the ones at a typical grocery store ( the ones you get at the grocery store are 3 small hearts for $3.00).

Stay away from all most of the frozen food though. You do not need a huge cheesecake or hot pockets crowding your freezer. I know its tempting but it could derail your diet if you have all those things available at your home.

wow - a fresh rotie chicken here is like £6.50 !

whoops no meat.

The forks over knives cookbook has great meals that fit your parameters that I have also found pretty inexpensive. Canned beans are only 0.79-0.99 and the dried ones are even cheaper. Try looking for bulk bins in places like Whole Foods. Everything is cheaper by the pound because there are no packaging costs. Look for produce that is in season--it will be cheaper if its local and hasn't had to have been preserved and packaged and shipped cross country. Good luck!

Aldi can't be beat when it comes to inexpensive produce. They're also owned by Trader Joes.

I don't have any idea why people say that it's expensive to eat a whole foods diet! Even more so that OP is after a vegan diet.

Meat is my biggest expense which I buy in bulk from the internet. It is a specialist retailer in the UK who supply free range and grass fed meats to athletes. I've extremely good value and good quality. Veggies are cheap - thats just a fact, anyone who disagrees it just lying. I'm sorry if that is controversial but to say they cost loads is just inaccurate.

I don't buy anything pre-prepared like frozen meals or anything along these lines. If you buy just natural foods you won;t spend the earth. You just won't.

It might help to understand what your weekly food budget is and for how many people. Your expensive might be another persons cheap.

Research farmers co-ops in your area.. I spend less then 40 a week and I get all my bread, granola, coconut oi, fruit and veggies for the week.. Honestly I could probably go 2 weeks with the amount I get. But I'm nutty about food. I also eat meat and stuff though..

i tend to eat lots of rice ( buy a bulk bag ) with olives , sun dried tomatoes, and tuna. everything is getting so overpriced here in the UK. quinoa is really quite pricey here as are many foods which are reasonably price in the USA.


It is actually at the point where its cheaper to buy junk food than real food here.

It's ALWAYS been cheaper to eat junk food than whole food. One McDonald's value meal can give you more than enough calories for an entire day! But that's not very healthy.