Low Budget-Frugal Vegan Food Tips.

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In another forum someone asked for suggestions for vegan food as they are short

of cash and on a limited budget. I was able to think of the following. Sharing

it here for general referance. Please feel free to forward this to anyone else

who may benefit from this.

 

Vijay

 

Recently, I was able to live on $10 Canadian for two weeks. If needed and pushed

to extremes, I can live on $20 Canadian per month for a few months. However, I

am single.

 

1. Here is how I do it:

Inany case here is the most important aspect. it is the Lebanese Pita Bread, for

about a dollar we get 6 of it locally. I understand that this is not available

in all places, specially at this price.

This is HUGE, a foot long in diameter and can be separated into two equal parts.

Learning to make a sandwich with this is a great experience. I make a sandwich

with Cabbage, lettuce, rice, you can use any frugal veggies you wish.

 

Two of this makes me feel like I have eaten a VERY HUGE amount and am a burden

on Earth. It is SO HUGE. After two of these, if pricked with a pin, I feel like

I will explode like a balloon. A few of my friends have also shared the same

feeling. This is due to the gas the Cabbage creates I learned later on.

 

Recently, when I endedup going out with several of my friends to a restaurant(no

service, just order at the counter). They all bought for about $8 or so worth of

food. But they all finished before me. I had got my sandwich from home as I am a

Vegetarian. They still had to wait for me to fisnish it. Mine cost a Max. of 25

cents to make it !!!

 

2. Amy D. is a frugal black belt with a book that is very popular. She says we

need to reflect to find what are not essential, for eg., coffee, Tea etc., This

helps to reduce the bills.

 

3. Approach a local Soup Kitchen. In the worst case, if you can eat non-veg for

a while and are comfortable with it, go for it. Several people take

vegetarianism in steps and in terms of extreme survivalism, this can become

debatable.

 

If this sounds uncomfortable, promise yourself that when you have have a better

situation you will donate money in return to the salvation army and also promote

vegetarianism on the net.

 

4. Dumpster Diving

www.dumpsterworld.com

There is so much discussed on this subject here. This is becomming very popular.

Near my home, there used to be a bakery. They used to dump a lot of slightly old

bread but still edible. All this was wasted. Now, I wish that I had taken them

all (even from the dumpster) and fed them to the pigeons.

 

Some people find a dumpster that is constantly filled with goodies and make a

killing out of it they say. Usenet Forum: alt.dumpster

 

5. Local Restaurants usually throw unsold waste food. It is said that

knowing/approaching them closer to this time and requesting may help get some of

it.

 

6. Learn to pick low price leaders/almost old foods from the grocery stores.

 

7. Being frugal in other areas will help to save for food.

 

8. Squash Can be really frugal. Cut into two pieces, toss in an oven and bake.

 

9. Watermelons are frugal in many places and in season now.

 

10. Cabbage is a very frugal vegetable.

 

11. Learning a lot of easy recipes with all these frugal veggies greatly helps.

 

Lots of people have been there. Here is an article on the net that touches on

this subject.

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/howtosaveonfood/a/060104.htm

 

12. Get a waffle maker and learn to make Waffles. Before making them one can add

veggies etc., Pick one in a garage sale if you see one.

 

13. It is A LOT ABOUT the correct kitchen equipment and learning to use it well.

Grab the following in the future on sale or at garage sales when possible:

Cast iron skillet, blender, hand held mixer, bread machine.

 

14. Work towards a long term solutions towards the problem. In the future try to

also build a food reserve at home.

 

15. Visualize

Visualize having a grand meal in a great Restaurant, being treated by a King for

eg., and being full.

 

16. Starvation

Starving ONE DAY a week is very good for the health. Read and learn more on this

on the net.

 

17. Ramen Noodles

Several say these are not healthy. But a packet of Ramen noodles with one well

chopped lettuce and a few other veggies like tomatoes etc., can be a great fresh

meal for a whole family and healthy too.

 

18. Herbs

Learn about herbs like parsley etc., and use them They are healthy ad flavor and

make one feel full/pleasant etc.,

 

19. Work for a grocery store or a restaurant atleast say 5 to 20 hours a week.

This may make you eligible for further discounts on low price leaders and

possibly freebies.

 

20 Canned Food

Learn about canned food. If dented etc., one can ask for slight price reduction

sometimes. In several cases, canned veggies maybe cheaper than local veggies and

better too.

 

21 Ask for discount

If you buy slightly in bulk ask the Manager secretly for a discount.

 

22. All local Charities/Churches/Police

Contact all local charities and Churches (They might know someone).

My local police help in several local charities and they have knowledge of them.

It doesn't hurt to ask, specially in America.

 

23. Growing your own food in a small garden (this you have already covered).

 

24. Free Style Cooking

As long as it tastes good, is nutritious, easy to make and frugal, it is a good

recipe. Don't hesitate to experiment.

 

25. Baking

This opens a golden door to a treasure chest of cooking. Learn to bake veggies

and bread etc.,

 

26. Tomato Paste

Great for making Pizza sauce, pasta sauce etc., Iget small cans for 35 cents at

my local dollar store. Easy to store but very helpful.

 

Related Site:

http://www.secondharvest.org/

 

27. OVEREATING

Several in North America OVREAT. If you want to stop over eating, start drinking

a lot of water, especially just before you eat a meal. Then eat slowly. Chew

your food 20 times before you swallow. You will feel full long before you

normally would if you were eating fast. And stay away from sugary processed

food. Sugar is addictive and makes you want to eat more even if you are full.

 

28. Dry Beans

These are very frugal. Can be soaked overnight and then cooked easily on a

stove.

 

Vijay