Raw on a budget

[jenjenn]

For those of us out there that don't have a lot of money to spend, let this be a thread on sharing money saving tips on all things raw....let the sharing begin.

[lil fairy z girl]

hi,

i tend to buy local produce as its cheaper than all the exotic items, although i may buy one as a treat. Also i go shopping near the end of the day when they are reducing items and look for things that have been reduced that are still good to use. i also make a list of food i will be doing for the week and only buy whats needed.

sal
~*~*~*

[ljcoolj]

I really try to keep it simple. I've found that the more simple it is, the less I spend. If I try too many new things, I end up with so much waste. I'll only try something new every few weeks or so now. When I first went raw, I felt like I HAD to try everything that everyone was talking about, now I just eat what I enjoy and keep it simple. Seems to save so much money!

[Indi]

I really try to keep it simple. I've found that the more simple it is, the less I spend.

I totally agree.
I find that simple meals work well on many levels
Cheap fast food! Easy to digest, little or no prep work, ready in seconds!

[mindelicious]

Spring/Summer is coming up and the farmer's markets are the best places to be if you don't have a backyard full of fruits & veggies. Check out pick-your-own berries/strawberries fields in the spring--I love them!!!
Also Walmart is starting to extend their organics section, they now carry broccoli, green onions, kiwi, apples, oranges, grapefruit, romaine, spinach, and spring mix. This saves so much money for me because I do not have to drive and hour to go to my healthfood grocer and it is cheaper.
Buy bulk--expensive at first but also saves gas and time later.

[surfergrrl]

I have definitely cut back on trying to get "all the ingredients" for a recipe, running around looking for asian pears, or raw macadamias, meyer lemons, regardless of the expense, thinking that i must stay true to the recipe the first time around. Now, i substitute what i have or what's less costly and feel that the "new" recipe version could turn out to be a better one.

I also halve many recipes since i have no idea how they'll turn out.

i have cut down on nuts, my biggest pocktbook offender. I found this cool post from some raw college students advising dumpster diving at trader joe's after hours. if i'm in that neighborhood, i may try it, too.

i often have to make a sacrifice where organic is concerned, although i would prefer not to. so, i do some of each type.

my husband and i have become very happy just eating a lot of salads. we crumble some dehydrated crackers in them for added flavor and bulk, and i make spiced nuts in my dehydrator. those are also good for flavor and bulking up your salad. if you have lots of fruit first, or add fruit into the salad, such as mango or orange, that also makes the meal more festive and filling.

we buy the large bags of frozen fruit at Costco to make sorbet and toss into smoothies or just thaw out and add to raw cereal. fresh berries are very costly and frozen saves.

[Shivananda]

1) Check out local food co-ops, farm produce co-operative programs, buying alliances, farmers markets, or whatever else might be available in your area to buy food at lower than supermarket prices.

2) Keep your eye on the "overripe" rack many stores have at the rear for stuff that is past peak but still good. It's usually half off or more, and often just needs a few bad spots trimmed out. I usually buy bananas for freezing for smoothies this way, typically at 75% off. But don't overbuy, because you need to use it promptly.

3) Learn to use inexpensive staples to make inexpensive foods, like sunflower seed pate (maybe 25 cents a pound?), and buy those staples in bulk so you get the best price and always have them on hand. Buying sunflower seeds from the bulk bin at a local co-op, I typically pay a good deal less than 1/2 what the packaged ones at Whole Foods cost.

4) As far as produce, buy what is local and buy what is in seaon, and don't buy more than you can reasonably use. My biggest budget buster used to be the garbage can, where I put all the food that looked so yummy in the store but that I somehow never got around to eating before it went bad. Which leads to #5

5) Don't shop when you are hungry. Seriously. Eat before you go to the store, so you can be more thoughtful and grounded about your choices.

6) Look for online deals. Sometimes you can buy raw staples online, directly from suppliers, that even with shipping charges added are cheaper than buying locally. Dates and nuts, for instance, if you can invest in a larger quantity than you normally would buy, are cheaper (and fresher) direct from the growers.

7) Look for buddies you can pool with to buy bulk when the quantities are too big for you alone.

[RowanC]

What's growing in your own neighborhood?

I often find trees full of cherries, apples and figs. I knock on doors and ask if I can pick them. A lot of people are happy, because they don't use the fruit and if I pick it, it saves them a mess in their yard. Most of these trees are organic too. We also have blackberries growing everywhere here, there are sea vegetables at the sea and wild foods growing everywhere right now, because it's Spring! Tra-la! Wild dandilions, nettles, and other greens can be found in parks, as can some lucious wild mushrooms (be sure you know what you're looking for - try your local mycological society) -- Many times in Portland you can find neighborhood community gardens. If not, find an empty lot and start one! Take a walk and open your eyes.. I bet there is ffree food around the corner!

[Shivananda]

Maybe this should be #1 on my list...

Make your own sprouts. It is so easy kids can do it, and it can be done anywhere, and it not only turns maybe 10 cents worth of seeds into $2 - 4 worth of produce in less than a week, the sprouts you produce are absolutely the healthiest, most nutrition packed food you can find anywhere.

Plus, from a spiritual standpoint, it brings you into contact with the amazing natural cycle of the creation and growth of our food. That builds appreciation and gratitude.

If you want to be raw, on a budget or not, don't forget sprouting.

[Beanie]

the best way, dumpster diving!! But don't expect to be the only one doing it. At least not in my area. Right now thats all I can afford. Except for occassional cigarette buds, most food is pretty darn good behind the organic markets. Just don't do it behind a market next to chinese and pizza places, gross!

[greeninlosangeles]

I just have a balcony, but slowly I change my inedible plants into edible. I will leave aloe, which I use in the green smoothies, I have a pot of mint, one tomatoe(I will add several cucumbers when season comes)-I love these and they are so heavy and so expensive.
I am raising my wheatgrass for drinking and for colon implants. I am thinking about adding some sunflower greens and other baby greens. The only problem - the grill is taking up so much space, but my husband wants to keep it. One day...
Shivananda, you are lucky, you don't eat so much - I rarely throw out anything, more often I am looking to the fridge and it is empty even though farmers market I like is still far away... I eat a lot, and despite that I lost over 20 pounds in 3.5 months(size 6-8 now).

[PATH301]

jenjenn,

For those of us out there that don't have a lot of money to spend, let this be a thread on sharing money saving tips on all things raw....let the sharing begin.

Goto the members list and look up rawtruth, email her and ask her for some info on the places to eat and shop and about the potlucks they have there,
She's real helpful :D