Raw on a budget..

[Raw Alessandra]

How much to you spend in a raw week?
I am starting to read Alissa'a book today.
And I am wondering how much people spend.
I dont have a big budget. :o

[akh78749]

I just started raw about a month ago. I found that it has been a little more expensive (in the very beginning) just to get the staple stuff that will last a while. Stuff that you don't have to buy, but that I did. Things like cold brewed soy sauce, agave nectar, coconut oil, etc. You certainly don't have to buy these things. Eating raw is so cheap, really. Once your body gets used to it, you don't have to eat nearly as much as you normally would because you are getting such high quality nutrients. I am not sure how much I am spending a week, but I know it is much less than I would be spending on a SAD diet. I know in the long run I will be saving a ton of money. And I try to buy everything organic.

[DrPr]

It's been more expensive for me as well. I mostly eat spinach (from Costco), lots of avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions and garlic. I eat bananas and mangos and sometimes oranges when I feel like drinking orange juice. What else? Oh yes- fresh corn on the cob, limes and lemons, cilantro, and frozen fruit for the occasional smoothie. I buy cold-pressed olive oil, too- that is expensive. I also eat pecans, cashews and walnuts, and like to get Thai coconuts. These are the foods I eat most often.

The foods we buy less often are generally those that we use for dehydrating stuff, like flax seeds(for crackers), honey, dates, agave nectar and carob for decadent desserts. :-) Some stuff you don't have to buy often. Sea salt, carob power and cacao nibs last us for quite a while. But even without the rarer ingredients, our groceries can be rather expensive. However, before I went raw I used to eat out a lot- pizza, Chinese take out, buffets, fast-food, you name it. I also bought a lot of junk food. So even though grocery shopping itself is more expensive now, I figure I spend about the same on food overall as I did pre-raw, only all on good stuff!

[jenjenn]

THese might help you:


http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10897

http://rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11878

[greeninlosangeles]

I spend around 80-100 dollars a week. But I do spoil myself once a week with ready raw dish from coop or raw cafe. Around 40$ I spend in farmers market, and others in the store. I am going to drastically reduce fatty stuff like nuts, seeds, coconuts and eliminate all oils - that should reduce my food bill a lot. i also raise some stuff in the balcony and learning to eat wild greens, which will help too.

[rawpriestess]

Here is a thread I started that might give you some ideas.



http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7287&highlight=darn

[rawpriestess]

PS, just to let you know, we don't use honey anymore, we use fruit for cleaning.

[vgloveforlife]

I don't have a big budget to spend either that is why I hardly ever shop at a regular grocery store.
I go to a farmers markets and a discount grocery store near me (I never spend over $50 for a week+ of groceries). My mom has a huge organic garden every Summer and I will go there as well to get lots of food (and weed to help out).
Nuts can be expensive so I would use those minimally and focus on veggies, greens and fruits.

[rawpriestess]

we spend on average, $100 per month for the two of us, includes our dog and cat and bird food.


We grow alot of our own food, which doesn't cost us much, but does take alot of time each day, and energy.

Dragggon works in our gardens about 4 to 8 hours each day, we water with lake water, which is time consuming, but so much better for the plants than our well water.