Raw on $75/month

[Jewels]

My food budget is about $75/month for myself--kinda low, I know. Do you think I can do 100% raw on this and not become nutritionally deficient in anything? I think it will be a real challenge.

[michigan roman]

hi , welcome to the site :)

heres a link to a thread on the topic =

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=22555&highlight=raw+on+a+budget

[Biff]

$75 a month is about $2.50 per day. I couldn't do raw or cooked on that low of a budget. Perhaps if you worked at a farm or if you grow your own food.

How do you eat normally and "not become nutritionally deficient in anything" on $2.50 per day? I would think that no matter how you eat, you will be lacking something on only $2.50 per day.

[beanmonkee]

I think the only way to manage this is to grow a lot of sprouts. They're jam-packed with nutrients. Also, they aren't too expensive as seeds in bulk.

With sprouts, you could supplement the fruits and veggies with sprouted grains -- maybe making rawnola bars for breakfast, and sprouting beans (the ones that are safe to eat raw) to help fill out an evening meal.

Also, only buy produce that is on sale or under $1 per lb. You may have to eat a lot of coleslaw, and you'll be forced to eat in season, but that's not the end of the world. You'll get to eat simply for a while, too.

Goodluck!

[Crisyn]

I have a deal with a local grocery store that I get to pick over their old organic produce before it goes in the garbage, for a fraction of the price. I live in a small community and so much of the more expensive organic produce gets wasted, so they are glad to make something on it.
I get lots of apples, bananas, mangoes, greens, etc. this way. Perfect for juicing or cutting up for salads, etc.

What about collaborating with friends, family, neighbours, coworkers, etc. to buy in bulk and save some money that way?
I agree with the previous poster about growing your own sprouts - easy, cheap nutrition there! Also, you can grow your own herbs - basil grows very well indoors!
Good luck.

[michigan roman]

ide also suggest hard wheat berries and raw hullless oats . you soak them for around 24 hours to then strain/dry and in the case of the wheat use like rice , and use the oats like oatmeal . both these can be bought from bulk stores for around $1 per pound . mix chopped vegis in with the wheat , or a raw sauce like salsa or spaghetti . maybe an avacado type sauce because thatd make it hearty . then with oat mix in fruit , raisins , etc .

you could do it on that budget , itd just be shopping for good prices on the produce .

and ide also use green tea , in a sun tea or warm water form , to help reduce appetite . i use green tea on fast and it helps alot . and when not fasting i drink green tea some days all day and it quells my appetite so i dont have to eat as much but ive still the same amount of energy as usual . now ive come to like green tea and fasting in order to save money on food + avoid becoming an over eater with the attached unhealthy , imo , weight gain . im always focused on preventing putting too much extra body fat on for health and longevity reasons . and actually having a small food budget might be a good thing because even though you may miss some joys of eating youll still have enough to vitally / healthfully survive . and eating less shall make you healthier .

cheers (with green tea) :)

[RowanC]

Jewels, where do you live?
I live in portland oregon and I get a box of organic fruits/veggies once a week for as low as $25. I realize this is $25 over your budget, but if you had a tomato plant or two or could do some bartering or foraging, it would be possible. Is there any way you can use a tax return to set yourself up to begin with by buying bulk grains and things like honey? Do you have skills you can trade for food? Can you put an ad on craigslist to help someone in their garden in exchange for food? Can you find an organic farm online who will trade you food for work a few hours a week? There are a lot of possibilities if you really want to do this?

[Green Life]

I have read of a body builder who eats mainly banannas and greens. No supplements nor any nuts, seeds or grains. He has been living on this diet and thriving for 30 years now.

What I am trying to get at is this..... banannas are pretty inexpensive. So are greens if you can find a good market. And these are both highly healthy foods.

warmly,
Green life

[vwinters]

I have read of a body builder who eats mainly banannas and greens. No supplements nor any nuts, seeds or grains. He has been living on this diet and thriving for 30 years now.

What I am trying to get at is this..... banannas are pretty inexpensive. So are greens if you can find a good market. And these are both highly healthy foods.

warmly,
Green life
I think bananas and greens alone would make a perfectly adequate diet. If you put these into Fitday.com, then go look at the reports for the day, it will tell you the specific nutrients for the day so you can tell exactly what you might be deficient in.
VW

[Morn]

I suggest you ask at the markets where you shop and see if they sell reduced produce. I have been doing this a few times a week and I get things for a fraction of the normal cost and the produce still looks decent. Most of the time it is perfectly ripe and ready to eat. I think if you do this you could make it work, however, buying nuts will be more difficult cause they are more costly.

[emily]

Jewels, you could probably get food stamps for awhile. It's not that hard, apparently - my friend works part-time and was going to school, and she's on foodstamps - Whole Foods and Trader Joe's both accept them and you can get anything with them.

[chilove]

I was going to suggest making the base of you diet bananas but someone beat me to it! :-)

Seriously, bananas are super nutritious and super cheap, especialy if you buy them by the case and/or negotiate to purchase the "too ripe" bananas from the stores in your area for a big discount. A produce store near me sells ripe bananas for .10 cents per lb!

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[RowanC]

I don't think a student can get foodstamps in oregon unless you're in high school.

[Jewels]

Wow, thank you all for your suggestions. I didn't think I would get much of a response because there are other raw food on a budget threads already. I posted anyway so I could get suggestions specific to my situation.

Biff, I do manage believe it or not on such a tight budget just eating very simply, but healthfully. Lots of beans and brown rice! I'm not all raw mind you. RowanC, I live in WA state in Kitsap County. Thanks Michigan Roman for your suggestions. I will look for a source of oats and wheatberries. Also, I love green tea! I've been drinking more herbal teas lately, though, which I mix myself with herbs from the bulk bins--very cheap. They are also my medicine.

Emily, to tell you the truth, the $75 is from food stamps. I am on disability.

I've discovered sprouts and greens and the many virtues of bananas already. Okay, I'm going to work up the nerve to ask the produce man for discounted ripe fruit and see what happens.

Thanks again!

[misslinda]

that is one of the keys! Get to the know the produce people.

You have no idea how many times I have received freebies or hooked up just b/c I get to know them. My last hook up was 3 huge bunches of red swiss chard for 99 cents and he charged me the non-organic price......this was after talking and introducing myself to "Tom" and I found out he swheatgrass shots..........so worth getting to know those produce people!

;)

[luckitri]

I can do it. But I am older and don't need massive quantities of food.

Bananas at .33
Apples @ .69
Cilantr@ .44
Lemon@ .39
Spinach@ .79

Total $2.64

That is more than I can eat in a day.
Of course I vary - like get the kale for .50

[Sharon in Colorado]

I was wondering how you are currently getting all your nutrients, if you are eating mostly rice and beans.

Fresh raw fruits and vegetables in any form is going to have far more nutrients, so what you can afford is you best bet. I agree with the bananas, they are filling, cheap and you would get the best range of nutrients on them.

[Biff]

Jewels,

I had an idea for you. Do you have anybody with any fruit trees where you live? Perhaps you can tell them that you will gladly pick up dead fruit around the tree for a bag of free fruit. Just an inexpensive thought to help you out so that way you get more nutrients to go along with your beans and rice.

Best wishes to you :)

Biff

[Cinnamon]

I live in WA state in Kitsap County.

Hi Jewels!

I am also in Kitsap County! Wow, someone else in Washington much less in Kitsap!!

The suggestions everyone is listing are all great, since I'm in Poulsbo I get a lot of produce at Central Market (prices are kinda high though) and the other local stores as I watch the sales ads. In the summer the Farmer's Markets in Kingston, Bainbridge, and Poulsbo (and other towns too but these are closest to me) have wonderful greens and other veggies for pretty good prices.

Please feel free to email me (bluemoonx3@hotmail.com) and welcome Kitsap neighbor!!

[Jewels]

Hi Cinnamon, it's nice to meet someone on here so close by. I also shop at Central Market sometimes because it has good bulk foods and organic produce. I also visit the Super Walmart there in Poulsbo for deals on some food items. Mostly I shop the Fred Meyer in Bremerton. They have a decent natural food section. By the way, I live in Silverdale!

Biff, the only fruit picking I have done are the blackberries that are so abundant during the late summer here in the Pacific NW. I don't know anyone who has fruit trees, but since I'm moving out of my apartment and to a different community soon, I may meet someone there with apple trees. Thank you for the suggestion!