Saving tips from raw foodist wanted!!

[Bethanie]

This is my tip and it really works.
I shop at my local thrift stores and when i see the round dehydraters i purchase them. Never hurts to have extras, i keep one in my basement on the shelf still in the box.
Say you old one goes out you have the extra one and if you want to make loads of crackers or etc. you have the extra one handy to load them both up and get the job done;) ;) .
What's your tips?
Beth

[Veganforlife]

When I run out of produce from my organic food co-op, I always check out the grocery store's "reduced for quick sale" produce. I have gotten amazing deals. Like clementines (my darling), about 18 of them for a buck fifty!!!

[Bethanie]

Sometimes i've even found organic produce on the rack but not too often.
Great Tip!
Thanks.
B.

[Veganforlife]

Another tip is sometimes when my organic "box" is overflowing with too much? I will blend and freeze the greens. That way I have them for a quick green smoothie!

[Bethanie]

That's a real saving, not letting greens go to waste.
I'll certainly try that next time i order my box.
Thanks.
B.

[Veganforlife]

I use them up pretty quickly though. Not sure how good it is too keep it frozen. I freeze everything. Well, not quite everything. My dogs (mini Dachshunds) still greet me when I come home! LOL!!!

[Bethanie]

I love dogs.
B.

[Veganforlife]

Both pups. Heidi (smooth-haired dapple) is now 9, Emma (wire-haired) is 3. They're my buds. They love raw food too! :D

[luna99]

Another tip is sometimes when my organic "box" is overflowing with too much? I will blend and freeze the greens. That way I have them for a quick green smoothie!


what a great tip! I'm always buying big bags of greens and intending to use them for smoothies, then they go bad too quick for little ole' me! thanks so much!

[portiz]

I use ziploc bags to individually portion out greens and fruit and freeze them. I usually throw in a handful of spinach/romaine lettuce/sprouts, then a variety of fruit: blueberries, mango, bananas, strawberries, etc...
So in the mornings, all i have to do is pick what i want from the freezer, throw in some fresh oranges or grapefruit and little bit of water to blend to desired consistency.
i love the banana-blueberry green smoothie...one of my favorites.

I forgot to add: I'll recycle my ziploc bags too...just throw in whatever ripe fruit or veggies i have on hand and freeze again.

[Vann167]

i always buy the really ripe bananas that are reduced price. They usually have them separate from the regular bananas and you can often get a big bunch for around a dollar.

I eat tons of bananas and usually end up eating them before they do get too brown, but if I got too many, I just cut them up and freeze them.

[Veganforlife]

Oh yeah! And remember, freeze them WITH their skins on and they won't turn brown. Then to thaw! Place in a bowl of luke warm water and the skins slide right off!

[Mishka]

Thanks for that tip about the banana's! I've always disliked the color they turn in the freezer. And I have some ready right now so I'll give it a go. As far as the greens go...I can't seem to buy enough, I'm always running out! But that has been my focus recently anyways...minerals, and more minerals!;)

Warmly,
Mishka

[Morn]

Wow Veganforlife I never thought about leaving the skins on. Going forward I will try that.

I buy a lot of my raw nuts at Sams and Costco cause they are cheaper in bigger quantities. I also buy my Lara bars at Costco now because they are around $18.00 a box. Before I was paying $1.69 each.:eek: I have found a ton of good fruit on the reduced shelf too!

[Maria]

The greens in bunches with stems, I put in a pitcher of water (just like cut flowers) and they last for a long time in the fridge. I trim the bottoms of the stems first and put one of those plastic bags that slow down decay over the greens. Those are special plastic bags that I got at the healthfood store, and I use them over and over again. Those are good for storing produce too.

[soulstar]

Hi Bethanie,

This is a wonderful thread!


And thanks everyone, for all of your tips of the trade!

One more day of Living Foods!:)

'til later,

Elena

[Bethanie]

With prices of everything increases daily it seems, it's great to get everyone's saving tips.
So keep them coming and remember it's nice to SHARE!!!!!!!!!
It doesn't count much and it brings joy to others:D :D
Beth

[mershwista]

I get what I can at Aldi's...I know it's not organic, but I can't afford organic.

[Yammy]

I use them up pretty quickly though. Not sure how good it is too keep it frozen. I freeze everything. Well, not quite everything. My dogs (mini Dachshunds) still greet me when I come home! LOL!!!

Mini Dachshunds! I have a question for you veganforlife...do they smell? I have a basset hound and she smells ALL the time...even when bathed frequently! I want a mini dachshund too, but my mom says that all hounds have that same smell. I hope not because they're soo cute!

[soulstar]

I get Mangos and Pineapple's at ALDI"S

Mangos and Pineapple's are among the least pesticide sprayed fruits, which is good to know.

They say that bananas and avocados are not too heavily sprayed so these would be good to get there, as well.

I can get organic bananas at a reasonable price so I get them at my regular grocery store.


When I do buy organic apples and oranges I only do it by the bag, since it is alot cheaper.

Trader Joe's happens to have really good prices on bags of apples and oranges. There is no Trader Joe's near me now that I have moved to Northern NY, but when I am in Mass, I stock up.

The cheapest place I have ever found pineapple (& persimmons) was at an Asian Market. Pineapple was $2.50. Unfortunately, it is 2.5 hours away, so I only can shop there when I am traveling through to Massachusetts.

[Bethanie]

But our local Sterk's is changing hands so who knows what company will take it over.
Miracles happen:) :) .
Beth

[Veganforlife]

Mini Dachshunds! I have a question for you veganforlife...do they smell? I have a basset hound and she smells ALL the time...even when bathed frequently! I want a mini dachshund too, but my mom says that all hounds have that same smell. I hope not because they're soo cute!

No! Not at all.

[Green Life]

Thanks for all the ideas, folks!

Here are a few ideas that I implement to save some dollars:

For a sweet tooth fix, instead of using the required amount of expensive raw sweetners such as Agave, Maple syrup, Honey, ect. in some recipies, I will use perhaps an eighth to a quarter of the amount of that required sweetner, then for the remaining I will use stevia to taste. Since steveia is so much sweeter per teaspoon, you use far less for the same sweetness and you save dollars. Also, steveia enhances the flavors and sweetness of the other sweetners, I have found. Where I used to use a half gallon of Agave per month before using Stevia, now, using stevia, I use less then a quarter of that amount per month, and the recipies are even sweeter! LOL!

Now, my stevia isn't raw, however. I justify using it because I consider it an extra condiment, such as salt, pepper, spices, ect. Now, there are the raw green stevia leaves, and I know they are easy to grow indoors, that is an option, also. It would probably even be cheaper then the powdered kind, expecially if you grow it yourself.

I use banannas as my staple food.When they are on sale, I buy 80 pounds of them, let them get really spotty-ripe, then freeze for smoothies. This does save alot of money I have found.


Graciously,
Green life

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[vwinters]

Oh yeah! And remember, freeze them WITH their skins on and they won't turn brown. Then to thaw! Place in a bowl of luke warm water and the skins slide right off!

Most Excellent Tip!
VW
http://www.tagworldresources.com/Tagworld-Graphics/Animated-Emoticons/00cf53572eb0fea48702f808dfa2b305.gif (http://www.tagworldresources.com/TagWorld-Graphics/Tagworld-Animated-Emoticons/TagWorld-Image-1123.aspx)
http://www.ketoforum.de/diet-ticker/pic/weight_loss/11398/.png (http://www.diaet-ticker.de)

[vwinters]

I know fresh is better, but frozen fruit is more economical during the winter months. I’ve been buying huge bags of frozen mango & blueberries from a local discount chain.
VW
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http://www.ketoforum.de/diet-ticker/pic/weight_loss/11398/.png (http://www.diaet-ticker.de)

[Shoney]

the temperature dial in my fridge . . . guess I should say I allowed the temp to become a few degrees warmer. Now that I don't have to worry about keeping cow's milk ice cold, it allows me to keep veggies throughout the fridge without freezing the lettuce.

I also shop at a place called Grocery Outlet. Think it's mostly here in the Western states, but they have been increasing their organic selections, and a few weeks ago I got a huge tub of organic baby spinach for just a couple bucks. And I rarely buy produce that isn't on sale. When nuts/seeds are on sale at the health food store, I stock up and then store those in the fridge as well.

Thanks for this great thread!