Raw on a budget

[razza]

Any hits or help for "raw on a budget"? I am a married college student who works PT and would like to go raw but cannot afford all the gadgets and books; any helpful tips?

[trinity082482]

Eat simple? It can get boring but I love smoothies in particular!

[misslinda]

There are alot of raw recipes that don't need a gadget.

There are recipes that just need a blender or a food processor.

If you cruise the recipe thread, alot of gadgetless preparations.

Ads,garage sales,rummage sales,friends,co workers, those are great resources if you want to find gadgets for cheap!

Nothing is impossible.

Good Luck.

[RawVegan4Health]

If you've got just a blender, you can go a long way. Try eating more whole fruits and salads, and add green smoothies (assuming you have blender) as another option for getting your greens. If your blender can handle it, I like to add some nuts/seeds to my green smoothies as added fat and protein. This is another alternative to just eating nuts or adding them to salad. I was able to stretch my possibilities pretty far with just a blender. Add in a food processor and you should never be limited.

Guacamole is a good dip you can dip veggies into for a gadgetless meal.

[Ariannah]

For me, it's eat as simply and cheaply as possible from the produce section. Sounds a bit flippant perhaps, but it's not meant as such. It really is the best way to go. Bananas and Avocadoes are "inexpensive" foods that are filling, and can be obtained for less money, for instance.

The recipes and the gadgets sound alluring and appealing, and can make quite tasty meals.

HOWever, it's not "necessary". Raw is raw. Just eat food as is, get a good chopping board and knife and cut things up into salads.

Single serving cuisinart food processors can be bought fairly cheaply, set aside a bit of money for one, or ask for one on your birthday or a holiday?

I know what it's like to get financial challenges, but hang in there :)

[sport]

Sprouting is cheap and easy and gives you lots of nutrients.

[mamaP]

I am the wife of a college student and work full time in the home(no money but great benifits-lol)we plan a splurge(mac nuts) once a month and that reallly helps us stick to raw, also we use sunflower seeds -instead of other more $$ nuts to make pates and just change up the other stuff we add-- it is great!!!Seasame seeds are also cheap and work well with the sunflower seeds.....I make mylk with them and then use the pulp in my pate....I suggest plant some of the more $$$ produce you like....Also if you are not to attached to your job a lot of co-ops and the such have great benifits of the "extra or older" food as a perk...just a thought. I also use freecycle it is a yahoo group and peope pass along things they no longer want....most areas have a group , if not start one...I prepare a few veggies in differant way and keep the seasoning simple that way I can add-a taste right before I eat for something differant but I only had to cut everything up once..IE I may cut matchsticks of cucumber,carrots,beets,jicama, add your favorite here and just lightly salt them and add some lemon..I can now use these as filling for a nori roll with some greens and pate or I can add some pesto and I have noodles or add scallions, ginger and nama soyu(not sure of spelling like soy sauce)and some seasame seed ...you get the idea simple cheap ingredant totally differant meals...I hope that helps :confused: MamaP......I just relized it is very quiet here... I must find the litttle one....have a great day...

[misslinda]

Sprouting is cheap and easy and gives you lots of nutrients.

Yes, I always forget about those guys Sport! So fun to cultivate and yes, densely packed with nutrition. I love that we don't even need soil to do that....;)

[RawNubian]

Yeah I try to eat pretty simply too. I have to keep myself on a budget so my normal grocery run is strawberries, bananas, an avocado or 2, romaine, celery, spinach and oranges. Sometimes I will splurge on mangos. I normally drink smoothies and eat salads. Green smoothies in particular are filling and pretty low cost.

[rawbeliever]

Raw, soaked & sprouted buckwheat is super cheap, tasty, and filling.

[razza]

thanks for the tips everyone!

[portiz]

One of the best tips I could possibly ever give is to just buy in bulk. If you don't eat everything up quick, then just freeze it and save it for smoothies. I have a constant revolving door of fresh and frozen fruits. I also bought a cheap sprouter (with a variety of tons of seeds!!!) from the www.sproutpeople.com (about $30 + shipping). So I have a continuous supply of sprouts.
Someone here once said to squeeze an orange over your salad...let me tell you...it's sooooo simple, and tastes so delicious!