a challenge

[samariah]

Ok, i was at the grocery store having a debate with my moms boyfriend. well, my mom believes that its too expensive to eat healthy and that she would do if she could afford it. i, obviously, don't agree with her. i mean, yeah, it may take a little bit more work, planning out of recipes, etc and some trial and error, but i think a healthy diet can be done just as cheaply as a typical standard diet. well, we planned that im going to make dinner for them tomorrow night. its not going to be raw, but vegan. i'm planning on making some sort of dish with these yam noodles, garlic, miso, cumin, bruschetta, zucchini and a side of raw guacamole with carrot sticks. for dessert im going to make a banana salad w/ frozen strawberries purreed. im not sure how i should flavor that. im trying to make something that i know they will like, uses cheap ingredients and is still pretty healthful. i asked my moms boyfriend if he would go vegan for a week just to try it out and he said "sure" that if he didn't like it he could go back. so im thinking, i could help him out by making meals for him and suggesting foods for a week. any tips? i know im not going to convert my mom and her boyfriend into raw vegans any time soon but i want to help them eat less processed foods, more fresh foods and lean towards a more plant based diet. and i want to do it all on a cheap budget, thats the most important part!

[Angelina]

hmmm..what about sprouted lentil salad or chickpe hommus? They're easy, the hardest part is waiting for them to sprout - but they're also cheap and kinda like still eating cooked..

[Morn]

How about recipes that use sunflower seeds. They are also pretty cheap. I would try the refried bean recipe that is posted on this site (that uses sunflower seeds). It is filling and you can use olive oil if you don't have the flax seed oil.

[Riiiya]

sorry can't help with ideas at the moment,

i just wanted to comment- it's So sad that majority of people believe they don't deserve the best food. I understand having problems with money can force one to try to "survive" at least on a tight budged, but it IS possible to spend little and eating healthy (it also might mean eating less though heheh)

As Ani Phyo said in her book- my "body is not a discount body"... after all, why are we making money in life? to look forward to spending it on something or simply to pay bills... eating is SO important, it can change your whole life. it doesn't simply come into your mouth and disappear... It's not just a way to get energy and stay alive (but not living)

uh sorry i'm getting all philosophical here :D it's just such a revelation to me (through RAW) and i want to help everyone around me see it :D

p.s. i agree- sunflower seeds are a great cheaper alternative to all the nuts! also, buying nuts in bulk is definitely cheaper... and buying whatever's in season- like corn which i use in soups...... really cheap!

[mulch]

what about a white bean salad
i got it from my weight watchers meeting today
4tsp olive oil
4 plum tomatos
1 onion
1/4 cup diced green and red pepper
1tsp dried minced sage (could use fresh)
1 garlic clove
1/4 tsp salt, ground pepper to taste
1 16oz cannellini white kidney beans (drained)

i was thinking about making it with sprouted lentils instead of kidney beans which would be cheaper if you are going for price but i think a can of beans is no more than a buck and the rest of the ingredients should be laying around from the other stuff you are probably making.
good luck
i was in my ww meeting today and the leader was going to make a joke about vegans and for fun she asked if there were any in the room. of course i had to raise my hand. she was like :eek: .
i am also slowly transitioning my husband over to vegetarianism. i will take it to the vegan level next spring.
good luck and have fun cooking

[EZ rider]

my mom believes that its too expensive to eat healthyMaybe she could afford to eat 60%, 70%, or 80% healthy ?

[rawgreenyogini]

You could make raw tacos with cabbage leaves as the taco shells....walnuts for the meat.

that's pretty cheap

make your own salsa and guacamole