Raw on a budget...

[RawMistress]

What can I eat on a 40$ budget and keep me full?

[shashibala]

Well, I'm not sure about exactly 40 bucks, but I try to keep the cost down by using sunflower seeds in place of more expensive nuts, buying mostly bananas and apples which are cheaper than fancier fruits, and sprouting my own sprouts. I avoid expensive "novelty" foods. I simply can't afford them. I also find that smoothies really fill me up. I have one around mid morning and don't feel hungry til early evening. This is a real challenge for me and many others, too. I love avocados and eat them when I can. I also find that shopping more often works for me. That way I buy just what I know I'll need for a few days and I waste nothing. With raw there is really a feeling of having nothing in the house because most things are perishable. I had to let myself get used to that uncomfortable feeling and just eat it all up before I bought more. Now I am happy with just a few nuts and dried fruits to fall back on. Good luck to you and do let us know if you come up with other ideas!

[ShelShel]

Eating raw does take a bit more money...though some will say it doesn't, for me it does. But only when I first start out because I'm more hungry then. After a few weeks, my appetite slows a bit and I can get more simple items and be content.
Definitely shop more often, that way you don't purchase items that will go bad.
Our grocery store will bag up the bananas as they get close to going bad and are very ripe, selling them cheaper. I buy these and eat a few right away. Then I peel, slice and freeze the rest for raw raw ice cream at a later time.
I also grab bags of spinach when they drop from 3.99 to only .99! It's really only buying what's in season, getting things when they are very ripe. And only purchasing what you will eat.
It can be done, but you won't be able to afford a lot of nuts or avocados...
But you will just love the summer when watermelon are only $3.50 and you can eat them often!
Wishing you the best of luck!

[Vivafree2]

In Toronto prices :
Bananas (10) 5
Sunflower seeds 1 lb 5
Apples ( in my store i can pay 3$ for 4lb great non organic apples= 15 small snacks) = 3 or Florida oranges bag of 12 = 4
Spinach organic 2 boxes = 6-8 ( or other greens on sale)
Mushrooms 2 = 6 or tomatoes or cucumbers
Kale organic 2 = 5
Avocados 2 = 3
Lemons 2 = 1
Carrots 1 pack 3 lb organic = 4
Celery organic 2 = 6
Parsley bunch = 2
More or less 50 $ - this is what i do every other week - i have smoothies, patte, snacks, juice and salads. Following week i have small amounts of nuts and instead of of oranges or apples i buy somethign in similar price. Week after that i have two three day lemon water and one or two fruits.
I still do not lose weight.....
I also once a month buy things like Agave nectar, dates, yeast, seaweed, spices, maca, chocolate powder, coconut oil- 50$ I keep my raw monthly groceries around 200-250$

[gingincal]

Sprouting is really cheap way to get your greens. I can usually find bags or containers of alfalfa, broccoli, etc. seeds at the HFS for around $4-5 and each bag will yield an estimated gabillion (a LOT) of cute little sprouts. I understand that the sprouts are actually way more nutritious than mature greens, so that's a double benefit. The only catch is that you have to wait until the seeds sprout and for the sprouts get big enough to eat.

Good luck!:)

[dread head vegan]

hello,
yesterday i spent $45 at the store he's what i baught:

2 bags of salad (buy 1 get 1 free)
2 bags of spinich (buy 1 get1 free)
small watermellon
bananas
clover sprouts
mung bean sprouts
beets
3 cucumber
2 pepers
5 apples
3 pears
bird food (I know that's not for me) :D
young coconut
rice paper
nori sheets

if you have a sams club, or costco near you that would save you a lot. i buy lots of stuff in balk!!
good luch with everything:D