how doo you afford a raw lifestyle?

[bananaberrie]

Hi, I'm just wondering how all of you afford to be raw. I have just started about 2 months ago and already it is taking a HUGE amount out of the family food budget.

I am a stay at home mom of 3 young kids and my hubby works at a restaurant so we live on a shoe string budget (if there were something smaller I would use that phrase). Anyway, we don't eat out, except maybe one every 4-6 months. And I buy our produce from a local organic co-op, which makes the price of the organic produce almost that of conventional at the grocery store...almost. The co-op is such a huge blessing! I also buy very little processed foods, I make almost all of what I feed my family. So I'm not sure where there is any room for cutting out other expenses. I really love being raw but as a mom feel really guilty that most of the money earmarked for food is going to food for me. Actually the past 2 months I have gone over our set budget for food and had to dip into saving to cover the loss. I know the health benefits and all that. I was just wondering if you guys had any advice or tricks of the trade to make things stretch further. Or maybe if as you go along you eat a bit less, sense I am just starting.

Thanks.

[bootzey]

What are you buying? The mot expensive exotic fruits available? I haven't found it super expensive. But I don't buy a lot of food out of season. In season food is less expensive.

[beckyh]

I know exactly what you are saying! I spend $230 a week on groceries and just like you, I end up going over, because I have to go back at least 2 or 3 times because of things that I have run out of. I wish we had a co-op we don't have one of those! I do try to buy only the things that I need and the items that I am going to eat. I have stopped making the gourment recipes. I only make things out of the items that I always buy. I buy spinach, lots of bananas, almonds, cucumebers, tomtomates, celery, apples. I try to buy what is in season as well. I know that you are suppose to rotate your greens, I can only do this on a weekly basis, because it is just to expensive to buy 3 different greens at one time. A friend of mine once told me that she is as raw as she can be for herself and this is what I go by also. I buy frozen fruits for my smoothies, I also don't by raw oats, because to pay $7.00 for a small bag, when I can buy a HUGE container for $2.00 that is what I am going to do. I do buy some of my products from nutsonline.com. they sell more then just nuts, but this works for me. I have been able to find coconuts at Walmart when I want them, but again I only buy them if I am going to use them, because as you know produce goes bad so quickly. I hope this helps you. Even when I used to "eat clean" cooked it was just as expensive! It is a shame that everyone wants everyone to eat good and clean, but yet things are still so expesive! Just like I want my mother in law, who is severly overweight to start eating better, but she isn't able to. She just got fired, she has no income coming in as of yet, she is waiting for unemployment, but she has so many other bills to pay.

Do what you can...buy what you can and eat as much raw as possible, however if you have to eat a cooked meal, just make sure it is healthy. Sprouting is also a good way to get greens in you. You can get lots of seeds to sprout very cheap.

Maybe someother people have suggestion for you as well, but just know I have a family of 4 and I TOTALLY understand what you are saying!:heart

[Aleesha Sattva]

i find buying things in bulk (which i'm guessing you are already doing) saves me a lot of money. personally i don't find it expensive. the money i spend on my family's SAD food is way higher than the money i spend on my food. i eat very simply though.

[Stina]

Bananas and sprouted grains are economical staples for me. I enjoy sprouting and have a huge batch of alfalfa harvesting today for my supply of fresh greens. Love sprouting!

[Reesh]

I know what you're saying. I find that meat and dairy products can often be more expensive than even the nicest raw products, especially since I would buy organic. Essentially, raw is more economical than a gourmet organic SAD diet which is what I had been eating before. (and I can feel better about spending the money instead of the guilt I'd always feel after buying fancy cheeses and meats) :D

[scyn]

sprouted grains are economical staples for me. I enjoy sprouting and have a huge batch of alfalfa harvesting today for my supply of fresh greens. Love sprouting!Agreed. Sprouts are so packed full of goodness and as alive as any food will ever be. The best part? Bought in bulk they're probably the cheapest items on my list.

[Raw Angel Mom]

The good news for the people in the US, they are passing a law that will help to reduce the price of healthy food such fruits/vegetables to help children with obesity. Many people will go with the junk food because it is less expense

Do you own Sprout, it will cost pennies. Eatable wild plant ARE free.

Having a family, i can see that you want more gourmet food. You will need to watch the special and buy in bulk

You will spend less money on medecine and doctors by adopting this life style. By sparing your health and youth, you will save money this way.

I find that i eat less now then when i would do cook food. My grocery bill went down but sometime when i restapple with the seeds/nuts or special berries or supplement, then it is expensive.

Sunflower seed are economical.

I buy a case of young coconut from the asian market and i can make all kind of food with that. Noddles, desert, sauce, soup, icecream, coconut wrap, etc. It is such a versatil food. I buy my frozen mango from costco. It is the only food that isn't organic, on occasion banana when i cannot find any ripe organic that i need now.

By bying from your farmer market, you aren't only helping them but you are saving money.



Hope you find and way to keep the expense low

[bananaberrie]

Bananas and sprouted grains are economical staples for me. I enjoy sprouting and have a huge batch of alfalfa harvesting today for my supply of fresh greens. Love sprouting!


What do you do with your sprouted grains?

[bananaberrie]

What are you buying? The mot expensive exotic fruits available? I haven't found it super expensive. But I don't buy a lot of food out of season. In season food is less expensive.


No, buying the most expensive exotic fruits would not be wise on a shoe string budget. I do however spend about 50$ a week on organic produce for myself for juicing, smoothies, salads and such. That adds up to 200 extra dollars a month. Might not be a lot to some but when your food budget is what ours is it IS a lot. I think I will cut back on the juicing and that will help.

[modernmonkey]

Grow your own wherever possible. Carrots, beets, lettuce, kale, courgettes... so cheap and easy to grow and often plentiful.

Ask everyone you know if they have fruit trees but don't collect the fruit when it falls. In the UK there are literally 100s of apples just falling in the street unused.

Bananas are very economical and can easily be the filling staple of every meal.

If I continued to provide my family with SAD food it would cost me a lot more but now I only make my food and invite them to join me (I often make and eat healthy cooked vegan) or go hungry. I don't feel guilty because I am offering the best food. 9/10 they will eat all or most of it. I give my two children a small amount of money each week so they can go and buy the foods I will not provide (ketchup, cheese, branded cereals) and if they eat what I offer and not buy SAD they can keep it.

To stop yourself from topping up the shopping is easy. Allocate your budget and tell everyone to just eat up everything until the next shopping trip. It makes us resourceful and not wasteful. It helps us to appreciate left overs. With plenty of frozen bananas and kale it may have to be green smoothies for 2-3 days. This way we can also learn which foods stretch the furthest for their cost and which aren't getting used up.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning that 50 years ago, families spent 50% of their income on food. We, today, value our food less and would not think to spend 50% on food because we so badly need our satelite TV, cars, after school clubs and such. Because I want food to be just as important as it use to be and should be, I have allowed more of our income to be devoted to it and forfeited the paid for leisure stuff.

Sunflowers are fun to grow and produce lots of seeds.

[January Noir]

I feel your pain. I'm single and the cost to eat Raw is crazy.

I've adopted some of the strategies posted here. I just joined an organic produce Co-op by my workplace and will begin to realize some savings there.

It also depends on where you live as well. Where do you live?

Might I suggest you take a look at Brandi Rollin's site and read her eBook "Raw Foods on a Budget (http://www.rawfoodsonabudget.com/)." She offers some great ideas and recipes for those on very tight budgets.

Keep your meals simple. I chop up stalks of greens and add those to smoothies. I call then "Nuggets of Nutrition." LOL!

Buy in bulk and freeze or dehydrate surplus.

Join a co-op or CSA in your area. All this is in her book.

Do you have a dehydrator? If not, your oven at the lowest temperature possible can work.

There are ways to be Raw on a tight budget. Hang in there! I'll be back with some other ideas, but Brandi's site is very helpful.

[beckyh]

No, buying the most expensive exotic fruits would not be wise on a shoe string budget. I do however spend about 50$ a week on organic produce for myself for juicing, smoothies, salads and such. That adds up to 200 extra dollars a month. Might not be a lot to some but when your food budget is what ours is it IS a lot. I think I will cut back on the juicing and that will help.


I did notice that when I stopped juicing everyday it did save me some money. Because I was using up most of my produce within a day or two So I don't juice as much as I would like to, but that is okay because juicing never really filled me up, so I would rather do green smoothies instead. I am starting to eat more simple, smoothie for breakfast, smoothie for lunch, then for dinner I make an almond burger, or salad, or a wrap. Sometimes I do make simple cookies using the left over almond pulp from my almond milk. I also use kale to make kale chips. Believe me I do understand how hard it can be when you have such a tight budget. But like everyone has said you will not be spending at much at the doctor's and such.

[January Noir]

Also, start up costs for Raw can be big. As you continue to eat Raw, you will get better at budgeting food as well as managing the cost of food.

It will get better...

[ReneeH]

I can't afford NOT to...

[Aleesha Sattva]

I can't afford NOT to...

I am sooooooooooooooo with you there Renee. Releasing 170 pounds, all my health issues... and so much emotional baggage... PRICELESS!!!

[lovemy2girls]

I am spending just over HALF of what I was spending on a SAD. I eat a lot of young coconuts - usually about 3 a week shared between myself and my 2 kids. Bananas, apples, celery, lemons, kale, lettuce, red peppers and kiwi are staples here right now for us.

I think its important to eat seasonally. That will save you TONS of money!

[Aleesha Sattva]

3 coconuts a week? i guess it's what you consider a lot. i go through 2-6 cases (9 in a case) a week. LOL

[January Noir]

I am spending just over HALF of what I was spending on a SAD. I eat a lot of young coconuts - usually about 3 a week shared between myself and my 2 kids. Bananas, apples, celery, lemons, kale, lettuce, red peppers and kiwi are staples here right now for us.

I think its important to eat seasonally. That will save you TONS of money!

I agree. I'm eating TONS of apples. Kale/Apple/Banana Smoothies e're day!

I buy bunches of bananas, especially on sale, and freeze them when they're ripe for my smoothies. The frozen bananas add a frosty, thick texture to my smoothies which are delicious all year long.

[changeisgood]

I'm with Renee and Aleesha - I can't afford not to spend money on raw ingredients. My husband and I agree that our health is more important then being extravaagant on clothes, or what have you. It never fails, I always go over budget each week, so I just keep increasing food budget for the month and take it away from somewhere else.

I get more upset over what I may waste or what I used to waste in the past.

What I spent in the beginning of Raw was much higher then what I spend now. I eat less.

My regular market list is much smaller. Most of it is fresh fruit,veggies, and some staples and what hubby wants. Now that my elimination system is working, I spend more money on - well, let's say, every one should buy stock in 'green' toilet paper - I'm buying so much more then I ever had to before RAW - sorry - TMI ! LOL!

I'm no longer spending money on fast food, starbucks, sugary desserts, B&R ice cream, etc. What I spent on ice cream each week was more than a couple of days worth of fruit and veggies. (I'm amazed I don't miss it)

[RawBogan]

I used to eat heaps of junk food too. Now it costs me next to nothing to eat alot of sprouts and leafy greens(that we grow). A little gourmet raw splurge quiet often but overall the raw component of our diet(80%) costs us very little. I never would have believed it!