Cost of eating raw and keeping enough food in house!

[meiks]

I'm new to raw and I'm struggling to get enough food in the house to keep me going - I can't afford to buy anymore and I know I will have to shop a few times a week to keep more fresh food in the house but I've nearly spent out this week and I only have enough fruit for 2 days - I'm ok for veg which should last me 3.

My partner will not eat any of the food I do, although I cook his veg so it is difficult.

Any advice would be much appreciated as I could see this as being one of the reasons pull out to stop eating raw and I don't want to!

[texasmelgal]

This is hard...I am in the same boat. I buy whatever is on sale and try to make the main part of any meal or smoothie I make the cheapest fruit...like bananas! Look for bigger bulk items on ur greens...I know I got a huge 16 oz of organic spring mix lettuce for 7 bucks...which is cheap in my book. It's lasted me almost 2 weeks and I'm only half way done. Good luck!

[rawdanig]

Are you trying to make fancy gourmet recipes or are you keeping it simple? Keeping it simple seems to be the best way to maximize your raw food budget because all your doing in drinking green smoothies for breakfast maybe a huge salad or leaf wraps for lunch and then a piece of fruit or fruit salad for dinner. If your buying your fruit when it's at it's ripest i'd freeze them especially if your using them for smoothies this is how i make my fruit last. Also if you can buy in bulk do so i don't have that luxury lol so i just buy whats on sale and i only buy organic on the important things such as greens and certain fruits like apples, strawberries/berries, peaches pretty much fruits you bite the skin of. Hope that helps! Also avoid nuts as that's what really gets you money wise lol If you must use nuts to make milks and yogurts i'd say invest in the nut butter it seems to last longer or try using nut alternatives like raw oats or hemp.

[meiks]

I don't think I'm trying to make fancy foods so far today I've had a fruit salad for breakfast and a courgette with tomato, herb and olive sauce. Maybe some nori rolls with pumkin seed spread for later and snack on veg and fruit. I think its the fruit, I like in Uk and it costs me £2.50 for 2 mangoes, £2 for small tub strawberries, £2 for 150g of blueberries and I can use these for one meal a day for two days!

I get a little bored of simple salads so I do have to include some nice treats. I have purchased some almond butter as I won't make my own milk not with the cost of nuts!

Just brought some buckwheat which is cheap so that will be good for breakfast - I adore bananas so will stock up on those and freeze them for when I want something sweet - yummy banana ice cream!

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

......./////

[MysticTree]

I don't think I'm trying to make fancy foods so far today I've had a fruit salad for breakfast and a courgette with tomato, herb and olive sauce. Maybe some nori rolls with pumkin seed spread for later and snack on veg and fruit. I think its the fruit, I like in Uk and it costs me £2.50 for 2 mangoes, £2 for small tub strawberries, £2 for 150g of blueberries and I can use these for one meal a day for two days!

I get a little bored of simple salads so I do have to include some nice treats. I have purchased some almond butter as I won't make my own milk not with the cost of nuts!

Just brought some buckwheat which is cheap so that will be good for breakfast - I adore bananas so will stock up on those and freeze them for when I want something sweet - yummy banana ice cream!

It depends where you shop. Stock up on seeds etc for sprouting. I have some almonds bought at a regular large chain supermarket - doesn't state raw on the pack but they sprout happy a sandboy. One pack that costs £6 ish lasts me 2 or 3 weeks because I eat them sparingly.

Some things I can grow in my garden. Somethings I can forage for. Blackberries are soon going to be ready for picking. Get out and get some exercise and pick your fruit over the late summer/autumn.

[trenchchic]

I just got back from the grocery store and added up the numbers.

For me (raw food diet) - $47.59 (before tax)
For DH (SAD) - $43.29 (before tax)

On the SAD, you pay less per calorie than you do for Raw. It's a terrible fact but it's true. If we were to purchase 1200 calories of apples and 1200 calories of potato chips, we'd probably spend less on the potato chips than we would the apples.

Sigh...

[Daniel21]

I hear you. It can be difficult if the money isn't there. The thing about eating a mostly raw diet is you have to mix it up with a bunch of different things, that's what makes it fun and creative. I would suggest hitting a farmers market where produce is generally a lot cheaper. The money has to be there to really mix things up and make it fun, otherwise you just have to do what you can in your budget. If you can't afford to go all raw without getting completely bored with it, just go half raw. That's kind of what I'm doing right now. Just doing what I can.

[Shona]

I second the farmer's market. Those can be a great value for produce. Often, you can get a good-sized bundle of vegetables and herbs or basket of fruit for a fraction of the cost of supermarket fruit and veg.

[MysticTree]

small independent greengrocers can be good too as is the local wholesale fruit market if you can get up early enough. It's very easy to get a trade card if you want it bad enough.

[speltrong]

also, i have heard that if you show up to the farmers market just as they are closing, the farmers will sell you their produce at a fraction of the cost that it was earlier in the day because they do not want to pack it up and take it home. So you could try that!

[Shona]

also, i have heard that if you show up to the farmers market just as they are closing, the farmers will sell you their produce at a fraction of the cost that it was earlier in the day because they do not want to pack it up and take it home. So you could try that!

I've heard this, too!

[karenisraw]

I am in the same boat as you. I buy carrots, celery, collards, onions, apples, bananas, roma tomatoes, cucumbers, any greens, zuchini. Sometimes I mix fruit in with the veggies for variety. Sometimes I eat an apple or an orange plain, it is filling that way.:heart

[climbing]

I try to make the bulk of my diet cheaper stuff. Bananas. Greens (they aren't too bad). Avocados aren't cheap but they are so calorie rich and satisfying I consider them a staple and worth the money. Also, SPROUTS! Probably the most bang for your buck. A 10 dollar bag of mung beans or lentils will provide months and months of living, raw, nutrient rich food. Sprouts really bulk up salads, allowing you to use less lettuce.

Carrots are awesome also. They are pretty cheap for an organic veggie. I love to make yummy spicy vegetable juice with carrots, onion, garlic, and a lot of greens and celery. You can use the pulp for different stuff like soups and mixed into dehydrated flax crackers. Flax is another thing that is awesome and goes a long way!