Raw Food Budget....

[SwishTN]

I am curious, about how much does an average single person spend on raw food a month? Aside from all the benefits, and medical expenses that I know eating raw food helps aleviate, I am looking at how much I can actually spend on raw food a month. My current budget is for only $200, and unless my diet includes lots of water fasting, I don't know how to do the raw lifestyle on that budget.

Any suggestions? Please don't include things such as: don't eat out, etc. I am looking for at home preparations, where to get as inexpensive as possible raw food, etc. Oh yes, the only gadget I own is a blender. I am hoping to get a dehydrator from my grandparents, but we'll see..... they have two. One for jerky, the other for plumbs. I want the plumb one ; ).
Lauri

[flutterfly]

When I am totally raw I spend about $200.00 a month. The costly part is getting all the little things to make the recipes. I go to SAM'S Club and get a lot of my things. It is fresher, cheaper and I feel better quality. This is not organic that I but. That is way out of my pocket book. I live by myself also. It will be interesting to see what others spend. That is a great question you asked. Thanks ;)

[tglasco4]

For a single person sounds like flutterfly is on point. I buy organic oranges (2 cases per week costs about $80), but aside from that its mostly non-organic. But I am a family of 5 and although I am the only one raw, everyone is vegan. I think I spent about $120-$160 per week but like I said, I am buying for all of us. Most of my budget is the oranges. The rest is definitely fruit and veggies. Good produce is expensive.

[Sweet lips]

Flutterfly - hey there - I agree with what you say. I also look at the fruit and veggies special in the local newspapers to see what is at the grocery store and I plan around that. Right now apples and greens are very plentiful and the least expensive - raisins have been on sale, and lettuce ranging from iceberg to red leave have been available. Our local health food store runs monthly specials on food items and I have made it a point to include that as well.

I had to learn not to waste stuff - because I had a habit of buying stuff and it getting rotten or shrunken before I got around to use. Now, I am trying to plan it better by planning my meals in advance. Just this week I was successful using what was on hand, and I only spent $24 - there are three of us, and my husband and son will eat cooked vegan food as well.

I am now working on co-oping with some folks and you may want to do that, you get the benefit of both worlds - good food and less cost. Hope this helps.

Be blessed!

[Rawkinlocs]

Personally, I think a $200 monthy budget (if all of that is alloted for food) is GREAT for a single person. Heck, being the only 100% raw person in the house, I think I spend about $100-$150 on the raw stuff (nuts, seeds, grains, fruit, veggies, etc.). Like Todd, my family eats mainly vegan here at home and thus, they eat a lot of the fruit and stuff that I buy.

It also depends on how much you eat and how you eat (if you eat more simpler or if you eat a lot of the recipes). I try to save the recipes for like "dinner" time and eat mostly fruit, greens, smoothies/puddings during the daytime hours.

As long as you're not trying to buy everything organic, your budget should be fine. Sure, I'd like to buy all organic, but realistically with myself, husband and 4 children, it's out of the question...for right now that is ;)

If you have one locally, farmers markets or fruit markets are good to get the best deal on your produce. I get most of my staples from the wholefoods and then my produce from the fruit market and I save a lot more that way. I just found raw almond butter for about $3 less at Trader Joes than it was at the wholefoods store! Sometimes it takes shopping around to find who has the best bargains on what!

[SwishTN]

I am really appreciating everyone's input. I think my expectations were a wee bit unrealistic, in that I wanted to go the organic route. It just didnt' make sense to me to try and convert to a raw lifestyle, and then put inorganic produce in my bod. Sure do wish that it weren't so derned expensive!!!!
I think am going to start out with a fast anyway. For spiritual as well as mental and physical reasons.
This is a great forum!! I am brand new, as noted by my seedling status...
Blessings to all of you!
Lauri

[Rawkinlocs]

I am really appreciating everyone's input. I think my expectations were a wee bit unrealistic, in that I wanted to go the organic route. It just didnt' make sense to me to try and convert to a raw lifestyle, and then put inorganic produce in my bod. Sure do wish that it weren't so derned expensive!!!!
I think am going to start out with a fast anyway. For spiritual as well as mental and physical reasons.
This is a great forum!! I am brand new, as noted by my seedling status...
Blessings to all of you!
Lauri

Lauri,

I understand what you're saying. What you could do is to buy what you can organic, meaning, if certain things are on sale or if you can find a good deal/bargain on them, then by all means, get what you can get organic. This is what I do. I buy certain things organic if/when I can get a good deal on them or if I do the math and the amount is like a few cents more for organic than inorganic. That's not often, unfortunately, but hey...it's a step in the right direction. Yeah, I also wish organic wasn't so expensive! I REALLY feel for anyone who is in a very bad area where good quality produce is scare because if the knowledge of raw ever came to them, what of them?

This is why I get kinda frustrated with fasting clinics and all the gurus because they cater (seemingly) to those who have monetary means, but what about all the sick and dying folks who are poor...how would raw work for them if they gained the knowledge and wanted to change? Crap food is cheaper for them. Ramen noodles, canned this or that, crappy meat, boxed and processed foods are dirt cheap and often the staples of the less fortunate.

Okay, I'm ranting and rambling...but you get my drift I'm sure.

[SwishTN]

Rawkinlocs,

I most certainly get your rant..... That is my dilemma. I could have a steady diet of ramen and peanut butter and jelly, but my health?
And then I think.... I can justify pizza, or Mcdonald's when I am hungry, thinking I am doing more for myself than having just an apple. Yet, that one apple has probably far more nutritional value than any combo meal. Especially since the combo meal not only has zero, but is actually a reduction in nutrition...
Thus part of my dilemma...I grew up eating fast food, and budgeting for cheap cheap cheap!!! This trying to eat raw is retraining for me on soooo many levels.....
Maybe I should post this question... how do you transition to raw from fast food/eating out, when that is all you have known. I NEVER have groceries in my refrigerator..... Ack!
Lauri

[marigold]

lauri - i understand what you mean in so far as i grew up on the dole and it was all about gettting the cheapest food and if you were skint you could live on lentils and onions the week!!

we got into debt when we went raw and havent recovered yet - i know its my heath and i deserve it and at the same time it is really expensive - food is about the only thing we spend our money on !!!