Having a hard time going veggie?

Question

My husband and I are trying to go veggie and use all natural foods due to his health issues with meat, fake sugars and high blood pressure. But, we have found the cost of the some of the veggie type foods to be outragous. Mostly the meatless meats. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get around the cost of going veggie?

Answer 1

Yes. Don't try to "replace" your meat with meatless meats. You need to change the way you approach the food. If you buy dry beans, grains, and tofu (all relatively inexpensive), you will do much better price-wise. You ALWAYS pay more for prepared, packaged foods like meatless meats.

I recommend "Diet for a Small Planet" - It goes through a different way of looking a your diet. It has receipes too.

Any of the "Moosewood" cookbooks are good. "The Moosewood Cookbook" "The Enchanted Broccoli Forest", etc.

To eat well as a veggie, you need to start thinking about your next meal earlier than when you start getting hungry. Meats cook quickly. Beans and grains can take hours sometimes.

Answer 2

I've been veggie for more than 20 years. I don't use an awful lot of meat substitutes, I mostly just make stuff without meat in - as in pasta with neopolitan (instead of bolognese) sauce. Most substitutes are pretty awful anyway - the only one I use is Quorn - I just buy the £1.99 bags of mince and pieces and use instead of meat. Some quornburgers are ok in a bun and the hot dog type sausages are okay if you want a hotdog. It will probably be cheaper as meat is very expensive and you won't be buying it. Try using different types of beans and lentils in casseroles instead of meat.

Answer 3

The meatless meats are expensive so just don't buy them too often. Most veggie cookbooks dont even use it as an ingredient most of the time. Eat whole foods like whole grains, vegetables, nuts, legumes etc.

Answer 4

The meatless meats you buy at the store are expensive.
You can make your own meatless meats using grains, legumes, and veggies with spices etc... to make things like...
"burger" for casseroles, "meatloaf", taco's etc...
I will try to find some of my recipes and post them.
You should be able to find some recipes online too.

Answer 5

I don't find it costly at all, but I don't rely on meat substitutes very much. Rather than using convenience foods, I do most of my cooking from scratch. Vegetarian staples like lentils and other legumes aren't expensive at all. Maybe you need to invest in a good vegetarian cookbook.

Answer 6

Beans and legumes are very inexpensive. Make your own meals, do not go for the prepared veg/vegan meals, they are highly overpriced. I buy Boca Burgers at Sam's Club in a giant box that ends up being an econimical price, and they stay good in the freezer for a long long time.

Answer 7

no such thing as meatless-meats .but look for high proteins like all beans ,nuts,veggies will alway's be veggies,now all you need is butterless-butter ! eat-less of a good thing we are carnivours ya know!! as far as the cost it-all goes with the fad!!

Answer 8

Soy "meats" are actually a form of textured protein, and are kinda expensive. Don't buy them too often, and eat beans/legumes/tofu instead.

Answer 9

Many Hindus/Buddhists are either vegetarian or vegan. If you know any of them, perhaps you could get some info.

Answer 10

grow your own food