Vegan Foods that Won't Break Your Food Budget

One of the things that can be difficult for vegans is the higher cost of food. When I gave up eating animal products a couple years ago, my food bill skyrocketed. Pound for pound, calorie for calorie, meat, eggs, and dairy products are usually more expensive than vegan foods.

However, just because you're vegan doesn't mean you have to break the bank to eat. Here are some foods that are acceptable for vegans that aren't too expensive.

Rice

It's hard to beat rice in terms of cost. There are many ways to prepare it too. But don't go to a big grocery like Walmart to buy rice. To save money, visit your local Asian store. They sell rice in bulk. Some health food stores also sell rice in bulk.

If you want to be healthier, go for brown rice over white rice. Brown rice has more nutrients.

Mexican Food

Taco Bell is cheap, but when you make it yourself, you'll save even more money. Refried Beans, tortillas, taco shells, lettuce, tomatoes, and salsa make are great meal.

Note that the corn based tortillas are more nutritious than their white flour based counterparts. And the darker the lettuce, the healthier.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

This cheap meal is great for bachelors who don't know how to cook or people who don't have much time to prepare food.

To make this meal healthier, go for peanut butter and jelly with no refined sugar. At my local Walmart Supercenter, I found organic Smucker's peanut butter without sugar and Smucker's preserves (similar to jelly) with 100% fruit. Also, make sure to check out the labels on the bread. Some bread brands add dairy to their loaves.

Tofu

There are many ways to prepare tofu. I like to add fry it lightly and add lemon and olive oil. Then, I eat it like a salad by adding vegetables and rice.

Bananas

I especially like bananas as my fruit of choice because they have a lot of calories. The problem with eating most fruits is they don't fill you up. Most fruits simply don't have a lot of calories. Bananas are one of the expections.

Soy Milk With Cereal Or Granola

Sure, soy milk costs more than cow's milk, but cereal and granola are relatively cheap.

Spaghetti

Like tofu, there are many ways to prepare spaghetti. Experiment with different types of spaghetti and sauces to find a combination that satisfies your taste buds.

Your Turn

What are some other inexpensive vegan foods?