You can save an average of $750 a year by going plant-based.
According to a study by theJournal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, participants who ate a vegetarian diet spent an average of $750 less on food per year than meat-eaters.Why?Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains areextremely affordablewhilemeatproductsare more expensive.
Nowadays, eating plant-based is easier than ever. Grocerychainsacross the country even have their own product lines that make it cheaper to buy plant-based foods and meat alternatives.
1.Target
InSeptember2020, Target came out withGood & Gather,the company’snew flagship food brand withover 600 newfood and beverage productsallat affordable prices. Plant-basedmeat alternativesinclude burgers,ground beef, and forthose of you reading this withkids,meatless chick’n tendersfor just $3.99.The product line alsooffersplant-based yogurts, sauces and dressings, and non-dairy beverages.
2. Kroger
As the largest supermarket chain in the country with over 2,400 stores in 31 states, Kroger is both accessible and affordable. Just last month, the giant chain expanded its Simple Truth Plant Based brand to feature more than 75plant-basedfoods and beverages by the end of 2020. New products include Simple Truth EmergeChick’n, chicken-less patties, and grinds free of GMOs, dairy, and soy, and five flavors of oat milk ice cream. Yum!
3. Aldi
Did you know Aldi also has their own plant-based brand? Known as a budget-friendly supermarket chain,Aldi came out with their own plant-based brand Earth Grown in 2018. From meatlessmeatbullsto non-dairy desserts, options are endless.For Thanksgiving, they even have a meatless turkey breast for just $3.99.
4. Albertson’s
Lastyear,Albertson’spartneredwithPlant Based Foods Association (PBFA)todevelopnewplant-basedfrozenmealsfortheirin-housebrand,OOrganics.DifferentmealsincludeOOrganicsedamame teriyaki vegetable rice bowl,black bean & quinoa bowl,andchickpea curry & spinach rice bowl.They alsohaveveggieburgers,plant-basedbreakfastpatties,andplant-basedcrumbles.
5. Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s is knownby its shoppersfor its affordable prices.This is because 80% ofitsproducts are in-house, meaning they’re produced underthe company’sown private label. Delicious plant-based items you can find hereincludecashew fiesta dip, tofuorganicbakedteriyaki, and jackfruit yellow curry.You can stay up to date with the store’s plant-based offerings by joiningitsFacebook fan group,The Original Vegan Trader Joe’s.
6. Whole Foods
Whole Foodsisn’tthe most affordable grocerystorebutitdoeshaveits365 brandthat offersfood items at convenient prices.Products include plant-based meats andfalafels with tahini sauce, another great-tasting plant-based protein option. An added plus: all of Whole Foods’s 365 products are organic or enrolled in thenon-GMO project.
7. Your local grocery store
Your local grocery store may not have their own plant-based line but they will have endless options for healthy, affordable plant-based foods. Canned beans such as black beans and chickpeas are usually priced no more than $2 per can and they have a long shelf life. There’s also quinoa, an affordable grain where a bag can go a long way. Don’t forget your fruits and vegetables too!
FAQs
According to a study by the Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, participants who ate a vegetarian diet spent an average of $750 less on food per year than meat-eaters. Why? Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains are extremely affordable while meat products are more expensive.
How does a plant-based diet save money? ›
A 2021 study from Oxford University found that vegan diets reduced food costs by as much as one-third. When you think about it, it makes sense: The average cost of a pound of ground beef was $5.23 in October 2023. If you replace that meat with chickpeas, you can expect to pay around a dollar for a 15.5-ounce can.
How does eating a plant help us? ›
Why plant-based? It supports your immune system. Plants have essential nutrients that you cannot get from other foods. The vitamins and minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants in plants help keep your cells healthy and your body in balance so that your immune system can function at its best.
How can eating more plants save lives and the planet? ›
Choosing plant-based options can help reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate climate change. Conserve natural resources: Plant-based diets require fewer resources than animal-based diets. By choosing plant-based options, we can help conserve natural resources such as land, water, and energy.
How does eating more plant-based food help the environment? ›
According to the documentary Cowspiracy, a person who follows a vegan diet produces 50% less carbon dioxide, uses 13x less water, and uses 18x less land than meat-eaters.
Can a plant-based diet save the world? ›
People who follow a plant-based diet account for 75 percent less in greenhouse gas emissions than those who eat more than 3.5 ounces of meat a day, and a vegan diet also results in significantly less harm to land, water and biodiversity, according to new research from the University of Oxford.
Is eating plant-based cheaper? ›
A study by Oxford University discovered that plant-based eating is actually the most affordable diet. It also found that a vegan diet reduced food costs by up to one-third due to the use of whole foods over meat and meat replacements.
What are 5 benefits of healthy eating? ›
For best results, individuals should avoid fried or processed foods, as well as foods high in added sugars and salts.
- Top 5 Benefits of Healthy Eating.
- 1.Weight Loss. ...
- 2.Heart Health. ...
- 3.Strong bones and teeth. ...
- 4.Better mood and energy levels. ...
- 5.Improved memory and brain health.
Through photosynthesis, plants provide the planet with food, oxygen, and energy. In addition, they are used to produce fiber, medicines, building materials, and natural products such as oils and latex.
Why is it important to eat food from plants? ›
Plants play an important role in our diet. Not only are they a healthy part of our meals, providing nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water, but they are also the base of the entire food web! Most of the meat and dairy products that people eat were produced by farm animals that were fed plants.
Plants improve the environment in many ways, like releasing oxygen into the atmosphere, absorbing carbon dioxide, providing nutrients to animals, and regulating the water cycle — all things we need to sustain life on Earth.
Do humans rely on plants for food? ›
Among all multicellular organisms, only plants have the ability to convert sunlight into organic substances via photosynthesis and are therefore able to live a more or less independent life, whereas all other organisms, including humans, fully depend on plants as primary producers of both food and oxygen.
Do plants help the Earth? ›
Plants play an essential role in the functioning of life on Earth. These are just some of the benefits that people gain from natural systems, also known as ecosystem services: Oxygen: Through photosynthesis, plants use carbon dioxide, sunlight, and water to create energy and release oxygen.
How is eating plants better for your health? ›
“Plants give you vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and even protein,” Mutha said. “Try to eat a rainbow diet. Fruits and vegetables have different colors that reflect different phytonutrients.”
What are the three main reasons for eating plant-based? ›
What are the benefits of following a plant-based diet?
- Plant-based diets reduce your risk of chronic lifestyle diseases. ...
- Plant-based diets are associated with lower levels of anxiety and depression. ...
- Plant-based diets are better for our gut health. ...
- Plant-based diets contain more nutrients.
Reducing Carbon Emissions and Waste
By growing your own food, you are helping to reduce the high amounts of burning fossil fuels that fill our environment as a direct result of importing foods from commercial farmers.
Is it possible to live on a plant-based diet on a budget? ›
It's Affordable
When done right and from scratch, a plant-based diet is affordable, especially with the rise in cost in animal-based food products. Meat, eggs, and dairy are not cheap and replacing those foods with plant-based options, you'll end up with a cheaper grocery bill.
What is the downside of a plant-based diet? ›
Plant-based diets carry some risk of inadequate protein, vitamin, and mineral intake. But these risks are readily overcome by choosing the right vegetarian foods and, when necessary, supplements. For example, soy, quinoa, and nuts are good sources of protein, and tofu, lentils, and spinach are good sources of iron.
What happens to your body when you only eat plant-based food? ›
Vegetarian diets have also been shown to support health, including a lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and increased longevity.
Can you live off of plant-based food? ›
With good planning and an understanding of what makes up a healthy, balanced vegan diet, you can get all the nutrients your body needs. If you do not plan your diet properly, you could miss out on essential nutrients, such as calcium, iron, vitamin B12, iodine and selenium.
