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COVID-19 has brought unprecedented changes to our lifestyle, moreover, it has enabled us to rethink ways through which we can make our lives healthier and more cherishing. According to a recent report from Nestle, the sales of plant-based alternatives increased by 40% compared to other categories. The pandemic made people realize the hazardous outcomes of animal-based food products and now they are more aware of the benefits of living a vegan lifestyle.
While the latest research shows rising demand for plant-based food across the world, there are still some challenges and widespread myths about veganism, which prevents a large section of the society from shifting towards a complete plant-based diet. The most common misconception is that vegan food is not budget friendly for you, especially after COVID-19, when most of the individuals and families are facing budget constraints due to less earning.
Fortunately, this fact is far from reality, and even it is more likely that you save a good chunk of money if you pay close attention to these amazing tips to eat vegan on a budget during corona.
1) Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables
Have you ever noticed that strawberries are way too expensive in winter while apples cost less in the same season? Well, you can save a reasonable amount of money too every week, if you take a seasonal vegan diet, the difference in prices of seasonal and non-seasonal fruit can be as much as by 50%, but apart from this, there are so many other benefits of eating seasonal fruits and vegetables.
These are not only cheaper but also more fresh and nutritious because as soon as the vegetables are picked from the fields in which they are grown, they begin to lose their nutrient content.
Moreover, when you eat seasonally, you favour a sustainable food chain which is in alignment with plants’ natural life cycle. Therefore, the habit of eating seasonal fruits also helps in reducing carbon footprint and it is the easiest way of becoming environment friendly within your budget.
2) Consider online vegan stores
When you visit a supermarket to buy vegan food items, you often find yourself getting discouraged by the limited and overpriced vegan options. To deal with this, you can consider online vegan stores and some dedicated vegan grocery places, where you will find all kinds of plant-based diet options along with discounts and reasonable pricing.
Online vegan stores and zero waste stores also enable you to compare between different vegan food articles and you can choose the ones, which suit your health and pocket best.
3) Grow your own food
It is one of the best practices for vegans to save money, stay healthy and stay safe. Living on a plant-based diet gives you tons of advantages and one of these is that if you have some space in your backyard or balcony, you can easily grow your own organic vegetables at home without any prior agriculture knowledge.
All you need is soil, seeds and some useful tips for managing your home garden, and within a couple of months, you would be saving both money and time that you can spend on other vegan friendly stuff and activities.
Apart from growing, you can also consider making your own vegan cupcakes, breads and other recipes at home with simple easy to available ingredients.
4) Purchase pantry staples in bulk
Vegan staples such as lentils, beans, oats, rice, etc. can be purchased in large quantities as these food items can be stored in your kitchen easily, and you will be saved from the trouble of going grocery shop again and again.
When you buy vegan goods in bulk, you are likely to get good offers on your purchase and thus, you are saving money, fuel and time altogether.
5) Avoid unwanted & un-needed supplements
Awareness of your diet plays a significant impact on your pocket, especially when you’re a part of the thriving vegan culture. There are many companies and brands, who spread false information and claims to sell their vegan products.
For example, there is a common myth that vegans need to intake numerous additional protein and vitamin based supplements to maintain a balanced diet and stay healthy, but the truth is, only Vitamin B12 is required as an additional supplement for vegans.
Being Vegan is Budget-Friendly, Eco-Friendly and Life-Friendly
When you become a vegan, you follow a lifestyle that promotes sustainable living, animal welfare and carbon footprint reduction. Moreover, you are already saved from the risk of various health issues that cost huge sums of money and your precious time of life.
All these factors along with efforts to increase your understanding of vegan diet can bring a lot of positive change towards keeping the planet healthy and wealthy.
All images courtesy of Unsplash.
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