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Icon Five budget-friendly tips for your plant-based grocery shop

There will always be a cost associated with grocery shopping, but did you know there are ways to help keep your spending within reason?

Below are my top five budget-friendly tips for all your plant-based grocery shopping. 
 

’Tis the season

The most significant benefit of eating seasonally is saving money on food. When you buy what's in season, you buy food at the peak of its supply, and it costs less to farmers and distribution companies to harvest and get to your grocery store!

 

Focus on wholefoods

A plant-based diet encompasses many simple, affordable staple foods if you’re on a budget. The fundamentals of a plant-based diet include whole grains, legumes, a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables, and seeds and nuts. Given that they're not in shortage and are in season, these foods can be incredibly cost-effective.

Plant-based foods usually get expensive when involving plant-based and organic artisan yoghurts, cheeses, etc. What’s important to note is that whilst they are labelled ‘vegan’ or ‘plant-based’, it doesn’t mean that it’s necessary or constitutes fundamental to a plant-based diet.

That’s why I suggest focusing on buying whole food sources that aren’t packaged, as not only is it better for your health, but lighter on the wallet!

 

Buy in bulk 

This tip may seem obvious, but this clever trick has never been easier to do. You can compare the prices across multiple supermarkets online. Larger supermarket chains release their specials on a Wednesday, but online catalogues are updated weekly. So what am I specifically referring to when I say buy in bulk? Whole grains, nuts and seeds, anything that won’t spoil. Nuts and seeds, for example, are a crucial part of a plant-based diet as they are a great source of fat. However, buying small amounts in standard 50-gram bags is expensive, so we always buy my nuts and seeds in bulk.

Additionally, suppose you support small local supermarkets compared to massive chains; you’re more likely to see more savings and support local families like yourself!

 

Compared to what?

“Tempeh costs $7 for 300 grams? That’s crazy!”

In comparison to what we say? For example, 250 grams of a prime-cut grass-fed scotch fillet steak at a local supermarket chain will cost you as much as $14. Similarly, if you buy pork, beef, chicken or seafood, the cost of your groceries quickly rises. 

$7 for tempeh no longer sounds expensive when you compare it to what you’re swapping it out for. 

 

Superfood, superhype?

The idea of a superfood can appeal to many looking to change and improve our health and well-being. However, this might come as a surprise, but there’s no scientifically based or regulated definition for a superfood, yep!

Information spreads at a scary pace today, so much so that there seems to be a new superfood each month! The essentials are in place; captivating headlines from the fast-paced popular press, infomercials and witty marketing campaigns! 

Superfoods often render into super profits that have created million-dollar industries. What do we mean by this? All plant-based whole foods contain a unique range of nutrients, phytonutrients and compounds that can be beneficial (and 'super') for our health, depending on how you look! With that in mind, you don’t need to buy that greens powder simply because they’ve marketed the words “antioxidants” and “vegan.” This is called a halo effect. Hold your wallet tight and save your money, I say. 

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