Frugal Vegan Meal Plan 1

Since we have recently become a one income family, I thought I would start posting what we are eating as a family on a tight budget. Being vegan can be expensive if you rely on packaged/prepared foods or insist on buying all organic produce. However, if you cook at home from scratch, focus on grains, potatoes, beans and cheaper veggies and fruit, it can actually be way cheaper. Meat and dairy are expensive! I'd like to show that this way of eating can not only be beneficial for your health, but also your budget. Being vegan or plant based is not just a way of eating for the wealthy, but can actually be a great relief for people with limited income. Not to mention the health care costs you will save from adapting a healthier diet. 

I know that food costs can vary greatly depending on where you live. I'm near Seattle, and I have been shopping at Trader Joes and Fred Meyer, usually. I've recently discovered what an amazing place Winco is for all their bulk grains/flours/nuts and other products, and I'm excited to see how much my grocery bill drops next week!

Here is what we're eating for dinner this week:

1. Spanish Rice and Bean Tacos from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen, with tofu sour cream, corn tortillas, avocado, salsa, chopped romaine and tomatoes.

2. Sweet and Sour Tofu Vegetable Stir Fry with brown rice.

3. Brown rice penne, jarred spaghetti sauce with mushrooms, zucchini, red pepper and kale. Add salad.

4. No Fu Love Loaf, Roasted Sweet Potatoes and steamed broccoli

5. BEST Lentil and Tomato Soup (this mostly for our lunches)

For breakfast, we eat oatmeal with some kind of fruit in it. I made waffles for the kids breakfasts. 

Lunch for the grown ups is soup, leftovers or a veggie sandwich. The kids usually eat a sandwich with veggies (cucumbers, carrots or peas mostly) and fruit. This week, I did one shopping trip and spent less than $125. Up until recently I was allotting like $200/week for groceries and household items, so that was a HUGE improvement! We've had plenty to eat and we love these meals.