16 Cheap Vegan Recipes for College Students - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (2024)

FAQs

How to make vegan food cheaper? ›

By simply swapping meat and processed vegan alternatives for more whole food equivalents, such as lentils and chickpeas (great in curries or stews), cooking becomes more cost-effective without sacrificing flavour.

I highly recommend having a mixture of grains, protein, and vegetables — it provides a great balance not only with flavor/bulk but also texture. Grains and legumes help keep the meal filling while the vegetables bring everything together.

Frozen vegetables like spinach, broccoli, green beans, and mixed veggies can stay preserved for a long time and can be added to just about any meal. Uncooked beans and legumes are also cheap, versatile, and protein-rich. Uncooked pastas and grains can last for a long time in the cupboard, too.

It is possible to eat nutritious food and keep to a budget on a vegan diet – it just takes time and a bit of trial and error to know where to go and what to get.

Vegan speciality foods are more expensive than their counter-part due, in most cases, to the fact that many animal products are heavily subsidised. Because of this, it means that they can be sold at a reduced price. Plant food manufacturers do not have the same advantage. Another reason is supply and demand.

To be fair, meat and dairy substitutes can be expensive compared to the equivalent animal products. However, this is partly because many of the substitute products are still in development — and small companies need more financing to be able to make these products at scale.

Why are vegan options so expensive? ›

There are two main reasons: the market for substitutes and fresh organic produce. While veganism is growing, it's still a small market. There isn't nearly as much of a demand for plant-based products, like cheese or meat substitutes, as there is for animal-based products.