Vegan food is just too expensive

It’s very common for people to assume that vegan food is more expensive than animal-based food but in reality that isn’t the case at all. In fact, it has been demonstrated that switching to a vegan diet can actually save you money on your weekly grocery bill.

A study from Oxford University found that by switching to a vegan diet, you can save one-third on your food bill. Other studies have found similar results, finding between a 19 and 40 per cent savings by going vegan. When the spending habits of people following different diets were analysed, researchers found that vegans spent less on food than all other consumers. Sceptical journalists have even put these findings to the test and found that they hold true. It’s time to throw out the myth that being vegan is too expensive!

Switching to a vegan diet can save you money because many staple plant-based foods are some of the cheapest in the supermarket – and you’re probably already buying a lot of them. Think tinned beans, lentils, wholegrain products such as bread, rice, pasta and oats, and fruit and veg. On the other hand, animal-based products are often some of the more expensive items. By piling these more cost-effective vegan foods on your plate, and supplementing with some meat alternatives if you like, you’ll notice the pounds drop off your grocery bill.

If you are convinced about saving money but worried you will be sacrificing flavour, you can rest assured! Eating vegan on a budget doesn’t mean you have to rely on plain porridge and beans on toast (although there’s nothing wrong with those!). It is possible to make delicious and adventurous food at the same time as saving money. Here are just a few examples of some mouth-watering yet budget-friendly vegan recipes:

For more budget vegan recipes, visit veganrecipeclub.org.uk or download the app.

What about mock meat, vegan cheese and dairy alternatives?

Years ago, when speciality vegan meats and dairy alternatives first hit supermarket shelves, they may well have been more expensive than their animal-based counterparts. However, nowadays, while expensive ‘artisan’ and ‘luxury’ products certainly exist, it is possible to find these foods at very affordable prices.

Most supermarkets offer their own brand of plant-based milks, cheeses and yoghurts at very competitive prices. You can easily find a litre of fortified long-life soya milk for pennies, and vegan cheddar cheese and yoghurts can be found for less than those made with cow’s milk.

The prices of mock meats vary dramatically but you can certainly find them cheaper than animal products. Once again, supermarket own-brands are usually the best value for money alongside some of the other well-established brands such as Linda McCartney, Fry’s Family Foods and Quorn. Additionally, traditional Chinese mock meats, usually found in the freezer section of Asian food shops, offer excellent value for money.

It’s also important to mention that you don’t have to eat any of these vegan meat alternatives if you’d rather stick to wholefoods. Some people like to have something ‘meaty’ on their plate but you can get all the protein you need from plant sources, including tofu and tempeh, and it would save you even more money if you were to take this approach.

Everything in the free-from section seems more expensive.

Going vegan doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to the free-from section of a supermarket. Many of these foods are more expensive because they are convenience foods marketed at people with very specific dietary needs, who may not know where else to look. But being vegan isn’t that restrictive.

‘Accidentally vegan’ refers to everyday foods that aren’t marketed as vegan and don’t carry a vegan label but happen not to contain any animal-derived ingredients. These are products that were never designed with vegans in mind, yet are vegan by default. You can find accidentally vegan options all over the supermarket – from chocolate biscuits and breakfast cereals to sauces and condiments. Because they’re not part of a specialist ‘free-from’ or vegan range, they’re often much cheaper than products sold as explicitly vegan.

That being said, supermarket own-brand of vegan chocolate bars and other confectionery are often found in the free-from section and are not usually expensive. And, no matter how delicious, these treats shouldn’t form the majority of your diet anyway! The free-from section is always good to check for deals, but it needn’t be relied upon for most of your shopping.

The bulk of a healthy diet should be fresh fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and seeds, whether you’re vegan or not. When it comes to many things in life, you can spend as much or (almost) as little as you want. You can indulge in small, independent artisan brands or pinch the pennies by buying supermarket own-brands, which are often just as good. Either way, eating vegan on a budget does not mean you need to compromise when it comes to creating satisfying, flavourful, mouth-watering dishes.

Top tips:

Focus on wholefoods over processed and packaged ones, eg fruit and veg, wholegrains and pulses
Buy supermarket or well-established brands of meat and dairy alternatives
Explore world food shops for cheap tofu and other vegan products
Look for accidentally vegan options instead of special free-from brands
Refer to the budget recipes on Vegan Recipe Club