Did you know that “papayas” and “fresh blueberries” are some of the most expensive foods you can eat?
This is because they provide very few calories, which means you need to consume a lot of these foods to feel full.
You can save a ton of cash by making your staple foods those specific fruits that contain more calories per serving, like mangoes, bananas, and grapes.
It’s also important to identify which foods should be organic (preferably) in order to save money and not having to buy everything organic.
For instance, celery, bell peppers, and spinach have been tested to contain the most pesticides, so it’s better to buy organic produce of these foods.
By contrast, pineapple, avocado, and cabbage have the lowest pesticide residues, so you can pretty much get away eating conventional produce without overloading yourself with toxins.
Personally. I spend a lot less money since I started eating a raw food diet compared to the standard western diet I was eating before.
The trick is to know how to do it. Here are some of my top tips for saving money on raw food:
1. Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk is an important concept most people are unaware of.
The idea behind it is simple: cut out the middleman whenever possible and secure better deals.
Living in London, I often buy fruit and vegetables directly from New Covent Garden wholesale market in Vauxhall. By doing this once a week, I save around £150 ($200 US) every 7 days – which adds up fast.
Of course, every city and country has its own ways to cut costs, but the principle is universal: removing the middleman will save you a significant amount of money.
2. Focus on Inexpensive Sources of Calories
Once you know which fruits are low in calories, and which fruits are high in calories, and which fruits are a great deal – you can focus on eating mainly those fruits that give you a great cost per calorie, and then supplement with more expensive fruits for variety.
Some of the most common high-calorie, low-fat fruits you can rely on are bananas, mangoes, grapes, dates, figs, persimmons, cherries, lychees, guavas, passion fruit, pomegranates, oranges, tangerines, apples, and pears. These fruits are widely available in most places, rich in natural sugars, and provide steady energy throughout the day, making them perfect staples for a budget-friendly raw vegan diet.
3. Buy What’s on Special
Many stores–especially supermarkets and produce shops–regularly offer special discounts to attract customers.
In fact, some of these deals are so generous that the store might not even make a profit on them. The goal is to get you in the door, hoping you’ll buy other full-priced items–and most people do.
You can take advantage of these offers to significantly lower your food bills.
For example, it’s not uncommon for me to find pre-made fruit salads, peeled and ready to eat, at a discount in Tesco or other supermarkets around London, especially when I’m out and about in the West End. I do this all the time – it’s a quick, healthy, and affordable snack.
4. Buy What’s in Season
Seasonal produce is always more affordable and tastier than out-of-season imports.
By sticking to fruits and veggies that are in season where you live, you’ll enjoy better flavour and bigger savings.
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