advice to a student: help me eat raw on the cheap-cheap!

[Mandee]

Hello everyone! I’ve been trying for a minute to go
100% raw. I actually work at a wonderful natural foods co-op
located in Atlanta, which also means I am living on
the natural foods living wage [plus I’m a student]. What advice can you give
on eating raw with a budget of maybe $50 a week.
I already take advantage of my 20% discount and reduced organic
produce privilege. I’m also working on setting aside one or two days a week that are for dehydrating; prepping for meals.

I’m sure that everyone has questions on budgeting a raw diet, any leads are much appreciated!

-Mandee

[Mandee]

sorry the 1 was actually a typo. $50 a week, rather.

Danieal said:

I'm a student also and I'm fixing to start a post on my blog on how to be raw on $40.00 a week. At $150 I don't think your going to have a big problem. My big thing is I prep everything on one day a week and either freeze or put in containers already chopped in my fridge. It's like have a salad bar in their. Also looking at recipes and such when making out your shopping list so that you can use all your items in different recipes will help lower the cost. I also only buy nuts and seeds once a month and freeze them so they won't go bad (keeps moisture off them). Nuts won't actually freeze so you can take them out and use them straight from the freezer. Also theres a raw food book called alive in 5 and its recipes with 5 ingredients or less.

[Heather]

I'm also a student and have little money to spend on eating raw. Instead of going to a chain supermarket or farmers market (They can be expensive), try finding a produce store. I have one down the street from me and I can get maybe 20 grocery bags full of fruits and veggies for $20. It's so cheap and most of the produce is organic.

[Kelsey Soderblom]

Great question Mandee. I'm in the same boat. I'm a Vermont college student living on campus for the summer. I split my grocery budget between the local Farmer's market and the co-op downtown and normally stock-up on lots of veggies, inexpensive fruits, adn dried fruits, nuts, and seeds from the bulk-foods bins but it still adds up. Some weeks I also still end out turning to my school's cafe for a little extra support to get through. Sadly I'm working on a smaller budeget as well, $30-$40 a week ($40 being tops, and hopefully only done when I'm despearate and haven;t been shopping for AT LEAST 1 1/2, prefferable two. I'm trying to cut it back from the $30 but not too sure that's possible. Most of what I've found is if I buy a huge back of lettuce, some limes or lemons, and a couple other veggies it works fairly well but suggestions are more than welcome.

[Kelsey Soderblom]

Oh yeah, I've scanned Alive in 5 a few times. It is good but I didn't notice some of the ideas. Guess I'll have to take another trip to Border's :)

[Bunny Berry]

Try to find someone you know who is a member of SAM's or COSTCO. You can get big bags of greens, avocados, and more there for way cheaper than your normal grocery store. Also, buy now from farmer's markets and when produce is abundant and on sale. Freeze, dehydrate, or pickle for later.

Good luck. I know you can do it!

[Donna]

WHere in the world do you live?!?!?!

Heather said:

I'm also a student and have little money to spend on eating raw. Instead of going to a chain supermarket or farmers market (They can be expensive), try finding a produce store. I have one down the street from me and I can get maybe 20 grocery bags full of fruits and veggies for $20. It's so cheap and most of the produce is organic.

[mango]

first and for most me and my hubby go to the farmer maket and we spend about 40 dollars a week on food so that much better then the store price and u get to know your farmers

[rebeccaj]

i was at a David Wolfe seminar years ago, when this question came up, and his answer was very simple: GROW YOUR OWN FOOD. sprouts are easy, and container gardens are fun! there are also farm co-ops that will let you pick your own or will deliver a box that is usually more than you can eat in a week.

and the fun thing is that a lot of raw food is actually cheaper than cooked food. a bag of apples, a bag of oranges, a bunch of celery, a bunch of bananas, a few bunches of kale and a bag of sunflower seeds - it ain't exotic or sexy, perhaps, but that's enough food for a week, under $20. cabbage is RIDICULOUSLY cheap and lasts a long time and people have been surviving on cabbage for eons (learn to make your own kraut or kimchee and get the benefits of fermented food!). it doesn't have to be gourmet or expensive, as long as you're willing to make the changes.

[Mandee]

I actually already sprout like crazy and I work with a land trust in East Atlanta to get some of my produce also. What I have found costs me the most is nuts- I'm a nut fend. a lot of people have suggested cosco or sam's club but I refuse to give them my money. I've also found that the prices at the Dekalb Farmers Market aren't much better than my co-op.

I'm trying to stretch food out and make it last, not so much get my hands on it. I should have probably been more clean in my original post. However, thank you so much for the information you provided. It may help someone else! :D

rebeccaj said:

i was at a David Wolfe seminar years ago, when this question came up, and his answer was very simple: GROW YOUR OWN FOOD. sprouts are easy, and container gardens are fun! there are also farm co-ops that will let you pick your own or will deliver a box that is usually more than you can eat in a week.

and the fun thing is that a lot of raw food is actually cheaper than cooked food. a bag of apples, a bag of oranges, a bunch of celery, a bunch of bananas, a few bunches of kale and a bag of sunflower seeds - it ain't exotic or sexy, perhaps, but that's enough food for a week, under $20. cabbage is RIDICULOUSLY cheap and lasts a long time and people have been surviving on cabbage for eons (learn to make your own kraut or kimchee and get the benefits of fermented food!). it doesn't have to be gourmet or expensive, as long as you're willing to make the changes.

[Mandee]

I'll do it- thank you!


Karen said:

Have you seen Shawn-Thierry's blog.....Raw on the Cheap or Cheap on the Raw?

He is very good at sticking to a budget....ask him for tips~

[Mandee]

What I've actually found is that my local farmer's market is more expensive than my co-op. Not always but a good 80% of the time.

MELODIE said:

first and for most me and my hubby go to the farmer maket and we spend about 40 dollars a week on food so that much better then the store price and u get to know your farmers

[Mandee]

I've had no luck at the local produce stands. It's all been the same nasty waxy crud. Thank you much though :D

Donna said:

WHere in the world do you live?!?!?!

Heather said:

I'm also a student and have little money to spend on eating raw. Instead of going to a chain supermarket or farmers market (They can be expensive), try finding a produce store. I have one down the street from me and I can get maybe 20 grocery bags full of fruits and veggies for $20. It's so cheap and most of the produce is organic.