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

[jane.lovetoall]

You can get this ebook that is geared to eating raw Frugally. http://frugalrawnews.blogspot.com/

[Mandee]

I totally cannot give Sam's or Costco my money. I only shop at farmer's markets & co-ops; I'm so that person. I also live in a tiny apartment with an old school freezer the size of two shoe boxes so space is also an issue. However I can dehydrate allllllll day long and store that stuff everywhere. Pickling has been a recent adventure though, I'll let you know how that goes! :D

Bunny Berry said:

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!

[GreenDiva]

Check out this blog:

http://discoverraw.typepad.com/discoverraw/

Jo did a "Raw On A Shoestring Challenge". Go to the June archives. She is also a raw food coach and she is GREAT!!

[Mandee]

awesome, thank you

GreenDiva said:

Check out this blog:

http://discoverraw.typepad.com/discoverraw/

Jo did a "Raw On A Shoestring Challenge". Go to the June archives. She is also a raw food coach and she is GREAT!!

[Mandee]

thanks!

Danieal said:

Ok I knew I saw a blog about Raw on A Shoestring here it is

http://discoverraw.typepad.com/discoverraw/page/2/

[M-C]

Hello!

My advice for nuts:

I buy mine at a local lebanese market. They have a huge turnover on nuts in middle-easterns shops, because they sell so much! So that way, you're sure you always get fresh nuts. Also, most of them are raw. I especially love the raw pistachios!!

At the lebanese store near me, they have them either bulk or packaged. I can usually get 2 lbs for 10$. The olives there are also amazing!

Good luck

[Mandee]

great tip! i will have to check around in the area for a lebanese market- i'm sure theres one near. thank you ! :D

M-C said:

Hello!

My advice for nuts:

I buy mine at a local lebanese market. They have a huge turnover on nuts in middle-easterns shops, because they sell so much! So that way, you're sure you always get fresh nuts. Also, most of them are raw. I especially love the raw pistachios!!

At the lebanese store near me, they have them either bulk or packaged. I can usually get 2 lbs for 10$. The olives there are also amazing!

Good luck

[Kristi]

I went to the co-op by my house and they have everything there, but the prices seemed kind of high on some things.. like almonds. I wanted to try them even tho I hate nuts but it was 9.99$ a pound out of one of the scoop bins... is that high priced or am I just cheap? haha

I wont use them in salads and things, maybe just desserts and the almond milk sounds good because I love soy milk .. speaking of soy milk is that ok on the raw challenge if your trying for like 96% raw? ( that 4% is for when I need a jolly rancher or someones life may be cut sort lol)

[Annrocks]

I am glad you are against giving sams and costco money. I completely understand. Thank you for starting this discussion because it is something that I need to know also.
Ann

[Banana_Anna]

I'm going back to school and have been thinking about what I will do about this! I definitely think I will be reading your blog about this. And that is what I do now at home: make a bunch of stuff in advance and just eat it throughout the week or put it in the freezer.

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.

[Jessica]

anyone else have more tips?

[Kim]

I've done some work-trade with organic farmers at the farmer's market.

Last year I was with a RAD organic farm who was at 2 markets in my city per week. I'd help out packing up the truck for about an hour at the end of the market and in return get a ton of veggies. At times there was stuff they'd not be able to sell again the next day. Those days I got probably on the upwards of $80 of produce! I'd say on average though I was getting $25-30 worth or produce per time (at 2 markets per week I was set).

All you have to do is approach farmers at the market and ask if they need help at the end and if they'd be willing to do work trade.