Looking for the best pantry staples for eating plant based on a budget this year? In this post I share my top picks for making cheap plant based meals in 2024. Keep reading to view my recommendations, recipes, and get links to learn more and purchase many of these groceries online.
What does eating plant based on a budget mean?
- Plant based diet is a diet which includes only or mostly foods made from plants, usually with a focus on eating mostly whole, unprocessed or minimally processed foods. This includes whole grains, legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables, herbs and spices.
- Eating on a budget is a term used to describe creating cheap meals using inexpensive ingredients.
- The goal with eating on a budget is to maximize nutrition while minimizing cost.
Why focus on eating on a budget?
There are many reasons to create budget meals, here’s five reasons this year people are choosing this:
- Inflation is making food more expensive
- People have less money to spend on food
- You’re feeding a lot of people and need to cut costs
- Simplify meals by sticking to a budget
- Budgeting meals helps you save for future purchases
Where to grocery shop for budget meal prep
I like to shop for these items at the following places online and in California:
- Amazon
- Trader Joe’s
- Grocery Outlet
- Smart n’ Final
Food storage
You’ll need pantry storage to make this the most economical. If you don’t have a lot of storage space, consider clearing out space or purchasing additional storage. Otherwise, purchase what you need and can store.
20 pantry staples for eating plant based on a budget
Here’s what I stock in my pantry to stick to a small food budget while enjoying healthy plant based meals. I’ve created this list with the idea of maximizing nutrition while being cost effective.
Whole Grains
- Organic Brown Rice
- Whole Wheat Pasta
- Organic Whole Wheat Flour
Recipes:
- 11 ways to make fried vegan rice
- Dump pasta bake recipes (no boil required!)
- Yeastless bread recipes + how to make homemade bread mix
Herbs & Spices
- Organic Bulk Dried Herbs & Spices
- Redmond’s Real Salt
- Organic Non-Fortified Nutritional Yeast
Recipes:
Nuts
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- Brazil Nuts
- Organic Lite Coconut Milk
Recipes:
- Cashew sour cream recipe
- Super easy vegan meatballs
- Brazil nut milk recipe
- Indian Potatoes and Peas with 6 green veggies
Fruits
- Dried Dates
- Dried Bananas
Recipes:
Seeds
- Ground Flaxseed
- Shelled Hemp Seeds
Recipes:
Legumes
- Organic Red Lentils
- Organic Canned Beans
- Organic Cacao Powder
- Organic Soy Beverage
Recipes:
- Coffee alternative recipe for Daniel Fast
- Refried beans from scratch
- 4 easy Trader Joe’s vegan breakfast ideas
Vegetables
- Organic Kale Powder
- Canned Tomatoes
Recipes:
Further reading:
- How to Daniel Fast on a budget in 2024
- Big list of free printable meal plans
- $29 Cheap easy vegan meal plan Trader Joes
- 15 cheap easy plant based meals for $25 from Trader Joe’s
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