Any Vegans/Veggies on here?

As the title says...and if so what do you eat and so to keep it cheap?

I find it alot more expensive and time consuming to do green days (which is good for veggies/vegans)

Any tips?

I'm a veggie. For lunches at work i tend to have pasta n sauce, low fat supernoodles, cous cous or cottage cheese and ryvitas. I find all of them really filling and you can always pad them out with veg or salads. I tend to buy them when they are on offer though lol cus i'm a cheapskate! x

Are you saying green days are more expensive?! Surely not??

I'm not veggie but do have green days for a few reasons, to fill me up more, to keep cost down and to make sure I have a varied diet.

I eat bean chillis, roasted veg bakes, pasta, risotto with cougettes and peas, all sorts really! I'm having broccoli macaroni cheese later this week, super cheap, quick and really really filling!!

jaylou said:

Are you saying green days are more expensive?! Surely not??

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I do yeah! By the time you have got all the ingredients for chillis, bolognaise etc its dearer than buying some meat and veg....i just dont like meat but its cheaper and easier!

jessabelle said:

pasta n sauce, low fat supernoodles, cous cous or cottage cheese and ryvitas.

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Pasta n sauce - you buy these? you dotn make them yourself - it would be so bad if you could eat processed foods on green days but it seems everything has to be freshly made = expensive - i suppose its getting me down about this plan....Seemed alot cheaper when i did Weight Watchers due to the fact i didnt have to buy fresh all the time - wouldnt u agree? x

OMG - no way are green days more expensive than red! You say that by the time you buy all the ingredients (what are you buying?) it costs about the same as meat. But if you're clever, the ingredients can probably give you enough food for 4-6 meals and don't forget that you'd need to buy other things to cook or accompany the meat.

If you really want to eat processed foods then are are green options but personally I prefer make things from scratch (which is cheaper than buying pre-prepared).

You can buy huge bags of pasta, rice and cous cous very reasonably and batch cook if you're not keen on cooking. Do a search on this forum if you need ideas. And planning your weekly menu definitely helps if you're watching the pennies! Pulses are dead cheap, particularly if you buy them dried, are a great source of protein and good for bulking out foods to make them go further. Try meat substitutes such as quorn or tofu, and buy veggies that are on offer if cost is an issue. And while there may be an initial outlay for things like herbs, spices, and what not, these storecupboards ingredients will last ages and can be used in loads of different dishes.

I'm vegetarian and have so many different dishes:

• vegetable, bean and lentil curries, lasagnes
• chillis
• soups
• a multitude of different pasta and sauce variations
• risotto
• pasta/rice/cous cous salads
• chinese/thai vegetarian dishes
• quorn variations of cottage pie, spag bol, chilli, lasagne
• meatfree meatballs
• pasta bakes
• moussaka
• frittata ...

A pack of lentils costs 88p in Morrisons! I can get 3 meals for 2 out of it ! Tell me how you could do that with meat? You just need to be creative.

have you tried the green cook book lots of yummy veg recipes

skinnyminnycow said:

Pasta n sauce - you buy these? you dotn make them yourself - it would be so bad if you could eat processed foods on green days but it seems everything has to be freshly made = expensive - i suppose its getting me down about this plan....Seemed alot cheaper when i did Weight Watchers due to the fact i didnt have to buy fresh all the time - wouldnt u agree? x

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I dont just eat the processed stuff. i just find for lunch at work sometimes it easier to take a packet of something. One of my favourite meals is penne pasta with lots of lovely roasted veg. Its cheap and healthy and very yummy. I also love polenta with veg and its only 58p a pack. It doesn't have to be expensive x

judimac said:

You just need to be creative.

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I think this is a major issue too! I dont have time or creativity. I work 60 hours a week its very hard to get tiem in for cooking.

Thanks for your suggestions guys. I will try my best!

I do mixed bean chilli - one tin of mixed beans is 45p, one tin of toms is 35p, one tin of other beans (any) is 35p. A chilli, onion, garlic and carrot is probably about 50p (max).
Open tins, chuck in pan. 30 mins. done!!
4 portions for less than 2 quid!!!

Another one of my faves - carrot, pepper, onion, chilli, tinned toms simmered down to make a spicy pasta sauce. Stir through cooked pasta.
Less than a pound for 2 meals!