The Husband claims that we cannot afford my vegan diet, that food is too expensive & it would be cheaper to eat at Taco Bell. I disagree. I think that Taco Bell costs more in the long run, in terms of diet and health.
It can be expensive to be vegan, unless you eat peanut butter and jelly or spaghetti every night. I like to cook, and I can have big ambitions for meals, which can translate into money spent, especially when the pantry is not well stocked. I, however, am a firm believer in farmer's markets, where you get fresh local and mostly organic produce at far less than the cost of a major grocery chain. Alachua County is full of farmer's markets. In the Gainesville area, there is a farmer's market every day except Sunday. To me, farmer's markets help make my vegan diet feasible, even on a budget. Granted, I have spent $55 on food at the grocery in the last two days- but I have made two days worth of meals, and still have items left over to use. The Husband does not look at it as food, because hummus and pita chips, paninis with avocados, tomato and pesto, and Cuban Black Bean Soup don't seem like real food. Not when your diet consists of fast food or frozen meals. The Husband is an excellent cook, and I know that vegan cooking will bring out his creative side. I just have to make it seem cost efficient.
My favorite meal for today was the panini I made for lunch- fresh bakery bread with olive oil brushed over it, with pesto, avocado, tomato and lettuce, toasted on the flattop grill and served with cherries. Absolute heaven. The flavors were incredible. It was a quick fix, too, ready in under 15 minutes.
Dinner was Cuban Black Bean Soup, which was fun to make, with bananas and red peppers in the mix, and coconut milk for an extra punch of spectacular. The Husband would not eat it, settling for a hot pocket. I did not let this hurt my feelings, as The Kid seemed to enjoy the soup very much.
Now I sit on our newly acquired couch, my belly full- hummus and blue corn chips were a bonus snack today- yet I do not feel guilty over any food choices I made today. Every meal was healthy and humane. I feel good.
Tomorrow holds infinite promise for the amazing...
I don't know how it is down south, but around here joining a food co-op is usually a great way to get super cheap fresh, usually locally-grown food. The one that is being built near me will let you exchange a couple hours of work a week for a share in the store, which gets you discounts on purchases. I found this link in your area, which maybe you already knew about?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.citizensco-op.com/
As for the Husband, if I can put mine on a 30-day vegan diet, yours can certainly survive. The secret to getting mine onboard was guacamole. It's an adequate cheese substitute on a boca burger and adds a bit of extra creaminess to tofu tacos.
- Your sister-in-law