I am constantly receiving mail from my readers with worry about the cost of a Raw Food Diet. I find it really sad when people say….. “Oh I would love to Eat Raw but I just can’t afford to”.

So This Raw On A Budget Report Is For You!

It is not necessary to spend the earth, and it can be less costly than a ‘conventional diet’, for the sake of your health please do experiment with Raw Food!

Eating Raw can be anywhere between super-cheap or super-expensive, it is a fun challenge to try to stay somewhere in the middle and If you are struggling than I am here to help you.

The cost simply depends on what kinds of foods you are buying, where you are buying them from of course the quality and quantity. The most expensive foods are typically the tropical fruits and out of season fruits, which I consider a luxury. A true healthy Raw Food Diet should consist of locally grown seasonal produce, and there are ways to keep the cost down.

 

You really can eat Raw on a Budget -

If you want to improve your health and the way you look rapidly, then you owe it to yourself to experiment with Raw

Then we have the specialty ingredients from the USA, super- food ingredients and the like. They are all wonderful and health enhancing but not essential to a healthy Raw Food Diet.

Organic is best and if it is possible this is where your focus should be, the best is grow yourself! Ok maybe not possible, so what next-

There is bound to be allotment keepers somewhere near you, if you don’t know any, make some enquiries, a lot of their produce goes to waste, contact them and ask if you can buy at reduced cost? The guy will most likely be more than happy to sell cheap to you rather than throw it all away!

Choose farm shops rather than supermarkets – you can buy fresh produce that is twice as nutritious and half the price from local farm growers – and it’s usually not dipped in chemicals like commercial produce. Perfect for your Raw Diet.

Next the local markets, this I love and find it fun to browse the markets. It is energising just to see the array of beautiful colours, bright fresh and healthy. Hang around until the market is near closing time and you will find they almost want to give it to you for nothing – they do not want to load up and take it back again!

Tip!
I actually end up with way too much, I just want say 3-4 bananas, I would rather buy again in a few days so that they are fresh, but at the end of market day they charge pennies for the ones I want and throw in a ton more! Same with all my greens, so the answer to that is share! I give produce to my friends and they return the favour later in the week!

If you have friends interested in Raw Food or just improving their diet, why not have meetings together, share your knowledge and make a plan, perhaps you could all shop with these ideas in mind and share, you may find yourself trying ingredients that you perhaps wouldn’t normally! Or if you prefer to choose for yourself you could still go to the market together. Raw community!

Pooling resources with others is an excellent way to save time and money. Here is where you could try those extra special super foods or exotic extras, share the cost with a friend!
You can bulk buy from wholesalers do some research to find the best wholesaler in your area, pool together and also take it in turns to do the shopping or ordering.

One of the best things you can do for your health is to get sprouting add your sprouts to salads soups and smoothies and you will be packed with goodness! Again you can have all the fancy equipment but it is not necessary. Raw Sprouted beans, seeds and grains also supply some of the most live and potent nutrients you will ever find, and for next to nothing when you know how. Look for my future post on successful sprouting.

Once you’ve got into the swing of things you will find how easy and non expensive it can be.

Dehydrate any of your fresh foods which are past their best, but still edible. You can dehydrate them in a number of ways (slices, chips, marinated then dehydrated) and use them later. Raw Food Snacks!
Post coming up…

Freeze bananas that are getting soft, take the skin off and put in the freezer – you’ll have the basic ingredient for a great Raw ice-cream or add to smoothies! Do the same with other fresh fruit perfect for ice cream, sorbet’s or again your Raw juices and smoothies!

You will soon be throwing your money saving ideas for Raw at me, I can’t wait to hear them!

Enjoy the Raw Food On A Budget shopping challenge, make it fun for the sake of your health!

Be Healthy – Be Your Best

Cher.