lunar-glides asked: I'm also a college student on a tight budget ($25/week). I'm a vegan, mostly raw, and am cooking for myself 99.9% of the time, as I live in an apartment near campus. I was wondering how plausible my budget is if I'm planning on buying a lot of fresh produce at farmer's markets and the occasion staple-restock at the grocery store. Any suggestions for getting the most out of my dollars? Thanks!

How To Eat Produce on a Budget

Hey There!

Thanks for writing in! It’s definitely possible to eat fresh produce on a budget in some areas. If you have a lot of farmers markets around you, your chances are higher. 

1. Discounts on Ripe Food. A lot of produce stands have a discount table. (Article Here) Usually you can get everything you need for a raw vegan meal here. If you want to add grains, simply buy a bulk size bag of rice or pasta.

2. Mexican Grocery Stores. Mexican grocery stores often have produce for really good prices as well. I frequently went to a nearby Mexican grocery store when I was in college in Chicago.

3. Aldi. If there is an Aldi near you, these grocery stores are also good for cheap food. The brands are weird but it’s basically the same thing.

4. Frozen vegetables are a great option if you don’t have a very good farmers market near you.  You can get giant bags of assorted veggies at BJs or Costco. (See Article Here) 

5. Cooking dry beans is also a great way to make your money go farther. You get more food for your money and you can create interesting flavors during the cooking process. (Here are a few tips from my first experiment with home made beans)

Finally, since you’re still in school, go to university events with free food at them. A lot of clubs give away free food to get people to come. Check out these events if your budget is particularly low that week. Events thrown by the school are especially good because usually they have more high quality choices. 

Good Luck! Hope this Helps.