Isn't a vegan diet expensive?
LIFESTYLE
Short answer
No — a whole-food vegan diet built on rice, beans, lentils, oats, potatoes, seasonal produce and tofu is one of the cheapest ways to eat.
LIFESTYLE
The detail
The 2021 Oxford / LSE study (Lancet Planetary Health) found that in high-income countries, vegan diets cost on average 34% less than the current omnivore diet when built around whole foods.
Speciality items (mock meats, cashew cheese) are premium products by choice — they aren't necessary. Rice + lentils + vegetables + oil + spice is nutritionally complete and cheap in every region.
Prepare your meals around 'starches' like rice, potatoes, and pasta, which are among the most affordable and filling foods available globally. A 2021 study by Oxford University found that a whole-food vegan diet is the most cost-effective way to eat in developed nations, potentially saving you over $700 per year. Avoiding pre-packaged vegan snacks and instead making your own hummus or energy balls will keep your grocery bill remarkably low.
Source: Springmann M et al., Lancet Planet Health 2021
RELATED
More questions like this
- What do vegans actually eat?
Everything humans have eaten for millennia, minus animal products — grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, and plant-based versions of common dishes.
- Where do vegans get protein?
From legumes, tofu, tempeh, seitan, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Most vegans easily meet or exceed the daily requirement.
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