Post by AnimalAvenger on May 25, 2009 21:44:30 GMT -5
This is from an e-mail newsletter I subscribed to.
www.veggie123.com/
www.veggie123.com/
Hiya 
,
I saw a recent report by MSN found that a vegetarian diet is more
frugal than one that includes meat. There are a lot of reasons
for that, starting with the fact that you'll live a longer,
healthier life – doctors' bills can take a big chink out of
your wallet!
But the real savings are on the day-to-day basis. Beans, rice
and corn, the staples of a vegetarian diet are inexpensive. Once
you drop the meat off your grocery list, you'll find that
plant foods are a lot cheaper than even the lowest-priced hamburger.
Even canned tuna costs about $2 per pound – compare that to a
bag of dry beans or a package of tofu, and the difference over
the course of even just a few months can be profound.
Naturally, the price of fruits and vegetables vary greatly
depending on what you buy. Locally grown produce changes
depending on the season, and when you start buying organic, the
prices go up. But most people find that it's worth spending a
little more for organics because they offer more nutritional
punch and less chemical additives.
And that better nutritional bargain will lead to better health,
which will be less expensive for you in the long run. Years of
poor nutrition can lead to a variety of health ailments and
chronic diseases, so eating well now will save you a lot of
money when you're older – compare the price of open-heart
surgery to a bag of carrots, and the savings are clear!
Even health insurance companies are looking fondly on vegetarian
diets, for the same reasons – it costs them less money when
people stay healthy.
The costs of health care are increasing about 6 percent each
year, so insurers are urging their clients
to make healthy lifestyle choices. One of the biggest pushes is
to reduce the amount of patients diagnosed with heart disease,
and research has proven that a plant-based diet improves all of
things that lead to heart problems, like blood pressure,
cholesterol and weight. According to a spokesman for Blue Cross,
"The connection between a vegetarian diet and reducing the
costs of these high-impact health conditions is clear as a
bell."
The savings are mush more immediate, as well, and that's what
most people are concerned about. If you've been a vegetarian
for some time, you may not even bother to look at the price of
beef or chicken these days. Well, all animal products have
become extremely expensive. This is a great time to be a
vegetarian – frankly, I don't see how meat-eater afford to
buy groceries!
Here are a few money-saving tips to help you stretch your
vegetarian dollars even further:
Buy in bulk! Dried beans, rice, and whole grains store almost
indefinitely in a cool, dry place, and they cost a lot less if
you buy larger amounts.
Explore new cuisines. Some of the poorest countries in the world
have rich vegetarian diets – get a few cookbooks, buy some
new spices and learn to cook South American, Indian, African or
Asian dishes.
If you do eat a piece of chicken or fish now and then, limit
your portion size to about four ounces – a piece the size of a
deck of cards. Put the rest in the freezer for another meal, or
for when you have non-vegetarians over for dinner
Don't be discouraged by the cost of organic produce. If it's
too expensive, don't buy it – better to eat commercially
grown vegetables than to go back to a non-vegetarian diet. Just
make sure you wash everything well before you eat it!
, I saw a recent report by MSN found that a vegetarian diet is more
frugal than one that includes meat. There are a lot of reasons
for that, starting with the fact that you'll live a longer,
healthier life – doctors' bills can take a big chink out of
your wallet!
But the real savings are on the day-to-day basis. Beans, rice
and corn, the staples of a vegetarian diet are inexpensive. Once
you drop the meat off your grocery list, you'll find that
plant foods are a lot cheaper than even the lowest-priced hamburger.
Even canned tuna costs about $2 per pound – compare that to a
bag of dry beans or a package of tofu, and the difference over
the course of even just a few months can be profound.
Naturally, the price of fruits and vegetables vary greatly
depending on what you buy. Locally grown produce changes
depending on the season, and when you start buying organic, the
prices go up. But most people find that it's worth spending a
little more for organics because they offer more nutritional
punch and less chemical additives.
And that better nutritional bargain will lead to better health,
which will be less expensive for you in the long run. Years of
poor nutrition can lead to a variety of health ailments and
chronic diseases, so eating well now will save you a lot of
money when you're older – compare the price of open-heart
surgery to a bag of carrots, and the savings are clear!
Even health insurance companies are looking fondly on vegetarian
diets, for the same reasons – it costs them less money when
people stay healthy.
The costs of health care are increasing about 6 percent each
year, so insurers are urging their clients
to make healthy lifestyle choices. One of the biggest pushes is
to reduce the amount of patients diagnosed with heart disease,
and research has proven that a plant-based diet improves all of
things that lead to heart problems, like blood pressure,
cholesterol and weight. According to a spokesman for Blue Cross,
"The connection between a vegetarian diet and reducing the
costs of these high-impact health conditions is clear as a
bell."
The savings are mush more immediate, as well, and that's what
most people are concerned about. If you've been a vegetarian
for some time, you may not even bother to look at the price of
beef or chicken these days. Well, all animal products have
become extremely expensive. This is a great time to be a
vegetarian – frankly, I don't see how meat-eater afford to
buy groceries!
Here are a few money-saving tips to help you stretch your
vegetarian dollars even further:
Buy in bulk! Dried beans, rice, and whole grains store almost
indefinitely in a cool, dry place, and they cost a lot less if
you buy larger amounts.
Explore new cuisines. Some of the poorest countries in the world
have rich vegetarian diets – get a few cookbooks, buy some
new spices and learn to cook South American, Indian, African or
Asian dishes.
If you do eat a piece of chicken or fish now and then, limit
your portion size to about four ounces – a piece the size of a
deck of cards. Put the rest in the freezer for another meal, or
for when you have non-vegetarians over for dinner
Don't be discouraged by the cost of organic produce. If it's
too expensive, don't buy it – better to eat commercially
grown vegetables than to go back to a non-vegetarian diet. Just
make sure you wash everything well before you eat it!
