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Eating plant-based can get expensive sometimes, especially since there are so many vegan convenience foods on the market that are delicious but often pricier than their non-vegan counterparts. If you don’t have the budget to afford all organic produce or pricey raw vegan snacks at the grocery store, you can still eat cruelty-free.

Though a trip to a health or organic food store can be a little pricey, it is possible to maintain a vegan diet on a budget. Foods like steel-cut oats, whole wheat flour, dry legumes, canned beans, peanuts, and corn kernels can be bought in bulk and stored for a while on the shelf. Here are 10 plant-based snacks that cost less than five dollars to make:


1. Moroccan Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas

This recipe can be a snack or a complement to a meal. If you already have the spices, buying a few sweet potatoes, a can of chickpeas, and a lemon is relatively cheap.

2. Vegan Goldfish Crackers

If you miss the taste of Goldfish crackers from your non-vegan days, there’s a delicious knock-off recipe. This is one much healthier than the factory food version.

3. Fruit slices with nut butter

A jar of nut butter can go a long way. Cut up some apple slices and eat with a tablespoon of nut butter for an inexpensive snack. Make your own nut butter to save even more money.

4. Popcorn

Instead of buying packaged popcorn and microwaving it, buy the kernels and airpop them yourself. You can make a huge amount of popcorn for $5. Sprinkle some nutritional yeast on top for a cheesy taste.


5. Toasted/roasted pumpkin seeds

Roasted seeds make for a delicious, healthy snack. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, toss the pumpkin seeds with olive oil and your desired seasoning. Spread the seeds on a baking sheet and transfer to oven. Cook until toasted, for about 10 – 15 minutes.

7. Fruit smoothie

Smoothies can be as basic as frozen fruit and nut milk. You can easily keep each smoothie below $5 a pop depending on the produce you buy.


8. Oatmeal

Oats are cheap to purchase and are a great food to buy in bulk and always have stocked in the pantry. There are so many possibilities for making oatmeal, and yours can be as simple or extravagant as you like.

9. Black bean and corn salsa

You can make a large bowl of the salsa for less than $5. Using dried black beans that you soak and cook yourself is the cheapest option, but you can buy cans of pre-cooked beans and corn relatively cheaply.


10. Steamed Edamame

Whether you buy fresh or frozen edamame, eating steamed soybeans is a great, inexpensive snack. Sprinkle them with some salt after steaming.

Hungry for more? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Snacks!

Image source: Vegan Goldfish Crackers