Today, I will attempt to debunk the myths concerning the costs of going vegan and the notion that eating Vegan is expensive. Many people believe that making the switch to an animal-loving, planet-saving, healthy diet will cost them their life savings (plus retirement).

This simply is not true. Not only will the healthy diet lower your medical bills, save you money from prescription costs, preserve the planet, and save the lives of countless animals, but the actual meals you will prepare will be cheaper too!

Let me give you some examples of a few of my favorite vegan meals and you can tell me if it seems expensive. This is a typical day for me:

Breakfast

Kale Smoothie

1 Banana $0.15

1 Cup Kale $0.20

2 Dates $0.60

½ Granny Smith Apple $0.50

½ Bosc Pear $0.35

1 Carrot $0.15

½ Cup Broccoli $0.352

Tsp flax seed $0.05

1 Cup Water $0.02

On the Side

2 Slices of Ezekiel’s Cinnamon Raison Bread $0.43

Total: $2.80

Lunch

Veggie Burritos

Cup of Cauliflower $0.75

¼ Onion $0.20

Clove of Garlic $0.05

½ Cup Black Beans $0.50

1 Tomato $0.75

Spices $0.15

½ Cup Couscous $0.50

2 Whole Wheat Handmade Tortillas $0.60

Total: $3.50

Dinner

Fresh Pasta

Added Green Pepper

¼ Lb. Whole Wheat Pasta $0.57

2 Tomatoes $1.50

¼ Onion $0.20

2 Cloves Garlic $0.10

½ Cup Mushrooms $1.15

Fresh Basil (grown myself) $0.05

Fresh Oregano (grown myself) $0.05

2 Slices of Trader Joes Whole Wheat Bread $0.36

Total: $3.98

Grand Total For Today: $10.28

Who could possibly argue that this diet is expensive? I will admit that organic fruits and veggies are more expensive per pound, and were not figured in for this scenario, but being vegan doesn’t necessarily mean buying organic (although I highly recommend it). When you get into the organics, soy (and almond) milks, specialty superfoods, and mock meats like Gardein, things get a bit pricier.

But, if I were on a meat-based diet and eating filet, caviar, lobster, and lamb, I would be spending much more than any herbivore. The bottom line is that either diet can be expensive if you, a.) Eat out a lot, b.) Buy the specialty items, and c.) Buy organic and/or grass-fed.

However, a plant-based (vegan) diet in general is typically cheaper overall due to the decrease in medical expenses. I haven’t had to see my doctor or buy cold medicine in I don’t know how long.I hope that this cleared up any misconceptions concerning the costs of being on a plant-based diet. For a list of vegan diet foods click here.

Do you now think you can afford to go vegan? Please, let me know below! If you have any questions, feel free to ask under the “Contact” tab up top. I will use these questions to create new articles that answer them 🙂