The One-Liner:
Think plant-based eating is too expensive? I’m shutting that myth down with real strategies from my own life; from my days as a single mom to navigating inflation today.

What I’m Covering Today:

My Story: Two very different seasons of budget-conscious eating (single mom years vs. today’s economy) and what they taught me about real, nourishing food.

The Myth: You don’t need expensive specialty products. Plant-based eating is about whole foods, which are historically the cheapest items in the store.

The Four Pillars of Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Eating:

Pillar 1: The Affordable Pantry

• Stock up on beans, lentils, rice, and oats (pennies per serving).
• Buy spices from bulk bins.
• A little nutritional yeast goes a long way.

Pillar 2: Make Friends with Frozen

• Frozen fruits and veggies are often more nutritious than fresh (flash-frozen at peak ripeness).
• They’re cheaper and eliminate waste.

Pillar 3: Shop Farmers Markets Strategically

• Go at the end of the day for discounts.
• Ask for "seconds" (cosmetically imperfect produce sold at a steep discount).
• Buy what’s in season.

Pillar 4: Meal Prep to Prevent Waste

• Cook once, eat thrice (batch cook beans, rice, and roasted veggies).
• Use the "three ways method" with one ingredient (e.g., sweet potatoes).
• Save vegetable scraps to make free stock.

The Game Changer: The Kitchen Audit

• What it is: Taking inventory of everything in your pantry, fridge, and freezer before you shop.
• Why it works: The biggest budget killer is wasted food. This helps you use what you have first.
• Your Challenge This Week: Do a kitchen audit. Shop your own kitchen before you hit the store.

Resources & Next Steps:

• Share your Kitchen Audit results: Plant-BasedCurious.com
• Next Episode: Living Plant-Based Without Perfection (with Molly Patrick): A follow-up conversation about her plant-based lifestyle, meal plans, recipes and more.
• Rate & Review: If this episode helped you, please rate and review the show. It helps other curious folks find us.

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"Thanks for listening to The Plant-Based Curious Podcast. If this episode helped you, please share it with one friend who might need it. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a step on your journey. For questions or to connect, visit me at plant-basedcurious.com."