Think you can't afford a vegetarian diet?

Think again!
Contrary to popular belief, living without meat and/or animal products is actually very affordable. 
The secret to living vegetarian without breaking your bank is simple: know how to grocery shop.
Once you've got that down, you'll be cooking delicious, nutritious, conscious meals and snacks whenever you want.
Here's some tips from my own experience and Livestrong (the Lance Armstrong Foundation) for saving mullah and your veggie diet at the same time:

• Make a grocery list before you head out the door. This will keep you on track, and give you an idea of what you'll be spending

• Try using vegetables that are in season, they are often on sale

• Pick out frozen vegetables for things like homemade soups and stews, these are usually less expensive

• Frozen fruits are always great too, and you can buy large bags and they last forever. Frozen berries are great in smoothies, and eliminate the need for ice

• Plan meals with balanced nutrition in mind: proteins, complex carbs, calories, nutrients. The Mayo Clinic has an informative page on how to get the best nutrition as a vegetarian. 

• Look for protein in sources like tofu, legumes, nuts, and some grains (quinoa is amazing)

• Scope out farmers markets for produce (the USDA offers a search for markets in your area)

• And look to the bulk section for things like pastas, grains, cereal and nuts. 

• Avoid pre-made frozen meals. They are expensive, and generally less healthful than home cooking

• Canned soups however, are great for college students/busy people on the go. There are some very healthy options out there from Amy's, Progresso, and Nile Spice. Just look out for too much sodium sneaking in there.  

Those are just a few words of advice from a long-time vegetarian. 


And for those of you out there who aren't exactly ready to put the chef hat on, vegetarian restaurant options are becoming more popular than ever. The Vegetarian Resource Group provides an extensive list of restaurants across the U.S. that are great for vegetarians. 


But if you're ready to get cookin' in the kitchen, tasty vegetarian recipes can be found all over the place. Here are some resources I like to use on the web for yummy, healthy ideas:

• The Vegetarian Resource Group (click on "cooking & recipes")
• AllRecipes.com
• Vegetarian Times
• VegWeb.com
• Veg Kitchen
• Food Network

So there are you have it, and that's just a few options that are out there. 

Once you know what to look for, being a veggie is as easy as shop-cook-enjoy. 

ABC's Good Morning America also had an interesting segment on vegetarian cooking.