The current Covid-19 pandemic has caused a number of challenges to the way we all live our lives. Evidence suggests that over 70% of the UK public are now worried about the cost of food and for the first time in a generation, we are experiencing shortages of many food items along with bare supermarket shelves.
Before the crisis hit the UK, January was another record-breaking year for veganism, with Veganuary reporting more than 400,000 people taking part. This means that there will be a lot of new vegans who may be struggling more than most in this difficult climate. One of the core aims of The Vegan Society is to provide support for vegans, which is why we have launched the Live Vegan for Less campaign, to show how vegan living doesn’t need to break the bank.
Many people still see cost as a barrier to veganism, with there being a common misconception that vegan food is always more expensive than non-vegan food. Whilst some of the latest plant-based alternatives to meat and cheese are exciting, they can also add up. However, we know that this doesn’t have to be the case. We aim to show a more cost-effective way of preparing nutritious vegan meals to show that vegan living can be affordable for all.
We have conducted our own cost comparison research to highlight how it can be cheaper to maintain healthy eating guidelines by consuming plant-based proteins over animal proteins. Beans and lentils can cost as little as 9p per portion! We recommend buying pulses in bulk where possible – dried beans and lentils are often cheaper, but just as easy to cook and come with a long shelf life, minimising food waste.
We are also providing practical advice to help people get through this time, compiling a range of tips (many from our dedicated supporters!) and affordable recipes to help you cook on a budget, without compromising on flavour or comfort.
We’ll be hosting weekly ‘cook-alongs’ on our Instagram page, providing you with inspiration for tasty meals on a budget – and a great opportunity to pose questions to an experienced vegan chef! Be sure to keep an eye on our weekly schedule to find out what we’re cooking.
If you have your own budgeting advice on living vegan for less, why not get involved and send them in to campaigns[at]vegansociety[dot]com – we’ll be updating our tips page to feature the best ones!
We hope that you are all staying safe and well during this difficult time.
The views expressed by our bloggers are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.
