Welcome to Plant-Based on a Budget
We’re proving that plant-based eating can be delicious, cheap, and accessible to all. If you’re looking to add more plant-based meals to your diet without breaking the budget, then you’re in the right place!
You don’t have to buy fancy alternative products or shop at specialty grocery stores to eat vegan. Our plant-based recipes use simple, whole-food ingredients you can find at a low price, wherever you shop.
Our plant-based recipes are cost-effective, familiar, and flavorful, easing the transition for anyone learning how to eat vegan on a budget. Whether you’re a lifelong vegan or curious about a plant-based diet for beginners, we’re SO glad you’re here!
Hi, I’m Toni!
I began this plant-based blog back in 2016 as a collection of budget-friendly vegan recipes everyone can enjoy. This is the kind of resource I wish I had when I began eating plant-based as a young adult. It means a lot to share it with you today!
How my plant-based journey began…
In high school, fast food lunches and lots of red meat left me feeling sick to my stomach after track practice. Slowly removing meat from my diet made me feel so much better.
It wasn’t entirely a smooth transition, though.
At first, my family couldn’t understand why I was turning down the staples of my Mexican and Japanese heritage which I had always loved. In these cultures, food is an expression of affection, and denying an offering can be disrespectful, so it was a delicate dance.
At the same time, I began watching members of my family suffer from diabetes and heart disease. When I suggested a healthier diet, everyone shrugged me off, assuming the approach was expensive and out of reach.
I lived under the poverty line most of my adult life and related to the financial limitations of my loved ones. Still, I hated that answer! To me, my community is priceless.
I wanted my loved ones to have access to the budget-friendly vegan meals I made for myself – so I started Plant-Based on a Budget. What began as a collection of plant-based recipes for my family is now a comprehensive resource for thousands of readers.
My shift to a vegan diet was for health reasons, but there are many motivations for eating plant-based. We’re not here to push an agenda or make a list of all the things you can’t eat. Plant-Based On a Budget is all about a love of cooking and welcoming people into the experience, no matter what your background is.
Since then, it’s been all about budget-friendly vegan recipes!
Today, Plant-Based on a Budget is loaded with 800+ easy budget-friendly vegan meals tested & loved by thousands of readers. I’ve even converted many of my family members into plant-based cooks!
Our blog focuses on plant-based recipes that are…
- Easy to make (an average 30 mins or less!)
- Free from meat, dairy, and eggs
- Made with easily accessible, low-cost, whole-food ingredients
- Versatile and built for any time of the day (including drinks, breakfast, and desserts!)
- So delicious that everyone will enjoy them
Alongside popular recipes like our Vegan Lasagna, Chickpea Tuna Salad, Avocado Pesto Pasta & Coconut Curry, you’ll also find recipe collections like vegan soups & FREE budget-friendly vegan meal plans.
I’ve also published three vegan cookbooks – Plant-Based on a Budget, The Friendly Vegan Cookbook, and Plant-Based on a Budget Quick & Easy – the latest of which was a Publisher Weekly Bestseller. You can also find me on the Plant-Powered People podcast or morning television shows across the country.
Plant-Based Diets for Beginners
If you’re learning how to eat vegan food on a budget, WELCOME! We’re so glad to have you here. Let’s clear up a few FAQs before you get cooking…
What is plant-based? Here at Plant-Based on a Budget, our “plant-based recipes” revolve around vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fruits, without the use of meat, dairy, or eggs.
What if I can’t eat plant-based all the time? No worries! It’s not all or nothing. Even a few plant-based dinners a week can have a big impact on your health and the health of our planet. Take it one meal at a time.
Do I need to start shopping at new grocery stores? Nope! Budget-friendly vegan meals are easy to make with pantry staples like canned beans, frozen produce, dried grains, rice and pasta, nut butter, oatmeal, and so much more. Sticking to simple, whole-food ingredients is our trick for cooking delicious vegan food on a budget.
What about vegan meats, cheese, and eggs? If you’re trying to save money then we say skip ‘em! These alternatives can be expensive and aren’t always necessary. If you have wiggle room in your budget, feel free to shop and find vegan brands you like. There are tons more options than when I first started cooking plant-based recipes!
If you’re new here, we also recommend that you…
- Start with some of our favorite simple recipes like Lentil Tacos, Creamy Tomato Soup, Cold Sesame Noodles, or Black Bean Meatballs. We also love all these morning smoothie recipes!
- Use our free meal plans to help build your vegan meal prep & shopping routine.
- Check out our Plant-Based on a Budget cookbook, especially if you prefer printed recipes in the kitchen.
- Sign up for our newsletter to get meal ideas every week.
If You’re a Plant-Based Recipe Pro…
There’s tons of info for you here too! We recommend that you…
- Try some of our more advanced recipes like BBQ Smoked Seitan, Vegan Pupusas, Broccoli & Onion Pakora, or our collection of vegan desserts.
- Listen to the Plant-Powered People Podcast, where we share the stories of folks like you who’ve embraced plant-based living
- Visit my other blog, Food Sharing Vegan, for even more delicious, share-worthy plant-based recipes.
