Outline:Notes on the assertion that being vegan is too expensive

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• Context
  • Some have claimed that going vegan is expensive and, for some, unaffordable.
  • The implication is that eating a vegan diet is a luxury that only the affluent can afford.
  • This belief is often defended by pointing out that:
    • Some fruits and some vegetables are costly.
      • However, no one denies that we need fruits and vegetables.
    • Gourmet vegan restaurant items are expensive.
      • However, no one expects gourmet restaurant items to be cheap.
• Vegan diets are usually less expensive.
  • If you continue eating the same amount of fruit and greens but replace your meat with staples such as potatoes, beans, rice, oats, and corn, then it's hard to see how you would spend more.
  • Mayo Clinic considers lower costs to be one of the benefits of meatless meals. In stating that meatless meals are budget friendly and can be used to save money, they add that some plant-based proteins "tend to be less expensive and offer more health benefits than meat."
  • Registered dietitian Ginny Messina confirms, "replacing the meat, dairy, and eggs in diets with lower cost foods like grains, beans and tofu isn’t just frugal, it’s much more healthful."
  • A study published in the Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition concludes that even an economic version of a government-recommended meal plan costs $745 more per year than a plant-based meal plan and provides "fewer servings of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains."
  • Extra
    • The purported Voucher Codes Pro study, which claims that a vegan diet costs more, is a fabrication.
      • Several media outlets reported that vegans spend over £2,000 more annually on food, based on a study claimed to be made by UK-based Voucher Codes Pro. There is no evidence that such a study exists.
• Many common foods cost the same because they are already vegan:
  • Everything in the produce department.
  • All bulk items except jerky.
  • Most cereals.
  • Most bread products.
  • All grains and beans.
  • Most canned and frozen fruits and vegetables.
  • Most condiments, such as mustard, ketchup, pickles, relish, and sauces.
  • Most beverages.
  • Virtually all spices.
• Vegan specialty foods are optional.
  • Some vegan items, such as burger patties and mayonnaise, are no more expensive.
  • Vegan milks cost no more than organic, hormone-free cow's milk.
  • Vegan cheeses and meats can be more expensive but are becoming less expensive as demand increases.
    • This is at least partially because of subsidies provided to the animal agriculture and feed industries.
  • Prepared foods will almost always cost more, vegan or not.
    • Many of these foods you can make yourself for considerably less.
• Your medical bills may decrease.
  • A study published by the National Academy of Sciences calculates a health-care savings of over $1,067 billion annually with a vegan diet. That's over $3,000 for each person in the United States.
  • The savings are a result of less medical care needed because medical problems are less likely on a vegan diet.
• Consider the cost to animals.
  • We are often willing to pay more for convenience. We are often willing to pay more for items that have a smaller carbon footprint. We are often willing to pay more for designer items.
  • Eating vegan is not more expensive. But even if it were, shouldn't we be willing to pay more for items that don't support, directly or indirectly, the breeding, enslavement, mutilation, and slaughter of sentient beings who have lives that are as important to them as our lives are to us?
• Tips for saving on groceries:
  • Buy in bulk and at farmer's markets.
  • Shop seasonally.
  • Buy vegetables frozen, since they often cost less and are just as healthy.
  • Compare prices.
    • A pound of green peas costs around $1.30 at Walmart, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods Market. The same pound of peas can be as high as $3.00 at many other grocery stores.
  • Limit vegan specialty foods, such as vegan meats and cheeses.
    • They are unnecessary.
    • They may be more healthy than animal-based meats and cheeses, but their nutrition value pales in comparison to whole foods.