Should Become a Vegie?

[Monkey Cartwheels]

Hey hey hey.

Seeing as Im a poor uni student I was thinking, would it be cheaper and healthier to go vegetarian? Not really vegetarian but you know what I mean...

Is anyone a currently or been a vegetarian? Was/is it cheaper? did/do you still get enough of the necessary vitamins and other stuff?

[Arie]

I like to refer to my self as half a veggie lol. I rarely eat meat,but I am not fully committed to cutting on out.

 

It's actually not cheeper, fruits and vegetables are very very expensive. The cheapest way to go is by eat all the gross crap college students always eat hahaha. Tofu and stuff like that is not cheep, but it's cheeper the then meat. So if you doing this for money reasons, do a trial. See how much you spend on all th fresh stuff and if it comes out cheeper. In the end, I am not so sure it will.

 

Also, in order to get the correct vitamins and everything, you need to eat a lot of beans for protein and grains and things like that. You can't just rely on veggies because they won't fill you up or give you all the proper nutrients alone. You can always start taking some sort of vitamin everyday if you are still nervous. Make sure you have the proper amount od dairy. Don't rely on carbs to filll you up either! That's not good for you!

 

I am a health food nut so I know all the right things lol, feel free to pm me with any questions! I can even tell you where to shop and prices ect.

[Dumbledores Woman]

Vegetarian alternatives like Quorn do tend to be cheaper than meat these days, and I know several meat-eaters who can't tell the difference between Quorn mince and normal mince, for example. So maybe substituting meat products for proteins made from Quorn or soya could work for you to help cut costs. These also contain less fat than meat.

 

In terms of nutrition, it's generally better to eat beans/pulses etc to make sure you get all the right nutrients, which can be more expensive, but alternatively you can get vitamin/mineral supplements quite cheaply these days if you're worried you're not getting enough. Being vegetarian doesn't necessarily mean you have to eat more fresh fruit/veg than a meat-eater either, which is a common conception, since it's protein and minerals you're mainly losing out on rather than vitamins which any health-conscious carnivore should be consuming through fruit/veg anyway. It's true that a lot of the required minerals can be found in vegetables, but again supplements and protein substitutes can be a cheaper alternative, if perhaps not quite so beneficial in the long run. You can't live off veg alone.

 

Maybe if your reason is solely cutting costs and not ethical-related, you could get the best of both worlds by eating meat maybe once a week or two to put your mind at rest nutritionally and cut down the rest of the time using cheaper vegetarian alternatives?

[The Midnight Q]

It's actually not cheeper, fruits and vegetables are very very expensive. The cheapest way to go is by eat all the gross crap college students always eat hahaha. Tofu and stuff like that is not cheep, but it's cheeper the then meat. So if you doing this for money reasons, do a trial. See how much you spend on all th fresh stuff and if it comes out cheeper. In the end, I am not so sure it will.

 

Also, in order to get the correct vitamins and everything, you need to eat a lot of beans for protein and grains and things like that. You can't just rely on veggies because they won't fill you up or give you all the proper nutrients alone. You can always start taking some sort of vitamin everyday if you are still nervous. Make sure you have the proper amount od dairy. Don't rely on carbs to filll you up either! That's not good for you!

 

I am a health food nut so I know all the right things lol, feel free to pm me with any questions! I can even tell you where to shop and prices ect.

 

My first two years in college I lived off of ramen noodles, rice and eggs. Each meal averaged around $2. They consisted of one package of ramen noodles, then dropped in one scrambled egg and then added white rice. Oh, not to mention beer. Personally, I am not at all a healthy guy, but I am getting what my body needs.

 

Still, it will all depend on what kind of meat you buy and what kind of veg you buy. If you have the time, it may behoove you to do your own grocery shopping and learn to cook rather than go out for food. That way you know what's going into your food and still be frugal especially when getting groceries.

 

For example, get white meats such as poultry or pork but not as much beef since it's more expensive and a lot tougher to digest. Also get the cheaper cuts of these meats, it doesn't really matter except flavor. Fish can also be cheap if you know which species to look for- fish is also very healthy compared to lets say pork. Of course couple these with grains and veg. Rice is also a good since its very filling compared to bread... which isn't.

Edited July 19, 2011 by sirbenedictvs

[Arie]

My first two years in college I lived off of ramen noodles, rice and eggs. Each meal averaged around $2. They consisted of one package of ramen noodles, then dropped in one scrambled egg and then added white rice. Oh, not to mention beer. Personally, I am not at all a healthy guy, but I am getting what my body needs.

 

My point exactly!!! You can be veggie on low cost, but all your eating is crap. Yes, you may have been full. But, alll that stuff is really bad for you! That's why it's so cheep lol.

[Monkey Cartwheels]

I like to refer to my self as half a veggie lol. I rarely eat meat,but I am not fully committed to cutting on out.

 

It's actually not cheeper, fruits and vegetables are very very expensive. The cheapest way to go is by eat all the gross crap college students always eat hahaha. Tofu and stuff like that is not cheep, but it's cheeper the then meat. So if you doing this for money reasons, do a trial. See how much you spend on all th fresh stuff and if it comes out cheeper. In the end, I am not so sure it will.

 

Also, in order to get the correct vitamins and everything, you need to eat a lot of beans for protein and grains and things like that. You can't just rely on veggies because they won't fill you up or give you all the proper nutrients alone. You can always start taking some sort of vitamin everyday if you are still nervous. Make sure you have the proper amount od dairy. Don't rely on carbs to filll you up either! That's not good for you!

 

I am a health food nut so I know all the right things lol, feel free to pm me with any questions! I can even tell you where to shop and prices ect.

So is it not really possble to get all the nutrients required out of vegies alone? Like without needing some kind of tablet?

 

 

Vegetarian alternatives like Quorn do tend to be cheaper than meat these days, and I know several meat-eaters who can't tell the difference between Quorn mince and normal mince, for example. So maybe substituting meat products for proteins made from Quorn or soya could work for you to help cut costs. These also contain less fat than meat.

 

In terms of nutrition, it's generally better to eat beans/pulses etc to make sure you get all the right nutrients, which can be more expensive, but alternatively you can get vitamin/mineral supplements quite cheaply these days if you're worried you're not getting enough. Being vegetarian doesn't necessarily mean you have to eat more fresh fruit/veg than a meat-eater either, which is a common conception, since it's protein and minerals you're mainly losing out on rather than vitamins which any health-conscious carnivore should be consuming through fruit/veg anyway. It's true that a lot of the required minerals can be found in vegetables, but again supplements and protein substitutes can be a cheaper alternative, if perhaps not quite so beneficial in the long run. You can't live off veg alone.

 

Maybe if your reason is solely cutting costs and not ethical-related, you could get the best of both worlds by eating meat maybe once a week or two to put your mind at rest nutritionally and cut down the rest of the time using cheaper vegetarian alternatives?

Yeah, I wasnt planning on never eating it again, but having meat as a every now and then thing could be a pretty good idea!

 

 

My first two years in college I lived off of ramen noodles, rice and eggs. Each meal averaged around $2. They consisted of one package of ramen noodles, then dropped in one scrambled egg and then added white rice. Oh, not to mention beer. Personally, I am not at all a healthy guy, but I am getting what my body needs.

 

Still, it will all depend on what kind of meat you buy and what kind of veg you buy. If you have the time, it may behoove you to do your own grocery shopping and learn to cook rather than go out for food. That way you know what's going into your food and still be frugal especially when getting groceries.

 

For example, get white meats such as poultry or pork but not as much beef since it's more expensive and a lot tougher to digest. Also get the cheaper cuts of these meats, it doesn't really matter except flavor. Fish can also be cheap if you know which species to look for- fish is also very healthy compared to lets say pork. Of course couple these with grains and veg. Rice is also a good since its very filling compared to bread... which isn't.

Bro, if I could I would eat crap food, but I cant. Im the one in the flat that eats the best! I always cook full meals. Mashed spuds, stir fry, steak, gravy, you name it haha! Im pretty good at cooking so Im sorted for that.

Also, our pork is really expensive over here at the moment which sucks!

[Arie]

So is it not really possble to get all the nutrients required out of vegies alone? Like without needing some kind of tablet?

 

Yes, but you need more then just veggies. You still have to get all your food groups in. So sometimes a vitamin or supplement helps....

[Monkey Cartwheels]

Yes, but you need more then just veggies. You still have to get all your food groups in. So sometimes a vitamin or supplement helps....

Oh yeah, like rice and beans and what not? Im not that keen on having to take other supplements

[Arie]

Oh yeah, like rice and beans and what not? Im not that keen on having to take other supplements

 

Yeah!! Me neither lol. So you just got to pay attention to what your eating. Make sure you get enough of it all!

[flying kiwi]

I follow slimming world and they have a green plan which is for vegetarians, it helps you get all the nutrients making sure you have a certain amount of calcium and fiber ect a day.

Being vegetarian can be healthier then eating meat, but it isn't necessarily. It completely depends on what your eating. Quorn have actually changed the recipe for their sausages and they're not as good for you as they used to be, still better then most meat sausages but not all (thats just because most meat sausages are filled with rubbish anyway though.)

[The Midnight Q]

Quorn have actually changed the recipe for their sausages and they're not as good for you as they used to be, still better then most meat sausages but not all (thats just because most meat sausages are filled with rubbish anyway though.)

 

I sometimes make my own sausages... the old fashioned way. Mince up some meat (usually pork), add some spices and what not then case them with the intestines. Believe it or not, waay healthier than the average supermarket sausages. There's no fillers such as sinew, cartilage, lard and water; just plain meat.

Edited July 21, 2011 by sirbenedictvs

[flying kiwi]

I sometimes make my own sausages... the old fashioned way. Mince up some meat (usually pork), add some spices and what not then case them with the intestines. Believe it or not, waay healthier than the average supermarket sausages. There's no fillers such as sinew, cartilage, lard and water; just plain meat.

 

Yeah it sounds a lot healthier, I'd love to try some. I always make my own burgers, taste much nicer and better for you.

[The Midnight Q]

Yeah it sounds a lot healthier, I'd love to try some. I always make my own burgers, taste much nicer and better for you.

 

...and cheaper. 8-pack of buns, minced meat, and lettuce/tomato will run around $7-8; that's 8 burgers for the price of 2. (well the burgers I eat like the Wendy's Baconator runs for $5-7 anyway- and waaaay unhealthy )