Going vegan on a budget

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - 22News Anchor Elysia Rodriguez and a pair of 22News producers decided to go vegan for a month as a challenge for both weight loss and health.

In taking on the challenge, besides the lack of meat & dairy, the biggest concern was cost.

Monday night, we went grocery shopping to see if you really can in fact shop healthy on a budget.

Food costs are high enough and organic, whole foods can add up.

Desiree Oquendo of West Springfield told 22News, “If you have young children in your family trying to feed everybody on a budget, price definitely has a lot to do with it." 

Erik Dana of Longmeadow said, “I try to buy items that are on sale when I can, definitely try to save when I can. ”

Although we spent most of our time in the produce section we also raided the canned goods aisle and frozen food section for canned beans and frozen vegetables.

We avoided pre-packaged vegan foods; they're convenient but that convenience comes at a higher price.

Our most expensive purchase was raw almonds at more $7 a bag.

When it was all said and done our animal-product-free cart of groceries came to just over $70.

My producer and I hope that food will last us throughout the week.

Of course going vegan isn't for everyone, as we continue this challenge we'll be checking in with dieticians and health professionals along the way.

To follow along, read my blog.