One of the many questions that I get about a vegan lifestyle is about the price.
"Isn't it expensive to eat plant-based Jeff?"
This is an important topic to look at and discuss, and I'll aim to clear up any confusion.
First off, we have to establish a difference between the kind of vegan diet that exists.
Is there a focus on vegan replacements for existing animal-based products - ice-creams, burgers, yogurts etc?
Or do we want to be focusing on a whole-food, minimally processed vegan diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and unrefined grains?
Vegan replacements
If it is the former, then there is an argument to be had for veganism to be more expensive.
The concept of supply and demand comes into play here.
Suppliers of products such as vegan ice-creams, vegan burgers and vegan 'chicken' understand that the demand of these products in relation to the market is low, in comparison with their animal-based counterparts.
Although a rapidly growing movement, numbers of vegans are still very low worldwide.
An exploration into diets around the world conducted by Ipsos in 2018 showed that just 3% of the world population is actually vegan (1). This may be more in 2024, but no doubt still very low.
With that being said, brands that sell vegan replacement products are aware of this, and raise the price in line with their market share.
So you could expect to pay that little bit more for your vegan Magnum ice-cream over the dairy offering.
As the demand for vegan replacement products goes up in line with the increase in the vegan population, you can expect the prices to come down.
Whole-food, plant based
For a more cost-effective diet free of animal products, the value is in a whole-food, plant-based diet - and best of all, it is a far more optimal diet for health.
The price point of fruits and vegetables is typically low, giving you an easy way to save money while nourishing your body.
A head of broccoli can set you back 60p and are packed with nutrients; leafy greens such as kale and spinach aren't any more than £1.20 for a large bag.
Very cost effective: you get the picture.
Pantry staples such as whole grains, legumes and beans are also extremely cost effective, especially when bought either canned or in bulk.
Rice, whole-wheat pasta and root vegetables are cheap & readily available foods, and contain an abundance of nutrients to nourish you.
Nuts and seeds bought in bulk too will be kinder on your pocket, and various other fruits and vegetables are very cheap and accessible.
What about organic foods?
Organic foods - foods grown without synthetic pesticides - do have a slightly higher price point.
A conventional bag of kale would set you back around £1.20, but its organic counterpart would be 50p or so more.
It's a similar story with berries.
It's a small price to pay but if you can justify it, I think it could be beneficial.
What can we conclude from this then? That a vegan diet can both be expensive and inexpensive, depending on the route you go down.
If you lay the foundations of your vegan diet with mock meats, ice-creams, vegan 'chicken', vegan cheese and so on, your grocery bill will be high.
But if you focus on an abundance of whole plant foods – in the form of fruits and vegetables, unrefined grains, nuts, seeds and legumes – you will dramatically cut down the price of your weekly shopping.
More importantly though, focusing on such foods will fuel your body with essential vitamins and minerals to ensure that you are successfully satisfied, feeling full, and maximising your chances of longevity and optimal health.
Stay healthy,
Jeff
References:
(1) An exploration of diets around the world - Ipsos