Whether you're a student or a self-sustaining adult, you can find complications with staying raw on a budget. This is especially true in colder climates such as the one I live in, in New York. There are cookie cutter responses one could give about remaining raw with a limited income, but here are some suggestions given with thought and self-tested research.
Although this may sound similar to the guide to staying raw in the winter, these are tips that are foolproof and will yield the best results for you.
1. Growing your own foods. Regardless of the climate in which you live, there is almost always an option in producing your own fruits, vegetables, greens, or herbs. And if growing your own garden is completely impossible, for 100 dollars (or even less, using today's life-saver, eBay), you can have your own indoor aerogarden capable of producing fresh cherry tomatoes and greens. Check out the zone in which you live using the resource to the right to uncover what will grow in your area.
You can also sprout nuts, seeds, and grains indoors without much hassle or expensive gardens. There are wheatgrass and sprouting kits available for purchase online with the click of a simple Google search. U-Pick farms are another great way of harvesting without fully devoting yourself to a garden, or if the produce in your area is only at its best in certain seasons.
2. Eating in season. This cannot be stressed enough. If you eat what's in season (i.e., in the fall and winter: greens, "fruit-vegetables" which are always cheap and abundant like cucumbers, winter melons, tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers, stone fruits and citrus), you will be almost guaranteed to save money as well as make the most of your local produce section.
3. Eating nuts and seeds. You will undoubtedly find better prices (and more likely authentic) on raw nuts and seeds online at specialty raw shops, but at your local natural foods store or section at the supermarket, raw nuts and seeds are in stock year-round at nearly unchanging prices. Nuts and seeds can integrate into almost any raw diet and are full of vitamins and minerals that are easily assimilated using the fat from the source. They are also very filling which is a godsend for those who are struggling to stay raw. Most nuts and seeds can be sprouted overnight to release stagnant enzymes.
4. Dried goods. Although you may not own a dehydrator, you can find dried fruits and vegetables in not only the bulk bins, but in the fresh produce section of any market. These offer condensed nutrition, usually at lower prices. Many can be rehydrated for use in recipes, such as sun-dried tomatoes, by simply soaking them in water. Ensure that the items you purchase are not produced with sulfites or other unnecessary preservatives.
5. Forget organics. Although organic foods have been proven to be higher in nutrients and absolutely lower in pesticides, they are not necessary to a raw diet, and are often considered a luxury item to many people. You can achieve nearly the same effects of pesticide deduction by scrubbing and rinsing your produce with a kitchen brush under running water. You can save an average of 20-50% by doing this.
6. Forage. Talk to a community gardener or local environmentalist authority about which plants are edible in your region, then go to deserted areas of your city (and check first!, where you can be nearly positive there aren't any syringes, fungicides, or urine amongst the clovers) and gather things. Remember, this is the 2000's, not the 1800's. It is highly recommended that you are positive the source you're collecting from is unsprayed and uncontaminated. If you insist on following this route instead of working with a community garden or farmer's market, you're always better off collecting items that have their own natural shields, like pine nuts. A great explanation is here, at Wikipedia's page about pine nuts.
7. Use prepackaged raw. If you are comfortable with eating prepackaged raw foods, order jars of raw tahini, nut butters, or other high-caloric items offline or at your local grocer (co-ops and Whole Foods normally carry these) and add them to salads, cut up fruits or vegetables, soups, etc. to stretch out your food budget. They will last and offer variety to your diet.
8. If less than 100%, relax. Newer raw foodists may be insistent upon the idea that they have to eat 100% raw foods. While this is preferable for most, it can be unrealistic if you're not fully familiar with the diet or working off of restricted funds. You can always eat cheap staple items until you become a grounded raw foodist - look for products that give you more bang for your buck and the least amount of ingredients. Best options are steamed or baked vegetables, organic brown rice, and organic, preserved fruits or vegetables.
