First Slide

Good Food Doesn't

Have to Be Expensive

"Healthy, Organic Vegan on a Budget" is a complete resource that will teach you how to eat well without breaking the bank. This comprehensive guide walks you through strategies for the grocery store, your kitchen restaurants and your bank.

Order today and you'll immediately receive the PDF version of the ebook!

What You Will Learn

Shop Like An Expert

Understand the do’s, don’ts, and best practices of grocery shopping so you fill your cart with healthy, low cost food.

Buy Smart

Hone your instincts to make better purchasing decisions at stores and restaurants.

Find Discounts on Organic Food

Discover how to find the best deals and coupons on chemical-free, non-GMO food.

Learn Kitchen Tips + Tricks

Gain the confidence to make great meals at home with ease and feel less tempted to dine out or buy convenience food.

Make A Plan

Learn everything you need to know about meal planning and shopping lists.

Think Positive

Get to the root of any negative emotions you have about food, money and health. Develop a positive relationship with your bank account and spending habits.

Chapter Overviews

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When you purchase the “Healthy, Organic Vegan on a Budget” ebook you’ll receive a comprehensive guide designed to help you eat well no matter what your budget is. These tips and strategies will get your dietary choices and spending habits on track and build your confidence around your healthy lifestyle.

Here’s a taste of what you’ll learn:

What Is Healthy?

Define what healthy means to you, the food industry and medical professionals. Take an in-depth look at the impact of choosing whole foods, vegan products and organic items. With brief notes on the pros and cons of eating gluten-free and soy-free.

Why Is Healthy Food Expensive?

Explore the many factors that influence food prices, including government subsidies, store and restaurant mark ups, processing and packaging, nutrient density and ingredient origination.

Money Emotions

Uncover the connection between your thoughts and your health. Tips on shifting your mindset from negative to positive, creating internal peace and learning to feel abundant.

Your Money Story

Get in touch with where you stand financially and examine where you have room for improvement. Are you overspending on unnecessary purchases instead of investing in high quality food? Discover key insights into what you do with your money and learn how to prioritize.

Whitney’s Story

A look into Whitney’s history with money and veganism. She shares how she got started eating a plant-based diet, why unprocessed food became important to her and how she has implemented financial strategies over the years.

Shopping Tips

All the tools you need to be a financially savvy shopper. Get the scoop on organizing your kitchen and grocery list, making meal plans, finding the highest quality food with the best prices in your area, growing your own food, locating and using coupons, and more!

Kitchen Tips

Master the skills to make great meals at home and you’ll cut your budget way down. This chapter covers the fundamentals of creating delicious, nutritious, inexpensive dishes. Find out which tools are worth investing in, what meals are easiest and least expensive, how to make the most out of your food and what to do with leftovers.

Restaurant Tips

It’s not always possible to make food at home and there are times when you’ll want to dine out as a special treat. Arm yourself with the strategies to keep the bill low.

Resources

Get your hands on all of the resources mentioned in the book via an easy-to-read list format. You’ll have an extensive library of books, websites, blogs, videos and mobile applications to refer to for further information and inspiration whenever you need it.

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Samples from the Book

Stay tuned – more sections will be released soon! Be sure to sign up for the mailing list to receive the announcement of when they becomes available to read. 

Introduction

So you’ve set out to eat healthier. Your first step? A trip to the grocery store to load up on all of the foods that you’ve learned about in books, documentaries and websites. It’s an exciting, empowering experience…until you get to the checkout and find out that your total price is more than you expected. You start to panic ‒ how can you possibly eat this way on your budget?!

Are you tired of feeling like money is holding you back from enjoying delicious food? Good. If you’re fed up with feeling constrained then that means you’re ready to make a change.  Have you have been avoiding organic foods because you’ve been convinced that they’re not worth it, or worrying and/or complaining about the cost of eating a whole foods plant-based diet? By the end of this book you’ll have a whole new perspective.

Advertisements and conversations may have us thinking that it’s too expensive to eat well,  while this book delivers the truth. You don’t need to be rich to enjoy the finer things in life, whether you consider that a bag of macadamia nuts or a night out at a nice restaurant. All you need are a few tips to understand how, when, and where to spend your money. You now have an abundance of advice at your fingertips (literally), which can save you thousands of dollars a year.

There is something for everyone in here, no matter how much money you have in the bank, where you live or how you’ve been eating up until now. My aim is to inspire, educate and empower you to make the best food choices for yourself, and this book will help you come up with a plan. Don’t be afraid to stretch outside of your comfort zone and cut yourself slack when necessary. You don’t have to do anything perfectly or 100% ‒ focus on progress instead of perfection and know that change, no matter how small, is better than standing still in an unhappy place.

The pages to come include what I’ve learned over a decade of being vegan and educating myself about how food impacts our health and the environment. While I’m not a doctor, nutritionist, or scientist, I am a researcher and the information has been pulled from hundreds of sources and years of personal experience. Since it’s impossible to cover EVERYTHING on healthy vegan living, I have plenty of resources for you to check out at the end of this book.

I want to congratulate you for embarking on the journey to feeling your best and living the best life possible ‒ not everyone has the courage to jump in and make changes like you, so you deserve a giant virtual pat on the back. In buying this book, you’ve made a commitment to yourself to lead the life you desire without stress. I’m proud of you!

Are you ready to jump in?

Why Organic?

Buying organic means that you’re ensuring that no synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers or genetically modified ingredients are in your food. It also means that ingredients are grown in harmony with nature through farming methods that maintain and replenish the fertility of the soil. High quality soil provides optimal nutrition, and similarly, our water system is protected from polluting chemicals. It’s a positive choice for our health, the environment, wildlife, farm workers and communities, which is helping us create a more sustainable future.

One could say that nature intended us to eat pure food and that consuming chemically “enhanced” food is unnatural. Earlier I mentioned the perspective that if you can’t pronounce something, don’t eat it, so why would you want to consume a concoction of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, preservatives and additives on and in your food that is grown in sewage sludge fertilizer, heavy metals and polluted soil? Um, no thanks. I’ll remind you again that you are what you eat, so why would you want to eat fake food grown in a dead ecosystem? Organic food is top of the line, and you deserve to consume it because you don’t have a discount body!

You’ll often hear or see the phrase, “Buy organic whenever possible.” What’s possible is relative to what’s available based on where you live and the time of year, as well as your budget. If it’s challenging for you to find organic foods that are convenient and affordable, here are some tips:

Look for the Non-GMO Project Verified certification. Genetically modified organisms (aka GMOs) are plants that contain genes from another living organism; one odd example is inserting fish genes into a tomato (I don’t know about you, but I find that quite creepy). GMOs are a very hot topic in the food industry, as well as within US politics, and people opposed to them typically have concerns about creating superweeds, killing beneficial insects and contaminating the food supply. I follow the precautionary principle in this case, because I’m not willing to take the risks associated with GMOs.

Opt for foods that are labeled Pesticide Free or No Pesticides. This means that there is an absence of, no significant amount or no detectable amount of synthetic pesticides in the food. This is especially important to know when shopping at the farmers market, because not all farms can afford the organic certification even though they’re not spraying chemicals on their crops ‒ simply ask them if they spray or not and they’ll let you know. Synthetic pesticides are a known danger at high exposures, so it’s best to avoid them whenever possible because they’re simply not meant to be in our bodies.

Know the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen. These lists highlight groups of foods based on their likelihood to contain high amounts of pesticides, and are updated annually by the Environmental Working Group. This will be covered further in the Shopping Tips section.

Buy Veganic. This terminology is growing in popularity, which means that food is grown without the use of toxic sprays or chemicals and is fertilized without animal remains. Specifically, this means the manure your food is grown in won’t contain  blood, bone meal and fish emulsion that may carry dangerous diseases. Talk about a wake up call.

Wildcrafted or Wild Harvested. Sustainable harvesting of wild plants in their natural setting. Farmers pay careful attention so that the same botanical resources can be naturally harvested every year.

Excerpt: Foraging

Foraging is second best to growing your own food. While you give up the control of choosing what’s grown, foraging is free and doesn’t require a green thumb! Simply look for wild plants growing in nearby parks, forests and other green spaces ‒ you’ll probably be surprised at what’s in your area or in a neighbor’s yard. In my Los Angeles neighborhood there are many trees along the street with oranges, figs, kumquats and avocados. There are some websites listed in the Resource section that will point you towards specific locations of nearby trees and bushes. It’s like going on a treasure hunt!

You can find local colleges, plant societies, professional foragers and nature centers who offer free and low-cost foraging tours. Or, do it on your own with a field guidebook to make sure you find the good stuff and avoid poisonous plants. Next thing you know, you’ll be spotting edibles all over the place ‒ it’s become a really fun game for me in LA. To be polite and protect natural resources, pick from common plants, take only what you need and leave plenty untouched.

Check in with your neighbors about their food plants. Chances are, they are overwhelmed by the bounty of fruits or vegetables that grow in their yard and are happy to share. My best friend’s parents live across the street from my parents in Massachusetts, and they have a fantastic organic farm with kale, squash, raspberries and more that they give me free reign of whenever I’m in town during growing season. You can also look for urban community gardens who may have a produce giveaway or trade program.

Excerpt: Whole Foods

There’s really no reason to call Whole Foods Market “Whole Paycheck.” It’s actually quite simple and common to get great prices there. In fact, I often find products at the same cost—if not cheaper than—Trader Joes, big box markets (including Walmart) or the farmer’s market. Plus, you can’t beat their selection of delicious organic, vegan products. They often run one day deals, which can include discounts of at least 25-50 percent off products. Pay attention to signage in your local store and subscribe to their newsletter and/or social media accounts to stay in the loop.

The easiest way to find great deals at Whole Foods is to pick up a copy of “The Whole Deal,” which is published every other month and is available in stores and online. Inside you will find $50+ in coupons, 10+ recipes, meal plans under $5 and money saving tips. Just look past the products and recipes involving animals or use a plant-based substitution. You can also visit the “More For Less/Whole Deal” section of the store’s website to print as many coupons as you want!

Few people realize that Whole Foods employs Healthy Eating Specialists, who are there to answer customers’ questions about the foods that they offer, assist them in making the healthiest choices and suggest nutrient-rich recipe ideas. It’s like having a free consultation or shopping trip with a nutritionist!

In most cases, it’s not extremely cost effective to do your entire shopping at Whole Foods, especially if you’re buying packaged products and specialty items. These items are mainly responsible for the reputation “Whole Paycheck” and are where the biggest markups happen.

It’s important to mention that not everything sold at Whole Foods is organic, non-GMO or healthy. Many people believe that the store’s high prices reflect products curated for optimal health. Unfortunately this isn’t entirely true. Be sure to check the ingredient lists.

 

Choose a chapter

  • Introduction

  • Why Organic?

  • Excerpt: Foraging

    - From the Chapter "Where to Get Food" [...]
  • Excerpt: Whole Foods

    - From the Chapter: "Where to Get Food" [...]

That’s just a sampling of what’s included in the ebook.

 

Hungry to get your hands on it? Order your copy today!

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Free Video Series

In Fall 2014 Whitney created 30 videos about how to eat healthy on a budget. Check out the most popular videos from the free series.

5 Simple Ways to Cut Your Food Costs

35 Vegan Food Staples

9 Inexpensive Travel Foods

Healthy Vegan on a College Budget

Reviews

Kelly O'Brien, Wellness Expert, MindBodyGreen.com

Kelly O'Brien, Wellness Expert, MindBodyGreen.com

This guidebook is so comprehensive and helpful in how I choose which foods to put into my body. I feel this book is all I need to reference when budgeting each month for groceries. I am blown away by the overall education via how to save time, money and eat well on a strict budget. I consider this book a must read and I would put it in the same category of Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Diet and Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet in terms of overall beneficial content on health. MindBodyGreen

Lauren Stewart, Author of KaleandCupcake.com

Lauren Stewart, Author of KaleandCupcake.com

If you think that healthy organic living is not possible or too expensive for you, think again! This ebook has not only given me great information on saving money that I'd never considered, but it's also been great inspiration for following my dreams and living my best life. Whitney provides the tools and motivation you need to afford the healthy foods and lifestyle you deserve to give yourself.

Rachel Curt, Blogger at TheJudgmentalVegan.wordpress.com

Rachel Curt, Blogger at TheJudgmentalVegan.wordpress.com

I’ve always believed that you have to be rolling in cash to afford organic food. Through Healthy, Organic Vegan on a Budget, Whitney busts that myth completely with practical tips for making organic food accessible. The best part? You can pick and choose which tips to apply to your own life. If you've been thinking about switching to organic, like I have, then consider this book your guide.

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About the Author

whitney lauritsen by JORGEMORENOJRBiography

Author Whitney Lauritsen is the voice behind the Eco-Vegan Gal brand. She uses video, photography, writing and social media to raise awareness about how to make healthy eating choices and develop a planet-friendly lifestyle. Upon discovering a passion for health and environmentalism she launched the Eco-Vegan Gal website to share advice, tutorials, product recommendations, recipes, interviews and more. This has resulted in a wildly successful channel on YouTube and front cover on Laika Magazine.

Motivation

Throughout her career, Whitney has heard some persistent reasons as to why people choose not to eat plant-based food or make healthy lifestyle choices. The most common self-imposed barriers revolve around money, time and knowledge. This was major motivation behind the writing of “Healthy, Organic Vegan on a Budget” – Whitney knows first hand that all three obstacles can be easily overcome.

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