By: Guest Author, Denise Balistrieri, Owner of Pflurish PBK (Plant Based Kitchen)
Hello everyone! It's bittersweet to share Denise Balistrieri's final blog with us! See below for some awesome tips to save money, save time, and equip our kitchens with helpful tools as we eat more plant-based.
Thank you, Denise, for sharing your passion with us! Don't forget to follow Denise for more amazing recipes and tips on living a more plant-based lifestyle on Facebook Pflurish PBK or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pflurishpbk
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Our final blog! Thanks for staying with me on this journey! I hope you have found the information useful. Today’s focus is tips for eating more plant forward.
Chances are you have heard that it is expensive to eat plant-based. Over the years, I have found ways to cut costs while following this lifestyle that I would like to share with you.
Cost Saving Tips:
Shop sales! From produce, canned goods and frozen foods
Did you know that mushrooms (fresh or cooked) and avocados (fresh) can be frozen?
Fresh herbs can be frozen in water or veggie broth in an ice cube tray for future use in soups/entrees
Purchase imperfect produce, tastes the same and costs less!
Overripe bananas are on average 20 cents/lb cheaper and can be frozen to make a sweet treat! (Nice cream)
Shop Seasonal-in season produce often costs less than items that are out of season
Buy in bulk-bulk price/lb is generally cheaper than smaller quantities
Invest in storage containers for dry and frozen bulk items
I use glass mason jars (often-times can be found at Goodwill) with plastic screw on lids from Walmart/Fleet Farm (in canning section)
I found re-usable freezer containers at Walmart/Fleet Farm, also in the canning section
Save veggie scraps in the freezer and make your own veggie broth! Use your freezer containers or even ice cube trays to store.
Use silicone baking mats or parchment paper for baking/roasting. No need to purchase oil any longer! Clean-up is a breeze!
Time Saving Tips:
Double your recipes! Make it once, eat it twice! Takes just as much time to make a double batch as a single batch!
Sometimes you can use a base recipe and serve it multiple ways! (example: Quinoa Taco “Meat” Nachos, Tacos, Sweet Potato Stuffing) Set aside time to batch cook for the week!
Grains are a great item to batch cook and use multiple ways for the week and cuts down on your prep time on busy nights!
Cut up produce and store for the week- easy to pull out of the fridge and just add to your dish. Also assures you have healthy snacks on hand.
Keep pantry staples in stock (I am working on a pantry staples list to share soon!)
Equipment Tips:
Invest in a good set of knives-you’ll be doing a lot of chopping eating this way!
My personal favorite knives are Wusthoff and they usually only go on sale in March!
Invest in a good high-speed blender and or food processor
I have used both Ninja and Vitamix, perhaps you have a favorite brand?
Silicone mats are great and are washable and re-usable in place of aluminum foil!
A slow cooker or Instapot are great additions to your kitchen as time savers!
A second refrigerator or freezer isn’t necessary, but VERY helpful for buying in bulk! We have both!
Glass storage containers-BPA free and you can see what is in each container! Bonus!
Large low dinner bowls! We use bowls so much more than plates since transitioning to this way of eating! Our favorites are the Crate and Barrel HUE collection bowls. I have also seen them at many big box stores
Measuring cups/spoons, mixing bowls, wooden spoons, whisk and spatulas
Of course, there are many more cost saving tips, time saving tips and kitchen gadgets, these are the ones that I have found most helpful.
K.I.S.S.-Keep It Simple Sister! This lifestyle isn’t meant to be complicated! Have fun! Remember this, cooking isn’t an exact science like baking so it is all about the tastes that you and your family prefer!
Have fun! Eat more plants!
Eat more plants! Feel free to comment or message! I love to learn what others have experienced!
I hope you have found some of this information helpful! Thanks again Carleen for allowing me to share!
Nourish 2 Pflurish!
Follow me on Facebook Pflurish PBK or on Instagram www.instagram.com/PflurishPBK for recipes and more!
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Disclaimer: I am not a dietitian, nor will I diagnose anyone. IMPORTANT! If you or a family member should decide to adopt a more plant forward lifestyle and are taking ANY type of medication, it is IMPERATIVE that you involve your healthcare provider in your decision to do so! Many medications will function VERY DIFFERENTLY with changes to your diet and you may need to have your healthcare provider change your dosage as your body chemistry changes.