Study Finds a Vegan Diet Can Save You Money

Want to cut your grocery bill? Switching to a healthy vegan diet may actually cost you less.

Although veganism is based on respect for animal rights, and a vegan diet has been shown to have health and environmental benefits, concerns about affordability can be a barrier to dietary change. However, research highlights that adopting a vegan diet may actually save money.

A recent study published by the American Medical Association found that participants who transitioned to a vegan diet reduced their food costs by nearly 20%. Researchers observed 30 people who switched to a vegan diet for 16 weeks and compared them with 32 participants who swapped their usual food for a Mediterranean diet. While the Mediterranean group's cost rose slightly, the vegan group saved a significant amount at checkout.

A vegan diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains, without requiring participants to deliberately choose affordable options. The savings are mainly attributed to reduced spending on animal products. The study reported that those following a vegan diet saved about US$2.90 a day by not eating meat, and 50 cents per person on dairy and added fats. Even as the cost of vegetables, meat substitutes and grains rose, participants saved an average of US$1.80 a day.

The findings challenge the common perception that following a vegan diet is expensive. Researchers stress that a vegan diet is not only good for health but also cost-effective.