Whether it is due to a craving for a healthy lifestyle or a passion for animal rights, vegans are growing in number across the country and on N.C. State’s campus.
Despite the belief the lifestyle of a vegan adds more stress to the wallet than it removes from the body, vegans on the campus of N.C. State are finding ways to eat delicious foods minus the expense – and animal products, of course.
“I eat out fairly often in order to keep up with friends, but I’ve found it simpler to maintain my diet with a home-cooked meal,” Maria Rock, a senior in natural science, said.
Rock contends being vegan, however, does not automatically lead to more expensive taste.
“It is not the vegan products that are more expensive,” Rock said, “but the need for fresh produce over ‘boxed’ items like cookies or cereal.”
Jeannine Erasmus, a senior in creative writing, agrees with this notion.
”Most foods are around the same prices,” Erasmus said. “It’s things like fresh fruits that are expensive.”
Commodities such as fresh produce and fruit can often be found for a fraction of retail price at the local farmers market, which provides guaranteed fresh produce while supporting home-grown crops and the local farming industry.
When it comes to being scrupulous with money at chain stores, however, Rock said it’s not hard to shop for less.
“I buy most of my groceries at Whole Foods,” she said, “but I do not necessarily buy things labeled ‘vegan.'”
Rather than buying “vegan” labeled products, Rock said she opts to purchase items that use only vegan ingredients but are not labeled as such, as they often tend to be less expensive to purchase.
For Rock, her method is simple. She uses the rule of five.
“I try to buy foods with only five ingredients or less to help determine if it is vegan or not.”
Despite these savings secrets, Rock said she is still frustrated by the lack of mainstream brands that support her lifestyle.
“A lot of items I buy are not mainstream, so finding coupons is harder, which contributes to a higher grocery bill.”
When looking for edible options in town, most choose to eat in due to budgetary reasons rather than lack of locations.
“I don’t eat out much because of money,” Erasmus, who only recently became vegan, said. “There are a few great vegan places around Raleigh, though.”
As the capital city’s vegan population continues to expand, restaurants in and around Raleigh – particulary downtown – are making more efforts to show off their vegan-friendly menus to customers.
Noelle Falle, office administrator of Neomonde Bakery and Deli, said her business fully supports the rise of the vegan lifestyle and tries to do all it can to offer affordable, appetizing menu options for the group.
“More than half our menu is vegetarian or vegan. We range from hummus to satish, and have a special of hot ratatouille,” Falle said.
With the economy in its current condition, Falle said that Neomonde understands the issue of eating cheap and emphasized their prices are affordable, vegan or not.
“We buy most of our produce from the farmers market, regardless,” Falle said of the ingredients in the restaurant’s meals.
In doing this, it is easier for some businesses like Neomonde to offer natural menu items at a price that doesn’t break the average college student’s bank account.
Knowing the vegan lifestyle is healthy for both the body and the environment has encouraged Falle and Neomonde, as a whole, to continue fostering the needs of the Raleigh vegan community.
Despite the obvious room for growth available in the category of affordable options, however, N.C. State vegans are optimistic for the future.
”I would like to see more vegan options at restaurants and coupons that cater to providing more natural and organic foods,” Rock said. “Other than that, I have not had many other qualms.”
While State’s vegans do contend their vegan lifestyle does add some additional strain to the wallet, it is the general consensus that the slight increase in spending is worth the benefits of being a vegan.
