Last Friday, I stopped to grab a quick lunch at the Pita Kitchen in Sherman Oaks, CA.. As I devoured an insanely delicious falafel sandwich that set me back a measly $5, it occurred to me that there’s one thing Meatless Monday fans don’t emphasize enough: it saves you a boatload of money! (A chicken shawarma pita, for example, would have cost a dollar more.)
Sure, I spend a lot of money on organic produce, but I’ve noticed recently that our grocery bills are now significantly smaller than they were a year ago, when my husband and I were eating more meat. And I’m not even a full-time vegetarian! But just by making a stir fry with tofu ($1.49 a container) instead of with chicken ($6.99 a pound) one night each week, we save $22 a month that’s $264 a year. You can imagine how much more we could save if we went meatless more often!
For those who can’t stand the thought of eating in all week, don’t fret: You can also afford to treat yourself to a night out more often, since ordering a meatless dish off the menu is usually a lot cheaper too (a vegetarian pasta at my favorite Italian restaurant costs a few dollars less than one with meat, and nearly $10 less than a meat-based secondi)!
