You guys know how much I love a challenge, right?? I haven’t done a challenge in a couple of years, so I was kind of itching to do something new. January is the perfect time for resolutions and challenges because there’s nothing else going on, so it’s easy to stay FOCUSED. I’m sure I’m going to need a reset after all this holiday food, so for the entire month of January I’ll be doing a 31 Day Vegetarian Challenge! 👏BRING ON THE VEGETABLES!
Why Do A Challenge?
I love doing challenges because it forces me to think outside the box, reassess my current habits, build new habits, and show you guys how this whole “budget cooking” thing works in the real world. During my challenges I share as much detail as possible about what I buy, cook, and eat so you can see how everything comes together. You’ll see what worked, what didn’t work, and everything in between. And hopefully, sharing these experiences will inspire you to get busy with your meal planning and budgeting, regardless of what dietary practices you follow.
For this year’s vegetarian challenge, I especially want to demonstrate that it is possible to eat a diet full of vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and all the other “good for you” foods that are often assumed to be too expensive. So whether you want to try vegetarianism on for size, or just want to work more plants into your diet, I hope this challenge inspires and encourages you.
What to Expect:
Each week I’ll post a couple new recipes, as usual, but I’ll also be posting weekly recaps. The recaps will include a very detailed breakdown of what I bought, cooked, ate, and what went into the compost. I’ll show price break downs of everything so you can see the comparison between the total costs of my meals vs. the total cost of my receipts. And I’ll likely offer a short reflection at the end of each recap discussing what worked and what didn’t.
The format will be very similar to my previous challenges: SNAP Challenge and September Challenge, although I am not limiting myself to a specific budget. Instead, I’ll just be using the Budget Byting Principles to keep my overall costs low, and I’m excited to see where my total costs land.
Join Me!
We will also have a dedicated 31 Day Vegetarian Challenge newsletter, which will provide weekly previews of my meal plans (so you can compare them to the end of the week recap and see what was a success or a #fail), plus extra tips for sticking to your budget. The Challenge has now ended but you can read my recaps here: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4.
What Not to Expect:
The purpose of this challenge is not to tell you what you should or shouldn’t eat, or why. People eat vegetarian for so many different reasons and I don’t plan to “sell” you on any of them. What you eat is your decision, and yours alone. I chose to do a vegetarian challenge for several reasons, but will only discuss the budget-related aspects here (okay, maybe a few of the health aspects, too). I aim to inspire, not convince.
This challenge is not going to be all tofu and tempeh. While I might use those ingredients on occasion, my favorite vegetarian recipes are the kind that just happened to be vegetarian. The kind that makes people say, “Wait, that was vegetarian?” after they wolf down their meal. ;)
My Objectives:
- Maintain a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet for 31 days (all plant ingredients plus dairy and eggs are allowed, no meat, poultry, or seafood)
- Eat as many vegetables, legumes, and whole grains as possible, while not relying too heavily on pasta and rice (my weakness!).
- Develop vegetarian recipes that are easy, satisfying, and equally enjoyable to omnivores.
- Plan each week’s meals ahead of time and shop only once per week.
- Eat all home-cooked meals, aside from one date night out per week. I will stick to the vegetarian diet even when eating out, but date night costs will not be included the total food budget.
- Keep costs as low as possible, while finding a personal balance between budget, convenience, and splurge items (hello cheeeeeeeeese 🧀).
The Countdown Begins…
So that’s it for now! I just wanted to give you a heads up about what’s coming in January, give you an opportunity to sign up for the challenge newsletter, and provide a place for you to ask any questions ahead of time. You can leave your questions in the comments below!
I’M SO EXCITED! 🥦🥑🌶🍳🥗
Yay! Looking forward to this :) I started following back when you were doing the SNAP challenge so excited to see weekly updates again.
I’m looking forward to this! I love me some bean-based meals, and you make such tasty ones. Do you think you’ll develop a recipe or two for the Instant Pot?
I probably won’t be doing more IP recipes, unfortunately. I decided that because it’s more of a convenience/luxury item and not one of the basic staple appliances, that I don’t really think it fits my theme.
Thank you so much for doing this! This has been a goal of mine to try vegetarian for a few weeks at a time and you gave me the inspiration to try it at last! I always appreciate the way you break the costs and receipts and plans down, keep it up! I am going to follow your plan alongside you! Thanks for being so awesome!
Wanting/needing to start eating healthier in the New Year. Getting veggies/whole grains into my diet continues to be a challenge for me so I am looking forward to seeing what recipes you come up with. I enjoy your blog and really appreciate the emphasis on healthy and budget conscious! Wishing you a wonderful New Year.
Yay! I’m a vegetarian who eats cheap, so I’m super excited! If you can get your hands on a copy of Ottolenghi Simple, the Tofu and Haricots Verts with Chraimeh sauce is sooo good, and I think you’d love it. Basic ingredients are just tofu, green beans, garlic, tomato paste, a chili, and a lime (and spices-cumin, cinnamon, paprika, caraway). The only non-budget thing it requires is caraway seeds. There’s a version of it floating around on the internet, but the version from the book is better imo!
I’ve been using your recipes since I went vegetarian about eight years ago! The budgeting part has sure come in handy as a college student and especially after graduating. I’m super excited to see what you post for this :) Thank you so much for all the recipes you share!
Will you be cooking with seitan at all? I’m very curious about how to work with it.
I don’t have any seitan in my plan, unfortunately. I haven’t experimented with that one yet. :) Maybe I’ll tackle that in 2019, though!
I am excited! I love recaps during your challenges& looking forward to more meatless meal ideas!
I’m not a vegetarian , but am trying to cut meats ,chicken and fish out of my diet. I very excited to start this 31 day challenge
I need this after the excessed of Dec.
Great topic and great challenge! I’m not a vegetarian at all but I can appreciate meatless meals. Looking forward to cheering you on during this challenge!
I’m so excited about this challenge! I’ve been a vegetarian for almost a year now and I am loving it much that I am transitioning into a completely plant based diet in 2019, so no dairy or egg. Your vegetarian recipes are always on point and I am so excited to get an entire months worth of recipes. I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Thanks for this! I’ve really enjoyed all of your recipes. I’m a vegetarian (for ethical, planetary and budgetary reasons).
I recently had a 3-week gift subscription for Hello Fresh food delivery of vegetarian meals. Your recipes are just as good and easy to prepare as theirs but without the waste of a cardboard box, interior lining, large gel freezer pads, plastic wrap on food and the carbon needed to deliver it all.
Thanks!! Yes, those meal services can be great for an occasional inspiration, but I don’t feel like they’re a good long term solution due to the excessive packaging, too.
I am interested in learning more about cooking vegetables in a nutritious way to accompany meat if we so desire.
I would be happy to see what happens. My husband and I need to start eating a better diet as I have had some kind of bug that is taking too long to go away. I download some of your recipes and like them very much. Thank you. Merry Christmas
Super exited to see these recipes! Your veg recipes are the best. I hpe that dairy/eggs will be mostly optional, so that those who choose to eat them can include them, and those who don’t, can still still enjoy the recipes.
Hopefully most of the recipes will be easily adaptable. :) I don’t plan to lean too heavily on cheese.
I love your site and recipes but would love to see more vegan options during your challenge! Happy New Year! :D