❤ seeing this comment from my other favorite vegan foodie on UA-cam 🎉 also you both are now both have one million followers, well-deserved and "- with confidence!"
Hey Nish! You missed out an important but a crazy tip - start growing your own greens! I know, this doesnt apply for everyone. But if you have been keeping a good inventory for long, you would know as to which veggies are your favourite and which are considerably pricey at your nearest groceries. You can always start small. Most leafy greens actually grow well in tiny pots that you could keep next to your kitchen window or at your patio/balcony. If you have the space - try growing onions, garlic, radishes, carrots & beets BUT eat more of their greens rather than just the tubers/roots. I even sneak in carrot leaves in salads and told people that it was parsley! I've sneaked green onions & green garlic into home-made vegan chocolate milk and trust me, no one ever found out!Furthermore, these plants eventually would start producing seeds which you could collect, store and use in the future. It does require a lot of hard work & patience but please trust me when I say that this tip goes a long way as it is a long term thing which I have definitely benefited. I am on intermittent fasting now eating 2 meals daily 6 days a week. All these tips that you have given in this video are truly a blessing! Stay cheerful as you always do! Lots of love to everyone at home!
This is an awesome tip. I dont have a lot of space, but I do grow my own herbs. Fresh herbs can get really expensive and If they are still stuck in the ground they won't go bad. Another plus is that you cant forget to buy them!
@@spankcak3s In addition to growing fresh herbs: Store bought pottet fresh greens can often be separated into several plants and repotted individually, enhancing the plants's survival rate. Especially useful for basil and parsley. Also: Spread the plants around your home so if one catches a bug/illness, it doesn't contaminate the rest of your plants. And propagate the living death out of any store bought plant. In particular lemon balm, mint, and basil are very easy to root and turn into loads of new plants. Lastly: Plant a few of the seeds when using store bought bell peppers, chili, or tomatoes. They all sprout readily, grow fast and give a good yield - also in the window sill. I find though, that I need organic parent plants for the seeds to sprout.
I'm an old lady, so I learned these things over time by trial and error, but you really nailed it. This is a wonderful video for people to get started on wasting less money and especially wasting less food, and yet having wonderful meals.
I often have a competition with myself to see how long I can go without doing grocery shopping 😄If you have a reasonable cooking ability, it's amazing how many delicious meals you can pull together when you think you have "no food" in the house
Two very important tips: 1, never shop hungry. 2, optimize the use of freezer produce! I would let so many heads of broccoli or cabbage go wilty or gross because I couldn't be bothered to chop them. The solution? Frozen veggies! Never go bad, no need to chop. I use frozen fruit for prepping overnight oats for breakfast. I never have to worry about wasting the fruit because it will last just about forever.
I mean I'd love to buy, process and freeze food, like a lot - but then I remember, I got some blocks of butter, a small ice cube tray thing and a single like...700g bag of frozen veggies in there. Oh and a really small container with frozen herbs. And now whenever I open it to get to the ice cubes, get a pack of butter, get some herbs or some veggies, I'm always afraid the second I open, everything is gonna fall out because it's already full with that little stuff in there.
One thing to consider with those membership programs: they are a major source of data on you being sold off to the highest bidder. Grocery stores don't operate on huge margins, so if they're not making their money on you, they're making their money by selling you on the data market. This is not to say don't join those membership programs, just be aware that it's not *just* a free discount. I leave your priorities vis a vis cost saving vs maintaining personal privacy up to you, some people don't see data as an issue and some people don't have the financial stability to look at a discount program and say "no thanks."
It's also helpful to take into account the region of the world you live in. Many of your recipes use serrano peppers or other Mexican ingredients that are readily available in California, obviously because there's a large Mexican population there. Here in Ontario, Canada, not so much. There's a little local Mexican grocery store where I live but the items are insanely expensive, probably due to having to be imported (and Canadians love to price gouge, seriously, not sure what that's about.) On the other hand, lentils are so plentiful here that they're really cheap (Canada is the world's leading producer and exporter of lentils.) Also, there's a large Indian/Muslim population in my city so there are several local shops that stock all the beans, lentils and spices necessary for many of your recipes. TL;DR - It's all about where you live, shop local and see what is available for cheap in your area.
I didn't know that Canada was the world's leading producer and exporter of lentils - how cool! I was just thinking this morning that Canadians have such a great claim to fame with their maple syrup. 😋
Yup, the ethnic grocery tip is great if you live in a large city with a lot of resources, but they aren't typically available in a rural area. I would kill for an Asian market but the nearest one is over an hour away by car-- and that's one way. Same with the bulk stores. But the trade off is that I can garden more readily where I am, saving money on a lot of staple veggies that I'd normally pay a premium for.
I also live in Ontario! Our local "ethnic" store has a pretty good selection of Mexican / !Latin ingredients even though it's technically an "Asian" supermarket. And I always sub Cayanne or Thai chilis for serrano... Baby mouths beware 😂
I’m in Canada, yet very very far away from any area that can produce Maple Syrup so it is expensive to purchase. I do find various peppers here but they are not of the same quality seen on cooking channels. I have to be realistic when recreating a UA-cam recipe because the flavour just isn’t there due to shopping times!
Here's a tip from me: if you want to freeze leftover tomato paste or any other condiment that you typically use in small portions, dole out spoonfuls into an empty ice cube tray and put it in the freezer. Then you can remove one frozen spoonful whenever needed, while the rest stays in the ice cube tray for future use.
You can also use silicone muffin trays for a slightly bigger portion. Once frozen pop them out of the tray and keep in a zip lock bag. Handy for soup, left over sauces etc
You don't even need an ice cube tray! Spoon the tomato paste out onto wax paper, then carefully lay it in the freezer. This is good if you don't have enough room for an ice tray--the paper can bend.
I'm pretty financial savyv in general and don't tend to waste money, but groceries are definitely my kryptonite. Whether I'm hungry or not, I get so easily enticed by literally everything. This video is helpful, very good points made. Always check what you already have, make a plan, and of course vegan food is just generally cheap af.
If you have a piece of fruit or a quick sandwich before you go to the store you can avoid impulse buying foods that are bad for you just because you’re hungry
@@DiscoChixify That doesn't work for me sadly. I don't impulse shop because I'm hungry, I impulse shop because I get curious or think I might need something down the road. I'll buy a bunch of random ingredients whether I'm hungry or not haha - I just get too excited!
@@mr.snulch Trader Joe's is my weakness when it comes to seasonal items. Like the new Cinnamon Bun Joe Joe's magically appeared in my cart 🤷🏼♀️🤣 Now I can't find them again, so I'm proud of my past impulse buy, haha!
@@snashley True, that's why it's sometimes good to shop hungry lol! There's nothing worse than not buying something, then later realizing you actually would have really used it! There's definitely a balance to be had here.
Great tips! I'd add this personal one: keep an updated list of what's inside your freezer on the door. This way you'll actually use up what you already bought and froze... plus you save energy by not having to open it to check what's inside.
My best advice, if it's available to you, is to order your groceries online. It has helped me so much with budgetting. I just put the items into my online card and go back to it after checking what I already have and i can easily take them out again if i end up not needing them. Haven't been over-buying ever since and it's really handy to immediately see how much the total cost is.
I’m not vegan, but I love incorporating plant-based meals in my everyday diet, and your recipes are always so good! Some of my favorite recipes of yours are red lentil curry, bbq tempeh, and buffalo chickpea quesadillas.
ONE MORE TIP! Eat before you grocery shop. If I am mildly hungry, I will subconsciously grab ready-to-eat items that are not on my list and those tend to be the more expensive and not always healthy items. BONUS TIP I also keep a list on my phone called "Price Check". It includes staples and how much (by weight) it was purchased and where. It's SO helpful to see how you can lose the money you saved on a few sale items when buying the rest full price, if you only shop at one store. It's not critical but if you are able, it's very rewarding and more fun than coupons. 😅
Veggie scraps can also be used for soups. In my opinion, you can make a mashed soup out of almost any veggies. If you just season it the right way, it’ll be delicious. I live alone and often have much more veggies than I can eat before they go bad (cabbages are huge, spinach is often sold in massive bags, etc) so making a soup of whatever veggie leftovers I have has become my favorite way of using them up.
This video feels like an entire book's worth of information! Thank you Nisha, *always* love your recipes and feel so inspired after watching your content! ♥
Also me! Check which foods emit ethylen and which are sensitive to it. Store them in different parts of your fridge or pantry. Ethylen is a natural gas that can speed up some foods ripening.
These are some great reminders - thanks! One tip I would add is to be realistic about what you and your family actually enjoy eating. I used to fill my cart with "aspirational" items that nobody was really excited about, and then when it came time to make myself a lunch, I would feel obligated to eat them, but I wouldn't really want to. For example, nobody at my house likes quinoa, so I simply don't buy it anymore!
I got an instant pot (and your book) 2 years ago and have been using it sooo much. It is ideal for dried beans and all your recipes are amazing. Your soups are 😍😍😍 For those wondering, IP doesn't use a lot of energy and your beans get ready super quick. So in total, even with the high energy costs, I believe it is cheaper to bulk buy dry beans and use the IP than use canned beans.
When I plan my meals I now make a list of the meals with my cookbook and page noted. When I left it to memory, I couldn't remember where the recipe was! Resulted in lots of waste.... I also look to the index of my cookbooks for other recipes with similar ingredients. I also always check the "last chance" areas of the store and use them in my next week planning. Another thing I love is my dehydrator. I make dried veggies and powders that can be added to anything. I always look for sale fruits to make into a quick sweet ending to any meal. My husband loves apples or pears cooked down with maple syrup and cinnamon. Thanks for your videos--i always learn so much from you. Plus--love your cookbook!!!
I am shocked at how you are the only and i mean ONLY UA-camr i watch without pressing the skip button. I actually replay them over and over again. I love your content.
I started going to my local Indian and Korean grocery store after watching one of your other videos, and it's my favorite way to save money on rice, lentils, soy sauce, seaweed, spices, and more. Also love the upcycle tip about herbs!
Meal planning with what I already have in my fridge and pantry has helped save so much money! I like that your recipes often include similar ingredients too. I go to your site at least once a week for meal planning!
More food storage tips. BTW, I started using an herb keeper (basically a tall vase) for keeping herbs fresh in the fridge. If you have the space, it really will help to extend the life of herbs by a week or two. Highly recommended.
Hi, regardless of where you live, these basic step’s always help… I live in The Netherlands and find your advice so helpful. Keep up the good work! Keith
This was a superb video. I'm pretty tight on money lately for this exact same reason and I've been doing the first half of the video, but I'm going to start applying the second half. Unfortunately where I live, buying in bulk is more expensive than buying packaged and there's a monopoly in terms of supermarkets, only 2 very popular ones and 2 smaller ones. One thing I like to do is check online which ingredients are cheaper in which supermarkets and get them from there. I'm extremely jealous you have so many options, it's almost overwhelming!
Got so many great ideas. Thank you for this video! I always use a silicon cupcake pan to freeze soups, beans, rice,etc. Once frozen I move them to a freezer bag and have single servings to pull out. Works wonders for actually eating my leftovers.
Amazing video! One tip for hard bread: cut in and put in a pan with a little bit of water, with the lid on. The bread will rehydrate and taste very good again :) I think you can also put water on it and toss it in the oven, if it's already on! Love from Portugal (and Italy!)
Really good tips overall and I am so excited to try some of the recipes featured. One thing I do differently, first I go straight to the "manager's discount" or markdown bins and buy things from there - but only healthy things that I normally would buy, and no treats or junk. Also paying attention to the "loss leaders" - those items marked down on special that week. As grocery stores tend to buy some things on a regular basis, but with supply chain issues sometimes one order will be delayed and then it will come in practically on top of the next one, they don't have enough space so often reduce the price. I have saved so, so much money doing these things, and prices are too high for me to just come in and only buy what was already on a list. Then I go home and plan my meals on what I have on hand and what needs eaten soon. I really don't have much food waste. But I am very disciplined and organized, I don't end up spending more than I budgeted. Money is too tight. FYI, you can freeze pasta. Just be sure it's al dente before freezing, defrost in fridge and warm in microwave.
I would recommend this video to absolutely EVERYONE if you didn't miss these two important points: growing your own veg/herbs, and using frozen and/or canned vegetables instead of fresh ones. Game changer for people without much money to spend. I would love an updated version - the format is so beautiful!!!
Cool tips - and one that I have never thought of - taking a pic of the cupboard/fridge to see what's in them when at the store - that's really smart. Thanks for sharing and I am looking forward to your next video... 👍😄
If you don’t have an InstaPot a regular crock pot will also cook your beans. It does take longer but you can set it to cook overnight or while you’re at work.
Lots of great tips - thank you! One thing I do with fresh cilantro and parsley that I may not use right away, is to chop them up and lay on a tray in the freezer (on waxed paper or parchment). When the herbs are frozen, I transfer them into a container and they're ready to go into a soup or stew. Not so great for garnish, but this works well for cooked dishes.
Great video! For my "eat-first" strategy, I keep 2 rectangular bins on the top shelf of the fridge. When I cut up onions, garlic, peppers, carrots, avocado, broccoli, or other veg, I put the unused part in a small glass bowl with lid and put it in one bin. In the other I keep lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and other leafy greens. I pull these out to make a burrito, stir fry, loaded salad, or veggie bowl. Cheap, quick, and fast!
OMG!! This video is genius!! I was amazed at how informative this 17 minute video was! I've been following your a couple month for vegan recipe, but til now just noticed you are also the top food waste saver 🤣🤣🤣 I love how you optimised all food you have! I need to make some note for this video. Thanks for sharing!
You are the Vegan Chef that has inspired me to start trying beans with herbs and spices. Yes, all the testing you do is soooo worth it! Your measurements are spot on! It has helped me go all out Vegan and get my Mom on board with it as well. So filling, so healthy and so tasty. 😊❤
Yay for legumes which have been a little demonized by the nutrition health whatever industry! I am from Puerto Rico and we eat A LOT of beans. It's part of our standard diet! So YAY! Also, you're amazing, and funny, and greatttt and I need you in my life because all this food stuff is overwhelming to me.😵💫 😂
omg right ! i’ve been eating a ton of beans and i LOVE it because there’s so much variety. i recently even started cooking white beans and pinto beans. everyone freaks about carbs so they avoid beans but beans will forever be my favorite !
I love your content. I went vegan about 10 years ago and felt so healthy and energetic. I don’t know what happened but I went back to my old ways and I’ve been sicker than ever! I’m going back to vegan and I’m going to get your book. You make it so simple to follow and less expensive. Thank you.
I find that going to the Farmers Market is the best thing for me. For me, I can get some really good deals on vegetables and have them last a lot longer then what I would get at the store. For example, I am going to the farmers market next weekend. I have some vegetables that I bought last month and they are still good! I know it sounds weird, but you would be surprised how good buying at a farmers market is and economical. You can also dehydrate things like herbs, green onions, and other leafy greens. Then you can use them in soups and so forth. By the way, if you have a lot of fruit, or cores, with in about 30 days you can make your own fruit or vegetable vinegar!
Great video! So helpful. I’d like to add that you can save seeds and easily regrow certain fruit, veg, and herbs from the grocery store. I always regrow green onions and get a few bunches for the price of one 😊
Hey Nisha, Love these ideas! Especially the "eat me first" bin and raiding your pantry and fridge to cook a meal when you think you have nothing to cook with. I've been cooking this way for years and it has produced some of my most unexpected and tasty dishes. You've done a great job of explaining each strategy in a simple way, and the video quality, editing, and content are awesome. I'm not a vegan by far, but I've enjoyed your videos over the years - your recipes are yummy and easy to substitute with non-vegan products as needed. Thank you!
Very nice job Nisha. I learned this myself as a young wife and you just presented it to everyone. This generation is so blessed to have teachers like you ❤
What a great video Nisha. Now I feel proud that when I discovered I didn’t have all the ingredients to make a cake for a friend coming around for a cuppa, I subbed and changed rather than go to the supermarket.
Watched this while eating the red letón curry I made yesterday for dinner (your recipe, thank you it’s soooooo good!!!!) I was almost completely vegan 2 years ago, I still ate eggs but when I got pregnant, I CRAVED meats so bad😆 big greasy burgers with coke or dr. Pepper and fries… makes sense why my baby was almost 9lbs haha! I’m debating going back to almost vegan again, I just really enjoy eggs. We are on a strict budget now and meats are so expensive (I still don’t eat dairy but my baby and hubby do) but they love the curry and some other vegan dishes I’ve made. I’ll probably slowly make the switch back after we go through out meat storage in the freezer as to not waste money.
Nisha, I just noticed your 1mln milestone! Hooray!🎉🎉🎉 this video is pure gold (as usual!) and I would really appreciate a video about storing and conserve food, thanks! 😊
Love this video and would love to see a more indepth video on veggie storage. And I noticed your tip about ethnic grocery stores a few years ago. I do not buy any beans, lentils, spices and so much more at regular grocery stores anymore. Ethnic grocery stores is the way to go.
Excellent tips! I recently experienced issues with my refrigerator the motor went out and had to quickly get a smaller mini fridge to store all our shot before it goes bad until we get our other refrigerator fixed. Because of this temporary situation and the size of the fridge it has definitely forced me to only buy what I need and use up what I already have because of limited space. I let some chicken thighs thaw and I have some leftover rice and veggies, so I’ll whip up some dinner this evening. Now that chicken is used that’s added more space in my mini freezer. Meal planning is definitely key!
Hi Nisha, My husband and I have been pescatarians for several years now, but are now transitioning to a vegan diet. We are in our 70’s and have seen the positive benefits from being pescatarians but really want to be all plant based now for many of the reason you are. I am very inspired by your recipes and how beautiful and delicious they are! Can you share with me how you answer why you are a vegan? I don’t want to come across as shaming anyone and I’m not wanting to convert anyone either but my reasons are mainly because I don’t want to be a consumer of animals that are treated inhumanely and I like the benefits to our health (better blood chemistry and lowered risk for heart disease, diabetes, etc). All I have to do is invite friends over and serve a vegan meal and they are convinced that it can be delicious. Some have made the switch. What is your answer to the question when you are asked? Thank you!
Great video. I have been using most of these techniques since the pandemic, but even more after going plant based. I was astounded about the cheaper grocery bill! And I worked very hard to reduce produce and food waste. Our city even picks up our compost of food scraps and yard plant matter. The biggest thing I did was I always plan out a week or two of dinners at a time with our favorite quick and easy recipes/meals or bowls. I shop my pantry first, then make a grocery list and order through the store's app for pickup for items I need for the week. I do pickup on the next day. I LOVE this way of planning. It has really kept impulse buying down and costs low.
Love this video so much! Also, would love to see a video dedicated to proper storage of fruits, veggies, herbs, etc. I’m always so sad when things go off.
Good ideas! I think I would first check what I still have, then check what‘s on sale and then plan my meals. That way you have the food-waste-avoiding thing planned into it already. 😊
Super video! I was already doing a lot of these so I feel even more motivated to continue! And yes, I did notice savings since I switched to plant based food only - despite the high inflation times we are living in.
Had dealt with 2 power outages last month I've really changed my way of shopping especially frozen items. And eat what you have is so good for saving money. Love your videos!
Thank you so much for sharing your gifts with us ♥️ I’m a much healthier happier person ever since I found your channel. Healthy eating used to intimidate me, but you made it achievable and it changed my life. Thank you so much 🙏
If you have a sunny windowsill you can grow the ones you use most often yourself. It takes some time in the beginning, but saves a lot later on. The ready-grown plants you can buy in the supermarket often need more space than the pots they come in and you need to divide them into parts. Since I have a problem keeping them alive after dividing them, I prefer self-grown.
AWESOME video!!! Could you link those reusable ziploc bags please? My favorite tip was to order groceries online and then go pick it up (thanks covid lol). I need to start doing that. Not only does it save time but it also keeps us from buying things that weren't on the list. Genius! Oh, and I LOVED all the footage of beautiful meals you showed in this video. So inspiring! Btw, congrats on reaching 1 MILLION subscribers! I subscribed when you only had 300k lol. Your channel is hands down my favorite and it just keeps getting better and better. Keep up the incredible work you're doing. 🙂 ps: I'm writing this as I eat your delicious lentil shepherd pie that I meal prepped and brought to work with me.
My in-laws are anti-leftovers. They get upset citing dated/limited research that discusses how leftovers are ‘poisoning us with nitrates.’ They live with us half of the year. That means I spend the other half relearning how to cook enough to make leftovers. It’s exhausting cooking every single meal fresh when they are here. It also creates so much room for burnout. I love the leftover reminder. Stretch out your meals with staples/carbs, then get creative with leftovers. One good meal could easily become 3-4 depending on how you stretch it out.
that no buy week is smart. i'm solo so ALWAYS overspend on groceries bc i enjoy cooking and like trying new things. then 6 months later i find black squid ink next to 4 different types of paprika
I love this video, besides your great tips I love the fact that you give us so many good recipes (on the top of the video, love that idea) please continue doing that… it’s great…!!👏👏👏👍👍
My husband calls your cookbook the "Insta-Bible" - there's a couple of great go-to recipes in there, but it's the Insta-pot cooking times on beans, lentils & veggies where it really shines!
I'm quite happy with myself seeing as I already do so many of these things, but I will definitely being adding some more of these tips in my approach to food and grocery shopping! Especially as a uni student and where I live we seem to get ripped off with prices compared to everywhere else (even with inflation in other places, our prices here are 2-3 times more than everywhere else I swear).
I am not in the US, not as many ethnic or bulk food options here in Europe, but watching nevertheless, for your wit, your smarts and the charm ❤ and for me, the algorithm and the animals ;)
I go through a ton of spices and herbs. The Hispanic store is my best friend, I save a ton of money this way. I always tell people to give it a go, but there's this sense of awkwardness about it after I suggest it. Seriously, they had piña colada flavored ice cream! Go! I'm always floored at how I saved $10 on whole nutmeg by switching to the Hispanic store. They also have shrimp and ham flavored bullion, and that amazes people with how much they bring up the flavor level.
Watching Rainbow Plant Life and saving some Dough is a good day 😎
❤ seeing this comment from my other favorite vegan foodie on UA-cam 🎉 also you both are now both have one million followers, well-deserved and "- with confidence!"
You're not wrong there, Wil! (I knew you were a man of good taste!)
❤ your channel
Hey Nish! You missed out an important but a crazy tip - start growing your own greens! I know, this doesnt apply for everyone. But if you have been keeping a good inventory for long, you would know as to which veggies are your favourite and which are considerably pricey at your nearest groceries. You can always start small. Most leafy greens actually grow well in tiny pots that you could keep next to your kitchen window or at your patio/balcony. If you have the space - try growing onions, garlic, radishes, carrots & beets BUT eat more of their greens rather than just the tubers/roots. I even sneak in carrot leaves in salads and told people that it was parsley! I've sneaked green onions & green garlic into home-made vegan chocolate milk and trust me, no one ever found out!Furthermore, these plants eventually would start producing seeds which you could collect, store and use in the future. It does require a lot of hard work & patience but please trust me when I say that this tip goes a long way as it is a long term thing which I have definitely benefited. I am on intermittent fasting now eating 2 meals daily 6 days a week. All these tips that you have given in this video are truly a blessing! Stay cheerful as you always do! Lots of love to everyone at home!
Sprouting is excellent, nutritious, easy, and inexpensive.
This is an awesome tip. I dont have a lot of space, but I do grow my own herbs. Fresh herbs can get really expensive and If they are still stuck in the ground they won't go bad.
Another plus is that you cant forget to buy them!
carrot greens make a tasty pesto or dip
I agree!
@@spankcak3s In addition to growing fresh herbs: Store bought pottet fresh greens can often be separated into several plants and repotted individually, enhancing the plants's survival rate. Especially useful for basil and parsley. Also: Spread the plants around your home so if one catches a bug/illness, it doesn't contaminate the rest of your plants.
And propagate the living death out of any store bought plant. In particular lemon balm, mint, and basil are very easy to root and turn into loads of new plants. Lastly: Plant a few of the seeds when using store bought bell peppers, chili, or tomatoes. They all sprout readily, grow fast and give a good yield - also in the window sill. I find though, that I need organic parent plants for the seeds to sprout.
I'm an old lady, so I learned these things over time by trial and error, but you really nailed it. This is a wonderful video for people to get started on wasting less money and especially wasting less food, and yet having wonderful meals.
I often have a competition with myself to see how long I can go without doing grocery shopping 😄If you have a reasonable cooking ability, it's amazing how many delicious meals you can pull together when you think you have "no food" in the house
Sarah, I do the very same thing! If I can shop once a month I feel like I made an accomplishment!!
I do this as well. It keeps me interested in cooking when I am challenged to cook and eat what I have. It also helps me become a better cook.
Omg! Me too!
love this :)
it's the best game!!!!!!!
Two very important tips: 1, never shop hungry. 2, optimize the use of freezer produce! I would let so many heads of broccoli or cabbage go wilty or gross because I couldn't be bothered to chop them. The solution? Frozen veggies! Never go bad, no need to chop. I use frozen fruit for prepping overnight oats for breakfast. I never have to worry about wasting the fruit because it will last just about forever.
I mean I'd love to buy, process and freeze food, like a lot - but then I remember, I got some blocks of butter, a small ice cube tray thing and a single like...700g bag of frozen veggies in there. Oh and a really small container with frozen herbs. And now whenever I open it to get to the ice cubes, get a pack of butter, get some herbs or some veggies, I'm always afraid the second I open, everything is gonna fall out because it's already full with that little stuff in there.
One thing to consider with those membership programs: they are a major source of data on you being sold off to the highest bidder. Grocery stores don't operate on huge margins, so if they're not making their money on you, they're making their money by selling you on the data market.
This is not to say don't join those membership programs, just be aware that it's not *just* a free discount. I leave your priorities vis a vis cost saving vs maintaining personal privacy up to you, some people don't see data as an issue and some people don't have the financial stability to look at a discount program and say "no thanks."
It's also helpful to take into account the region of the world you live in. Many of your recipes use serrano peppers or other Mexican ingredients that are readily available in California, obviously because there's a large Mexican population there. Here in Ontario, Canada, not so much. There's a little local Mexican grocery store where I live but the items are insanely expensive, probably due to having to be imported (and Canadians love to price gouge, seriously, not sure what that's about.)
On the other hand, lentils are so plentiful here that they're really cheap (Canada is the world's leading producer and exporter of lentils.) Also, there's a large Indian/Muslim population in my city so there are several local shops that stock all the beans, lentils and spices necessary for many of your recipes.
TL;DR - It's all about where you live, shop local and see what is available for cheap in your area.
I didn't know that Canada was the world's leading producer and exporter of lentils - how cool! I was just thinking this morning that Canadians have such a great claim to fame with their maple syrup. 😋
Yup, the ethnic grocery tip is great if you live in a large city with a lot of resources, but they aren't typically available in a rural area. I would kill for an Asian market but the nearest one is over an hour away by car-- and that's one way. Same with the bulk stores. But the trade off is that I can garden more readily where I am, saving money on a lot of staple veggies that I'd normally pay a premium for.
I also live in Ontario! Our local "ethnic" store has a pretty good selection of Mexican / !Latin ingredients even though it's technically an "Asian" supermarket. And I always sub Cayanne or Thai chilis for serrano... Baby mouths beware 😂
On top of this, shopping in season helps too
I’m in Canada, yet very very far away from any area that can produce Maple Syrup so it is expensive to purchase.
I do find various peppers here but they are not of the same quality seen on cooking channels. I have to be realistic when recreating a UA-cam recipe because the flavour just isn’t there due to shopping times!
Here's a tip from me: if you want to freeze leftover tomato paste or any other condiment that you typically use in small portions, dole out spoonfuls into an empty ice cube tray and put it in the freezer. Then you can remove one frozen spoonful whenever needed, while the rest stays in the ice cube tray for future use.
You can also use silicone muffin trays for a slightly bigger portion. Once frozen pop them out of the tray and keep in a zip lock bag. Handy for soup, left over sauces etc
Ice cubes are perfect for lemon juice. Adding the peel too of course. Easily defrosts while you cook.
You don't even need an ice cube tray! Spoon the tomato paste out onto wax paper, then carefully lay it in the freezer. This is good if you don't have enough room for an ice tray--the paper can bend.
I'm pretty financial savyv in general and don't tend to waste money, but groceries are definitely my kryptonite. Whether I'm hungry or not, I get so easily enticed by literally everything. This video is helpful, very good points made. Always check what you already have, make a plan, and of course vegan food is just generally cheap af.
I'm the same way! Going to the grocery store on an empty stomach is theee worse idea & tend to do it more often than not 😅
If you have a piece of fruit or a quick sandwich before you go to the store you can avoid impulse buying foods that are bad for you just because you’re hungry
@@DiscoChixify That doesn't work for me sadly. I don't impulse shop because I'm hungry, I impulse shop because I get curious or think I might need something down the road. I'll buy a bunch of random ingredients whether I'm hungry or not haha - I just get too excited!
@@mr.snulch Trader Joe's is my weakness when it comes to seasonal items. Like the new Cinnamon Bun Joe Joe's magically appeared in my cart 🤷🏼♀️🤣 Now I can't find them again, so I'm proud of my past impulse buy, haha!
@@snashley True, that's why it's sometimes good to shop hungry lol! There's nothing worse than not buying something, then later realizing you actually would have really used it! There's definitely a balance to be had here.
Great tips! I'd add this personal one: keep an updated list of what's inside your freezer on the door. This way you'll actually use up what you already bought and froze... plus you save energy by not having to open it to check what's inside.
My best advice, if it's available to you, is to order your groceries online. It has helped me so much with budgetting. I just put the items into my online card and go back to it after checking what I already have and i can easily take them out again if i end up not needing them. Haven't been over-buying ever since and it's really handy to immediately see how much the total cost is.
This is expensive though. Also they never end up picking good quality produce.
@@SPEAKSB oh too bad you have had such bad experiences. in my country (EU) i always get good produce!
I love that too! You always have a running total of what you're spending and it's so easy to add or subtract items.
@@SPEAKSB How is it expensive? Most grocery stores won't charge any fees for online orders.
Downside with this is that you can't pick out your own fruit and veg..
I would LOVE a video on food storage to prevent waste. (I don't fully understand why crispers work or how I should be using them!)
I’m not vegan, but I love incorporating plant-based meals in my everyday diet, and your recipes are always so good! Some of my favorite recipes of yours are red lentil curry, bbq tempeh, and buffalo chickpea quesadillas.
Ummm go vegan
I make a batch and freeze half of them. It makes it easier when cooking beans from scratch.
ONE MORE TIP!
Eat before you grocery shop. If I am mildly hungry, I will subconsciously grab ready-to-eat items that are not on my list and those tend to be the more expensive and not always healthy items.
BONUS TIP
I also keep a list on my phone called "Price Check". It includes staples and how much (by weight) it was purchased and where. It's SO helpful to see how you can lose the money you saved on a few sale items when buying the rest full price, if you only shop at one store. It's not critical but if you are able, it's very rewarding and more fun than coupons. 😅
The price check is such a smart idea!! I always try to make a mental note but we all know how that goes… i’ll definitely be trying it out next time!
Definitely interested in a proper food storage video! Thank you for all you do, you’ve changed my life and how I view food
Yes please! Love the tips from this video.
Veggie scraps can also be used for soups. In my opinion, you can make a mashed soup out of almost any veggies. If you just season it the right way, it’ll be delicious. I live alone and often have much more veggies than I can eat before they go bad (cabbages are huge, spinach is often sold in massive bags, etc) so making a soup of whatever veggie leftovers I have has become my favorite way of using them up.
This video feels like an entire book's worth of information! Thank you Nisha, *always* love your recipes and feel so inspired after watching your content! ♥
This video was super thorough! I would love a video on how to store food so they stay fresh longer!
Same!
Me 2!
Also me!
Check which foods emit ethylen and which are sensitive to it. Store them in different parts of your fridge or pantry. Ethylen is a natural gas that can speed up some foods ripening.
Azi este 15 July 2024!!!!
Multumesc frumos cu recunostinta si iubire! 👍☺️💓🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
These are some great reminders - thanks! One tip I would add is to be realistic about what you and your family actually enjoy eating. I used to fill my cart with "aspirational" items that nobody was really excited about, and then when it came time to make myself a lunch, I would feel obligated to eat them, but I wouldn't really want to. For example, nobody at my house likes quinoa, so I simply don't buy it anymore!
I got an instant pot (and your book) 2 years ago and have been using it sooo much. It is ideal for dried beans and all your recipes are amazing. Your soups are 😍😍😍
For those wondering, IP doesn't use a lot of energy and your beans get ready super quick. So in total, even with the high energy costs, I believe it is cheaper to bulk buy dry beans and use the IP than use canned beans.
i just bought a rice cooker and im not sure if that could count as instant pot?
When I plan my meals I now make a list of the meals with my cookbook and page noted. When I left it to memory, I couldn't remember where the recipe was! Resulted in lots of waste.... I also look to the index of my cookbooks for other recipes with similar ingredients. I also always check the "last chance" areas of the store and use them in my next week planning. Another thing I love is my dehydrator. I make dried veggies and powders that can be added to anything. I always look for sale fruits to make into a quick sweet ending to any meal. My husband loves apples or pears cooked down with maple syrup and cinnamon. Thanks for your videos--i always learn so much from you. Plus--love your cookbook!!!
I have made that cabbage sauce + roasted cabbage steaks at 7:26, and I too was blown away! So good and so cheap!
Yes please. Show us how to store leftovers optimally.
And fresh veggies and fruit themselfes. Makes quite a difference.
Yes i need this!! 🙏
I am shocked at how you are the only and i mean ONLY UA-camr i watch without pressing the skip button. I actually replay them over and over again. I love your content.
I never realized you could check off items on your website's recipes 😅 So handy!
And yes, I'd love to see a video about how to keep fresh vegetables longer.
I started going to my local Indian and Korean grocery store after watching one of your other videos, and it's my favorite way to save money on rice, lentils, soy sauce, seaweed, spices, and more. Also love the upcycle tip about herbs!
This is satisfying to watch, because I figured out most of the tips already over time (yet don't always follow them).
I enjoy your videos, usually, but this one was my favorite. Just missed your parents, they are always adorable.
'You can make that happen with plants" Love it! Sounds like the title of another cookbook...
12:50 YES! we want storing video
Meal planning with what I already have in my fridge and pantry has helped save so much money! I like that your recipes often include similar ingredients too. I go to your site at least once a week for meal planning!
More food storage tips. BTW, I started using an herb keeper (basically a tall vase) for keeping herbs fresh in the fridge. If you have the space, it really will help to extend the life of herbs by a week or two. Highly recommended.
Hi, regardless of where you live, these basic step’s always help… I live in The Netherlands and find your advice so helpful. Keep up the good work! Keith
This was a superb video. I'm pretty tight on money lately for this exact same reason and I've been doing the first half of the video, but I'm going to start applying the second half. Unfortunately where I live, buying in bulk is more expensive than buying packaged and there's a monopoly in terms of supermarkets, only 2 very popular ones and 2 smaller ones. One thing I like to do is check online which ingredients are cheaper in which supermarkets and get them from there. I'm extremely jealous you have so many options, it's almost overwhelming!
The way she quickly dumped SO much good info in one go was AMAZING!! Like this is the LIFE Hack!!!
Thanks for the tips. I would love to see a more detailed video on how to keep produce in refrigerator longer without spoiling.
Got so many great ideas. Thank you for this video! I always use a silicon cupcake pan to freeze soups, beans, rice,etc. Once frozen I move them to a freezer bag and have single servings to pull out. Works wonders for actually eating my leftovers.
Amazing video! One tip for hard bread: cut in and put in a pan with a little bit of water, with the lid on. The bread will rehydrate and taste very good again :) I think you can also put water on it and toss it in the oven, if it's already on!
Love from Portugal (and Italy!)
Really good tips overall and I am so excited to try some of the recipes featured. One thing I do differently, first I go straight to the "manager's discount" or markdown bins and buy things from there - but only healthy things that I normally would buy, and no treats or junk. Also paying attention to the "loss leaders" - those items marked down on special that week. As grocery stores tend to buy some things on a regular basis, but with supply chain issues sometimes one order will be delayed and then it will come in practically on top of the next one, they don't have enough space so often reduce the price. I have saved so, so much money doing these things, and prices are too high for me to just come in and only buy what was already on a list. Then I go home and plan my meals on what I have on hand and what needs eaten soon. I really don't have much food waste. But I am very disciplined and organized, I don't end up spending more than I budgeted. Money is too tight.
FYI, you can freeze pasta. Just be sure it's al dente before freezing, defrost in fridge and warm in microwave.
Pls share your tips on how to store produce.
I would recommend this video to absolutely EVERYONE if you didn't miss these two important points: growing your own veg/herbs, and using frozen and/or canned vegetables instead of fresh ones. Game changer for people without much money to spend. I would love an updated version - the format is so beautiful!!!
Cool tips - and one that I have never thought of - taking a pic of the cupboard/fridge to see what's in them when at the store - that's really smart. Thanks for sharing and I am looking forward to your next video... 👍😄
Seriously Nisha, you have some of the best content on UA-cam, hands down
I'd love a separate video on how to optimally store and preserve produce!!! Plzzzz
If you don’t have an InstaPot a regular crock pot will also cook your beans. It does take longer but you can set it to cook overnight or while you’re at work.
Lots of great tips - thank you! One thing I do with fresh cilantro and parsley that I may not use right away, is to chop them up and lay on a tray in the freezer (on waxed paper or parchment). When the herbs are frozen, I transfer them into a container and they're ready to go into a soup or stew. Not so great for garnish, but this works well for cooked dishes.
Great video! For my "eat-first" strategy, I keep 2 rectangular bins on the top shelf of the fridge. When I cut up onions, garlic, peppers, carrots, avocado, broccoli, or other veg, I put the unused part in a small glass bowl with lid and put it in one bin. In the other I keep lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and other leafy greens. I pull these out to make a burrito, stir fry, loaded salad, or veggie bowl. Cheap, quick, and fast!
Yes! A food storage episode would be great.
OMG!! This video is genius!! I was amazed at how informative this 17 minute video was!
I've been following your a couple month for vegan recipe, but til now just noticed you are also the top food waste saver 🤣🤣🤣 I love how you optimised all food you have! I need to make some note for this video. Thanks for sharing!
Definitely interested in a video about how to properly store produce! And how to know what to store separately 🧡
You are the Vegan Chef that has inspired me to start trying beans with herbs and spices. Yes, all the testing you do is soooo worth it! Your measurements are spot on! It has helped me go all out Vegan and get my Mom on board with it as well. So filling, so healthy and so tasty. 😊❤
Yay for legumes which have been a little demonized by the nutrition health whatever industry! I am from Puerto Rico and we eat A LOT of beans. It's part of our standard diet! So YAY! Also, you're amazing, and funny, and greatttt and I need you in my life because all this food stuff is overwhelming to me.😵💫 😂
omg right ! i’ve been eating a ton of beans and i LOVE it because there’s so much variety. i recently even started cooking white beans and pinto beans. everyone freaks about carbs so they avoid beans but beans will forever be my favorite !
I love your content. I went vegan about 10 years ago and felt so healthy and energetic. I don’t know what happened but I went back to my old ways and I’ve been sicker than ever! I’m going back to vegan and I’m going to get your book. You make it so simple to follow and less expensive. Thank you.
I find that going to the Farmers Market is the best thing for me. For me, I can get some really good deals on vegetables and have them last a lot longer then what I would get at the store. For example, I am going to the farmers market next weekend. I have some vegetables that I bought last month and they are still good! I know it sounds weird, but you would be surprised how good buying at a farmers market is and economical. You can also dehydrate things like herbs, green onions, and other leafy greens. Then you can use them in soups and so forth. By the way, if you have a lot of fruit, or cores, with in about 30 days you can make your own fruit or vegetable vinegar!
Great video! So helpful. I’d like to add that you can save seeds and easily regrow certain fruit, veg, and herbs from the grocery store. I always regrow green onions and get a few bunches for the price of one 😊
Hey Nisha, Love these ideas! Especially the "eat me first" bin and raiding your pantry and fridge to cook a meal when you think you have nothing to cook with. I've been cooking this way for years and it has produced some of my most unexpected and tasty dishes. You've done a great job of explaining each strategy in a simple way, and the video quality, editing, and content are awesome. I'm not a vegan by far, but I've enjoyed your videos over the years - your recipes are yummy and easy to substitute with non-vegan products as needed. Thank you!
Very nice job Nisha. I learned this myself as a young wife and you just presented it to everyone. This generation is so blessed to have teachers like you ❤
What a treasure trove of tips. Thank you! Would love to know more about preventing food waste.
What a great video Nisha. Now I feel proud that when I discovered I didn’t have all the ingredients to make a cake for a friend coming around for a cuppa, I subbed and changed rather than go to the supermarket.
Watched this while eating the red letón curry I made yesterday for dinner (your recipe, thank you it’s soooooo good!!!!) I was almost completely vegan 2 years ago, I still ate eggs but when I got pregnant, I CRAVED meats so bad😆 big greasy burgers with coke or dr. Pepper and fries… makes sense why my baby was almost 9lbs haha!
I’m debating going back to almost vegan again, I just really enjoy eggs. We are on a strict budget now and meats are so expensive (I still don’t eat dairy but my baby and hubby do) but they love the curry and some other vegan dishes I’ve made. I’ll probably slowly make the switch back after we go through out meat storage in the freezer as to not waste money.
Nisha, I just noticed your 1mln milestone! Hooray!🎉🎉🎉 this video is pure gold (as usual!) and I would really appreciate a video about storing and conserve food, thanks! 😊
Not just for vegans. Everyone who eats FOOD should watch this video regularly. So many tasty and economical ideas. Bravissima!
“Eat Me First” bin is a fantastic idea!❤❤❤❤❤
Love this video and would love to see a more indepth video on veggie storage.
And I noticed your tip about ethnic grocery stores a few years ago. I do not buy any beans, lentils, spices and so much more at regular grocery stores anymore. Ethnic grocery stores is the way to go.
I have starred this one, I want to come back and watch 1-2 more times; lots of great info! Thanks
Genius, and seriously practical and doable advice! 🤩
Yes, I would love a video about produce storage!
Great tips. Would love to see a video on storing veggies!
Excellent tips! I recently experienced issues with my refrigerator the motor went out and had to quickly get a smaller mini fridge to store all our shot before it goes bad until we get our other refrigerator fixed. Because of this temporary situation and the size of the fridge it has definitely forced me to only buy what I need and use up what I already have because of limited space. I let some chicken thighs thaw and I have some leftover rice and veggies, so I’ll whip up some dinner this evening. Now that chicken is used that’s added more space in my mini freezer. Meal planning is definitely key!
terrific video!!!! thanks so much =) & YES, please. Would really appreciate a video by you - on storing food!
Hi Nisha, My husband and I have been pescatarians for several years now, but are now transitioning to a vegan diet. We are in our 70’s and have seen the positive benefits from being pescatarians but really want to be all plant based now for many of the reason you are. I am very inspired by your recipes and how beautiful and delicious they are! Can you share with me how you answer why you are a vegan? I don’t want to come across as shaming anyone and I’m not wanting to convert anyone either but my reasons are mainly because I don’t want to be a consumer of animals that are treated inhumanely and I like the benefits to our health (better blood chemistry and lowered risk for heart disease, diabetes, etc). All I have to do is invite friends over and serve a vegan meal and they are convinced that it can be delicious. Some have made the switch. What is your answer to the question when you are asked? Thank you!
I’d definitely love some more tips on storing produce better
I'd love a video on properly washing and storing produce.
This was great. I typically start with tip 2 for inspiration on tip 1.
Great video. I have been using most of these techniques since the pandemic, but even more after going plant based. I was astounded about the cheaper grocery bill! And I worked very hard to reduce produce and food waste. Our city even picks up our compost of food scraps and yard plant matter. The biggest thing I did was I always plan out a week or two of dinners at a time with our favorite quick and easy recipes/meals or bowls. I shop my pantry first, then make a grocery list and order through the store's app for pickup for items I need for the week. I do pickup on the next day. I LOVE this way of planning. It has really kept impulse buying down and costs low.
Love this video so much! Also, would love to see a video dedicated to proper storage of fruits, veggies, herbs, etc. I’m always so sad when things go off.
This was pure gold, thanks Nisha!!
Good ideas! I think I would first check what I still have, then check what‘s on sale and then plan my meals. That way you have the food-waste-avoiding thing planned into it already. 😊
I needed this list years ago! Lol Had to watch several other videos to understand food perseveration. Great job.
Super video! I was already doing a lot of these so I feel even more motivated to continue! And yes, I did notice savings since I switched to plant based food only - despite the high inflation times we are living in.
So I already know how to shop effectively but I still watch your videos because I love you! Oh and just bought your instant pot cookbook.
I absolutely LOVE protein bowls with rice, beans, veggies, and spices!
Had dealt with 2 power outages last month I've really changed my way of shopping especially frozen items. And eat what you have is so good for saving money. Love your videos!
Thank you so much for sharing your gifts with us ♥️ I’m a much healthier happier person ever since I found your channel. Healthy eating used to intimidate me, but you made it achievable and it changed my life. Thank you so much 🙏
So many great tips! I'm terrible at letting herbs go to waste. Definitely going to be adding them to sauces from now on! Thanks for this! ❤
If you have a sunny windowsill you can grow the ones you use most often yourself. It takes some time in the beginning, but saves a lot later on.
The ready-grown plants you can buy in the supermarket often need more space than the pots they come in and you need to divide them into parts. Since I have a problem keeping them alive after dividing them, I prefer self-grown.
I sometimes freeze parsley, that works quite good. Usually you can take out little amounts from your container while still frozen.
Your hair looks beautiful! If you have more tips on how to store your produce, I would be interested in them.
Great advice! Yes! Asian groceries are awesome... and they have so many wonderful dried ingredients for a lot less money.
Whoah such good advice, thank you💚 also the video is super interesting to watch and right to the point, it felt like it's 5 mins long instead of 16 🤯🍀
AWESOME video!!! Could you link those reusable ziploc bags please? My favorite tip was to order groceries online and then go pick it up (thanks covid lol). I need to start doing that. Not only does it save time but it also keeps us from buying things that weren't on the list. Genius! Oh, and I LOVED all the footage of beautiful meals you showed in this video. So inspiring! Btw, congrats on reaching 1 MILLION subscribers! I subscribed when you only had 300k lol. Your channel is hands down my favorite and it just keeps getting better and better. Keep up the incredible work you're doing. 🙂 ps: I'm writing this as I eat your delicious lentil shepherd pie that I meal prepped and brought to work with me.
My in-laws are anti-leftovers. They get upset citing dated/limited research that discusses how leftovers are ‘poisoning us with nitrates.’ They live with us half of the year. That means I spend the other half relearning how to cook enough to make leftovers. It’s exhausting cooking every single meal fresh when they are here. It also creates so much room for burnout. I love the leftover reminder. Stretch out your meals with staples/carbs, then get creative with leftovers. One good meal could easily become 3-4 depending on how you stretch it out.
This was super helpful! Could you share some freezer tips? Like how long to keep in the freezer, how to use from frozen, etc
that no buy week is smart. i'm solo so ALWAYS overspend on groceries bc i enjoy cooking and like trying new things. then 6 months later i find black squid ink next to 4 different types of paprika
😆
The eat me first bin is such a good idea!!!
I love this video, besides your great tips I love the fact that you give us so many good recipes (on the top of the video, love that idea) please continue doing that… it’s great…!!👏👏👏👍👍
My husband calls your cookbook the "Insta-Bible" - there's a couple of great go-to recipes in there, but it's the Insta-pot cooking times on beans, lentils & veggies where it really shines!
I'm quite happy with myself seeing as I already do so many of these things, but I will definitely being adding some more of these tips in my approach to food and grocery shopping! Especially as a uni student and where I live we seem to get ripped off with prices compared to everywhere else (even with inflation in other places, our prices here are 2-3 times more than everywhere else I swear).
🎉 congrats on ONE MILLION I have been here with you for years and you deserve all the good things and more ❤❤❤
I am not in the US, not as many ethnic or bulk food options here in Europe, but watching nevertheless, for your wit, your smarts and the charm ❤ and for me, the algorithm and the animals ;)
I go through a ton of spices and herbs. The Hispanic store is my best friend, I save a ton of money this way. I always tell people to give it a go, but there's this sense of awkwardness about it after I suggest it. Seriously, they had piña colada flavored ice cream! Go! I'm always floored at how I saved $10 on whole nutmeg by switching to the Hispanic store. They also have shrimp and ham flavored bullion, and that amazes people with how much they bring up the flavor level.