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4 Friday, August 11, 2023 brooklintowncrier.com A common question: Isn't being vegan expensive? The answer is, it depends what you eat. With food prices increasing, whether you eat meat or not, groceries are generally more expensive. Pre-made and pre-packed food tends to be more expensive as you pay for production and distribution. Making food from scratch, however, will generally cost less. I recommend not buying too much processed food. While it has a place in our diet, it should be the exception, not the norm. Many processed foods contain chemicals to increase their shelf life. To reduce overall grocery costs, consider supplementing your meat-based diet with plant-based options a few times a week. Costco purchases I buy spring mix, chickpeas, black beans and canned tomatoes at Costco which has a well- priced organic line of canned products. Canned beans have a long shelf life so buying in bulk doesn't mean you have to use them fast. Costco also carries organic and gluten-free/ vegan crackers. As well, its frozen black bean burgers are spicey and less processed than some brands. Frozen veggie burgers are handy for those rushed days. These days meat is costly, but tofu remains inexpensive. People shy away from tofu, but it can be a meat substitute and, if cooked properly, tastes good. Tofu is great in stir fries or crisped up in an air fryer. I buy tofu at Costco in a package that has 16 meals and costs around $7.49. Farm Boy has light and full fat canned coconut milk at a fine price. It also has vegan "cheeses" and other vegan products, many being store brands, so they tend to be cheaper. Local veggies I buy my veggies locally, so at this time of year, I go to farmer's markets for veggies. After trail running on Sunday mornings, I stop at Stroud Farms on the way home to buy fresh produce. While I like trying new recipes, finding it mindful, cooking during the week feels rushed. So I try to prep as much as possible on weekends, even if it's just cleaning and chopping vegetables. It also means I'm prepared and less likely to buy take-out during the week. I recently made black bean burritos which I topped with cashew sour cream from the blog https://simple-veganista.com/ can. This recipe is simple and delicious. INGREDIENTS 1 cup raw cashews 1/2 cup water 1 tablespoon lemon juice 3/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar generous pinch of salt INSTRUCTIONS Soak cashews covered with 2-3 inches of water for 2-3 hours. Or, add the cashews to hot water (not boiling) for a faster soak, and let them soak for 5-10 minutes. Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until nice and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides now and then. Add a tad more water as needed to create the desired consistency. Sheree's hack: Use this sour cream within four days. Try adding spices to make a dip or a ranch salad dressing. How to save money as a vegan Plant-Based Eating by Sheree Nicholson Brooklin Hurdler Stars At Pan Am Games Reyne Rodrigues of Brooklin competed recently at the 2023 U20 Track and Field Pan American Games in Puerto Rico wearing the colours of Cornell University where she studies and trains.. She clocked a time of 1:00.81 in the 400-meter hurdles and aided in a 4 x 400 group that was shy of a top three finish. This past year, she ran the fastest 400-meter hurdle time in the Ivy League by a first-year athlete. Her time of 1:00.30 was good for fourth-place at the Heptagonal Championships, as well as fourth overall among all 400-hurdle performances (women). She was also part of the Cornell 4 x 400 relay group that earned a 3:48.98 second-place finish at the Tiger Track Classic against SEC com- petition. (from https://cornellbigred.com/news)