Physicians Committee Says Plant-Based Foods Could Cut Holiday Grocery Bills in Half - vegconomist

Furthermore, wholesale turkey prices are up about 40% compared with last year, according to data from the American Farm Bureau Federation. This is due to economic pressures and poultry disease outbreaks.

Almost 60% of adults in the survey said they would consider opting for a plant-based holiday meal if they had a convincing reason to do so, and this figure rose to over three-quarters among younger adults aged 18-34. According to the Physicians Committee, choosing a plant-based meal could cut holiday grocery bills in half.

Plant-based holiday meal plan

Xavier Toledo, a registered dietitian with the Physicians Committee, has created a winter holiday spread for six that features familiar foods and comes in at under $50.

The menu includes:

• Starter — Bruschetta ($7.86).
• Entrees — Lasagna with Cashew-Tofu Ricotta ($9.42) and Creamy Slow Cooker Chickpea and Rice Casserole ($10.60).
• Sides — Crispy Sage Mashed Sweet Potatoes ($2.98) and Maple Dijon Green Beans ($2.94).
• Dessert — No-Bake Iced Gingerbread Bars (~$14.58).
• Total — $48.38 ($8.06 per person).

The creation of the meal plan comes after the Physicians Committee released a statement in August asserting that the leading health risks for Americans are meat and dairy products. The organization called for a shift away from animal products and toward fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.

“If you told most people they could reduce their holiday grocery bill, feel better after dinner, and still enjoy familiar comfort foods, I’m sure many would do it in a heartbeat,” said Toledo.