Vent: My grocery bill forced me to give tofu a real chance

Mark Chen · 2026-03-06T18:46:13.461109+00:00

I always thought tofu was tasteless and just for vegetarians. After a rough month, I tried a crispy baked tofu bowl with cheap veggies. It was actually really good and cost way less than my usual chicken dinners. Now I see how switching proteins can help my wallet and the planet. What other budget swaps have surprised you?

sage_jackson566mo ago

Seriously, @wadesullivan's freezing trick works, and try bulk beans for more savings.

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casey8186mo ago

Same with chickpeas in curry, cheap and filling.

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harperr826mo ago

Wait, you thought tofu was just for vegetarians? That's wild to me because I've seen it in so many dishes that aren't strictly veggie. I used to think the same about lentils until I tried them in a soup and realized how cheap and filling they are. Honestly, swapping out meat for beans or lentils a few times a week has saved me a ton. It's crazy how our food biases can cost us money.

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wadesullivan6mo ago

Yeah, mapo tofu with a bit of ground pork changed my whole view. Started buying the extra firm stuff, freezing it first to make it chewier. Saves a lot versus using all meat in stir fries.

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