Unemployment

Jobcentres, doctors, employers and social workers will be encouraged to suggest therapy and life coaching

Sat 30 Dec 2023 05.04 EST

Life coaches and running clubs will be recommended to those on long-term sickness leave under government plans to get people back to work.

Ministers are to launch a scheme to help reduce the numbers signed off sick in England. There are 2.2 million people claiming universal credit with no work requirements. The number of workers taking sick leave has hit a 10-year high.

Jobcentres will be encouraged to refer people for advice and therapeutic recreation, including gardening clubs.

Doctors, employers, jobcentres, social workers and charities will be encouraged to suggest therapy and life coaching under plans to create a national occupational health service and reduce the number of people GPs sign off from work.

Community activities such as singing, cooking or gardening clubs will also be offered through NHS social prescribing initiatives.

Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, and Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, said the scheme was not a one size fits all but they hoped it would work with other services to help people stay in employment.

They told the Times: We know the longer someone spends out of work, the harder it becomes for them to find a job. We also know that one in five of those claiming the highest level of health benefits want to work and feel they could do so with the right support.

The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has previously committed to tackling the growing numbers of those too ill to work.

The pilots will involve 15 areas testing a service known as WorkWell, which involves work coaches, physiotherapy and mental health treatment. After the trials, the government hopes to expand the scheme nationally but key elements of it will not take effect until 2025.

Atkins and Stride said: Where someone could fall out of work and on to long-term sickness benefits, WorkWell is designed to swoop in and provide the support that people need to stay in work, or return as soon as possible.

The shadow employment minister, Alison McGovern, told the Times the scheme was all too little and its far too late.

More than half a million young people in the UK say they are out of work due to long-term illness, a 44% increase in just four years. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that more than 560,000 people aged between 16 and 34 were economically inactive meaning they were not in work or seeking work in the first three months of 2023 due to long-term sickness.

The findings, which experts connect to a growing mental health crisis and an underinvestment in health services, are also reflected in other studies.

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People on long-term sick leave in England to be offered therapeutic recreation - The Guardian

Jodi Hildebrandt, the business partner of former family vlogger Ruby Franke, pleaded guilty Wednesday to four felony counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse.

She was charged in Utah alongside Franke in September with six counts of felony child abuse, after the pair was arrested in August. Police had found one of Frankes children with open wounds after escaping from Hildebrandts home, as well as another one of her children in similar malnourished condition inside her home.

Judge John Walton accepted Hildebrandts plea deal which described the infliction of physical torture and severe emotional harm to the children found by police in a Utah court and dismissed the remaining two counts. Her sentencing, like Frankes, is scheduled for Feb. 20.

Hildebrandt and Franke often collaborated on parenting and relationship advice videos for Hildebrandts life coaching service ConneXions, which has been criticized for its extreme teachings.

Franke, who also pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse earlier this month, had agreed in her own plea deal to testify against Hildebrandt. The mom of six was known for her now-removed YouTube channel 8 Passengers, in which she showcased family life and shared parenting advice to nearly 2.3 million subscribers.

In a statement released before her hearing, Frankes legal representatives said Hildebrandt had systematically isolated Franke from her family and made her vulnerable to a distorted sense of morality under Hildebrandts influence.

Franke initially thought Hildebrandt "had the insight to offer a path to continual improvement," according to the statement. Hildebrandt "took advantage of this quest and twisted it into something heinous," the statement continued.

Lawyers for Hildebrandt and Franke did not respond to requests for comment.

Established in 2007, according to Hildebrandts LinkedIn page, ConneXions offered courses on relationships and parenting. Some former clients said its teachings are rooted in the principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as LDS or the Mormon church.

These former clients told NBC News that the program separated spouses, pathologized patients behaviors as evidence of various addictions and encouraged people to cut off those who didnt live in accordance with its teachings.

Franke, who was listed as a certified mental fitness trainer on the ConneXions website, often appeared with Hildebrandt in ConneXions videos. In now-deleted YouTube videos viewed by NBC News, the two preached that those who were not living in truth, including children, should be cut off from the rest of their families.

Prior to her arrest this year, Franke had also been under fire for some of her now-deleted parenting vlogs. Viewers had accused Franke and her husband of being abusive for years.

Local child protective services were reportedly called in June 2020 after a Change.org petition called for the family to be investigated, citing an example from now-deleted video footage of her teenage son sharing that hed slept on a beanbag for seven months as a punishment for behavioral issues.

Angela Yang is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News.

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Jodi Hildebrandt pleads guilty to 4 counts of child abuse - NBC News

During a recent Polk County girls basketball game, head coach Brandy Alm was frustrated. She was clutching the markers she uses to draw on a dry-erase clipboard, and she tossed them up in the air, catching them on the way down.

She promptly received a technical foul.

By her own admission, shes done much worse to deserve a tech without receiving one, and that one surprised her. It also made her frustration worse.

So one of her assistants, who usually sits on the far end of the Wolverines bench, moved down a few seats to talk with her and try to calm her down.

The assistant knew just what to say to the head coach. Billy Alm often knows just what to say to his wife.

He moved up (the bench), and he was just telling me to calm down, to stop talking to the referee, that I didnt want to get thrown out, Brandy Alm said. He definitely calms me down better than anyone. Im passionate about basketball, especially when I feel like my girls are getting pushed around or if things arent being called. He can talk some sense into me.

The relationship thats such a big part of Polk County athletics (Billy is the Wolverines baseball coach) was born at Newberry College. There, Brandy was a senior basketball player working on a fundraiser. She noticed a particular baseball player.

We were all sitting at a table, I was the only senior, and I was trying to recruit everybody for the fundraiser, she said. The baseball team walked up, and hes the first one I saw. It was like oh my goodness, who is that guy? They started talking to me, and I knew some of them, but I was speechless, almost. I was just staring at him. That was the first time we met.

It was pretty much instant, Billy agreed. I saw her in the hallway, she was doing recruiting for some two-on-two basketball game. It just took off from there.

As the couple dated, married and started working, coaching basketball wasnt on Brandys mind. Billy was a football assistant, as was the girls basketball coach at the time, Chris Mintz.

I was a broker with Wyndham, Brandy said. Once I got done playing, I kind of thought Id take a break from basketball. Id come and watch some games. Billy told them Id played in college, and they asked him if Id be interested in helping. I said Id go to the gym and help out, and as soon as I did, I realized this is what I needed to be doing. I loved it.

The Alms son Gunnar, now a sophomore, was still in a carrier, about six months old. Brandy was the second assistant.

I drove on my own to most of the games, because I couldnt get away from work, she said. I fell in love with this atmosphere, and with all the kids. That was my first experience on the other side of the court. It was fun.

Soon, Brandy was offered the opportunity to coach the middle school girls team, where Billy was coaching the middle school boys.

I loved it, but I was a little intense to begin with, she said with a laugh.

Also intense was the Alms rivalry with each other.

We were flip-flopping with our kids, with practice times, and then of course we had a little bit of a competitive side there, Billy said. I was talking about winning more games and having more conference championships which I do.

There was also the type of communication that Billy credits with his teams success.

I always looked to her, he said. Shes the basketball guru. Id ask her what she saw a team doing at halftime, what I needed to do, what adjustments I needed to make. She made some huge adjustments for me, and thats a reason that we won so often. But Im definitely still going to talk trash.

Now, though, its Billy giving his advice and opinions, whether theyre solicited or not. Brandy is in her 10th season as Polk Countys head coach Billy has been an assistant throughout that time.

He never stops giving his opinion, Brandy said. He knows. He knows exactly what buttons to push. He knows what he shouldnt say, and he knows what I need to hear. He just knows me inside and out.

Im just going to give my opinion, Billy said. I say what I want to say and ask for forgiveness later. I kind of look at what shes doing and try to give advice. I know how to push her buttons. After 20 years, I know exactly what to say and when to say it. I know what shes doing. I know what shes thinking by now. It really works well. And I know her that well because were together all the time.

That, at the heart of it, is what makes the Alms situation work.

I really enjoy it, Billy said. Were a close-knit family anyway. Were at all the kids stuff. When were NOT together, its different. I was out of town recently and she drove six hours from the beach to stay a night in Atlanta so we could be together as a family. Its just really important to us, and were going to have a lot of memories from it.

Those memories are already being made.

A lot of times, when we get home, we dont even talk about school or about our teams, Brandy said. Our son is here, hes a sophomore, and his friends are always at the house. Were kind of always surrounded by Polk County High School. Its a great place to be, obviously.

Weve been here for so long, anyway. We think of the kids as family, because most of them, weve known them since they were four or five. Its been nice to watch them grow up. This is all just a really cool experience. I wouldnt have it any other way.

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From love at first sight to coaching partners, Alms tackle basketball, life side by side - PolkSports

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)- Most people have heard the slogan New Year, New Me, but how many people stick with their New Years resolutions?

According to the blog 6 New Years Resolutions Gym Statistics You Need To Know, 80% of new members at gyms cancel their membership within five months. Kisha Woods, Life Coach and Owner of Upgraded MindSetz in Peoria, said its all about being accountable.

Big thing is accountability. We sometimes feel like we can tackle these things on our own, and thats kind of where we fall short sometimes. We have to have someone or something thats going to hold us accountable, said Woods.

Life Coach and Owner of Momentum LRC, Aimee Royer said that meditation, journaling, and spending time in nature can be beneficial for those trying to implement goals. If you dont get in touch with that stuff, how do you expect to make significant changes in your life and your behaviors?

Whether your goal is fitness, finance, or becoming more independent, one thing remains the same, theyre all changes from your everyday life. Actually, understanding that it doesnt have to be New Years for you to want to make changes. Change should be every day. There should be strategies in place for you to make improvements every day. said Woods.

Regardless of changes youre wanting to make or goals you want to implement, being true to yourself reigns the most important. Having words, actions, and feelings all in alignment, because theres so much richness living from that space and not worrying about what everyone else thinks about you. said Royer.

To reach out Kisha Woods at Upgraded MindSetz, visit https://upgradedmindsetz.life/. To reach out to Aimee Royer at Momentum LRC, visit https://momentumlrc.com/

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Life coachs advice for sticking to New Years resolutions - CIProud.com

Jeffrey Marsh, a Buddhist gender-bending life-coach who identifies as non-binary, has made a career of encouraging LGBT social media users to go no-contact with parents.

Marsh has been making videos on Vine and other social media sites since at least 2014 as a time machine so he can speak to his 10-year-old self back in Pennsylvania on the farm. Marshs brand of LGBT activism has its roots in Zen Buddhism, which he says he adopted after struggling with his self-identity as both gay and Christian.

Which, as Ive come to find out, there are a lot of 10-year-old mes around. They are a way to bring healing to everybody, including me, he told Diggin 2014.

Marshs videos came under fire after some circulated of the influencer urging LGBT viewers to go no-contact with their parents.

Your parents screwed up. Its okay to say so, Marsh says in one video. Thats why I made a Patreon, so that we could talk about it, so that we could connect in a way that has more privacy, so that we could talk to each other in a way thats more open, stuff that we wouldnt share in the comments of a video like this.

As of this writing, Marshs Patreon and life-coaching services are only available to individuals 18-years-old and older. But Marshs videos have routinely been addressed to children, with the influencer beginning many of his videos with hey, kids! After the controversy, Marshs videos are not as clearly addressed to children specifically, but he still harps on the theme of going no-contact with non-affirming parents.

Going no-contact will feel worse, I cant lie to you, Marsh said in a recent video. If you go no-contact the rules change, youre unmoored, theres no sense of safety and sense of place because the rules change.

In another video, Marsh asks parents to hand over the phone to the kids, so he can discuss his non-binary identity with them.

Sometimes humans are more than boy or girl, he tells the kids. Sometimes were something else, sometimes we kind of float and sometimes were a boy, sometimes were a girl. Because human beings are creatures, and were wild and exciting.

TikTok creator Shumirun Nessa, who goes by the username The Real Overload Comedy, went viral in March for her videos blasting Marsh.

Stop telling kids to go on your Patreon and chat to you privately without their parents knowing! Nessa said in a video.

After beingdoxxed, threatened and harassed for her views, Nessa defended herself by posting more videos from Marshs Patreon. In one, he announces that he is going to tell a story about Jeff and I having sex.

Hi, beautiful, if you do not have a family that loves you, Im going to be your family, he says in another.

Similar to controversial transgender social media celebrity Dylan Mulvaney, Marsh has come under fire for accepting a brand deal from a company typically marketed to women. Marsh, a biological man, took on a brand deal with a menstrual product company in 2020.

Trans men have periods. Women and nonbinary people have periods. *Periods are for people*, Marsh wrote in a caption to an Instagram post. (RELATED:EXCLUSIVE: Districts LGBTQ Lesson Plans For Kindergarteners Include Resources From Pro-Sex Change Organization)

After the advertisement resurfaced, Marsh addressed the controversy in December 2022.

I made the video.so that people who menstruate would feel less stigmatized because to cis men, lets face it, menstruation is seen as gross, disgusting, a joke, Marsh said in the video. And as someone who does not menstruate Im nonbinary, I dont menstruate I wanted to help end that stigma if I could.

For speaking events, Marsh can be booked live for as much as $20,000 and virtually for as much as $10,000. Individuals can sign up for Marshs life coaching for $49 for a 15 minute tea time session. One Substack user said he was swindled out of $1,000 after signing up for Marshs services and never actually receiving life coaching from the influencer.

Frankly, I trusted Jeffrey Marsh just because of their sweet personality, and the fact that they had been endorsed by Oprah Winfrey herself, the Substack writer says.

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Meet The Queer Buddhist Life Coach Encouraging Your Kids To Hide Their Sexuality From You - Daily Caller

You've read every relationship and dating advice there is and you thought you had them down to a T. But, for some reason, you always find yourself in toxic relationships.

So, you say to yourself, "Why is this happening to me? Why do I always attract toxic people that hurt me?"

It's very important to realize that nothing ever just happens to us. We create it with our own choices, and that includes choosing to be in a toxic relationship and ignoring the signs of an unhealthy relationship.

If you want that aspect to change, you also have to make a few changes tostop toxic people from coming into your life.

RELATED:15 Glaring Signs You're Attracting Unhealthy Love & And How To Change Your Patterns

Do you put yourself down? Are you hard on yourself? Are you hurting or neglecting yourself?

If so, you will attract more of that negativity. It's important to treat yourself right and know your value so you will attract others who value you as well.

Do you not speak up when someone says or does something you don't like and just let it happen? Are you staying in a job or another situation you hate?

We are whole beings so choices we make in one area of our life will carry over into other areas. So many people tell themselves that they have to stay in a bad situation but no one tells them that they don't have to.

There is always something you can do to start getting yourself out of it and into something better for you. The key is you have to take some new actions to get there. That can be scary and it's the reason why so many people stay miserable but, in the end, it's always worth the effort.

RELATED:Why So Many Incredible Women Are Drawn To Selfish & Narcissistic Men

When you sacrifice yourself, you will attract people that you will need to sacrifice yourself for.

How you love and respect yourself will be directly reflected in how others will treat you. If you don't treat yourself well, no one else will either.

Show who you are, don't hide it. If you hide who you are and put on a front you will only attract people that align with who you are pretending to be which will never be right for you.

RELATED:Be True To Yourself: The Power & Importance Of Authenticity

Face your issues and fully deal with your past so you can move forward. Anything not fully processed and dealt with will hold you back and hinder attracting the right people to you.

You can never move forward if you are still in the past. Until you deal with your past, similar situations will keep repeating in your life over and over until you finally do deal with it so the sooner the better. Of course, it can be hard to face these things but it ends up being more painful in the long run if we don't.

Always focus on the energy of your choices. If you make choices out of sacrifice you will get more sacrifice in your life. If you make choices out of love and for yourself you will get more love.

Every choice we make has a consequence so focus on making choices that result in good consequences!

RELATED:How To Overcome Past Trauma So It Doesn't Destroy Your Current Relationship

Kristine Carlsonis a psychic medium, advanced soul-realignment practitioner, life coach, and author.

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Life Coach Reveals 6 Harsh Reasons You Keep Attracting Toxic Relationships - YourTango

There is plenty of dating advice out there but if you want to specifically know how to find love and attract a potential relationship in your life, you need to know if you're doing the right thing.

Ask yourself: Are your actions attracting love or blocking it from your life?

The Law of Attraction states that we all have "the ability to attract into our lives whatever we are focusing on." So, if you're attracted to a person and want them to feel the same way, you can.

However, finding love requires some inner work.

RELATED:3 Simple Ways To Attract Your Dream Man Using The Law Of Attraction

This may seem cliche but it is so important when you're dating and looking for love. If you don't love yourself orare always putting yourself down, you will only attract those whowon't truly love you and who will also put you down.

How you treat yourself will be directly reflected in who you attract to you. Learn to admire yourself and be confident! Be in love with yourself!

Don't compare yourself to others love your amazing qualities! Confidence attracts love. Think about it, do you want someone who is insecure and down on themselves all the time? No, you want someone who is confident! If you aren't confident in yourself, no one else can be either!

Work through any insecurities you have and know that you are exactly who you should be. Love is attracted to fun and confidence. Let down the walls you have built up, love yourself, and have some fun!

RELATED:10 Things You're Doing Because You're Finally Starting To Love Yourself

Unfortunately, love only comes when you least expect it and aren't looking for it. When you are desperately looking for love, an energy of desperation comes through and that can never attract love.

Focus on finding happiness within yourself first and put your energy into that instead. Happiness can only be found within yourself.

You cannot be holding on to an ex or be stuck in the past and expect to also move forward with love. So really look back and be sure you have fully moved forward. Work through and close any past chapters so you can be free to move forward.

You can never move forward if part of you is still stuck in the past. Look into all areas of your past, not just relationships.

Are there emotions you haven't dealt with and things you haven't faced yet? Focus on settling those things so you can free yourself up for love!

Holding onto the past only takes up the space where lovegoes. Empty that space so you are ready for love!

RELATED:How To Let Go Of Past Relationship Trauma So You Can Be Vulnerable & Find New Love

Be yourself! Let your true self be free! Hiding or being secretive can never attract true love. That only attracts more secretiveness and attracts those who can't be attracted to your true self which always ends badly.

Always speak up and say how you feel, never push anything under the rug or ignore any red flags. You must be your authentic self to attract authentic love.

Don't ever go into a relationshipthinking you need to be saved. To find love, you need to be whole in yourself first then love is the cherry on top.

Looking for someone to save you will only turn into an unbalanced and unhealthy relationship. Remember only you can save yourself no one else can do that for you.

These dating tips may sound simple but they require your full attention and effort. And when you've done them, you're finally ready to love and attract the right person to your life.

RELATED:The Law Of Attraction Secret That Will Help Make Your Dreams Come True

Kristine Carlsonis a psychic medium, advanced soul-realignment practitioner, life coach, and author.

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Life Coach Reveals The 5 Less-Obvious Ways To Attract Genuine Love - YourTango

No, absolutely not, Cox says. I always tell people I am a budget queen. Its all about educating yourself about whole foods like beans, chickpeas and lentils, which are easy to find and cheap.

Its true some meat replacements, like plant-based bacon, may be more expensive. But when you compare it to meat, especially high-quality meat, you realise that is also incredibly expensive.

According to a recent study conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, weekly grocery costs decrease by 16% on a vegan diet. Whole foods tend to provide better value for money and better nutrition compared to meat-based alternatives or vegetarian processed options.

Myth busting: what if it doesnt taste as good?

This is no concern for vegan foodies, according to Cox. Thats a big misconception about vegan diets. I can assure you, in my experience you are not missing out on flavour.

A lot of the meals you already eat and plan in your every day, as she points out, have the benefit of being accidentally vegan from your pasta favourites to a multitude of sweet bakes.

And there is nothing wrong in having a primarily plant-based diet with exceptions, whether it is cheese you cant do without and want to indulge in every now and then, or a Nandos takeaway.

People feel like its an all-or-nothing situation, but it doesnt have to be that. You dont even have to label yourself as vegan you can choose to have a mainly plant-based diet and adapt it to what works for you.

So is the cost of living crisis a barrier or an incentive to go vegan in 2024?

Among the items with price points worst affected by inflation are yoghurt (12%), fish (10%), cheese (9%), meat (10%) and eggs by as much as a staggering 50%.

It is such a smart move for people to decide to go vegan now, Cox says. Youre winning on all aspects: youre saving money, eating healthier, and saving the planet.

Starting with whole foods and fresh items can help you budget effectively both through meal planning and by making zero-waste solutions easier in everyday shopping and cooking.

Veganuary is only one way people are embracing better sustainability practices. A survey on ethical consumer behaviour led by Thinks Insight Strategy found that while 81% of respondents are concerned about the cost of living crisis, nearly 90% took steps towards a more conscious and sustainable lifestyle in 2023.

According to lead researcher Jon Edwards, cost and price are the biggest perceived barrier for people who want to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle, be it about switching to a plant-based diet or buying second-hand clothes.

Interestingly, topping the list of 2024 New Years resolutions is buying food without plastic packaging, with 37% of respondents giving this as their top sustainability priority, followed by 23% aiming to buy locally sourced or grown food.

Whether for Veganuary or as part of an ongoing sustainable revolution, ethical consumption seems to be at the forefront of UK minds heading into 2024.

Simply Vegan Baking by Freya Cox is out now (Murdoch, 18.99). You can buy it fromThe Big Issue shopon Bookshop.org, which helps to support The Big Issue and independent bookshops.

This article is taken from The Big Issue magazine, which exists to give homeless, long-term unemployed and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy!

If you cannot reachyour local vendor, you can still clickHEREto subscribe to The Big Issue or give a giftsubscription. You can also purchase one-off issues fromThe Big Issue Shopor The Big Issue app, available now from theApp StoreorGoogle Play

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Will the cost of living crisis make us all go vegan? - The Big Issue

Elizabeth Douglas | Wealth of Geeks

Adopting a vegan diet can drop the household food bill by as much as 16%, potentially saving $500 or more per year. Veganism is widely recognized as a more environmentally sustainable, healthy, and ethical dietary choice. Now, cost saving can be added to this list.

Minimize Substitutes

Mock meat, dairy, and eggs are the plant-based versions of the animal alternatives. The retail price tag reflects the additional cost to develop and produce these faux foods. Good Food Industry reports that plant-based meats are two-thirds more expensive than animal meat. And plant-based egg prices are more than double their animal counterparts. Mock substitute products can be considered a treat, like the caviar of plant-based food. Save them as the focal point for a special meal, or for those occasions when available time trumps the cost.

Stick To Basics

Although substitute products may be convenient, they arent a necessity. Experts want people to know that a vegan diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans is good for health and the budget.

We hope it becomes common knowledge that eating a vegan diet based on fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans and avoiding meat, dairy, and other animal products will help you save money and stay healthy, explained Hana Kahleova, Ph.D., director of clinical research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, when discussing their new research with Nutrition Insight.

Hannah Coyne, campaign manager for The Vegan Society, says, Our cost-comparison research found that vegan protein sources such as lentils, peanut butter, and beans are some of the cheapest food options.

A whole food, plant-based diet centered around vegetables, grains, legumes, and fruits can be highly affordable if planned correctly, and is generally less affected by inflationary trends. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price per pound for ground beef is $5.22 more than triple that of beans, which are just $1.63 per pound. In addition, beef has increased by 8.1% in the last year, whereas the price for dried beans has dropped by 3% despite the current inflationary market.

Make It Taste Good

Theres no denying that a wholefood plant-based diet is a significant change from the average American diet, which is low in fruits and vegetables and high in fat and sodium, according to the Missouri Medicine Journal. Transforming your diet overnight might be inspiring, but it probably wont last too long. An enjoyable, sustainable transition needs some planning.

Long-term change is essential to have a meaningful impact on your bank account and your health. Recreating familiar foods that you enjoy is a key step. Begin by thinking of your favorite meals, then swap out the meat, dairy, or eggs for cheaper wholefood alternatives. For example, instead of chicken curry, try chickpea curry.

Craving buffalo wings? Try cauliflower wings instead. Finding an option you like might take a few attempts, but stick with it, and youll reap the rewards. Families, in particular, will benefit from a gradual transition. Giving family members time to adjust helps sidestep the risk of people expecting different meals.

Shop Smart

Smart shopping is a crucial element in maintaining a budget-friendly vegan diet. Embrace local markets and seasonal produce for the best deals. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are cheaper and at their peak flavor and nutritional value. Take a look inside Asian and South Asian stores for unique ingredients like spices and grains that are often pricier when purchased in mainstream supermarkets.

Comparing prices and being open to shopping at different stores or finding bulk deals can lead to significant savings. Shopping online for private-label pantry staples can also be a way to save extra money. As a bonus, buying canned or dried beans, legumes, and rice with a long shelf life will also mean less food waste.

Meal Prep

Meal prepping is an efficient way to save both time and money. Dedicate a day to prepare meals for the week and prioritize high-protein options like tofu scramble to keep you full and satisfied. This approach minimizes the temptation of impromptu takeouts or expensive convenience foods.

Writing out your weekly meals provides a helpful diet overview and will make it easier to meet your nutritional needs. As long as they are appropriately planned, vegan diets can be healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may even help prevent certain diseases, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Batch cooking and freezing portions ensure you always have quick, healthy meals on hand. Meal prepping also allows you to buy ingredients in bulk, which is often more cost-effective. By planning your meals, you can ensure a varied and balanced diet, reducing food wastage and making the most of every grocery purchase.

This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

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Cut Costs, Not Flavor: 5 Ways To Save Money on Vegan Diet in 2024 - Cut Costs, Not Flavor: 5 Ways To Save Money ... - New York Daily News

By Sauce Staff // December 28, 2023

This week onthe Sauce podcast,Michelle and Meera discuss Hidden Gem, the new "disco dive bar" in Midtown St. Louis.Hidden Gems inclusive attitude and affection for glitter were the initial draw, but drinks like Barbie With A Buzz Cut their take on an espresso martini with reposado tequila and the charming Boot Scootin Boogie, a beer served in a boot-shaped glass with an accompanying shot, prove that this bar is much more than an aesthetic treat.

They also discuss two vegan spots, South City stalwart SweetArt and the newly-opened Looking Meadow Cafe in Maplewood. At SweetArt, they chat about iconic vegan desserts like The Maine Event and their fudgy vegan brownie. From Looking Meadow Cafe, the biscuits and gravy and garlicky quiche cups were standouts. The conversation also takes in several forthcoming spots Meera and Michelle are looking forward to trying in the new year, including Brasas in the Delmar Loop, Taqueria Moritas permanent location in the Central West End, and Telva at the Ridge in Webster Groves.

Click hereto listen to this week's episode of the Sauce podcast, and be sure to check out the previous episodes as well.

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This week on the Sauce podcast: Hidden Gem, vegan cafes and where we'll be eating in 2024 - Sauce Magazine