Cooking from basic ingredients is certainly an economical way to live. The Vegetarian Society has produced school meal planners packed full of delicious veggie recipes. These are available free. Every vitamin and mineral is available in a balanced vegetarian diet. What's more, research has compared a healthy veggie diet to a healthy meat diet and the veggie one was found to be the healthiest.
Many top athletes are vegetarians too.
Whatever diet you have, the important issue is balance. If you have a question do not hesitate to contact the Society either by letter or phone.