Do you find grocery shopping for vegan food difficult?
It doesn’t have to be!
Walking up and down the produce isles and filling our carts with vibrant, colorful fruits and vegetables can be pure joy! We also recognize that every item that we put in our grocery cart is a choice — to feed wellness or foster sickness.
So, as they say in the movies, “Choose Wisely!”
Or, as the renowned plant-based doctor and driving force of NutritionFacts.org , Dr. Michael Gregar says: “We should all be eating fruits and vegetables as if our lives depend on it –because they do.”
Here are our Top 6 Tips to Make Vegan Grocery Shopping Simple:
- Write your grocery shopping list ahead of time. Remember, being organized is a great form of self-care. As the profound saying goes: failing to plan is planning to fail. Set yourself up for success with a detailed shopping list. Members of the Vegan News Daily cooking series all receive detailed shopping lists for each of our cooking classes to make their shopping easier.
- Don’t go to the grocery store with an empty stomach! We make some of the worst decisions when we are hungry and undernourished. You want to be able to grocery shop with a clear mind that is focused on your long-term wellness goals.
- Shop the perimeter of the store first. Fill your cart with produce and choose products with minimal ingredients. Look to see if salt, sugar and oil have been added to products. Even better, consider this quote from plant-based doctor, Dr. Joel Fuhrman: “The most important thing to remember about food labels is that you should avoid foods that have labels.”
- Research vegan/cruelty-free brands ahead of time that you can trust and want to support.
- Look for products that have the “Certified Vegan” logo. If the product is simply labeled “vegan” or “contains no animal ingredients,” do not take that as a guarantee. Make sure to read the full ingredient list and find out for yourself.
- Shop locally and buy organic—if possible. Especially prioritize buying the dirty dozen produce organically. If you cannot afford all organic produce, remember that you can purchase the clean fifteen fruit and vegetables conventionally. Go to your local Farmer’s Markets and get to know who is growing your produce and under what conditions!
- Want to save money on groceries? Start growing your own sprouts at home! Find out how to get started and become a kitchen farmer in our How to Spout at Home Without Soil video here on YouTube. And, find out all the instructions on how to sprout here on our website.
