The basics: How to shop and store cupboard essentials

Does the prospect of doing your first vegan food shop seem overwhelming? Elizabeth Emery teaches new vegans how to tackle the weekly shop like a pro.

I often get asked about how I manage to cook regularly and make tasty vegan meals throughout the week, and the answer is that it's all in the shopping! Whether they're fresh, frozen or dried I always make sure I have the store cupboard essentials on hand so that I can whip up a meal in no time!

If you're new to plant-based eating and are finding the whole process of cooking nourishing meals a little daunting, I hope this introductory post will help. Below, I've listed my top tips for shopping, followed by my general shopping list - this contains items I usually have in my pantry, fridge or freezer and items that most of my recipes are made from. Dried and frozen items really are the key here - it doesn't matter if you've run out of fresh vegetables, if you've got some dry pasta, a tin of crushed tomatoes and some frozen spinach you can make a healthy and tasty meal.

The list isn't exhaustive, and feel free to buy as much or as little from it as you like, as we all have different tastes. When it comes to dry goods, you definitely don't need to buy all these at once - it's taken me a long time to build this amount up! By all means, stock up on them gradually when you're doing your weekly shop, and eventually, you'll find you've built up quite a store.

Top 5 Shopping Tips

1. Shop less

I recommend doing a big shop once or twice a week, rather than popping out whenever you need ingredients. It makes you more efficient and takes up a lot less time during the week.

2. Use a list

Write a rough meal plan for the week and create a shopping list from that. Then stick to it! I find if I decide what meals I'm going to make in advance it's much easier to plan what ingredients I need to buy. No more ending up with that mouldy bunch of radishes I just couldn't figure out a use for!

3. Don't shop hungry

It goes hand in hand with point 2, but don't shop on an empty stomach. When you're hungry EVERYTHING in the supermarket looks appealing and you'll put all kinds of stuff in your basket. If you shop after eating you'll have a clear head and won't be so tempted by #allthesnacks.

4. Buy good quality

There's no denying it, food can be pricey. It's tempting to buy the cheapest ingredients possible but in my experience, you get what you pay for and it's worth spending a little more on a few items. Take coconut milk: buy the cheapest and you'll end up with a watery liquid that doesn't taste of much, but buy the best quality you can find and it will transform dishes like stews, curries and even ice cream into creamy deliciousness!

5. Shop around

It changes from country to country, but in Canada the prices of food can vary wildly. Organic bananas range from $0.59 per lb to $1.29, depending on the store. It's a big difference, but the lesson is this: shop around for the ingredients you buy regularly. You'll save a lot of money if you get to know your local shops and learn what to buy from where.

Shopping List

Fresh 

Frozen 

Dry