vegetarian shopping list

I googled and didn't get the results I wanted. I also looked here and didn't find anything, so if this ends up being a repost I'm sorry!

Let's pretend for just a moment that the pantry monster has raided your kitchen and devoured every single edible substance in there. After punishing said monster, you need to go to the grocery store and restock. What are you gonna buy?

(Really, I'd like to know because I've been living off of junk and prepackaged foods, and I'd like to have something decent...to do that, I gotta know where to start. Thanks!)

 

Well my pantry monster is shaped like an 11 year old boy & I still haven't caught onto his food-swings yet... so I have to do this more often than you'd think

After running through the produce department for salad/munching veggies & raw fruit snacks, the first things I make sure to toss into my grocery cart are:

pasta - several shapes
brown rice
veggie-friendly bouillon

canned spaghetti sauce (make sure you've got spices at home for extra "oomph")
salsa
black olives
black beans

a baggie of sunflower seeds, almonds or soy nuts
some sort of granola-y bar (for in-the-car munchies)
and corn thins (like a rice cake, but thinner & less crumbly - can use for sandwiches!)

My grocery list changes a TON from week to week - but these are the things that are on nearly every single list!
love,
mom

 

If the kitchen was completely bare I would buy, off the top of my head:



Spices (including but not limited to) oregano, basil, chili powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, cumin, paprika, curry powder, rosemary, thyme, ground coriander, all spice, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, red pepper flakes, cinnamon



Spices can be expensive so buy them as needed instead of all at once.



Any vegetables that look good at the time, but typically (organic if available and not terribly expensive):



Green bell peppers

Onions

Garlic

Mixed greens

Jalapeno peppers

Potatoes

Sweet potatoes or yams

Eggplant

Mushrooms

Carrots

Black olives

Corn (usually frozen)

Peas (frozen)

Broccoli (fresh if it looks good, otherwise frozen)

Tomatoes (usually canned as they taste better than those in the produce section, I grow my own for fresh)

Fresh cilantro



Bananas

Apples

Raisins

Dates

Kiwi

Any other fruit that might spark the interest at the time



Rice (brown, wild, and/or mixed)

Pasta

Beans (dried and/or canned, specifically baked, pinto, red, black and garbanzo beans (chick pea))

Whole wheat flour

White flour

Cornmeal

Whole flaxseed

Untoasted wheat germ

Organic blue corn chips

Peanut butter

Fruit spread/jelly

Rice milk

Green tea

Black tea

Lemon juice

Lime juice

Mustard

Tabasco sauce

Tahini

White vinegar

Apple cider vinegar

Balsamic vinegar

Baking soda

Baking powder

Olive Oil

Molasses

Maple Syrup

Oatmeal



Organic dark chocolate


Most things we try to make from scratch.

 

Moonshyne - just a thought, but if we had an idea of what you liked to eat it might be easier to suggest things to fill YOUR pantry with. See, I like a lot of Italian & Mexican foods with a little Asian every once in awhile. What I would put in my kitchen might not appeal to you at all.

Also, it would be easier to suggest quickie meals & recipes then too!
love,
mom

 

I like mega carbs! I like things that have a lot of texture, I'm not a big fan of soups or curry. see, my problem isn't not knowing what I like, it's just that I don't know where to start. I don't want all this processed stuff anymore. it's expensive, and I've got 4 youngin's to feed. I would like to create my own dinners, but the problem with that it all these recipes I've been looking up require a little of this and that...the thing with that is I don't wanna go buy a certain flour or other stuff, and only use it once in a while (like, less than once a week or two). To me, that's a waste of money. My grand idea was to find out what everyone else thought of as basic staples and elements of food....practical stuff you would need to buy if, oh, say the pantry monster came calling. I've got this giant container of flaxseed, 10 bucks for that mess and the only thing I'm using it on is my peanut butter. I'm just looking to avoid that sort of mistake again.

 

lol... I make everything from scratch and have 7 different types of flour in my freezer. But I do know what you mean!

Mega carbs - sure, no problem! Definitely stock up on pastas, but “splurge” just a bit on things like whole wheat, corn, brown rice or quinoa pastas for just a bit more nutrition… the quinoa happens to have protein in it too, so it’s our favorite

Quick couple-ingredient meals you can make with pasta:
* Macaroni & cheese – cheese, milk, flour & pasta; nothing’s simpler & your kids will love it. For a few colorful mix-ins, you could try cherry tomatoes, frozen peas or shredded carrot.
* Spaghetti – cook up the noodles, and heat a can of Hunt’s spaghetti sauce up with some fresh basil & garlic for extra “zip.” That one’s easy AND cheap! Serve it with a green salad and/or some garlic breadsticks for a “fancy” dinner.
* Taco-ghetti – this is my kids’ favorite – cook up your favorite shaped noodle, and dump in a 16oz jar of salsa. Toss with sliced black olives & salad onions, a can of black beans and a little shredded cheese… (or not) it is SOOO addictive! We like to eat this with cinnamon applesauce for “dessert.”

And there’s your rice too.
* Toss a bag of frozen stir-fry veggies (we like to mix a broccoli blend with a snow pea blend for extra variety) with some brown rice (healthier than white) & your favorite stir-fry sauce… homemade or off-the-shelf. If you get the “minute” brown rice, dinner can be ready in 15 minutes!
* Rice pudding – okay, it’s supposed to be a dessert. But in our house it doubles as a yummy hot breakfast! Cook up your rice & add in ½ as much milk, (tastes great with soy & almond) a dash of vanilla extract and some cinnamon. Bake it for an hour at 325… YUMMY!
* Broccoli/Cauliflower Rice – you have to be able to stomach wheat for this one, but it can even be done in the crockpot! (toss everything in after breakfast, and stir & serve for dinner) Cook up your rice, and dump in a package of frozen broccoli & cauliflower and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Stir everything together, and toss it into the oven for ½ hour at 325. Another kid-friendly quickie recipe.

Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. But you CAN do cooked-at-home veggie meals… they CAN be kid-friendly, and they DON’T have to have a bazillion ingredients!
love,
mom

 

Flaxseed and flours can keep a long time, so if you eventually use all of it you didn't waste anything. If you want to make sure you use a certain ingredient then find several recipes that use it. If you like a few really well, then you are sure to use it up in no time.

For your flaxseed, grind it up and start putting it in about everything. It goes great in breads, pancakes, muffins, etc. I put mine in my oatmeal every morning along with some wheat germ, molasses or maple syrup, and cinnamon. I can be nice sprinkled on salads. It can be used to replace eggs in recipes as well.

I say just jump in there with those recipes that interest you and if you find you have ingredients that aren't being used you can look up things to do with them. After awhile of cooking with fresh ingredients you will learn what you like and what you use. Seeing what other people buy can give you ideas but it may not apply very well to you and your situation.

 

bird's eye microwave veggies
so easy to make and so GOOD!