Hi guys! Thanks so much for visiting my new blog! I’m so excited to use this new space to share my thoughts and ideas with you. One of the most common questions I receive on Instagram is “what is your grocery shopping list?” So, I thought I would share with you my approach to grocery shopping as a whole and then I will share my general list below.
It’s so important to me to have healthy food in my apartment because if not, it’s really easy (especially in NYC) to order take-out or go out to eat. Now while I definitely appreciate the convenience of ordering in or dining out once in a while, I find that it’s much more difficult to control the way your food is prepared. Usually restaurants are really accommodating when it comes to my plant-based diet.
However, the food is much more likely to contain extra oil/salt/sugar that I would never cook with at home. More importantly, it’s not cheap to dine out or order in! This is one of the main reasons I taught myself how to cook 3 years ago when my fiancé, Nick, and I first moved in together.
With that said, when it comes to food shopping, the truth is I never really use a list. I usually ask Nick if he wants anything in particular and usually he just says “a lot of veggies” which pretty much sums up my approach to grocery shopping. When I go in the grocery store (usually Trader Joe’s) I spend 90% of my time in the produce section. I have my go-to greens and veggies but I really like to see what looks freshest. I usually end up with generally the same items but I also like to try new fruits, vegetables or choose seasonal items (I am anxiously awaiting fig season).
I also want to note my approach to organic vs non-organic. I always try to buy organic when possible. I especially focus on organic berries and leafy greens which tend to have more pesticides. I also do take price into consideration so I’m definitely not buying 100% organic.
After I’ve filled my cart with mostly vegetables and some fruits, I have an honest conversation with myself about what “staples” or packaged foods I need. I’m going to list some of my staples below for reference. I know from experience that if I roam the inside aisles aimlessly it can be really easy to end up buying prepackaged and typically more unhealthy foods that I really didn’t need. I’m talking cookies, crackers, chips. The usual suspects with tons of sugar and salt. I’ve been following this way of shopping for a couple of years now so those things aren’t AS tempting to me as they once were. That being said, I definitely need to remind myself to put down the veggie tortilla chips from time to time.
I hope you guys find the lists below helpful! I don’t buy all of these items every time I go shopping but they are things that I purchase on a regular basis. Please feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts or questions. I would love to know if you enjoyed this and want more blog posts!
Produce
Kale
Spinach
Arugula
Mixed Greens
Cucumbers
Asparagus
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Peas
String beans
Edamame
Carrots
Bok Choy
Red Bell Peppers
Shiitake Mushrooms
Portobello Mushrooms
Sweet Potatoes
Purple Sweet Potatoes
Russet Potatoes
Butternut Squash
Delicata Squash
Red Onion
Avocados (and lots of them)
Raspberries
Blueberries
Blackberries
Strawberries
Honeycrisp Apples
Staples
Unsweetened almond milk
Ezekiel bread
Quinoa
Brown Rice
White Rice
Gluten Free Pasta
Chickpeas (low sodium canned)
Black beans (low sodium canned)
White beans (low sodium canned)
Raw Cashews
Raw Almonds
Unsalted Peanuts
Unsalted Macadamia nuts
Unsalted Pistachios
Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
Hempseeds
Flaxseeds
Ground Flaxseed
Green Tea
Black Pepper
Sea Salt
Avocado Oil
Coconut Oil
Marinara Sauce
Tahini
Sriracha
Cinnamon
Ginger
Chili flakes
Turmeric
Cacao
Maca
Maple Syrup
Kalamata Olives
Dark Chocolate
Kombucha
I just became vegan within the lasy year and I still struggle as what foods to buy. This helps so much. Thank you.
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That’s awesome! Thank you so much Melissa!
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Thanks so much for this blog post and the list. It’s very helpful!
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P.S. Could you, please, add the email subscription option to your blog, so that I can sign up and be notified when you publish a new post? Thanks! 🙂
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Of course! Thank you so much! : )
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This is awesome!! I would love some recipes for the healthy dressings & sauces you use to flavor your veggies & bowls✨ Thank you!!
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Great. Thank you Holly!
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Thank you for this post. This reminded what to buy the next time I’m at the grocery store!!
*taking notes
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This post could not have come at a better time because I was just about to contact you and ask you about your approach to grocery shopping. A friend and I are a huge fans of yours and love following you on IG. We were just chatting today about how expensive it might be to eat your fabulous bowls all week. Trader Joe’s definitely helps keeps things budget friendly:) thanks so much for the insight!
I know you mentioned it in some previous IG posts, but how far ahead do you food prep?
One other random question: I believe you’ve mentioned that you make homemade tahini too, how long does that last in the fridge?
Thanks for your time and I’m excited to follow your blog!
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