About to go grocery shopping- what EXCITING, new items should I add to my diet?
Posted by rediscoverlife81 on Jun 14, 2009 · Member since Feb 2009 · 101 posts
I eat a lot of spaghetti and tofu sandwiches. I want to spice things up. I am tired of rice and beans and potato chips.
What exciting, inexpensive items can I buy from the grocery store that will spice up my boring food rut?
I am allergic to nuts, btw.
Local in season produce. I can still get kale for 79cents a pound but now I can get strawberries too! Look at the awesome asparagus or broccoli. Buy some mushrooms and make something fabulous with their hearty savory goodness. Buy some plantains and make awesome tosteones.
I think my cart is usually 50% full of fresh veggies when I go to the store. It just makes making dinners that much more fun.
Get fixings for stir fry, salad, tacos, pasta salad, coconut black beans, and if you are feeling fancy splurge on fixings for a feast of veggies to roast and serve over a quinoa and orzo pilaf.
thank you cali, that was very helpful. I am definitely trying to add more fresh fruits and veggies to my diet. I want to have everything sort of centered around veggies.
I always aim to try one a fruit or veggie each week, it forces me to try new recipes and new foods at the same time.
Do you cook with tempeh or seitan? If you dont, or not that often, get some and experiment! (or just get the vital wheat gluten and make your own seitan!)
I recently fell in love with both of them :)>>>
It just kind of depends on where you are though with the prices of them. But i also vote for lots of fresh veggies!! Mmm.
Get some good vegan cookbooks and pick out a new recipe every week or so. It forces you to try new meals and foods! I try to have a rice meal for lunch and a pasta meal for dinner. I include veggies & beans in both meals and fruits are a great snack (not potato chips dear!) Your protein staples like tofu, tempeh (soy products) and wheat gluten can be added every so often too. I like avacados for the summer. Try it sliced on salad or in a veggie sandwich. or you can try a chinese meal and pick up some chinese veggies and stirfry over brown rice and some low sodium soy sauce, fresh ginger and garlic. Always easy and yummy! Good luck!
My mom made me the BEST pasta ever the other night (and I can't wait for dinner cause I'm eating the left overs.)
instead of spaghetti, it was little hollow noodles. and they were whole wheat.
she made the sauce with a store bought jar of tamato sauce with fresh spinach, mushrooms, and canned artichokes.
it was amazinggggggggggggggg.
so easy too, but these were all my favorite veggies combined with my favorite dish.
Do you cook with tempeh or seitan? If you dont, or not that often, get some and experiment! (or just get the vital wheat gluten and make your own seitan!)
I recently fell in love with both of them :)>>>
It just kind of depends on where you are though with the prices of them. But i also vote for lots of fresh veggies!! Mmm.
I don't think I've ever tried tempeh or seitan. What section of the grocery store would I find these in?
It's usually with the tofu/meatless/fake cheese stuff in the produce or dairy section of your grocery store. BUT tempeh and seitan are usually only found in speacialty stores, health food stores, whole foods, etc.
at least in Austin, TX that is true.
My publix just got tempeh, its near the tofu, but for some reason at my store its like, mixed in with veggies. I know whole foods and health food stores normally have them.
You can buy vital wheat gluten and make your own seitan if you can't find it (i find it with the health/greenwise section of the publix here, it might be around baking things if not.
I'd ask the produce people about them if you cant find them, if not request that they get them in stock (it could work!)
do you have an asian or international market near you? If so, there is all kinds of fun stuff to try. Try cooking with cans of jack fruit. Cook it in the crock pot with different spices. It has the consistency of shredded pork and will take on the flavor of what is added to it.
do you have an asian or international market near you? If so, there is all kinds of fun stuff to try. Try cooking with cans of jack fruit. Cook it in the crock pot with different spices. It has the consistency of shredded pork and will take on the flavor of what is added to it.
canned jackfruit is not vegan-- it contains honey! just like baklava babe <------------------------- <-0-0>
There are kinds without honey. Just read the ingredients.
Dalida, I mean drummer boy is just trying to start a fight
Dalida, I mean drummer boy is just trying to start a fight
dave bizzo.....if you don't know now you know
I'd forgotten about this thread! I'm going to a big whole foods today and now an addition to my list = tempeh (never tried)