Transform grocery shopping from a chore into something that’s fun again! With an efficient plan and a list that leaves no aisle unexplored, we’ll have you ready for your next #FarmBoyHaul.
If you’re living your best plant-based life, our Farm Boy stores are ready to help! We pride ourselves on being able to offer a variety of tasty foods and delicious dishes that accommodate those enjoying a vegan lifestyle. From vegan pantry staples to plant-based proteins to sweet treats, there are wholesome vegan options around every corner. Read on to discover some of our tips, must-haves, and more for your vegan shopping list.
Shopping Tips
- Always organize your shopping list according to items, department, and store layout to maximize efficiency.
- Invest in a set of reusable mesh produce bags. (This not only reduces usage of single-use plastics, but helps fruits and vegetables last longer by allowing gases to escape.)
- Remember to bring your reusable grocery bags or boxes from home!
- Purchase ingredients that are multi-purpose and can be used in more than one dish. This allows you to increase the value of what you buy!
- Choose fruits and vegetables that vary in terms of ripening times. (E.g. Pick up green bananas that will ripen slowly and can be enjoyed throughout the week. If you know you’ll be eating a fruit within the next day or two, choose something that’s closer to ideal ripeness.)
- Take advantage of in-store specials and flyer deals! Certain items can be bought at a higher volume and frozen for later enjoyment.
Vegetables
Vegetables are a cornerstone of most vegan diets thanks to the wide variety of nutritional benefits they provide. For vegans looking to avoid meat substitutes, certain veggies can also provide a more natural replacement. (Grilled portobello mushroom burgers, anyone?) Leafy green veggies like bok choy, spinach, and kale also offer much-needed calcium and iron, which can be lacking in the absence of meat and dairy products.
- Enjoy broccoli cooked or raw.
- Source of vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants.
- Try in soups, stir-fries, salads, and pastas.
- Enjoy potatoes fried, mashed, boiled, or baked.
- Source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- A very versatile veggie, the sky’s the limit with potato dishes!
- Enjoy spinach cooked or raw.
- Rich source of many vitamins and minerals.
- Try spinach in salads, curries, pastas, and soups.
- Enjoy peas cooked or raw.
- Source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Try in pastas, soups, casseroles, and rice dishes.
- Enjoy bell peppers cooked or raw.
- Rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
- Try stuffed peppers, pastas, stir-fries, tacos, and more!
- Enjoy Brussels sprouts raw, roasted, sauteed, or air-fried.
- High source of fibre and vitamins.
- Try in salads, rice dishes, stir-fries, and pastas.
Fruits
Like veggies, fruits offer a delicious assortment of vitamins, minerals, fibre, and more! In addition to being a sweet snack any time of day, fruits can also be used as ingredients in dishes. For example, applesauce is an excellent egg replacer in baked goods. Jackfruit works well as a meat substitute in barbecue sandwiches and stir fries.
- Source of fibre, potassium, and vitamins.
- Enjoy as a snack, in smoothies, desserts, and more!
- Purchase green bananas at the store for a longer period of enjoyment.
- Loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and fibre.
- Enjoy as a snack, in salads, smoothies, jams, and more!
- Berries should be among the first fruit consumed from your grocery haul.
- A stone fruit with similarities to peaches.
- Enjoy as a snack, in salads, smoothies, desserts, jams, and more!
- Stone fruits like nectarines should be bought at varying degrees of ripeness.
- Source of fibre, antioxidants, and vitamins.
- Can be enjoyed raw or cooked, and used as a baking substitution.
- Different varieties are available year-round!
- Source of fibre, healthy fats, and vitamins.
- A great baking substitute for butter.
- A ripe avocado yields to gentle pressure and has a purple-black colour.
- Source of protein, fibre, and vitamins.
- An excellent meat replacement for BBQ sandwiches and tacos.
- Jackfruit can be eaten cooked or raw, in sweet or savoury dishes.
Tip: Select a variety of fruits and vegetables with a range of degrees of ripeness and ripening times. This will give you more options throughout the week!
Plant-Based Protein
Dairy Alternatives
Just because you’re vegan, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the benefits and uses of dairy products. At Farm Boy, we have an extensive array of plant-based alternatives for milk, butter, and cheese. Some of our top picks are below:
Milk Alternative:
Farm Boy™ Organic Coconut Milk: Rich and creamy, coconut milk works well in cooking and baking recipes or as a base for milkshakes and smoothies.
Other popular milk alternatives in a vegan diet are almond, oat, soy, rice, hemp, and flax milks.
Butter Alternative:
Farm Boy™ Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil: Light and versatile, coconut oil is an excellent butter replacement in baking, and does well in high-heat cooking.
Other popular butter alternatives are vegetable-based oils, avocados, and plant-based butters.
Cheese Alternative:
We have an extensive list of cheese alternatives for all your cooking and snacking needs. With incredible meltability and an amazing texture remarkably similar to the real thing, try them all! Some of our faves are:
- Farm Boy™ Vegan Poutine Style Curd Cheese Alternative
- Farm Boy™ Vegan Parmesan Style Shredded Cheese Alternative
- Farm Boy™ Vegan Swiss Style Sliced Cheese Alternative
Vegan Pantry Staples
Keep your cupboards stocked with these vegan pantry staples that can form the building blocks of a meal. Aside from sweets and snacks (more on those below), these staples can usually be purchased in bulk and are versatile enough to work in multiple dishes.
A great source of plant-based protein, nut and seed butters can be used in sweet and savoury vegan recipes, or as a spread on your morning toast!
Add a cheesy, umami flavour boost to your dishes with this protein-packed seasoning option that’s also a source of Vitamin B12.
A staple in many dishes, choose from our wide array of rice options as a base for your favourite vegan stir-fries, poke bowls, and more.
An excellent vegan pantry staple, oats aren’t just for breakfast! High in fibre, they make a great addition to cookies, smoothies, or as a way to make your own oat milk!
Quinoa has quickly become a must-have for any vegan pantry. High in protein, fibre, and iron, try this grain in burgers, salads, stir-fries, and more.
Plant-Based Sweets
In our stores, you’ll discover a wide selection of plant-based sweets. From cakes to cookies to ice creams, satisfy your sweet tooth with our extensive vegan varieties.
Vegan Snacks
Satisfy your cravings by picking up any of our wholesome plant-based snacks! In addition to deliciously fresh fruits and vegetables, our stores are stocked with loads of yummy vegan chips, dips, and more.
Frozen Options
Vegan Pizza: A quick and easy comfort food, pizza is one you don’t have to miss if you’re switching to a vegan diet. We have three flavours available, all made with delicious toppings and a crispy cauliflower crust.
Meat Substitutes: Meat substitutes are an excellent, easy way to add a plant-based alternative to your diet. Our Beef-Less Tenders and Chicken-Less Nuggets are delicious in stews, curries, stir-fries, and more.
Dumplings: Pillowy pockets packed with savoury fillings, try our vegan flavours of Perogies (Fried Onion and Sauerkraut) or our Kimchi Dumplings for a tasty weeknight meal.
Vegan Meals: If you’re just dipping a toe (or a tastebud) into the plant-based life, pick up one of our frozen vegan meals. Featuring a vegan protein, bright veggies, and fragrant rice, choose between Kung Pao or Tikka Masala.