Shopping list: essentials for your kitchen

Here I have compiled a list of foods that will allow you to create plant based staples, breakfasts, desserts, lunches, drinks, snacks and everything inbetween!

This post is by no means a list that you should follow step-by-step – it is simply a list of the foods I use most often in order to create dishes that are good for my mind and body.

You could choose to print this list off to take shopping with you. You will find that you will need to duck i and out of shops in order to find all of these: for fruit and vegetables, always support your independent fruit and veg stores. For everything else, support your local health/whole foods store!

Always try to buy fair trade, organic or biodynamic where you can and if you can afford to.
* check for seasonal produce here:(http://eatseasonably.co.uk/what-to-eat-now/calendar/)

Vegetables: 

• Broccoli
• Sweet potato
• Carrots
• Tomatoes
• Butternut squash
• Courgettes
• Onions/red/green onions
• Beetroot
• Kale
• Spinach
• Celery
• Peppers: red/green/yellow

Fruit:

• Lemons
• Limes
• Apples
• Pears
• Bananas
• Avocado
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Raspberries (optional: frozen)
• Blueberries (optional: frozen)

Fridge:

• Hummus
• Milk of your choice (organic dairy, coconut, rice, hemp, soya)
• Olive spread
• Dijon mustard
• Non – Dairy milk

Vinegars:

• Apple cider vinegar
• White wine vinegar
• Balsamic vinegar

Spices/seasonings:

• Cumin
• Paprika
• Oregano
• Basil
• Parsley
• Turmeric
• Cinnamon
• Cayenne
• Garam Masala
• Rosemary
• Cloves
• Cardamom
• Thyme
• Star Anise
• Vanilla Extract
• Garlic
• Black pepper
• Sea Salt (Mardon’s. Always Mardon’s).

Oils/fats/spreads:

• Raw extra virgin coconut oil
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Coconut milk
• Peanut butter
• Tahini

Beans/pulses/grains:

• Millet
• Raw buckwheat groats
• Quinoa (you can now buy british quinoa- yay!)
• Chickpeas
• Lentils: red & green
• Butter beans
• Black beans
• Cannellini beans
• Brown/white rice
• Cous cous

Nuts & seeds:

• Cashews
• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Pumpkin seeds
• Linseeds/flaxseeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Chia seeds

Flours/baking:

• Buckwheat flour
• Spelt flour
• Gluten free baking powder
• Bicarbonate of soda
• Yeast
• Dessicated coconut
• Vanilla essence
• Almond essence

Powders: (can be found cheaper online)

• Raw Organic Cacao Powder
• Raw Organic Maca Powder
• Wheatgrass Powder
• Carob powder

There we have it: is there anything that you can’t live without that isn’t listed here? Comment below!

If you do not currently eat plant based, vegan or vegetarian, the initial purchase of most of these products will cost a lot. However, a lot of the powders, nuts, seeds, flours, oils, butters e.t.c will last you forever. To save money, buy your beans/grains/pulses in bulk.