In a perfect world, we could all cook every single meal of the day, and each meal would be colorful, healthy and delicious. I went through a “foodie phase” where I kept up a food blog and posted recipes almost every day. As much as I loved being in a place where I could cook all the time, it simply isn’t practical for my busy lifestyle, which I am sure you can all relate to. Practicing yoga has taught me about finding balance in every area of my life — including the kitchen. That’s why my grocery list is healthy, but prioritizes simplicity.

 

Protein-Rich Kale Salad

When I first became vegan, one of my favorite dishes in Nashville was the black bean burger on top of a kale salad at Burger Up. I try to recreate this at home by always keeping frozen veggie burgers on hand and plenty of dark, leafy greens. My favorite way to prepare kale is to pulse it in a food processor and massage it with olive oil. I drizzle my salads with lemon juice or balsamic vinegar and top them with almonds, hemp seeds, pepitas, cherry tomatoes, and roasted chickpeas. My favorite veggie burgers are the Engine 2 brand from Whole Foods—this is always a brand I can trust to be clean and nutritious.

 

Asian-Inspired Entrees

Asian is my favorite type of cuisine, and there are so many great dishes you can make vegan. Instead of spending time finding specific recipes, I gather some essential ingredients and get creative. You can make a coconut curry noodle soup with vegetable broth, coconut milk, red curry paste, rice noodles, and veggies. You can make stir-fry noodles with the easiest DIY sauce—peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a splash of rice vinegar. My favorite go-to dish is a brown rice bowl with tofu and veggies roasted or stir-fried in my DIY sauce. I top the bowl with crushed peanuts, bean sprouts, scallions, and sesame seeds. When I’m in a hurry, I’ll cook a packaged organic ramen packet (Lotus Foods is a good brand) and add in my own veggies and tofu.

When it comes to veggies, I always see what I can buy frozen to preserve shelf life and to skip the step of chopping the vegetables. You can use fresh garlic and ginger, but for ease I often buy the jars of garlic and ginger to skip additional peeling and chopping.

 

Easy Vegan Tacos

One of the easiest things I make throughout the week are vegan tacos. I love Siete Food’s cashew flour tortillas. I fill my tacos with any combination of sautéed tofu, onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms. I make fresh guacamole by simply mixing avocado, lemon juice, cumin, and salt and pepper. I always apply a layer of the avocado mixture to my tortillas first so that the veggies stay put! Top with hot sauce and fresh cilantro.

 

Smoothie Staples

Smoothies make a quick breakfast, and you can pack in a lot of protein and vitamins into one easy drink. I always have bananas, frozen blueberries, pea milk (Ripple), hemp seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds, maca powder, spirulina, and other superfoods on hand to make an energizing blend.

 

The Essentials

The essentials are items I never run low on. I always have coconut water to refuel my body with electrolytes, especially after hot yoga. For snacking I roast chickpeas or sweet potatoes, and I keep hummus and bell peppers on hand. When it comes to coffee, it really is quicker (and cheaper!) to make it at home. My favorite local brand is Revelator, available at Whole Foods and Turnip Truck.

 

And, Finally, My Grocery List

My vegan grocery list includes plenty of healthy items, but it does not shy away from the freezer aisle. It includes ingredients for easy vegan recipes (like those listed above) that you can make throughout the week.

  •  Produce:
    • Kale, or other dark, leafy greens
    • Cherry tomatoes
    • Snap peas
    • Bell peppers
    • Red onion
    • Onion
    • Mushrooms
    • Avocado
    • Scallions
    • Cilantro
    • Mung bean sprouts
    • Bananas
    • Garlic (jarred)
    • Ginger (jarred)
  • Vegan Specialty Items:
    • Extra firm tofu
    • Pea milk (Ripple)
  • Pantry:
    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Bottle of lemon juice
    • Balsamic vinegar
    • Rice vinegar
    • Hot sauce
    • Himalayan pink salt
    • Black pepper
    • Cumin
    • Peanut butter
    • Soy sauce
    • Red curry paste
    • Slivered almonds
    • Hemp seeds
    • Chia seeds
    • Flaxseeds
    • Pepitas
    • Maca powder
    • Spirulina
    • Peanuts
    • Sesame seeds
    • Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
    • Coconut milk (canned)
    • Brown rice
    • Rice noodles
    • Ramen packet (Lotus Foods)
    • Vegetable broth
  • Freezer:
    • Tortillas (Siete Foods)
    • Frozen veggie burgers (Engine 2)
    • Frozen broccoli
    • Frozen edamame
    • Frozen cauliflower
    • Frozen blueberries

Stock up, and enjoy.