How to Create a Weekly Vegetarian Shopping Checklist

Being a vegetarian requires that you eat special foods. That doesn’t mean that you don’t eat as well as an omnivore. It just means that you have cut out meat and meat by-products from your diet. Your way of eating is definitely healthier and more selective. It is a life choice that does mean, however, that you have to be more aware of what you put into your body. As such, you need to spend a little extra time and effort in planning what you eat and in your weekly shopping.

Before you create your weekly shopping list, you should sit down and set up a menu plan for the week. When you do this, have a copy of the Vegetarian Food Pyramid in front of you so that you can refer to it. You will want to have it on hand to ensure that your meals include all the daily requirements for you to stay healthy. You may also want to have a few cookbooks or recipes on hand so that the meals you prepare are tasteful and varied.

When you have your week’s menus planned out, then you need to check to see which items you have on hand in your cupboards. For instance, you may have found a great recipe for Curried Tofu that you are dying to try for Wednesday night’s supper. Make sure that you have all the ingredients the recipe calls for in your cupboards. Do you have the curry powder and coconut milk so that you can make the dish without having to run out to the grocery store at the last minute? If not, include that on your shopping list.

Before completing your shopping list, you may also want to ensure that you have food for your lunches, breakfast and snacks as well. When you make out your weekly menu plan, these meals and snacks should also be included. It is easier to stick to your vegetarian diet if you bring your own lunch to work, or at least plan ahead where you will be eating to get the food you know you can eat.

Snacks are important to include on your weekly shopping list as well. Have appropriate snacks available for the taking so you are not hungry. Have fruit or veggie sticks on hand to grab when you are ‘peckish’. Ensure that other snacks, such as protein bars, are available to boost your protein intake.

When you take your weekly shopping list to the grocery store, be armed with your research and information about how to read food package labels. You want to ensure that the food you buy complies with your vegetarian diet rules.

Use a regular weekly checklist when you go grocery shopping. It is easy to make one up on your computer. List all the fruits and vegetables that you love and eat regularly. Add items to your food product list that you know are appropriate for your vegetarian diet. Also include fresh herbs to add extra flavor to the foods you will be cooking for the week. You should also allow space on the list for new items that become available on the market that are vegetarian-friendly. Refer to your weekly menu plan to add items that may not already be included on the list but that you may need to cook with during that week.

Being a vegetarian means you care about what you eat. It means that you want to have a healthy lifestyle and eat right. By having and following a menu plan, making up a weekly shopping checklist is a must. It ensures that you will include all the foods required to fulfill your daily nutritional requirements, and that you will stick to your vegetarian diet and eat well.

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