Hello, hello guys! I was about to post another recipe, then remembered I had a grocery haul video sitting on my phone.
Before I chat about the grocery specifics, I’m going to talk briefly about shopping and plastic. After my last video, I had some feedback about “all the plastic” in my shopping.
I talk about this in my video, so have a watch.
But, why even address this?
I address it for others coming into the diet.
Scenario: You are new to eating vegan, or maybe new to eating more whole foods vegan, and watch a video like this vegan grocery haul.
Would it make you second guess your choices?
Would you think it’s wasteful to buy all this produce housed in plastic?
Would that discourage you?
That’s what I want to prevent. Discouraging others from moving into this abundant, healthy, compassionate diet.
At the outset it may appear that we bring in more plastic because of the sheer volume of produce consumed on this diet.
We must remember that eating plant-based is the one effort we can make that has the biggest environmental impact.
Before recording this video I saw a piece about zero waste. It was impressive to say the least. The efforts that some people make to shop without any waste are remarkable. Despite our own family’s commitment to recycling, reusing, and composting, we don’t nearly touch these minimalist efforts.
Though I’m not sure many families can, realistically. For most families it’s an effort to make a meal rather than get take-out.
So, in my efforts to remain realistic – as blissful as my vegan utopian bubble may be – I share this vegan grocery haul.
Plastic and all.
I’d appreciate any thoughts you have, and thanks for reading & watching!
x Dreena
cay snow says
I don’t comment on these things very often, but as a vegan family of four my “halls” look VERY similar, despite shopping at farmers’ markets, bringing my own bags, composting and even growing my own greens. THIS is the most environmentally friendly approach!
Dreena, thank you for sharing this video. You are an inspiration and our family loves your cookbook.
Cay
William says
I’m sorry if this was said before. I didn’t read all of the comments, but GROW THAT STUFF YOURSELF! Well ok, as much of it as you can. That almost totally eliminates all of the problems (transportation, packaging, pesticides, freshness etc…). Even if you only do a few things in pots, it’s easy and the benefits are many. Thanks.
Mary says
“Though I’m not sure many families can, realistically.” Sounds like a cop out to me. It’s simply a matter of awareness and will. While few of us will ever be perfect when it comes to plastic waste in our homes, we can all do SO MUCH BETTER.
Dreena says
Please share your expertise, Mary.
Do you have children? How many? What ages? Do you work full-time in addition to raising children?
We recycle everything, compost, reuse and recycle items we find in other locations as well. Certainly it’s not a matter of our awareness or will.
I welcome your insight on how to do things SO MUCH BETTER.
Jodi says
Completely agree Dreena. As the Happy Herbivore, Lindsay Nixon says, progress, not perfection. She also constantly reminds her readers that we should support one another, not tear each other down. I am a single mom, working full-time on active duty with the AF, and I do the best I can. Do I always remember my reusable bags? No, but most of the time I do. Do I recycle and reuse? Yes I do. Can I grow my own food? Not in my rental house, while raising my son, taking care of the house, and working full-time. Would I like to? Of course. But the point to my rant, is I’m not perfect nor is anyone else. Our life style of not consuming animal products and eating whole foods greatly reduces the carbon footprint supported by those who eat differently. Support you 100% Dreena.
Dreena says
Hi Jodi, thanks for this note. For some reason I didn’t get a notification so late to approve it. Appreciate your thoughts and support.
Pam Jackson says
For 2017 I put myself on a plastic diet. Changing habits takes effort. I have made purchases and then returned them when I realized that I forgot about my plastic diet commitment. We order bulk produce through the Ontario Natural Food Coop. The produce comes in cardboard boxes. Check to see if there are other options in your province. Never buy vegetables that contain more plastic than food. If it is over packaged eat something else. Let the store know that the item is over packaged. Return it.
CAROL WICKSTROM says
Bravo Dreena!! Well said! Thank you for all you contribute to the vegan community and beyond!!
Dreena says
thank you Carol
Cath Campbell says
Hello Dreena, I am having a very hard time hearing you. Is it me? Have you had any other complaints? I have my volume full up. I don’t mean to complain but consider your information like gold nuggets! Thank you, Cath
Dreena says
awww, thanks Cath! Playing it back, I noticed the volume was low in the middle section, I have to get a little more savvy with these vids. I’ll go into youtube and see if I can adjust the output through there. Thanks for the feedback!
Rachel says
Hi Dreena, I also LOVE your recipes! In Ontario the fresh produce often comes with too much plastic packaging, especially when out of season here. We have the same philosophy at our house: recycle as much as possible and try to buy with less packaging but it’s not always possible. We all have to do the best we can with what we have. Going vegan is definitely the biggest thing we can do for the environment, the animals but more importantly our health!
Kate s says
Thank you for the great video! And I think you are doing the best job you can with the plastic issue. I understand completely. I’m not sure how you could do more when the foods you need are prepackaged in plastic. Everyone should be doing what they can to help the environment and you are doing a great deal. Driving to another store to find non-packaged produce wastes fossil fuels, and not everyone has farmers markets year round (I live in CA so I am spoiled). Great job as usual!
Frankie says
I leave unwanted packaging at the store. I will take produce out of containers and hand them the containers . I know I run the risk of them mot recycling it , but if enough people start handing it back to them , then maybe they’ll get it. I wish I could find a use for pickle jars and the likes. Perfect jars , but I just have too many to keep so I have to recycle them. Bulk Barn has just started allowing you to bring in your own containers. I love it – finally!!
It’s freezing cold here so I will be trying some of your recipes this weekend in my batch cooking for the week
Dreena says
I imagine that takes some time. Good for you, but yeah, we don’t know what the store will do with it ultimately.
I should take a pic of my cupboard. Hubby got into keeping all our jars for cups. Some the labels won’t come off, but it’s kinda’ neat b/c you know it’s ‘your’ drinking jar when using it! But, we are also running out of space. I told the girls they will get a couple of boxes of jars for drinking glasses when they move out. Hee.
Enjoy the recipe excursions!! Thanks Frankie
William says
I’m not sure that giving the plastic to the store is necessarily an effective approach since it isn’t the store that packages the food. It comes to the store in those packages. And you’ve already purchased it so the profit has been made. Then your leaving it up to the cashier or whoever to recycle it, which I’m betting doesn’t happen. Most standard grocery stores don’t even have recycling. Most of their trash all goes into a compactor to be hauled to the landfill. I totally understand you’re wanting to make a change in the “system” and I applaud your dedication and ingenuity. I apologize that I don’t really have a better idea either.
I think the first step is to reduce the amount of products that are packaged in plastic. That way the profit isn’t made on those items. Secondly would be some sort of movement to make stores recycle if they aren’t. Then get as many people involved in these same things. Make it known that you’re not buying products that are wrapped in plastic. Thanks.
Penny says
I understand the convenience factor completely. But that really is an obscene amount of plastic! The first “R” is reduce.. Couldn’t you try to reduce it even by half?
Dreena says
How would you suggest to do so? When the foods are packaged this way. As I mentioned in the video, we recycle everything. And compost. And I pack lunches for my family *every* day in reusable containers. How would you reduce further through months that farmers’ markets aren’t an option?
Penny says
Some grocery stores don’t package everything and I reuse the bags I take over and over. I’m not being crabby about it but the first R is reduce, then reuse and last recycle. Not all that recycled plastic gets reused. I’m not perfect, just discussing the issue.
Dreena says
We do the same with bags, and bottles/jars. It’s a tricky balance. Vegan is first and foremost, before reducing and reusing. The energy consumption, water usage, and pollution is far beyond anything we can make up for at home while eating meat or consuming dairy. Thanks for being part of this dietary movement.
Adriana says
Dreena, Thank you for sharing all this. I have been cooking recipes from your books for 6 months now, and just love them. I feel pissed also about not having organic or fresh options other than packaged food, which I think in the case of organic may be in a way counter intuitive in the philosophy of taking care of the environment; otherwise I undersand it helps avoid contamination and keeps freshness. But at least one tries to do our best to reduce plastic consumption, and from there, reuse and recycle.
Regards, Adriana
Dreena says
Thanks Adriana, thanks for your good words about my recipes – so glad you’re enjoying some new goodies!! Yeah, it’s odd that organic is packaged so heavily. We can only do our best from there, as you mention. I reuse containers a lot and those we don’t, hit recycling! Thanks for the comment.
Ulrika says
Great video! I also wish they could stop using the banana tape and plastic wrapping, at least you can recycle the packages but it still is not desirable. I too shop at the Canadian Superstore and love their brand, but mostly I shop at No Frills but they don’t have as many choices. Just curious what you spent on your shopping? I find produce to be very expensive right now.
Dreena says
Right? I recently bought bananas that had wrap ++++ stickers on *every* banana, front and back. Geez. I’m not that interested in scamming organic bananas lol. I’m not familiar with No Frills – that in eastern Canada? I spend a ridiculous amount right now, I wouldn’t even want to publish it because it would be discouraging! But, that’s partly because I’ve been recipe testing for the past year or more, and when I’m in that mode I always over-buy to have everything I need at my fingertips! Plus my teenage girls eat a lot of food now – oy!
Ulrika says
Organic bananas aren’t usually that much more anyways! No Frills is in Ontario with PC brands as well as their own No Name. I have 4 teenage girls at home so I know what you’re talking about with the always hungry issue/eating a lot.
Mary P says
I’m with you, Dreena. I have a family of six and while I try to be smart about minimizing plastic and packaging, that just cannot be my focus right now. Maybe when my kids are grown I’ll only use produce from CSAs and farmer’s markets but I’m not at the point yet. Doing the best we can with where we’re at is key. Loved your video – you’re doing an amazing job of fueling your fam and yourself with excellent food! #plantpowertoya!
Dreena says
wow, I cannot even imagine keeping up with groceries for six children, Mary. My crew already eats SO much food! Thanks for your encouraging words, plant-powered cheers back to you!
Carrie says
I’m with you on all of this unnecessary packaging. UGH! There are only 2 of us here and I HATEHATEHATE that so many vegetables now seem to come packed in a plastic bag. Why not let me pick out how much I want for 2 people. I don’t need a pound of bean sprouts, nor do I want brussels sprouts in a mesh bag that look like they’ve seen better days. How about the half pound packages of jalapeno peppers? Who needs that many jalapenos. 🙁
We recycle everything that we possibly can. Like Patty above, every week we put out 2 extra large blue boxes. Full! Our garbage pick up is every other week and we’re lucky to have 2 kitchen sized bags in our garbage can at the curb. And like Patty, I see some of my neigbours putting our a tiny blue box with half a dozen things in it. WTH? Are you never home? Do you not consume anything? I think a lot of people are just downright lazy. It’s no work at all to separate your recyclables from your other garbage – but I’m preaching to the choir here, aren’t I?
Rant over…..I have not seen the PC frozen beans. I will absolutely look for those!! Sometimes I only use half a can and I put the rest in a container and put them in the freezer anyway. How convenient to be able to scoop out what you need. Love it!!
Ace Bakery is out of Mississauga. They are all over the place here and their bread is really yummy. They do have some whole grain offerings in Ontario, non-GMO baguettes and a bake at home line. They’re SOOOO GOOD!
Oh, and aren’t those PC points great? I really like how the offers are geared to what you normally buy. I’ve gotten so many free groceries from that rewards card. I think it’s one of the better ones out there.
Terrific video Dreena! XO
Carrie says
I guess Patty’s comment ended up being “below” not “above” Ooops. 😉
Dreena says
It’s crazy, right? Like everything packaged in 2s or something. I often want 4 or 6 peppers, and have to buy 3 packages, just nuts. So that’s where the Ace Bakery is! Cool. I hope we get more of the line, then, because we are definitely fans. I think you’ll love the beans!! They have kidney too – and I think black beans. Convenient. Plus, opening cans is one of my pet peeves, haha. Yes, the points can be great when you keep track of the items – super helpful!
Brandie says
I seriously love that Ace bakery bread. About the plastic bag use, I believe vegans use less. We don’t need to bag everything as nothing leaks. You need to use bags or wrap up meat.
Great video!!
Dreena says
So you have the Ace line too! It is fabulous, I agree. Nice option when buying white bread because the ingredients are so clean. Another excellent point about buying meat – I forgot about that. Ewww. True. Thanks Brandie!
Patty DeMartino says
As someone who loves food shopping, I truly enjoy your grocery haul videos! If it makes you feel any better, we put two cans of recyclables out to the curb each week and one can of trash twice weekly, while our neighbor across the street often skips recycle day and has 3+ trash cans twice weekly. Same number of occupants in the household. Those fast food containers, pizza boxes, and paper plates and cups create an obscene amount of needless trash. Doing what we can! Go plant-based eating 🙂
Dreena says
That’s nice to hear, thanks Patty. Very good point. We recycle *so* much, and compost as well. Those take-out containers add up for sure. Lovely, thx!
Theresa says
I can’t see the video, but there is lots of discussion about waste in Australia at the moment because of a great documentary that has just been on tv. Several experts have said that plastic wrapping on some produce keeps it fresher, reducing food waste and that food waste that goes to landfill is *much* more harmful to the environment than plastic that makes it to the landfill because it releases methane when it breaks down. This isn’t to say that plastic is great and we should all use more of it! Just that the guilt we feel may be misplaced.
Dreena says
sorry about that, Theresa, had some issues with the vid – now live! Very interesting, that’s an entirely new discussion point I hadn’t heard about. Thanks for sharing that insight.