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
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.