Veggie/Vegan shopping tips

Frontal

Well-Known Forumite
So, with national vegetarian week but two days away, a few people on the forum know I've been on a health kick for the past year or so. One of the fundamental changes I made was going vegetarian. I'd like to say it was for moral or altruistic reasons, but truth is it makes it a lot easier for me to eat generally healthier.

That said, I occasionally want to indulge in life little pleasures, and so thought I'd start a topic where I could post some choice picks of Veggie/vegan foods, and others could post tips about what they find good.

So, a few picks off the top of my head:

Tesco's free from Cones (Vegan)

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A hot weather lifesaver, these cones taste surprisingly authentic to real ice cream, and an absolute steal at £2 for a pack of 4. Perfect for relaxing in the sun after a long days work. Available in stafford tesco, just to the left of the frozen vegetarian section




Jelly Sweets (Vegetarian)

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Vegetarian fruit pastelles, good taste and terribly moreish. Available in stafford tesco, second shelf from the left in the world foods aisle.


Mexican bean burger (Vegetarian)

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Switching supermarkets, when it comes to veggie burgers, I find asda's offerings are a lot less bland. I wouldn't recommend throwing these on the BBQ as they have a tendency to break apart easy, but hey at least they are dry husks like most store bought veggie burgers!


Eating out in stafford (Vegetarian):

I have a penchant for the veggie burgers at the Bean Encounter, but the offerings at the Market Vaults are fantastic too. On the budget end however, spoons offerings are nothing to shout home about, but the vegetable burritos are pretty good value for money.



So, Staffordian vegetarians/vegans ... top tips for survival in BBQ season ?
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Beware of Gooseberry Fool!!!! Bought these from one of the supermarkets, can't remember which, only to find it had Gelatine in :(. Was just about to eat it when I thankfully spotted it on the label. Why would the manufacturer feel the need to put dead pig in a gooseberry fool thereby reducing his potential market? Bizarre. I was gutted too as I love Goosegogs. Will make my own this year!!!

I suspect this was the culprit:

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=280711842

Also, trying hard to reduce dairy intake (thinking of all those poor dairy cows) and have found Alpro (soya) yoghurts are almost indistinguishable from those made from the milk of said poor dairy cows. Win win in my book :)

This one went down particularly well in our house:

http://www.alpro.com/uk/products/pl...big-flavoured/strawberry-rhubarb#productrange
 
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Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
Exciting desserts are a nightmare if you're shopping for a vegetarian!

I find most of the supermarkets pretty good for frozen items - but we just tend to cook stuff from scratch and not use too much in the way of meat substitutes as they can get a bit repetitive after a while. I'd rather a veggie chili then a fake mince chili any day.
 

That-Crazy-Rat-Lady

Well-Known Forumite
Hello!

I've been veggie for 11 years now!

So to be honest don't really struggle, or notice anymore - just a matter of habit!

I think becoming veggie is a great way to diet, loose weight or live a healthier lifestyle -

Lets face it - when was the last time you met a fat vegetarian?

Have you tried any Quorn products? They are my go to BBQ faves!

The Asda bean burgers you mentioned are fantastic, also great in fajitas!

Birdseye also do some vege fingers: http://www.birdseye.co.uk/range/Products/Vegetable Fingers
Which are really nice on a BBQ with a bun and some hot sauce yum yum!

Ooh and you MUST try the Linda McCartney sausages! I like the red onion ones best (the normal ones taste too 'meaty' to me!)

http://www.lindamccartneyfoods.co.uk/our-food/frozen-range/vegetarian-red-onion-rosemary-sausages/

Oh and the Linda Mc pies are yummy too!!

All sold in ASDA, Tescos etc

I can't really help on the dessert front - I don't have a sweet tooth so tend not to buy anything like that!

Let us know how you get on! x
 
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Noah

Well-Known Forumite
Gelatin is a menace, it crops up in all sorts of foods where you would least expect it. Most ready prepared desserts in supermarkets seem to contain it.
 

shoes

Well-Known Forumite
Exciting desserts are a nightmare if you're shopping for a vegetarian!

I find most of the supermarkets pretty good for frozen items - but we just tend to cook stuff from scratch and not use too much in the way of meat substitutes as they can get a bit repetitive after a while. I'd rather a veggie chili then a fake mince chili any day.
My other half is vegetarian. If there was one thing I could change about her...
 

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
It really annoys me how many restaurant menus conscientiously highlight vegetarian and vegan dishes among the appetisers and main courses, only to give up with the puddings. I also get cross when the only 'vegetarian' option is made with Parmesan, which is not vegetarian. I might as well just take sandwiches.

Two weeks ago I was served a vegetarian pasta dish containing pancetta. The manager said they understood that I don't eat meat but that "there was only a very little in there".

Sorry. I'm sounding grumpy aren't I?

It's probably past my bedtime.
 

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
Nearly as good as Weston Road High school - the veggie option being fish....

interestingly, since 'la Crisis' as they charmingly refer to the financial crisis there's been a massive upturn in in actual vegetarian dishes and restaurants in Barcelona, where my mum lives, since it's significantly cheaper to make veggie meals. If you're ever in Barcelona we can recommend Restaurante Sésamo
 

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
Nearly as good as Weston Road High school - the veggie option being fish....

It is annoying when fish, and even chicken, dishes are listed as vegetarian. I know of one pub where three of the four 'vegetarian' dishes offered contain fish. Then there is the whined response "well my friend is a vegetarian and they eat fish". No, if you eat fish you are a piscatarian (alt. pescatarian), or a bloody nuisance if you insist on calling yourself a vegetarian.
 

Lunar Scorpion

Anarchy in the UK

Lunar Scorpion

Anarchy in the UK
Want to know if something is vegan? Google it with the word vegan at the end and you can usually find an answer.

Pana naan breads in Home Bargains are vegan!

Mr Kipling Jam Tarts and Apple & Blackcurrant Pies are vegan.

There's loads of accidentally vegan biscuits - Oreos being the classic. Bourbons are usually vegan, and Tesco does a bourbon biscuit spread! (It's near the jams, peanut butter, etc.)
 
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