Josh: I’ve been vegan for a long time. What I’ve watched change over the last decade is the acceptance, availability, and improved quality of vegetarian and vegan food products in both retail and restaurant settings. These days it is relatively easy for folks with plant based diets and/or lifestyles to enjoy the same pleasures as our omnivore friends and family – without requiring any animal products or by-products.

We utilize a lot of great products from a lot of different brands. There are many brands and products on the market that make our social lives easier in restaurants and our domestic lives immensely more beautiful for all the time we spend preparing delicious meals together.

This post will be ongoing, one that we will come back to again and again to update as we try new products or remember to add products that we love. Bookmark it and check back often!

Things we like

Not Dairy Silk Plain Protein Nutmilk – milk replacement for cooking, baking, cereal, etc. Simple Truth Chocolate Soymilk – indulgent sipping, or in our breakfast smoothie with coffee ice cubes, frozen banana, and almond milk Silk Vanilla Coffee Creamer – in coffee or tea Earth Balance (sticks) – butter replacement Silk Plain Yogurt – as sour cream, in tzatziki, in sauces, or just as yogurt alternative Daiya Provolone Slices – cheese replacement Daiya Pepperjack Shreds – cheese replacement Daiya or Follow Your Heart Mozzarella Shreds – cheese replacement (both brands good) Follow Your Heart Cheddar Shreds – cheese replacement, better than Daiya cheddar (but Daiya is okay if it is all you can find) Breyer’s Non-dairy Cookies and Cream – yummy ice cream, great price per ounce So Delicious Salted Caramel – really yummy ice cream Simple Truth Salted Caramel – yummy ice cream, cheaper than most vegan ice creams

Not Meat Simple Truth Meatless Crumbles – ground beef teplacement Simple Truth Meatless Patties – replacement burgers Simple Truth Chickn Patties – replacement chicken patties Simple Truth Breakfast Patties – replacement breakfast sausage Simple Truth Chickn Tenders – replacement chicken tenders Morningstar Farms Chickn Nuggets – replacement chicken nuggets Morningstar Farms Buffalo Chickn Nuggets – replacement chicken nuggets, buffalo flavor Morningstar Farms Shredded “Pork” – replacement pulled pork Gardein Meatless Balls – replacement meatballs Gardein Beefless Tips – replacement beef great for when you need “that” texture, we use it for things like stroganoff Gardein Beefless Crumbles – replacement ground beef Gardein Beefless Patties – replacement burger patties Torfurky Italian Sausage or Chorizo – replacement italian sausage or chorizo links Beyond Burgers – exceptional burger replacement available for retail purchase, but pricey

Pantry Staples Aldi or Kroger brand Almond Butter – we prefer it to peanut butter Raw Cashews – for creamy sauces or homemade cheese Nutritional Yeast – for creamy sauces or homemade cheese Flour – thickening sauces, homemade bread and pizza Quick Rise Yeast – homemade bread and pizza dough Chickpeas – used to make hummus or add protein to any dish quickly and easily Rice – always a good idea to keep rice around Dried Spices – we make sure to always keep garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, cumin, peppercorn, paprika, salt, chili powder, cayenne, mustard, oregano, basil, bay leaves, 21 Seasoning Salute (Trader Joe spice blend), chipotle chili powder Vital Wheat Gluten – make your own seitan at home! This is essential

Other Essentials Hummus, homemade or store bought – just the best, great on bagels, salads, with carrots or pita chips, or anything else really Better Than Bouillon Vegetable – plant based beefy broth replacement Better Than Bouillon No Chicken – plant based chicken broth replacement

Feel free to reach out if you have suggestions or questions. ?