If I can change how I shop…

…I can make a significant positive impact on my health, the environment, and my finances. Shopping for mostly plants will do so much more than just make eating healthy easier. It will also have an incredible impact on the environment and save you money if you follow some of these easy steps.

• Prioritize fresh and frozen produce! Bring your own produce bags whenever possible.

• Shop in the bulk section for grains, beans, nuts, dried fruit, seeds, seasonings, etc. Bring your own container or bags whenever possible and practical.

• Buy canned beans and other pantry staples in large quantities, especially when you find them on sale.

• Minimize processed foods, meat & dairy alternatives, and junk food. Consuming these things in excess can make shopping vegan costly and sabotage your health goals. That’s not to say they don’t have their place! We all need quick options sometimes. Check out all of these fantastic vegan finds at Trader Joe’s.

• Meal plan! Meal planning is easiest and cheapest when you meal plan backward! Take inventory of what you already have, what needs to be eaten before it goes bad, and see what kind of meals you can come up with. Maybe you just need a fresh veggie or a can of beans to take what you already have and turn it into a meal. There are several meal planning services out there too. Check out Forks Over Knives and Rich Roll.

• A tip to help make meal prep easy: Practice “Cook once - eat twice!” Almost every time I cook, I make double what we need and eat it throughout the week. For example, if cooking rice for dinner, make extra so you can have a rice bowl one night, and a rice salad for lunch another day.

• Keep your kitchen stocked with staples. Having a kitchen that has readily available foods and ingredients helps make things so easy when it is time to cook. You can adapt quickly to your mood and how much time you have, or don’t have, if your kitchen is set up with a great base of pantry staples, frozen foods, and just the right amount of fresh produce.

• For grocery shopping ideas & inspiration, check out the Groceries Highlight on my Instagram.