It’s time! Veganuary is here once again. The vegan community is looking forward to another record-breaking year as Veganuary grows in popularity and participants each year. While seasoned vegans know the tips and tricks to living a vegan lifestyle year-round, newbies may find it difficult to adjust to this new lifestyle and additional consideration needed during a grocery shopping trip.

Vegangently has the backs of both vegans and aspiring vegans once again with these simple and actionable tips for shopping during Veganuary.

Vegan Shopping List

Creating a shopping list can help you establish organization and save time while shopping for vegan products. Finding reputable vegan brands and products ahead of time and listing them out will allow you to seek out vegan products more easily than spending your time reading through product ingredient lists at random.

Be Wary of False Advertising

Product labels such as “dairy free” don’t necessarily mean the product is genuinely vegan. Some companies incorporate animal products like casein into vegan appearing products like nut-based cheeses. Make sure to read product labels thoroughly if “Vegan” isn’t printed outright on the label and instead another vegan appearing phrase is used in its place.

Vegan Labels Make It Easy

Just look for the “Vegan” label! This is a trusted label that certifies the product is produced without contents from animals. There are a few versions of the label to look out for so make sure you become familiar with their forms and buy confidently when you see them.

Vegan Meal Plan

Like a list, having a meal plan helps provide focus to your shopping and makes it easier to grocery shop as the items you need are laid out for you in each meal. Furthermore, choosing meals ahead of time can add excitement to the experience of Veganuary as it gives you the opportunity to experiment and try new recipes during the month.

Go With a Practicing Vegan

Learning how to grocery shop from a practicing vegan can be invaluable as they have already overcome the difficulties of vegan shopping and can show you the ropes to get your started on your vegan journey. They will likely already know great stores, products and even recipes to share with you and help you avoid common mistakes when transitioning to a vegan lifestyle.

Local and In-Season Products

Shopping for local or in-season products not only can save you money, but also increases satisfaction in the food you consume as the products will be of fresher quality. Food that is out of season or needs to be transported far distances has probably been picked before the fruit or vegetable has finished developing and likely gone through some type of cold storage. Creating meal plans that incorporate seasonal products from your area better ensures produce contains its full nutritional value as it was able to develop naturally to full potential.

Cholesterol? A Dead Giveaway (Pun Intended!)

A dead giveaway of a non-vegan product is if it contains cholesterol. Cholesterol is only found in animal products so if the ingredient list contains cholesterol, you know what to do!

Whatever your reason is for taking on the challenge of Veganuary, the month is a great opportunity to partake in a growing movement to cultivate stronger bodies and a healthier planet. For additional vegan tips or recipes, be sure to check out more of our blog!