Armed and ready to shop

This past weekend I ventured out into the world of "natural", "organic", "specialty", and "eco-friendly" grocery stores.
In other words, I went to Whole Foods and Trader Joes.

I went armed. My Vegetarian Beginner's Guide, was both my shield and my dagger.
The mission? To stock my fridge, cabinets, and pantry with everything I a brand-new vegetarian could ever dream of...


The Basic Vegetarian Pantry:

1. Breads and Grains
- regular or quick-cooking brown rice
- oatmeal
- whole grain breads
- whole grain ready-to eat cereal
- whole grain crackers
- whole grain pasta

2. Fruits and Vegetables
- canned whole Italian plum tomatoes
- canned stewed tomatoes
- canned artichoke hearts
- all types of wonderful fresh produce
- frozen vegetables and fruit

3. Nuts, Seeds, and Beans
- canned and/or dried beans
- natural peanut butter
- tofu
- unsalted nuts

4. Eggs and Dairy Products
- eggs
- reduced or fat-free dairy cheeses
- milk (soy, skim, or reduced fat)

5. Condiments Thickeners and Seasonings
- basic seasonings
- hot sauce
- tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
- maple syrup
- molasses
- olive oil
- canola oil
- nonstick vegetable spray
- salsa, jarred
- tomato paste
- tomato sauce
- red wine vinegar
- apple cider vinegar

6. Beverages
- fruit and vegetable juices
- leaf and herbal teas
- coffee
- water

(source: Vegetarian Times, Vegetarian Beginner's Guide)

SWM