Before we started our vegan challenge, I knew I was going to need a well stocked pantry. Following, our some of my favorite vegan products. I’ve also included an Easy Green Smoothie recipe at the end of the post.
Based in Asheville, NC, Roots Hummus is a small-batch artisan hummus producer. They are the microbrew of hummus. I like microbrew beer so I figured microbrew hummus would be equally delicious. They have ten different varieties, several are quite unique. Lima Bean, Thai Mango Coconut, Black Bean …these are not your average hummus flavors. The Roasted Garlic is my favorite. It made a great sandwich spread and base for creamy dressings. Lima Bean is my favorite for dipping and Thai Mango Coconut is my least favorite overall. They even have an oil-free version, which I have never seen from another hummus company. Roots has inspired me to step up my own hummus game up. They use an array of seasonings and fresh herbs to make amazing bean concoctions. They have a recipe page with tons ideas for hummus. Check out their store locator to see if Roots Hummus is near you. See what’s going on with Roots Hummus: Twitter, Instagram.
You’re going to need snacks! Snack out loud sent me these tasty treats. I would almost call them healthy junk food. They are made out of beans, oil, and seasonings. Bean based power puffs? I don’t know how they do it. I was totally expecting a Cheeto. It’s got the Cheeto crunch, but the flavor is different since it isn’t corn-based. I love anything Salt and Vinegar. When I was a kid I used to drink white vinegar, maybe I was deficient in something. I grew up eating Lay’s Salt and Vinegar chips and my favorite now are Boulder Canyon. Snack out loud Sea Salt & Vinegar taste really good and are a better alternative to chips. The sweet and tangy BBQ are so good, they have this mesquite smoky flavor. The Chipotle BBQ crunchy bean snacks are pretty addictive. You can buy their products online at Thrive Market and Amazon. There are also flavors like ranch and white cheddar that we didn’t get to try since they aren’t vegan. Learn more about Snack out loud: Facebook, Instagram.
Delivering fresh, local produce all over North Carolina. The Produce Box began is 2007 when stay-at-mom Courtney decided she wanted to know where her food came from and support local businesses. They now employee 200+ moms and dads that deliver the boxes. I love that!
The Produce Box has curated many box options to fit your needs. First, I tried the Harvest Box. The next week I received the O’Natural. As you can see the Harvest Box(pictured below) is a bountiful assortment of local produce. I like that there are some familiar things, and then a couple of items I normally wouldn’t buy like: butternut squash and leeks. I made potato leek soup and black bean butter squash burritos. I love that I had to get creative and conquer cutting a butternut squash(hint: you need a sharp knife) The personal watermelon I received in both boxes was quite a treat. I referred to it as “a kiss goodbye from summer.” Pretty soon, it’s back to cabbage and winter root vegetables.
The O’Natural box seemed sparse following up the Harvest Box but, I guess that’s because it’s all organic. Perhaps it’s more expensive or there are less organic offerings. The O’Natural contained: watermelon, garlic, Bibb lettuce, muscadine grapes, and yellow squash. All of the produce I received was intact, fresh, and even kept cold. I like that the Produce Box puts out a weekly menu so you know what to expect and can plan your shopping accordingly. I was pleased to learn that they also give away a lot of food to organizations that help those with food scarcity or food insecurity. Like having local produce delivered to your house? Then try out the Produce Box. See what else is going on with The Produce Box: Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter.
If you ever go vegan, you’ll probably be drinking more smoothies or juices. It’s a quick meal option and good way to eat your greens. Glass Dharma gives you the option to drink from a straw and ditch the plastic. My family has personally moved away from plastic containers and plastic water bottles to reduce our exposure to toxins. Their straws have a lifetime guarantee against breakage. These straws would be a fun way to get kids to drink smoothies. I gave my little sister(age 10) one of the “Decorative Dot” straws. My favorite is the “Beautiful Bends” because, who doesn’t want to drink out of a bendy straw? You can purchase Glass Dharma online, the straws even come with a tiny straw sized cleaning brush. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook for smoothie inspiration! Here is my go-to smoothie recipe. Feel free to sub the frozen mango for frozen strawberries, or another type of fruit.
- 1 cup frozen mango
- 1 banana
- 1 whole orange peeled
- 2 big handful of spinach
- 1 cup liquid- I used water
- Optional: 1 Tbsp.- ground flax, chia seeds, hemp hearts, nut butter.
- Add all the ingredients to your blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- If the mixture looks too thick, slowly add more liquid.
- If the mixture looks too thin, add a few ice cubes and blend.
Need more vegan inspiration? Check out our Instagram, I posted many of our plant-based meals. Other vegan favorites: Better Bean Company, YAWP! Nutrition Bars, TofuXpress.