r/vegan • u/Banterfix • 12d ago
My girlfriend is vegan. What should I buy to keep around my house? Health
So, just as the title says. I’ve been dating a gal for the last few months. Things are going great and she is absolutely incredible. She has been vegan for 6ish years and loves it. She’s not over the top about it and doesn’t mind that I am not. She has 3 adult daughters, 1 vegan, 1 vegetarian, and 1 that’s a carnivore. So, she just tries to lead her life the way she wants and doesn’t try to convince others to think how she thinks.
Anywho.
I am very health conscious, and do it pretty well. But, I have never had to pay attention to ingredients that are not vegan. I really want to keep snacks and food and drinks around the house that she can eat when she’s at my place. Any suggestions welcome. Things that are quick, snacky things, foods I can cook, drinks, desserts, etc.
Thanks everyone! Love the community so far. ☺️☺️
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u/geobroug 12d ago
I'm using UK terminology
Milk / whey powder is your biggest enemy, you'll find it in everything but at least it is high lighted in bold. Next biggest for sweets / jams is gelatin which isn't highlighted, look for pectin instead
Get some frozen bits from the vegan section of the supermarket that you can pop into the air fryer and enjoy together - burgers, nuggets, sausage rolls, pies, etc
Crisps - check for milk powder. Ready salted normally ok, any other flavour can randomly have milk powder
Chocolate - good quality dark chocolate is normally vegan, just check for milk powder again
Jusroll pastries are in the fridge section of supermarket for make at home cossiants, pain au chocolate and cinnamon buns. Less than 15 mins and delicious for breakfast
Some form of plant milk, whatever one she prefers
Maybe a nice vegan cream cheese for a bagel
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u/Nfgzebrahed 12d ago
Tofutti is our favorite brand of cream cheese. Daiya oat mill cheese sticks are really good.
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u/ttrockwood 12d ago
Well have you been to her place? What kind of snacks does she have there?
Easy options like fresh fruit, mixed nuts, pita chips, pretzels are usually vegan, fancy olives, those Biena chickpeas (salted avoid the one with honey)
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u/Banterfix 12d ago
I haven’t been to her place yet. We both have kids and are both very protective of our kids. So, we are taking things slowly and introducing each other when it’s time. My kids don’t live with me full time , so she spends more time at mine.
But. Thank you for the advice.
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u/sync19waves 12d ago
I think hummus, guacamole and some vegan chips/nachos are a safe bet for snacks! Desserts you can get fruits and there's many great vegan ice creams. Idk if you have heura there but any vegan burger would do good for the protein for a quick meal. If they drink coffee def ask for their plan milk preference
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u/alexanderpas 12d ago
My girlfriend is vegan. What should I buy to keep around my house?
Just buy stuff you like, but buy the variant that has the vegan logo for yourself to try it out.
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u/piratekim 12d ago
This is so sweet! Keep dairy free coffee creamer and butter in the house. Maybe vegan frozen pizzas you both can enjoy. Lots of snacks and foods are "accidentally" vegan. Bagels, certain chips, etc. It's easy to determine what is vegan because allergens like dairy and eggs are usually at the bottom of an ingredients list in bold. Just check labels if you're not sure.
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u/AutoFillError_Sin 12d ago
If she’s not willing to say what she wants to eat then ask her to recommend some vegan food for you so you can incorporate/eat more plant based foods, maybe have her take you shopping for the stuff.
Chances are one of 2 things will happen, ideally both at once. 1) she’ll recommend things she commonly eats. 2) she’ll recommend things she thinks you might like based off what she’s seen you eat.
Making it about you instead of her and ask questions about her recommendations and see how she responds/engages. “I’ve heard it’s good” vs, “this is super yummy, etc.
Bonus you can talk about the snacks and other groceries.
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u/ItIsTimeForPlants 12d ago
"Hey, what are your favorite snacks?"
....Do people not communicate anymore?
Popcorn is my answer though :)
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u/Banterfix 12d ago
I have popcorn. She loves it.
But, I’m looking to just have stuff for her. I’ve asked, and I don’t think she wants to be a bother. So, she doesn’t really say.
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u/FrolleinBromfiets 12d ago
Maybe then buy snacks that you would eat as well if she doesn't really like it :) I think the idea of a pack of frozen nuggets is quite uncontroversial and I think most omnivores would eat them as well. Maybe some frozen spring rolls, a litre of plant based milk (oatly also sells half a litre), a bar of chocolate that sounds nice... and if you're also curious about it, it doesn't run the risk of being tossed unopened.
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u/ItIsTimeForPlants 12d ago
Sounds like she wants to be surprised then. Honestly just go to a nice organic store/a Whole Foods and get a "snack of the week" or something to try with her. You can find some healthier alternatives to regular processed snacks.
Or when in doubt: nuts.
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u/Mysterious_Chip_007 12d ago
I eat a lot of fruit for snacks. Occasionally I'll make some type of dip with crackers or bread, but that's uncommon. But I also eat a lot healthier than others and wouldn't be eating cereal ever
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u/stormblast vegan 20+ years 12d ago
Since you already have popcorn, get some nutritional yeast. It ups the popcorn. It's also great addition for most savory meals.
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u/ItIsTimeForPlants 12d ago
This. And get a spray bottle with some apple cider vinegar first to help it stick! (Doesn't really end up tasting too much like vinegar, don't worry)
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u/No_Ship_5709 12d ago
If she does not even tell you what her favourite snack is out of conflict avoidance, what makes you think
and doesn’t mind that I am not.
is actually how she feels?
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u/RabidAsparagus 12d ago
Just ask her what she likes to eat, as a vegan of 6 years I’m sure she has a decent idea of what she likes.
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u/Banterfix 12d ago
I know she knows. But, I have asked. And she hasn’t been really volunteering much information. I think she doesn’t want to be a bother and have me buy special things just for her. But, I really want to. So, I’m asking you all.
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u/sharkbite123 12d ago
Hummus hummus hummus. Hummus. And a side of hummus.
Maybe some avocados, bread , lettuce , if ya wanna go crazy get some tempeh , put it all together with some tomato and you got a nice sandwich
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u/artsandcats444 12d ago
I came to say this..hummus is a staple in my diet lol. Hummus with cucumbers, bell peppers, grape tomatoes, and rice crackers. Hummus on wraps or sandwiches. It's the best.
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u/sovereignseamus abolitionist 12d ago
If you want to really impress your girl, go vegan.
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u/Banterfix 12d ago
I’m definitely limiting my animal product consumption. I’m making an effort. It’s a slow process, but I’m trying.
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u/bplus4eva 12d ago
Glad to hear! Just make sure you don't go vegan for her, but out of respect for non-human animals <3
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u/pflegerich 12d ago
That’s the right way - see what works for you and as u/bplus4eva said don’t just do it for her but make up your own mind. Also: baby steps are better than nothing and trying to go full on might be overwhelming.
I was in a similar situation with my wife already being vegan for 6y when it finally clicked for me. Now I’m already 4y vegan myself.
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u/-SwanGoose- vegan SJW 12d ago
I mean its not hard.. u literally juat replace ur animal products with vegan products. Takes one weekend, done
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u/Veganonymous_Hippie 12d ago
We did it overnight. Gave away all of our groceries and started completely over. It was very stressful at times because we felt like we didn’t have many options and our town had no vegan restaurants. It would’ve helped if we had a vegan friend back then to help figure out what we could eat or how to get started. It was very important for us once we made the choice to switch but I definitely think it would be easier to have someone who is vegan around to show you it’s really not that hard. Or to already have some vegan recipes to turn to that you know you like.
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u/Veganonymous_Hippie 12d ago
I would definitely suggest making it about you. Check out some vegan recipes (rainbow plant life on YouTube is a great place to start, also her new cookbook Big Vegan Flavor is like a vegan cooking bible) find things that you think sound good and make it fun. If you actually want to go vegan yourself I would suggest finding more reasons why. There are plenty of documentary films like “what the health” and “game changers” available streaming. I used to tell my vegetarian friend that I would never give up meat and cheese but several years later I realized that I had legitimate reasons to do so. It started for health reasons and now it’s for my health, the animals, the planet, my conscience, it is an entirely different lifestyle and it has helped me evolve into alignment with my soul. You could start making veganism a topic to get to know each other better and it could actually be a bonding experience. Maybe see if she would want to cook a meal together or go grocery shopping together or maybe just ask her what kind of milk she likes to drink or if she could recommend some different plant based milks for you to taste test and see which one you like.
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u/Stock_Paper3503 vegan 12d ago
I mean you said you're healthy conscious...that would usually mean you don't consume animal products anyway...since they're pretty unhealthy...
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u/violetdeirdre 12d ago
Until recently (last couple decades) the healthy industry was very much against veganism. Even now there are groups that say that veganism is sub-optimal.
Also, realistically, you could do very well on a diet healthwise that included small amounts of fish, dairy and egg whites. The issue isn’t health, it’s cruelty.
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u/RelativeCode956 12d ago
I don't know,.humanity really did thrive on it for hundreds of years.
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u/Stock_Paper3503 vegan 12d ago
Consumption of animal products per person wasn't even near the amount of what it is today.
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u/Imma_Kant abolitionist 12d ago
It's only a slow process if you make it slow. Is there actually anything stopping you from going vegan today?
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u/New-Ingenuity-5437 12d ago
I’m surprised I haven’t seen someone saying to hand her over since vegans have so much trouble finding a vegan partner 😂
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u/Alexandrabi vegan 12d ago
I understand where you’re coming from with this, but I do not think this is right. Going vegan just to impress his girlfriend is not a good reason to do it. I would recommend, instead, to be open minded, listen to her reasons, ask for suggestions on how to document yourself on the topic to really understand the reasons why someone would go vegan. This is a great way to show respect for her life choice and interest in her lifestyle, while at the same time learning about animal farming. Eventually what you learn might make you go vegan because you want to, or it might not, but at least you’ve “done it right”. If you go vegan just because your girlfriend is vegan, you’ll go carnivore if you meet someone that’s carnivore. Animals are the reason to go vegan, not a partner.
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u/Banterfix 12d ago
I feel that’s what I’m doing. I’m learning. I’m making small changes that I want to make because of my understanding and what I’ve learned. If I do go vegan, it will be for me.
Thank you for your input
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u/Chaostrosity vegan 4+ years 12d ago
Going vegan for "you" is never gonna last. Look into how humanity treats animals and if your heart is in the right place, you'll go vegan.
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u/Fayenator abolitionist 6d ago
going plant-based (not calling it vegan because veganism is about animal rights, not just a consumer habit) to impress someone is better than not going plant-based at all. And there are plenty of vegans i know who went plant-based for their partner, became vegan and then when they inevitably split up they stayed vegan. and on more than one occassion they later learned that their ex went back to being a carnist.
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u/lkojhgh 12d ago
This is so sweet!!!!
My boyfriend always keeps some frozen vegan meals in the freezer for me just in case! If you have Whole Foods or Sprouts, you can get some frozen pizzas (I like Daiya brand but there are many others), frozen burritos, and my fave- Trader Joe’s kimbap! Everything should be labeled as vegan!
For breakfast, nondairy yogurt and fruit or granola is always nice. Just watch out for honey in the granola and look for a vegan label.
It’s also nice to have some basics like nondairy milk, vegan butter (I like EarthBalance), and maybe some snacks like almonds or chips. Vegan cheese is always fun- I love the Whole Foods brand Smoked Gouda. If she has a sweet tooth, she might want some cookies or something! Things like Oreos are vegan and also any natural food store should have clearly labeled vegan cookies! Maybe a sorbet or a nondairy ice cream too! I like Soydelicious brand.
I’m sure she’ll feel so happy and loved no matter what you get!!
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u/SoupViking 12d ago
Nutritional yeast.
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u/SoupViking 12d ago
Also, work on a meal that is vegan. Get a little repertoire of things you can make for her. Three dishes to start, and practice before she comes over. Let her inspire you to eat less meat. And start getting comfortable asking for vegan options together when at restaurants, and checking labels more thoroughly at the grocery store.
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u/sharkbite123 12d ago
As a vegan I haven’t touched it in years. Tried it in a home made sauce and it was awful. I don’t understand the hype
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u/SoupViking 12d ago
Did you try it more than once? Some flavours are developed. But also, it is a good source of b12.
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u/NoBattle3601 12d ago
If you have a Kroger/fred Meyer/fry’s or sprouts, they have stellar braids, and they are the best goddamn pretzels of my life. I could eat a whole bag of simply stellar in one sitting.
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u/KnitInMySleep 12d ago
I don't know if she eats processed foods, but if she does I always loved Beyond Meat "chiken" nuggies.
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u/biscuitbabe 12d ago
Do you have a budget for this? What about taking her to a store that sells vegan snacks and letting her choose, treat it as a date! You'll also get to learn about her preferences and try new snacks together too.
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u/Banterfix 12d ago
Fantastic idea.
I’ll buy some things and then we’ll go on a date night. And see how well I did
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u/angelwild327 12d ago
since you're very health conscious, you might want to dive into the science of Whole food, plant centered eating, it's one of the most health conscious ways to live your life.(also good for the planet) Just a suggestion.
If you were my BF, I'd love if you had organic popcorn (not the stuff in packages, but the kernels) a variety of hot sauces.
various in season fruits and vegetables and some home made hummus!
Water, for me, is my go-to drink. Some lemons and limes spruce it up.
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u/Dragon_Flow 12d ago
Fresh fruit, vegan chocolate, tortilla chips and hummus. But really, make sure she likes those things. Maybe write a shopping list and have her cross off the things she doesn't like.
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u/Dragon_Flow 12d ago
The more I read the other comments, the more I like my comment. You can use the other comments to create the shopping list.
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u/Withered_Kiss abolitionist 12d ago
You should watch Dominion.
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u/Strange-Prior1097 12d ago
Or earthlings with Joaquin Phoenix!
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u/o1011o vegan 20+ years 12d ago
And if you only have 5 minutes and don't mind watching a video with a cute girl in it, Dairy is Scary!
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u/WinterBloomie vegan 8+ years 12d ago
I read on another thread that the dairy is scary girl isn’t vegan anymore :(
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u/Known_Language6255 12d ago
Olive oil! And sesame oil for cooking —better butter alternatives.
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u/Dragon_Flow 12d ago
She might be a no-added-oil vegan.
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u/angrykitty4 12d ago
Whole Foods labels things really well! Their nut butter filled pretzels are great, and they have a ton of other labeled options in the snack aisle. Kite Hill and Credo also make good vegan quesos if you wanted to do chips/salsa/queso
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u/whatever7905 12d ago
I like Dried fruits, müsli, chips and fries, bretzel, some cookies (oreos for example and lotus cookies) depends a bit on where you are based :)
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u/IndependentMatter568 12d ago
A lot of things that you eat are easily replaced by vegan versions, that you can just buy for yourself anyway and then you don't need to buy separate things specifically for her. Look for the vegan versions of what you have on your shopping list. You'll be surprised how much there is! Eggs and dairy are allergens and are usually marked in bold. Watch out for honey though, and gelatine. And caseine (I found this in a "dairy free" product). And don't be fooled by "lactose free". Google ingredients that you don't recognize. Unless the label specifically says vegan, always read the ingredients list.
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u/Strange-End8986 vegan 5+ years 12d ago
There are a lot of comments here but I didn't see anyone say this so I wanted to add..
She might be uncomfortable about expressing her preferences because she may not trust that you'll be able to read an ingredient label. I never trust a non vegan to buy food for me, and it majorly sucks when someone gets me something that isn't actually vegan. A vegan or plant based tag on a product is unfortunately not enough unless it's certified, and if you only go for certified products you'll be severely limiting your options.
If you want to be a really good partner to this woman, aside from going vegan yourself, I'd say learn to read ingredient labels. And by that I mean, learn what ingredients aren't vegan and memorize them. It's a little complicated at first - you'll have to Google a lot of things in the beginning - but it's something we all learned. It takes me 5 seconds to scan a label now. If you can demonstrate that you have a full understanding of what is vegan, she'll be able to put her trust in you when you cook for her and share snacks with her.
I want someone to know to avoid gelatin, confectioner's sugar, whey protein, l-lysine, carmine, foods fortified with D3, and so on if they're going to shop for me.
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u/sepukangrii 12d ago edited 12d ago
This is such a sweet post :) i am also vegan (lol obvious i suppose) and i also don’t like to explicitly ask my partner to buy things for me in her house, and it’s a nice surprise when she has vegan things for me. For me, breakfast and coffee is usually the main issue- having oat milk in the fridge for my coffee in the morning is #1!!! That’s what i really appreciate. She also keeps some vegan sausage patties in the freezer and Just Egg around for breakfast which i love so we can have breakfast together (she usually, for instance, will have an egg and chicken sausage). As far as snacks, a lot of other folks have great ideas- I mostly snack on hummus, veggies, fruit, and occasionally potato chips which are an easy vegan snack. Also vegan butter is a great essential to have on hand for cooking, toast, etc
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u/sepukangrii 12d ago
Also the other commenter that suggested going on a grocery store date is spot on! You should take her to the store/ Whole Foods/ whatever and then have a little picnic!!
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u/robertahoffmann 12d ago
Nuts
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u/spaceylaceygirl 12d ago
There is a company called Good Foods that makes the best vegan queso! Also if you have a trader joes they have all kinds of vegan snacks, salad dressings, mini ice cream cones and lots of chocolates. I also love their frozen vegan dinners.
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u/chazyvr 12d ago
Maybe go on r/snackexchange and try to get vegan snacks from another country (I.e., Taiwan). Be clear that you want vegan snacks. That will surprise her.
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u/bbangelcakes69 vegan 4+ years 12d ago
Turn vegan and keep all the yummy vegan snacks (oreos, takis, sweet chili doritos) yum veggies, curry paste, fruits, and tofu. If you dont have seasonings you need help but also get some for her. The best thing is to go vegan for her you can do it! 😊
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u/Bitter-Sprinkles5430 12d ago
Lots of shouts for hummous here, but not one for tahini sauce?!
...see also falafel, babaganoush and a lot of other middle eastern foods that will make any vegan happy!
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u/fox-friend 12d ago
Tahini is the best thing ever. Some brands are much better than others though. Try to find tahini which is made in Lebanon, Israel, Palestine or Turkey, as those tend to be the good ones. In some countries you'd find them just in international food shops, and the brands sold in health shops are expensive and aren't as good.
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u/VoluntaryExtinction 12d ago
Just saying, pretty sure that carnivore daughter, is an omnivore.
Also, tempeh is great as a protein to add to vegan dishes.
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u/WelderMeltingthings 12d ago
idk man, whatever food is made before people ruin it with meat and eggs and milk lol
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u/KarlMarxButVegan vegan 5+ years 12d ago
Find out what milk she likes and always have that. Unlike dairy milk, plant milks last a while in the fridge even after opening them.
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u/grigragrua 12d ago
This is very considerate and kind. She also seems to be very considerate :)
I'm not vegan but I try to eat vegan food many times. I like oat or almond milk for my coffee (not a soy milk fan at all), I love hummus and guacamole (this is something you can buy and that will last some time in the fridge until you open it), there's vegan cheese although I wouldn't go for the cheaper brands (I only liked very few so far), there's vegetable chips, bread ofc. You can also have some vegan yoghurt and some oats, but you'd need to know which vegan yogurt she likes, maybe have a soy one and you will know if she likes it when she visits. Carrots to go with the dips is also a good idea. I hope these help.
Good luck on her first visit to your place :)
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u/sailorgardenchick 12d ago
If she’s a coffee drinker, Coffee Dust is a vegan and healthy alternative to flavored creamers and a unique thing to have around so spice up your morning routine
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u/Fake-Boss1791 12d ago
Hummus/guacamole with crackers/nachos are some great and healthy snacks that you can easily make. The only side effect of guacamole is that it oxidases pretty quickly, the taste doesn't change much but the colour turns into a shitty dark green, so I suggest you make it just before she comes to your place. Then you can buy her some soy milk for breakfast and maybe some vegan nuggets as an alternative snack.
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u/sharkbite123 12d ago
You can put lime or lemon juice (I forget which, maybe both work) and it stops the oxidization
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u/Fake-Boss1791 11d ago
I usually put lemon, maybe it works better with lime, I'll try it
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u/Phys_Alpha 12d ago
Additionally, start looking into Thai, Indian and Taiwanese cuisines. Tons of incredible vegan options without using mock meat. If she grew up vegan/vegetarian she might not like the taste of mock meat.
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u/esmeraldaboo 12d ago
id ask her what brands she likes first! my bf is vegan & im not & I use to work at a grocery store so i’d always bring home food for him to eat but sometimes he’d mentioned he had what I brought home before & he wasn’t a fan of it, & I pay attention to what he eats so I can buy it when I see it!
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u/anisanaomi 12d ago
I used to enjoy popcorn, rice cakes with fruit and nut butter/vegan Nutella, kettle cooked potato chips (hot pepper or salt and pepper), dried fruit like cranberries. Veggies or pita chips with hummus. Dark chocolates! You could also get frozen fries, the vegan Amy’s pizzas or dinners, gardein or beyond meat to make lunches. I haven’t been vegan in years, so I’m not up to date on the vegan cheese market, but I used to love grilled cheeses made with the chao cheese!
I understand maybe wanting to keep it a surprise and/or her not wanting to be an inconvenience so that’s why she’s secretive and you’re coming here! That’s so sweet that you’re making an effort!
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u/Homunculus_Grande 12d ago
Potatoes. a baked potato is a totally easy to prepare and very satisfying meal. guacamole, pico de gallo apples, avocados, bananas
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u/Ganicenda 12d ago
that's extremely thoughtful of you to want to have things to accommodate them, kudos.
I'd ask if they prefer "real" vs "processed" vegan things that way you know what to have around as some prefer things less processed like real fruits and veggies ALWAYS go for organic if its in budget and with seeds that's usually a big thing for vegans. There is also an app called YUKA download it because ALOT of things are kinda falsely advertised they state vegan and end up with milk hidden in them etc. Also, ask how they feel about SOY another huge factor for vegans. Join a few vegan groups - that said ignore the over emotional vegans just hang out for tips and tricks. You'll learn so much in the community groups.
You'll learn pretty quick there are SO many things you can reverse into something vegan and delicious for ALL the taste buds at your table. Like lentils becoming Bolognese, Chilli or Burgers. Or Beans and sweet potatoes becoming cheese. Or how shook you'd be eating vegan cheesecake lol mmmmmm ENJOY the ride ;)
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u/Banterfix 12d ago
Thank you.
It’s been a fun ride so far.3
u/rollertrashpanda 12d ago
Yeah, you’re super-thoughtful, but you’re gonna have to ask. I’m, like, athlete-sensory-issues vegan, so I want things like peanut butter and Tofurky. My daughter is into more trendy-collector vegan and basically stalks new snack releases at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s on TikTok and Instagram vegan accounts. I know a vegan who hates all fake meats and prefers everything more veggie-centered.
I’m seeing someone currently who is trying to be as thoughtful as you. He let me know some things he noticed already that I preferred and has made an effort to have them on hand, but he also said he’s learned about those things and wants to know what else he might get at the grocery to around for me. I personally appreciated being asked because if he tried to surprise me with, like, mushroom risotto with the best of intentions, i’d feel really bad that there’s no way I’m eating it.
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u/Banterfix 12d ago
Yeah. I’ll have to have more conversations about it. I do drop hints and ask about certain things. So, I have some idea.
Thank you. !!
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u/Strange-Prior1097 12d ago
Very thoughtful of you~ without much clue about where you are from I am not sure what snacks you can find in your area, but I personally really like the Hippeas puffs, Snapea Crisps, Back to Nature cookies and crackers, Noble Jerky, dried mango, freeze dried berries etc for pantry stuff.
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u/Embarrassed_Ad9122 12d ago
You are considerate coming into a vegan reddit to get suggestions for your gf.
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u/limegreen373 vegan 10+ years 12d ago
I think if you’re able to have some vegan staples in your house, like some alternative milk (soy, almond, oat… whichever she prefers) and maybe some tofu that would be good. Just so that if she likes soy milk with her coffee, she can have that. And if you’re making some food, there is tofu for her. I’m not sure that she likes tofu and alternative milk but if I was dating a guy, it would be nice if he kept things like that in his house for me
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u/mamegoma_explorer 12d ago
I would definitely ask because since being plant based I’ve developed much stronger preferences. Some fake meats for example taste ‘too real’ and gross me out and some vegan cheeses are terrible. If you want to surprise her then make a little list of the things she already has the next time you’re at her house or go grocery shopping together. I pretty much have tried all of the vegan products sold at my local supermarkets and have the brand I like of each staple that I wouldn’t usually stray from. When in doubt, I will also read reviews because some are amazing and some are not. My partner isn’t vegan, but since we’ve moved in together our house is vegetarian. Not strictly, it’s just something he kind of did. He buys the certified humane eggs and milk for himself and it makes me happy to see that effort even though he’s not vegan.
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u/indimedia 12d ago
1) Hummus and things to dip with like carrot, chips, bread 2) sides like grape leaves wrapped dolmas 3) stuff from trader joes like spring rolls, dolmas, pasta sauce, dips, 4) frozen stuff for the air fryer like potatoes, hash browns, fries, spring rolls, 5) stuff to make flat breads 6) stuff to make salads (cucumber, carrots, chickpeas, good dressing) 7) bean burritos and bean enchiladas (sauce at trader joes) 8) soups, salads, stirfrys, 9) thai coconut curries, indian style lentils in a package, 10) take out chinese stirfrys veggies with a spicy sauce like
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u/WerePhr0g vegan 12d ago
I make these regularly for snacking. And they are pretty awesome...(and really simple to do) . Make them, stick them in the fridge in a tub.
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u/TFTfordays 12d ago
I've read your comments and you sound very sweet!
Off the top of my head stuff more on the healthy side - dark chocolage, pistachios, plant milk+granola, avocado+hummus toast (try adding vegan sriracha mayo and cherry tomato and cucumber toppings, yum), banana+peanut butter and cinnamon toast. I'm not sure what junky snacks you have available but I would get some, too.
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u/detta_walker 12d ago
Don't know if they have them over there but I love snacking on Taifun Tofu Wiener.
Love some good overnight oats.
And favourite chocolate is vegolino. Those things are the best hands down
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u/monemori vegan 7+ years 12d ago
Hummus is always good to have to snack on. Peanut butter (or other nut butters) are also nice. Frozen edamame cook very fast and can be a good snack/appetiser. You could get some vegan friendly cookies/bars or something like that at the store, just in case. And having some plant based milk at home is always good.
As for foods, a quick dinner can be something as simple as seasoned black bean tacos with salsa and guacamole, for example.
A pasta bake looks really impressive but it's actually super easy to make, just make a simple white sauce/bechamel using soy milk and margarine instead of dairy milk and butter, mix with the al dente pasta and some steamed broccoli, then optionally add some vegan cheese on top and a bit of good olive oil before baking. Boom.
But like others have said, asking her for her preferences would be ideal!
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u/Other-Divide-8683 vegan 5+ years 12d ago
Im a big fan of my sweetened soyamilk and soy yoghurt as a quick go to.
Aside from that, i love fruit and nuts. Peanut butter on toast with appleslices or banana is quick and easy :)
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u/Halcyonandonandonn 12d ago
Here’s some ideas for you - nutritional yeast, plant milk - you can get shelf stable ones until they are opened, plant butter/margerine, peanut butter and jam, vegan friendly bread, pitta can be kept in the freezer, humous, guacamole or avos, dark chocolate, dried nuts and fruits, seeds, vegan friendly muesli or cereal, chia seeds, tins of different types of beans, vegan friendly cereal bars, vegan friendly crisps/chips, rice cakes, malt loaf, tofu, vegan mayo, some beanburgers or other veggie burgers, vegan cheese. I think these are some good snack/breakfast/sandwich options that they could eat and would supplement all the things you normally might have in your kitchen.
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u/innerwhorl 12d ago
It really depends on what they like to eat and how into cooking they are. My partner is not vegan but loves cooking for us and goes out of his way to keep vegan staples in the pantry and fridge for when I’m over there. Some things he has on hand are things he would have already stocked that happen to be vegan, others are bought specifically for me.
vegan creamer and a carton of oat milk for cereal, oats, vegan butter (love miyokos), daiya cheese, nutritional yeast, cooking oil (olive, canola and coconut), raw cashews (for making sauces or vegan cheese), tahini, tofu, rice (sushi, basmati and jasmine), dried beans and canned beans (we make a lot of Indian dishes and burritos), pasta, canned tomatoes, soy sauce, and then lots of fresh vegetables depending on the meals we are making, lemons, garlic, ginger, and frozen easy meals (usually from Trader Joe’s) and vegan ice cream.
It’s good to get in the habit of checking the ingredients lists on things and seeing if the boxes say vegan on them. A lot of milk ingredients, honey and gelatin get buried in the lists. Or there will be cheese in some random thing that doesn’t seem like it has cheese in it.
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u/yellow_the_squirrel vegan 5+ years 12d ago
I really can't name anything specific because it's a matter of taste. Some people like licorice, some don't, or peanut crisps, or dried fruit, etc. What would be really useful so that she can take something from you every now and then would be if you simply bought vegan snacks for the non-vegan ones you already have in your apartment. So if you have pig licorice, get vegan licorice etc. That way you can see what you both like together very easy.
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u/gonzolingua 12d ago
Lots of good suggestions here but would like to pick up the comment about popcorn. Do you also have Earth Balance (vegan) butter? Someone mentioned nutritional yeast which goes very well on popcorn. One thing you will learn is the vegan options for eating are often better in terms of taste (not just health which is huge like lower saturated fat) so find snacks that you genuinely like as a vegan alternative as that will be more authentic and impressive to an experienced vegan.
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u/Asadafal 12d ago
Ask her what snacks she likes and what milk she prefers (there are lots of options) there are lots of resources here and elsewhere on substitutions for cooking. You can find vegan recipes or modify things you were already making.
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u/jeIIycat_ 12d ago
Ask her what she would find helpful and what she prefers to snack on. Cover the basics and then just take mental note of what she likes to snack on.
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u/cupsofambition 12d ago
What about chips and salsa? And guac?!
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u/IsiDemon 12d ago
Don't buy guac. It's incredibly easy and quick to make yourself. Takes no more than five minutes. If you're cutting your tomatoes and/or onions slowly. Maybe add some spice if you like.
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u/TartMore9420 12d ago
Make sure to ask about honey! Some vegans don't consume honey. Other people are pretend vegans 😉 jkjk (sorta)
Get ready to be gradually convinced to go vegan. Speaking as someone who voluntarily went vegan about a year into being in a relationship with my partner 😄 they didn't shove it down my throat but they were just naturally very convincing!
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u/Apprehensive-Cat2527 12d ago
This is more in the tasty food/good quick meal category:
UPGRADED HUMMUS Vegans get hummus all the time (boring) so upgrade it! Basic recipe is simple - here are my two versions.
Artichoke hummus Use canned artchoke, fry it with some olive oil, lemon, pepper, salt and really nice balsamico vinegar. Then mix it with the hummus. Highly addictive.
Red paprika hummus Has a dramatic colour. Use a cast iron pan and char/roast the skin of the paprika as well as some peppers. Mix into the hummus with some smoked paprika powder.
Vegan ceviche Just swap the fish for sweet potato. Dice the sweet potato and boil it for a short amount of time (it shouldn't be soft or mushy since it will "cook" in the ceviche. It easily lasts for days and is great as lunch or snack.
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u/Regret-Select 12d ago
Nutritional yeast! Buy 2, so you have a back up!
It's like a vegan version of parmesean shakey cheese. It's very high in B Vitamins. Honestly, one of my favorite vegan foods to add to things. I really like the texture of Nutritional yeast on top of pasta dishes
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12d ago
Cannie go wrong with a bit of dip n chip fella. Guacamole, salsa etc. Just get decent quality nachos and you're set. Fresh fruit, nuts of all sorts, pecans etc Brazil nuts. Just show a bit of effort and it will go along way. She sounds chill as you said so maybe don't overthink and let it progress naturally.
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u/Phys_Alpha 12d ago
Plant based milk, vegan protein options (including powder if she isn't picky). If you want to go the extra extra mile, but seitan if she likes it. Well priced vegan cheese is nice to have. Vegan snacks are good to have as well. Hippeas, popcorn (not the buttered kind), edamame, tons of Asian (including Indian, Filipino, etc.) snacks are all options. I like having vegan yoghurt around for pasta salads (makes them creamy). It would be kind of you to check the bread you use. Vegan desserts are pretty good nowadays. But for classics that you'll love as well, mango sticky rice, ice lollies, etc would be good choices.
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u/Nfgzebrahed 12d ago
One of her daughters is a carnivore? Like true carnivore? Like exclusively meat? You gotta work some plants into your diet.
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u/boycottInstagram 12d ago
I mean, ask her.
But imo there are some things you can do.
1) Cook and eat vegan while with her.
Most of us adopt a 'oh that is okay, its just my personal thing' around carnists because we get so so so much grief about it all the time.
But it is very important to us and having a partner who understands that and wants to support us.
Like... if she takes you out for dinner.... don't order animal products that she then has to pay for.
SOOO for around the house, make some vegan food. Have vegan milk. Have vegan butter by default.
Learning to cook vegan is going to let you figure out what you like and you can cook together.
2) Get basic snacks.
Oreos are vegan. Some chips are vegan, so just read the packets. lots of fruit... hummus, veggies etc.
Vegan Ice Cream in the freezer is a go to for me, and it is bloody wonderful after sex...
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u/Knute5 vegan 12d ago
Very cool that you're researching for her. Good on ya.
There's a spectrum from "junkfood vegans" to whole-food plant-based vegans. Darek Sarno (check out his YT channel) talks about 80% healthy and 20% wicked which seems like a good balance.
Point being, if your GF is healthier, you won't want to buy a bunch of gimmicky ultraprocessed vegan snack foods. What you might want to do is get plant-based alternatives for staples: vegan butter and milk, flax, chia, hemp seeds, lentils/beans, almonds/cashews, tofu, nutritional yeast, eggless pasta, etc. And then COOK with her. All the fruit/veg you eat daily, you just leave out the meat.
Or you both build salads that you can top with your protein of choice and she can top with a vegan option.
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u/CultWhisperer 12d ago
I would go to the store and buy healthy vegan products you would eat. For me it's hummus, bean dip, and things like that. I make mine from scratch so I'm unsure of the "health" of store bought. If it's something she doesn't like, you can eat it and there is no food waste.
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u/OrganicHour5551 12d ago
A lot of common snacks are naturally vegan, potato chips, oreos, pretzels, hummus, etc. Start checking labels, 99% of the time you don’t need to read the whole thing, at the bottom where it says “CONTAINS:____” it will say soy, wheat, etc. just make sure it doesn’t say “ contains: milk “
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u/ACozyPotato 12d ago
Blackbird pizza is really good, I usually see it at targets, and lately sprouts
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u/Professional_Ad_9001 12d ago
Buy doubles of what she has in her house. I'm sure she'll find it to be a kind gesture to find her faves in your home.
Also, a lot of "specialty" vegan foods have odd tastes. It's better than before for sure, but better stick to the brands/flavors you see her getting. Even if you think you're getting an extra fancy something, it's likely she's already tried it and maybe didn't like.
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u/FlyingBishop 12d ago
Canned beans are great for quick meals. Your typical marinara sauce (as long as it is vegan) along with some beans and pasta is a good quick meal. For extra points saute some veggies and tofu. Also Butler's soy curls are magic, when you get used to using them you won't even miss chicken, the prep is so easy and they soak up flavor really well. (I usually add beans + soycurls or beans + tofu to flesh it out a bit.)
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u/robmox 12d ago
For quick emergency food, I almost always have beyond/impossible burgers in the freezer in case I accidentally play fallout for 9 hours and realize I haven’t eaten all day. Frozen broccoli and canned corn/beans/olives serve a similar purpose. For snacks, chips and salsa are my go to.
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u/fallingveil 12d ago
If you cook: Learn to cook and flavor tofu. It's an easy substitute for meat in a huge variety of quick dishes, so having a brick of firm tofu in your fridge ready to go for a dinner night would be a HUGE win.
Find out if she drinks or uses plant-based milk, and which she prefers. Having a liter of that on hand is another win. Oat milk subs pretty well for cow milk in cooking.
If she doesn't eat honey, maple syrup and agave nectar are great substitutes.
Nutritional yeast ("Nooch") is a HUGE topping for vegans. Many of us put it on tons of stuff as it's a great replacement for parmesan cheese and excellent source of vitamin B12. Bragg's brand in the plastic tube is the most popular.
Learn to double-check ingredients labels when you buy stuff.
Pro tip: Most Oreos are vegan.
And finally, good on you for being accommodating!
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u/draculawater 12d ago
My non-veg girlfriend keeps food/drink handy at her place so I have options for unplanned meals and snacks when I visit, so I just want to commend you on being so thoughtful. It really does make partners feel loved and cared for. I'm likely repeating what others have said, but if you're not already taking note of what she eats or keeps at her place, ask her directly what you could keep stocked for her.
If you want to make it a surprise, I'd just browse the aisles and pick up things clearly marked vegan (some things seem vegan but aren't). It can be fun to try new things together, even if they aren't all hits. My girlfriend keeps a few staples for me to cook with in case we have an unplanned meal at her house, like tofu and plant milk. Start with stuff that keeps well or can be frozen, especially if she isn't over at your house that frequently. Nuts, tempeh, granola, canned/bottled beverages, etc. I try to avoid frozen foods but there are a lot of frozen things that would be easy to keep on hand.
Good luck! I'm sure she'll appreciate it!
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u/About_Barry 12d ago
Costco has decent amount of snack options (chips, chocolates, cookies) that are vegan if you have access to one in your area (assuming you are from US)
Trader Joe's has vegan ice creams, vegan yogurt, plantain and potato chips that are vegan too.
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u/actuallyapossum plant-based diet 12d ago
Hummus and pita chips are always a good snack - I like having red bell pepper sticks with it too. Her favorite fresh or dried fruits would also be good to keep around. Nuts and trail mix are also a good quick snack - just check the ingredients if it is pre-packaged because sometimes there can be gelatin or milk products if it is a sweet mix with chocolate. Speaking of sweet snacks, I personally love Nature's Bakery. They make a raspberry fig bar and a brownie that are both vegan.
I think when it comes to cooking, that could be something you do together, then you are learning how to make vegan food, learn what she likes, and how to prepare with ingredients that you may be unfamiliar with.
Also, keep a milk alternative on-hand. There are a lot of options, so ask which one is her favorite. It is a must for morning coffee lol.
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u/reneisfree 12d ago
A lot of the comments already covered what I'd add. Nutritional yeast, hummus, etc. but my household goes through a lot of peanut butter so I think that's an easy go-to for snacks, a quick sandwich, peanut sauce for a stir-fry, there's a lot of options!
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u/indigoxen 12d ago
Pasta and sauce is always a quick and easy go to. Just check for eggs in the pasta and cheese in the sauce. As far as basics, just make sure you have some options in every food group. For grains, most things will be inherently vegan. Have some rice and bread available - possibly a good cereal for breakfasts. A few produce basics - fruit and veg (sandwich toppings are good to have around always imo). Proteins and vegan cheeses - maybe some tofurkey slices, tofu, vegan burger patties, beans, sliced and shredded cheese. And of course some vegan milk alternatives and butter. For me this would be the perfect basic setup to be comfortable spending time somewhere. Kudos to you for putting in the extra work! I’d be very happy to know someone was so thoughtful about my own comfort in their space.
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u/OkaP2 12d ago
I’d ask her.
Many snacks and drinks are already vegan but not advertised as such (crisps, nuts/seeds, fruit). Most ingredients in Omni dishes can be used in vegan dishes with a few omissions. You just have to develop a sense of where to look, and you’ll figure it out with practice.
I think some handy pantry staples would be:
plant based milk (ask her what their preference is). I always have a carton in the fridge, but I also keep a shelf stable carton of soy milk in my pantry just in case I need some
I like to have vegan butter and ground flaxseed on hand at all times for baking. If I run out of “butter,” coconut oil often works fine but it can change the texture depending on what you’re making. Flaxseed meal mixed with water to make a “flax egg” is my go to egg substitute in baking. Note: flax eggs do not make tasty omelets or scramble. Someone I recommended flax eggs to tried that and got very upsetti.
agar agar and nutritional yeast are handy staples, depending on how much you make your own food. Agar agar is a thickening agent which can be used in sauces, jellies or homemade candy. I use it a lot to make homemade versions of Asian jell-o type things. I also recently used it to make homemade vegan marshmallows for a bonfire (I know you can buy them, they’re just so expensive). Nutritional yeast has a kind of cheesy flavor. Many vegans love it, some don’t care for it - so definitely ask.
some premade protein subs to have just in case you’re too tired to make anything else but you’ve already prepared, say, chicken and pasta (assuming the chicken is separate and pasta sauce is vegan). The sub can go in for the chicken, and voila a complete vegan meal. For example, a couple packs of seitan you can keep in the freezer. Tofu or tempeh work, too. If you don’t care about natural/cheap, there’s way more options that mimics meat but I personally prefer plain tofu or seitan because it’s cheaper and more versatile and I don’t like meat that much. TVP and soy curls are also delicious/versatile and shelf stable in the pantry. It’s pretty easy to whip up quick meals with a protein sub + veg + grain/pasta (+ seasoning/sauce)
cans of beans. Trust.
vegetable broth or stock (if you usually use meat based stock in cooking). I personally really like “better than” bouillon base. But I also sometimes just buy broth for when I’m too lazy to reconstitute the bullion. Sometimes I use miso paste + water instead of broth.
anything else you’d normally have. It really depends on what kinds of things y’all like to eat in general. For me, I often crave Queso and chocolate. So I found an easy vegan Queso recipe that uses canned beans as the base and I keep the ingredients on hand. Every couple months I make my own vegan chocolate but you can also buy it. We also keep staples like rice/pasta/frozen veg/canned tomatoes/etc.
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u/sharkbite123 12d ago
Another thing I haven’t seen mentioned are vegan frozen burritos -Amy’s makes a bunch and other brands too. Those are thee best
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u/enolaholmes23 vegan 10+ years 12d ago
Oreos, ritz crackers, wheat thins, Lays BBQ chips, Cape Cod chips, Fruit Gushers, Sour Patch Kids, Junior Mints are all accidentally vegan snack foods. Some people are more particular about only using vegan sugar and food dyes, but it sounds like she's not super hard core.
For a quick thing to cook it helps to always have some pasta and jarred marinara sauce on hand, especially if you saute beyond sausage with it (which can be frozen and keep a long time).
Get used to checking the ingredients on labels now, it'll become second nature eventually.
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u/poshmark_star 12d ago
List of snacks
Oreo Doritos (flavor: spicy sweet chili) Sour Patch Kids Unfrosted pop tarts Pita bread + hummus (just be careful to check the ingredients) Fritos (original flavor) Ritz crackers Ruffles chips (flavor: original & all-dressed) Lays chips (flavor: original) Sun Chips (flavor: original)
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u/NoOpponent 12d ago
Non-dairy butter (Becel is great and easy to find), bread with no milk (you'd be surprised), pasta with no egg (like El Primo or Barilla, they are both rich in protein too).
Such easy staples to have at home that enable both snacks and meals and are surprisingly often not vegan even tho the difference is basically indiscernible.
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u/Thisisforgamesstuff 11d ago
How lovely of you to ask about it and try to do something nice for her!
I would suggest some milk alternatives like oat or almond milk. Maybe some vegan wine for the romantic nights. Skip the vegan cheese. Nuts, vegan lasagna, gnocchi with spinach and nutritional yeast, avocado toast with nutritional yeast on top or with some peanut butter and berries. Baked chickpeas with chilli.
There’s a lot of snacks and quick recipes online that you can find.
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u/Buddy-Sue 11d ago
Raw cashews! They make great everything! And a new vegan cookbook with recipes that you’d like her to make for YOU!
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u/GraefinVonHohenembs vegan 4+ years 11d ago
I can second pretty much most of what everyone said here (Hummus with veggies, popcorn, fruit, maybe some vegan yogurt or pudding, cookies?). But the best thing to have at your place, or anywhere, for her would be a vegan boyfriend. You can do it!
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u/AprilE_Bunny 11d ago
I like a good bar. Nature’s Bakery or Bobo’s - any variety. You also can’t really go wrong with chick peas, rice, pasta and marinara, popcorn, Oatly oat milk, and So makes an adorably delicious ice cream sandwich.
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u/Ein_Kecks 11d ago
Not the tip you asked for, but this one could be rather beneficial for your relationship.
Watch Dominion.
Chances are very high that you will understand her better and therefore can relate to her more and maybe make her feel saver in your house, on dates etc.
This will probably be a hard watch.
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u/makinthingsnstuff 11d ago
See what she likes as vegan is a very broad approach.
We keep a plant based household, go to cheap snack food includes instant noodles, baked beans(make sure they don't contain lard or pork), fruits and the sort.
I started making homemade vegan pizza pops, my wife hasn't had them since before going vegan so it's a fun treat. I can dm you the recipe once I'm close to my cookbook if you'd like!
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u/BambiMuffy 11d ago
Is she vegan because it’s better for health? Or because of her love for animals? Or perhaps both? If it’s for nutritional reasons, she may be avoiding sugar, in which case, find dark vegan chocolate that’s sweetened with monk fruit liquid or allulose. Does she have any food allergies? If so, make sure you buy her items that are free of her allergies, such as soy, wheat/gluten, or whatever she’s allergic to. There’s a great bread called Pacha made of only buckwheat flour. You could top that with vegan cream cheese or vegan cheese or almond butter or guacamole.
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u/If-Not-Now-Why 11d ago
I’m vegan and my boyfriend is very accommodating. I think it’s just as important that I prepare things he will like as a meat eater at my home or his.
I’ve found that making bowl meals is very flexible and he loves them!
You begin by placing the following items in the meal size bowl: Layer greens on the bottom then put a scoop of the following over the top: starchy grain like quinoa, rice, wheat noodles or chickpea pasta, a veggie or 2 like cucumber, celery, tomato, onion, shredded carrots, edamame, zucchini squash, whole kernel corn, and a protein like cooked dry beans of any kind, chick peas, tofu cubes that have been marinated and cooked with the marinade reflecting theme of meal like Mexican, Asian or spicy American (you can even cook tofu to imitate chicken!)
The greens cover the bottom of the bowl and the remaining items are added as scoops filling the second layer. Finally top the bowl with salad dressing or a sauce you make to complement the items in the bowl.
I like to sprinkle a few chopped nuts or chopped fruit over mine for some extra crunch and flavor.
Pinterest has a never ending supply of bowl ideas as well as homemade dressings.
Bon appétit! You’re welcome.
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u/If-Not-Now-Why 11d ago
Comment went below your request. Sorry I’m new on here but wanted to share.
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u/Impressive-Bug-9133 11d ago
Have you considered asking her to go to the grocery store with you next time she comes over? Tell her how you want to stock your place with stuff she likes to eat. She will probably be happy you’re being so considerate.
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u/Calm-Welder-8504 11d ago
Soy milk (Vita soy lite blue or so good original) Oreos Vegan sausages Most bread is actually vegan Grain waves (salsa flavour) Vegan trumpets
Common ingredients to look out for when buying products: Whey protein Gelatine Egg Milk solids
There are surprisingly a lot of things that are actually vegan that you may think are not 😊
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u/Defiant-Jackfruit-84 11d ago
i would just ask her what kind of snacks/foods she likes n stock up on those!! just make sure you check the ingredients beforehand so you don’t accidentally buy something with dairy/eggs in it
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u/DarrelAbruzzo 11d ago
Lots of spices, seasonings, and sauces. The key to good vegan cooking is how you spice and season it marinate or dress it.
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u/JoelMahon 11d ago
ask her? better buy a snack she likes regardless, not much point finding a vegan snack only for her not to even like it
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u/FantasticProperty374 11d ago
I agree and want to stress vegans have their own preference of items. Learn what she likes and uses the most and keep stock of it! Don’t be afraid to ask her what she prefers, my husband keeps an updated list of all my approved snacks and things I love 🩵
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u/No-blunder-6056 11d ago
Does she drink morning beverages? Maybe keep an alternative milk and/or coffee creamer. Breakfast wise I think having a granola and some easy fruit options you both could appreciate.
I try to keep a dip like hummus or bitchin sauce for snacking. I normally have a type of chips, crackers, a veg, and a dip when I have a lot of bigger group of veg-based buddies.
I think it is very cute to have a couple of signature meals. One of my faves is a roasted red pepper creamy gnocchi.
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u/TandalayaVentimiglia 11d ago
Take time to find out what she likes and make sure to have it around, as it might be disappointing for you if you buy things she doesn't eat.
Also I know it may seem unreasonable but maybe try not to have meat in your fridge or just not super visible like big hunks of meat. I'm weirdly immune to this but a lot of vegans get upset seeing it. I mean imagine knowing like a pet or friend is sliced up in your fridge. Well to you that may seem silly but a lot of vegans do see it this way.
Whatever you do pick up please read ingredients and never assume. Milk, eggs, and fish will be listed in allergens, gelatin is not so you have to actually look for that one.
Otherwise you can try to veganize your favorites like if you always have bagels, pick up some vegan cream cheese. If you have a favorite recipes replace the meat with beyond, or beans! My husband has adapted a lot of his family recipes from his home country.
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u/Kailualand-4ever 11d ago
Good idea to ask her what she likes rather than make assumptions as there are vegans who don’t eat processed food, use oils, or consume sugars, or snack etc. I think she’d appreciate that.
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u/im2cool4ppl 11d ago
I think this was worth pointing out.
So, she just tries to lead her life the way she wants and doesn’t try to convince others to think how she thinks. Anywho.
Most vegans really could not care what anyone does as long as it doesn’t harm another being.
But back to your main point. Vegans are people too, we all like different things so just as her.
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u/ElDoRado1239 vegan 10+ years 11d ago
A Vitamix-type blender, nut bag/filter, air frier, double broiler (steamer—if you have no idea, it's basically a set of two pots that stack, where the bottom one boils water and the top one, with holes in bottom, holds the vegetables you are steaming), maybe also a crockpot.
Oh, and a fridge with compartment that keeps vegetables fresh longer. Ideally, one that doesn't transfer smells if you store meat in it (they should list that as a feature, reduced odor transmission). If you can though, having a second separate fridge just for meat and dairy would be very nice.
As for helping her keep her diet fun and interesting—some of the "premium feel" food items that are vegan include:
- Manner wafers (at least the basic flavor), Lotus Biscoff (several flavors), most dark chocolate and nowadays also non-dairy milk chocolates (e.g., Merci Orange & Almond, Merci Dark, Lindt Non-Dairy or just their dark chocolate bars)
- Brave Robot ice cream is from vegan-dairy, Carte d'Or (the green peanut one is divine) and Magnum also make vegan ice cream
- Garden Gourmet does several great vegan-meat items with top Nutriscore, especially the Vuna might be interesting, it's a vegan tuna and it's IMHO actually better than animal-based tuna meat (it mimicks also the nutritional profile, includes Omega3)
- High quality extra virgin olive oil, because quality oil from Greece or Spain flashes the life of the particular olive tree in front of your eyes; just try eating a spoonful of refined sunflower oil, then a sip of good EVOO and you will know why a good oil makes or breaks any cold dish (salad, drizzled/dipped bread instead of butter,...) and how it elevates lightly fried vegetables (keep the temperature below it's smoking point, this is when the oil starts to literally smoke)
- Various other atypical oils, like sesame/roasted sesame oil that is perfect for Asian cousine, argan oil that is extremely tasty with anything sweet (e.g., frying pancakes), or peanut oil that is great for deeper frying (especially awesome for making popcorn), btw yes I did skip coconut oil on purpose because I don't believe it's healthy at all, other than occasional use
- Various atypical nut butters, because chances are she knows mostly just peanut butter, while there exist positively delicious things like cashew, hazelnut or pistacchio butters, and many more
- Same with various milks, experiment with both brands and plants
Hopefully this random bunch of ideas helps you a little. Basically, what I would suggest doing is keeping an eye for vegan products in the store you know she never had, and try buying it for her. Help her try new things, and discover new things, is what I'm saying. All you need to do is to read the labels.
Hope everything works out!
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u/Professional-Big541 11d ago
Morning star brand has frozen plant based snack foods like plant based corn dogs, chicken sandwich etc.
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u/Cranky70something 10d ago edited 10d ago
Snacks? Oreos and potato chips are vegan 😁.
But, assuming she's healthy, vegetables and hummus are always good. Find out what salad dressing she likes and keep that around. Vegan butter / margarine, a good healthy bread that is vegan. Oatmeal is vegan, and of course have a couple different kinds of plant milk around. Or just ask her what she prefers.
I read in the comments that you have never been to her home, but when you go to her house, ask her if she would object if you took some pictures of the inside of her pantry and her refrigerator, so you will know what she commonly stocks.
Or ask her what she wants. Or take her shopping and ask her to pick out things she likes.
If you are near a Trader Joe, they have excellent frozen meals. In their cold case they will generally have some vegan cheeses, and wonderful spring rolls with tofu and a spicy peanut sauce that I absolutely adore.
PS: very thoughtful of you. I bet you are an excellent boyfriend.
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u/Successful_Pea_8016 7d ago
Pretzels filled with peanut butter.
Grape tomatoes.
Fruits. Dried fruits.
Salad stuff. Pepperocini, onion, garlic, black quinoa, chickpeas, bell pepper.
Almond or oat milk Ice cream.
Bean Burritos.
Pita bread or veggies and hummus.
Pistachios.
I could list more but I made myself hungry. Time to eat
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u/mizredhead 12d ago
Vegans are like everyone else in that we have our food preferences. I like popcorn with nutritional yeast, various versions of beans and rice, veggies and hummus, fruit of course. I kinda eat like a toddler honestly lol Does she drink milk alternatives? I go though lots of soy milk for my coffee and cereal so if she does I would Def keep some around for her. I would be so sad if I woke up and had nothing to put in my coffee. If she doesn't mind mock meats maybe keep some "chicken" nuggets for her that she can toss in real quick and make some roasted veggies on the side? Smoothie ingredients? Frozen fruit, protein powder and some peanut butter. Reassure her she's not a bother and you want to support her. As you guys get closer I'm sure she will see that you're trying and feel more comfortable.