Vegan buys for a non-vegan household

Veganism is a personal choice, and with all personal choices it can sometimes be hard for others to understand why that choice has been made. So this a post for those who are not vegan, likely have no intention of ever going vegan, but still want to be supportive and respectful for their friends or family members who are vegan. There is a lot of choice available now, so it can also be very overwhelming to know what to pick up for your vegan loved ones. A lovely commenter actually raised this exact question on another of my posts, so to answer the question, here are a few items that you can keep in your kitchen for those occasions where a vegan loved one turns up unannounced.

To begin this, I will preface this with a little disclaimer. I think it is very rare these days for people to ever turn up at someone else’s house unannounced. Last minute, sure, but I think it is rare for people to literally turn up without any sort of prior warning. Also, I do think that if someone is to turn up unannounced, it is likely because they just need a chat or just wanted to say hello, so aren’t necessarily expecting loads of food. So I have kept this to the easy snacks, and largely unperishable items that can be kept in a kitchen cupboard and brought out at short notice.

Long-Life milk

Just as with dairy milk, vegan milk now comes in long-life packages. These are super helpful as they have a really long shelf date provided you don’t open it. Once opened, the milk will obviously go off as normal, but the unopened package can be kept in a cupboard for at least 6 months, so can easily be picked up and stored in a cupboard for as long as needed.

Again there is a lot of choice here, but if you do not know what a person prefers, you can’t go wrong with oat or soya. Soya does tend to be a little bit cheaper, but taste wise these are the safest options. I find that the others (coconut or almond) can be an acquired taste for some people.

Biscuits

In the UK, a surprisingly large amount of biscuits are already vegan friendly. Options such as Oreos, bourbons, Hob Nobs, Digestives, and Rich Tea biscuits are all vegan friendly and are all safe choices. Especially if there will be tea on offer. Obviously if you know that there is one choice that is most popular with your loved one, then buy those, but the above are all very safe choices. Biscuits can last quite a while in their packaging, and they can also be enjoyed by non-vegans friends too, so are a win win choice!

Whilst the above are safe choices, it can be best to double check the ingredients. Some brands may add milk to their versions, especially any chocolate versions, so best to double check. Most supermarkets have their own version of the big named brand versions, but if you don’t want to risk the ingredients, the McVities versions of the above are a safe choice. All versions of Oreo are also vegan friendly, except for the peanut butter version, so any packet of Oeros will likely go down great with everyone, vegan or not!

Sandwich fixings

If someone ends up staying for more than a cup of tea, then sandwiches are always a winner. Most breads should be vegan friendly, but best to avoid speciality breads such as brioche to be safe as these often use milk and eggs. But your standard loaf of bread should be vegan friendly.

As to fillings, this again will depend on your loved one’s preferences, but spreads are always a safe choice. Jam is the easiest option, as jam can last for ages until it is opened, and if you buy conserve, this will also last quite a while in the fridge once opened. My favourite flavour is strawberry, but raspberry is also a very safe bet. You can also use nut butters, as many nut butters do not need to be refrigerated once opened so can last for a long time in your cupboards. Marmite is similar, although this again an option that is very dependent on taste so is a riskier option.

Regarding butter, whilst you cannot keep this in your cupboard, I have found that vegan butter lasts for ages even once opened so can easily be kept in the fridge just in case someone fancies a sandwich or just a bit of toast during a visit. I would also say that vegan butter tastes exactly like dairy butter, so this could be a very easy swap you make to your own diet. My personal favourite if Violite butter, purely because it is the easiest one to spread, but taste wise they all taste very similar.

Frozen snacks

Frozen food is always a great option as frozen food will rarely go off. It will obviously depend on your loved one as to what they will want, but having some frozen sausages, chicken nuggets, or any other type of party food will always help. Especially if the sandwich fillings on offer aren’t deemed filling enough or you just fancy something a bit more substantial. You could even have some vegan burgers in your freezer if you really wanted to show off!

The options vary in price depending on the brand you go for, but the supermarket own brand versions are tasty enough for a meal and are usually considerably cheaper than the named brand options. Again, if you know that your loved one may have a favourite, go for that brand, but if you aren’t sure, the own brand option will do great.

Other snacks

Easy, non-perishable snacks such as crisps are also an easy option. Packets of crisps can be bought in a multipack and left in the cupboard for everyone, vegan or not. The same can be send for options such as pretzels, or trail mix. Even when open, the food can last for quite a long amount of time and are relatively cheap. They are also a savoury option for those who aren’t big fans of sweet foods.

Are there any staples that you like to keep on hand for when people visit? Let me know as I am always on the look out for new options!

T xxx