Vegan Pantry Essentials

Today I will be sharing some of the things you should always have lying around in your pantry and your fridge, what you should buy when going vegan. These things are pretty simple, and you should be able to find these cheeky little things at most supermarkets. If these are too expensive for you, I will be giving out a few alternatives, but I really do recommend using the initials. I will be giving you the price range they are normally in, how good they are for you, how much to have of them at your house at a time, as well as my favorite brands. I hope you guys enjoy using this , and it makes things a tad bit easier, as it can be overwhelming in the beginning.

Vegan Butter

Virtuousness Level: 3/10

Favorite Brand: Alpro Soya

Always have: Around a tub (250 g)

How Much?  1-2 euros

This is something I need in my fridge a lot. While some people might be insanely healthy all the time, thats not me, and if I want to make vanilla cake, I'm probably going to use some of this. One of the good things about this butter is that it is half the calories of regular butter. I know calories is not everything, but its not nothing either! It is great for cakes, pastries, and even just a little on toast. It opens you up to a lot more recipes than just ones involving bananas. Alternatives could be oil, but you must make sure that the liquid to dry ratio is no tipped over the edge. It might react differently with the ingredients. By the way, sorry about the price tag, I forgot to take it off!

Maple Syrup

Virtuousness Level: 5/10

Favorite Brand: Buckwud

Always Have: One Bottle

How Much? 6 euros

Maple syrup is a really great thing to have in the kitchen. It is a lovely sweetener to use, instead of sugar, and actually has some really great health benefits. I definitely recommend it for using on pancakes, in cakes and all that fun stuff. I use it in most of the the things I bake. Alternatives could be agave, but that does not have as much nutritional value as maple syrup does and is the same price.

Vegan Snacks

Virtuousness Level: 1/10

Favorite Brand: (N/A)

Always Have: A packet or so

How Much? 2.50- 3 euros

This is something that I really like having at home in my pantry and can really be interpreted any way. I love to have a really nice easy snack at hime, whether its a pack of raisins, these crackers, some ryvita, anything you want really. It shard to always WANT to have fruit as a snack, so I always like to have a not SO healthy snack running around, ready to go, just in case.

Peanut Butter

Virtuousness Level: 5/10 (Depends)

Favorite Brand: Whole Earth

Always Have: A jar

How Much? 3-4 euros

This is great, not only in cooking but on any type of vehicle. A piece of fresh bread (swoon), a slice of apple, celery, and more. It makes everything good.

Dark Chocolate

Virtuousness Level: 5/10

Favorite Brand: Bournville/Lindt

Always Have: Half a bar

How Much? 2-3 euros

Dark Chocolate is everything. Even if you do not like dark chocolate, keep at it, and you will forget al about milk chocolate. As a starter dark chocolate, Bournville is really nice, because it is sweet. If you really like dark chocolate, Lindt is also nice.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Virtuousness Level: 8/10

Favorite Brand: None

Always Have: Half a bottle

How Much? 2-3 euros

You will soon notice that in basically all vegan baking apple cider vinegar is needed. It is mostly needed in order to create a buttermilk with soy milk, and to help replace the missing eggs. Tis is a very healthy thing to have, as it  prevents colds. In fact, doctors recommend you take shots of this when you have colds coming on, in order to send it off. Substitutions are things like lemon juice or brown rice vinegar, but they don't have the same types of health benefits.

Frozen Strawberries

Virtuousness Level: 8/10

Favorite Brand: None

Always Have: A bag

How Much? 2 euros

These are really great to have. Whether they are for smoothies, popsicles, or anything of the sort, strawberries go with everything, and are such a beautiful and vibrant summer fruit to always have on the go-go. And they are good for you.

Coconut Oil

Virtuousness Level: 7/10

Favorite Brand: Biona

Always Have: Half a jar

How Much?  6 euros

This si really great for cooking. I use it in a lot if my baking, and it is a lot better for you then other oils are. I definitely recommend getting this. If it is too expensive you may use canola oil, but that does not have any health benefits for you, so try not to.

Coconut Milk

Virtuousness Level: 5/10

Favorite Brand: None

Always Have: A can

How Much? 3-4 euros

This is a really nice substitute for milk, that you should really use in ice-cream to achieve a lovely texture, popsicles, and in many baking endeavors. 

Chia Seeds

Virtuousness Level: 9/10

Favorite Brand: Bio Organic

Always Have: A packet

How Much? 7 euros

These are a really great egg replacer in cakes. They have SUCH good health benefits and bring a really great rise to cakes. Find out how to make the perfect chia eggs for my recipes on my blog ( I will link below). You could also use flax, but I prefer chia.

Cocoa Powder

Virtuousness Level: 2/10

Favorite Brand: Cadbury

Always Have: 1 cup

How Much? 2-3 euros

I love having cocoa powder for baking. It a very simple and great thing to have around the house. If you find yourself without you may use chocolate milk powder, but of course, it is not as good. In this picture I show kakao powder which is different (more healthy), and not as sweet as cocoa, but both work pretty well with cakes. Kakao is also more expensive.

Brown Sugar

Virtuousness Level: 1/10

Favorite Brand: Silver Spoon

Always Have: Half a Packet

How Much? 2 euros

Great for baking and sweetening, and is a pretty great price. If you do need to substitute,  just use caster sugar.

Almonds

Virtuousness Level: 9/10

Favorite Brand: none

Always Have: A few handfuls

How Much? 2-3 euros

Almonds are a great healthy snack to have, as well as a great thing to make a trail mix with or sprinkle over things. Other great nuts are cashews.

Almond Milk

Virtuousness Level: 5/10

Favorite Brand: Alpro Soy

Always Have: A carton full

How Much? 2-3 euros

Almond milk is a REALLY great thing to have in the pantry because it is such a great replacer for milk. It is good for you, has  a lovely taste, and stays good for a while. Alternatives can be vanilla soy milk, rice milk, or quinoa milk. This, I have found, is the best though.

Bananas

Virtuousness Level: 10/10

Favorite Brand: Dole

Always Have: 5/6 bananas 

How Much? 2 euros for 5

These really are the ultimate thing to have at your fingertips while you are a vegan. They make great things greater. They are the lord of all food. Not only are they amazing in smoothies, but you can make them into cakes, ice creams, add them to popsicles, freeze with dark chocolate an donuts..... THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER. They are amazing and you should ALWAYS have some by your side. When bananas are getting to ripe, or are not ripe enough peel, and throw into a ziplock bag into the freezer, and then you have bananas whenever you want. I always have some in the freezer and in the natural state. Sorry but there aren't any subs for this. These are the ONE AND ONLY.

I hope you guys enjoyed! Any questions that may pop into that beautiful brain of yours, leave down below!

XXVL