Fuzzable
Veganism has become a way of living for many people across the globe. While some argue its effectiveness as a movement, others validate it for its approach towards the environment and the human conscience as a whole.
But for a vegan, the most important thing is to keep track of the pantry. Careful planning and execution of a store visit are of paramount importance. Here are 5 things to consider while purchasing vegan products.
Choose an exclusive vegan store
Now that you have become a trusted vegan in the community, it is a solemn duty of an ethical vegan to choose a credible store that provides the best ingredients available in the market. The store should also be a certified one; for example, if the store has a BevVeg Vegan Symbol or any other authorized certification, then and only then you shall proceed towards considering that store a viable one.
An essential thing to keep in mind is the fact that not all stores are “vegan exclusive.” Some might have the desired products or a blend of both vegetarian-friendly and vegan-friendly products. Always strive for finding the right store that only sells exclusive vegan products.
Plan your budget
Devising the budget for your list is a crucial thing to do. While that might sound quite obvious, it surely does help as various stores often provide the same products, but with a different price tag. Vegan products are 100% organic in nature; hence, the addition of preservatives goes out of the window.
This, in turn, raises the price of essential commodities as well. Buying them in bulk and storing them in a properly refrigerated environment helps in reducing budget cuts. One can also find other alternatives that serve the same purpose but do keep in mind that those options should be purely vegan-friendly.
Find the right mark
As a vegan, you should always look for the certification mark on a food packet. Certain vegan agencies sell their products with a designated marking scheme, a table of contents, and a calorie chart as well.
If it isn’t available or isn’t clear to understand, then you must contact your nearest store manager and get things sorted out as quickly as you can. Buying vegan products isn’t a tough job to do, but it requires a careful eye. Always look for the authorized markings of various food safety standards organizations.
Avoid off-season products
As discussed earlier, nearly all vegan edible items are organic in nature. Hence you’ll see these products hitting the store in their appropriate seasons. Organic farming, for the most part, avoids the usage of any artificial/chemical agents.
Hence, it would be wise not to buy off-season vegan products as they might or might not be grown in an entirely organic manner.
Take a closer look at the expiry date
Purely vegan edibles have to be stored in a cool, dry place for prolonged storage. This means the product has a limited shelf life, which should be observed at all times. While buying such products, always keep in mind that these products fall within their “time of usage” period.
An expired vegan item is as good as a dead plant, it can’t be revived or revamped, it’s nutritions will surely diminish over time. So it’s better to keep track of the date of manufacturing and expiry before purchasing.
