The Weekly Produce Shop

Kaitlin Here!

Let's skip the introductions. The story is epic and I want to dedicate it to a separate page.

I would like to elaborate on a few details behind the pragmatics of the raw food lifestyle that many have encountered when transitioning. There is a large database on how to grocery shop however, people are still dubious and enamoured by the large youtube personalities. I thought it would be beneficial if I discussed my experiences to demonstrate how attainable raw veganism can be, especially in Australia. I wish to make it clear that this is only the produce side. We do have a pantry with food type stuffs in it as well. We aren't complete freaks and I will discuss its contents in coming entry. Here we go!

  The Weekly Produce Shop

Pictured

• 1 bag spinach
• 3 bunches kale
• 1 mint
• 1 corriander
• 1 basil
• 1 fancy lettuce
• 1 romaine lettuce
• 1 celery
• 6 carrots
• half a red cabbage
• 1 cauliflower
• 7 cucumbers
• 8 oranges
• 1 pack snow pea sprout
• 1 pack sprout mix
• 5 large zuchinis
• 4 brown onions
• 3 red onion
• 5 red peppers
• 1 bag cherry tomatos
• 8 large field tomatos
• 2 red papaya
• 12 peaches, golden and yellow
• 7 limes
• 2 lemons
• 3 avocados
• 1 watermelon
• half a rockmelon
• 1 huge jackfruit
• 7 honey dew melons
• 12 kg bananas
• 24 calypso mangoes 

1. How do you eat this much in a week?

I don't. This feeds two people. My fiancé is a vegetarian who eats a high raw diet.  Many of these foods can roll over into the next week as well. Items such as ginger, onions and root veggies can last us about ten days if not longer. Items like as mangos and bananas will be purchased in bulk if cheap and are frozen for smoothies and can roll over into the next week. I also make dehydrated foods such a crackers and kale chips which can last up to three weeks unless I am entertaining guests.

2. Quantity

This is a very subjective question. Everyone's body operates differently. Some people are fuel efficient, and others are gas guzzling hummers. I personally do not agree with  the entire caloric fanaticism that is postulated as the key to success on a raw food diet. My major concern is about obtaining sufficient vitamins and minerals. Nutrients are what allows the body to thrive. I recommend eating enough to fulfil your nutrient requirements in quantities that give you enough energy to sustain your way of life. Calorie counters are fantastic if they can break down your nutritional needs. Chronometer is great, however doesn't have certain foods in it especially if you are transitioning. My fitness pal is very convenient with a huge database of foods, yet only measures specific nutrients like vitamin A and C, calcium and iron.
It may take a few weeks to figure out how much food you need to keep going. If you are transitioning from a cooked non vegan diet you will need to buy larger quantities of food. That salad now has to take up the whole dinner plate. Be patient and listen to your body. Raw vegan lifestyles are a massive paradigm shift from mainstream omnivorous diets. We were all confused at the beginning too.

3. How much?

Produce price fluctuates for a myriad of reasons; harvest and seasonality, demand, weather conditions AKA natural disasters in Australia's case, and currency exchange. This cost us roughly $150. This was more expensive because we bought a 12 kg jack fruit for $30. They are like unicorns, so grab them when you see them.

4. Shop smart.

We try our best to get the best price for everything. Sign up for weekly catalogues from local supermarkets and fruit shops. Coles and Woolworth's catalogues can be found online and Aldi will hand out the coming weeks catalogue in store.
Fruit barns are also great to swing by. Most will have a discount rack up the back full of ripe produce. Go in the mid morning to get the first picks. I also recommend finding out when deliveries are made. That is when shelves are refreshed and over ripe produce becomes available for fast sale.
Go to Farmers markets to cut out the middle man. We do most of our shopping at the markets. Prices are pretty competitive and you will most likely to be able to buy in bulk. We like to do a lap of the stalls to figure out who has what for cheapest and the best quality. Then, we go in for the kill.

5. Plan

Always draft up a rough plan of what you want to eat in the coming week. Write up the ingredients for each recipe and see what ingredients appear in more than one recipe. This is an easy way to determine which foods you will need to buy in bulk.  Always allocate about twenty dollars to make a spontaneous splurge purchase so shopping doesn't start feel like you're being constricted. You will get frustrated and potentially fall off the bandwagon.
I can tell you that I am extremely lazy when it comes to meal planning. I only ever plan for dinners. My fiancé and I work out what we want to eat for the next seven days. This usually consists of four salad meals, two dinners that require a bit of preparation, and either a tapas night or a kitchen sink dinner to eat down the fridge the night before markets. For other meals I enjoy fruit, smoothies, juices and finger foods.

If there is anything I have not mentioned or that you would like further elaboration on anything please let me know.  Thank you for reading my initial post on my construction heavy blog. Things will hopefully come together in the coming week.

Peace,

Kaitlin xx