Whether you’re a seasoned vegan, or have just decided that it’s time to switch things up, we thought we’d help make the transition a little easier.
You might be thinking that when you become or became vegan you’d be restricted to those few measly vegan shelves at the supermarket. Or perhaps those super pricey items from the local specialty store - seriously, is it sustainable to pay $5 for a vegan biscuit, slice or treat all the time?
Fear not our vegan friends. There are some items which have been sitting on shelves in supermarkets for years disguised…‘accidentally’ vegan foods and snacks. We’ll let you in on the secrets and shed light on the identity of these hidden items. Pens and grocery lists at the ready…let’s go!
Important: Remember to check labels
Wait, wait… not so fast. You may be thinking that following a vegan diet would guarantee you weight loss or better weight management. You need to be careful though. When switching to or maintaining a vegan diet you’ll notice many common substitutes for meat and dairy products are high in fat, salt and sugar.
Many supermarket snacks could also be classed as ‘ultra processed’. Of course, the key to maintaining a healthy diet is filling it with whole foods rich in vitamins and minerals.
A lot of vegan items, like regular supermarket items, may also contain palm oil. The production of palm oil leads to habitat loss, air, soil and water pollution, and contributes to global warming.
To ensure you’re making good choices for both your health and the planet, always read labels and be aware of what you’re putting in your mouth!
How stay healthy on a vegan diet
Research shows following a vegan diet may have a number of benefits, including better heart health, lower cancer risk, weight loss and lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Of course, it’s all about balance though.
We'd be remiss to provide you with a list of these accidentally vegan snacks, without also highlighting the importance of a healthy diet. While we're all about balance at Dineamic (and that includes a sneaky treat now and then), we also know that eating lots of vegan foods which are processed or high in fat, salt and sugar could be detrimental to your health.
To that end, staying healthy on a vegan diet does require a little extra planning to ensure you’re getting all the key nutrients you need to function best. Day-to-day, you should:
- Ensure you’re eating two serves of fruit and 5 serves of vegetables a day (remember to mix it up!)
- Include beans, pulses and other proteins (like tofu and tempeh) everyday if you can
- Choose unsaturated oils and spreads
- Include energy giving carbohydrates, like sweet potatoes, peas, corn and wholegrains like wheat, quinoa, freekeh, amaranth, rice, pasta and bread (whole grain is best)
- Include some dairy alternatives (fortified is best)
- Always stay well-hydrated!
‘Accidentally vegan’ supermarket items
Full disclaimer: while this is a list of ‘accidentally’ vegan snacks you can find at the supermarket, our favourite snacks are anything but an accident. Our range of vegan snacks are nutritious, delicious and you don’t even have to leave the house to get them! Check out the range of Dineamic snacks and juices here.
Savoury snacks
What savoury snacks qualify as vegan? Here’s some you’ll find at the supermarket..
- Ajitas Vege Chips
- Arnotts Vita-Weats
- Happy Snack Company Roasted Chic-Peas
- Grain Waves
Savoury breads
Calling all carb lovers, this ones for you. Wondering what savoury breads are vegan?
- Abbott’s Village Bakery
- Bazaar Pita Pockets
- Helga’s bread
- Mighty Soft English Muffins
- Old El Paso tortillas
Cereal
So you’ve settled on a plant-based milk, but are still wondering which cereals are vegan? Here’s some you’ll come by:
- Carman’s Porridge Natural Fruit & Seed
- Cheerios 4 Whole Grains
- Kellogg’s Corn Flakes
- Sanitarium Weet-Bix
- Uncle Tobys Traditional Oats
Frozen items
Wondering what’s vegan in the frozen section? Wonder no more - and no more wandering up and down the aisles either. Here’s some vegan frozen items:
- Weis Sorbets
- Proud & Punch Smoothie Pops
- Borg’s Shortcrust Pastry
- KB Frozen Vegetable Gyoza
- Pana Organic Ice Cream
Biscuits and bars
There’s a bunch of vegan biscuits and bars in supermarkets:
- Nakd bars
- Artisse Aribars
- Finn Crisp Sourdough Rye Thins
- Leda Gingernut Biscuits
Sweets (and…chocolate!)
Although less common, the confectionary aisle does have some accidentally vegan items too. Here’s some of them:
- Lindt Excellence 70% and 85% Dark Chocolate Cocoa Block
- Pana Organic Chocolate
- Cadbury Drinking Chocolate
- Banjo The Vegan Carob Bear
Misc. items
Vegans would be missing out on a lot if they couldn’t have everyone's favourite food. Of course, it’s Vegemite! Check out these other vegan items:
- Massel Stock Cubes
- Heinz Baked Beans (tomato)
- Chris’ Dips Hummus
- Heinz Organic Tomato Ketchup
- Vegemite
- Nuttelex spreads
Oh, and what about some seriously delicious, fresh, ready-made vegan meals?
If you’re looking to include more plant-based meals in your life, try our delicious, nutritious, perfectly portioned Dineamic meals. Our meals come in highly sustainable Halopack packaging, and contain farm fresh ingredients from local Aussie farms. You’ll be doing yourself, and the planet a favour when you choose vegan Dineamic meals.
Shop the full range of vegan Dineamic meals, mains for two, salads and soups.
