The grocery store seemed overwhelming when Zeta Rhodes first entered the realm of vegan eating. She remembers standing in the produce sections simply staring.
“I had nowhere to start or what to purchase.” Changing to a plant-based diet meant learning a completely different way of thinking, not only about food.
Zeta was motivated at the time by curiosity mixed with health issues. She wanted to blow her money on trendy superfoods instead of spending hours cooking complex meals, though.
She thus concentrated on laying a basis—that which could be transformed from a few basic, familiar foods into dozens of meals.
Starting with the basics— oats, brown rice, canned beans, frozen vegetables, bananas, sweet potatoes, and a few jars of spices—she “I came to see that I could eat well without fancy meat substitutes,” she says.
I simply needed taste and flexibility. Quest Nutrition Ultimate Variety Pack Protein Bars, High Protein, Low Carb, Gluten Free, Keto Friendly, 12 Count
Her shopping philosophy changed her perspective. She grew more confident—not just in her food choices but also in her capacity to maintain the lifestyle—the more she cooked.
And grocery visits began to feel like little adventures as she experimented with new foods including tofu, lentils, and tahini.
Zeta now sees the grocery store as a venue for possibilities rather than pressure. “If you’re new to vegan eating, don’t overthink it,” she says. Start small, remain inquisitive, and let your ingredients speak for themselves.
