Going Vegan at Convenience Stores

By Published On: 8 April 2013Last Updated: 17 January 2017

Veganism is a simple, budget-friendly, accessible lifestyle that anyone can attain. Anyone, anywhere. I decided to take my camera to the local-on-the-corner convenience store and see what I could dig up, vegan-style.

What's in this post

Last month I wrote a post in response to an article I had read in The Daily Beast where they interviewed Kris Carr about veganism.  In it the interviewer made references that veganism requires a celebrity chef to prepare vegan meals, an assistant to run to the health food store for agave, and pricey vegan shoes from Stella McCartney.  I refuted these claims by showing one can eat, furnish their home, and dress their family cheap, easy, and vegan at Walmart.  Can’t get more accessible than that.  Or, can you?  Yes, actually, you can.

It’s my position that veganism is not an inaccessible lifestyle that only the urban rich can attain.  No.  Veganism is a simple, budget-friendly, accessible lifestyle that anyone can attain.  Anyone, anywhere. 

I decided to take my camera to the local-on-the-corner convenience store and see what I could dig up, vegan-style.

Here’s my disclaimer: I’m not saying all these foods are the healthiest choices for vegans (or anyone).  What I am saying is that these vegan foods are available in a pinch.  It is a convenience store after all.

CS_collage

All this, vegan.

bars

Luna Bars for snacking, quick energy boost, or an on-the-go-tide-you-over-till-dinner food.

cliff

Cliff bars are substantial enough as a meal replacement on the road, on a hike, or in a pinch.

nuts

Protein in the form of way-to-salted roasted pieces. Be mindful to avoid honey-drenched nuts and if you can find them with low or no salt, even better.

beer_bud

I’m not saying it’s dinner, but Budweiser is vegan-friendly.

beer_GL

Again, not dinner but Great Lakes (not all styles but most) are vegan.

rice

Brown rice. Yup, vegan.

veges

Canned vegetables. Those are vegan too.

fruit

Fruit. Sure, it’s packaged in sugar but we are talking a convenience store here. And, it’s still vegan.

yams

Yams = vegan. The chicken noodle soup there? Not vegan.

pasta

Pasta, quick and easy (and vegan) fare. Too bad the pasta sauces next to it all contain cheese.

Let me show you how you could eat for a whole day, just on convenience food items.

Breakfast:

  • Luna or Cliff Bar
  • Coffee, Tea, Juice, or water (not pictured but available)

Lunch:

  • Stirfry: Brown rice, canned peas, beans, corn, and (not pictured but available) canned mushrooms and top with soy sauce.
  • Coffee, Tea, Juice, or water (not pictured but available)

Dinner:

  • Pasta & Sauce.  I didn’t get a picture of it but this convenience store also had canned tomatoes and canned tomato sauce.  This is good.   Since all versions of their pasta sauce contained cheese, having access to canned tomatoes and sauce means you can make your own pasta sauce.  Simply take 2 cans of each (tomatoes and sauce) and dump in a pot.  Add dried herbs such as garlic powder, oregano, basil, pepper, and a bit of salt.  Add a tiny amount of olive oil.  Simmer for 20 minutes to let the flavors come together.  Top cooked pasta with sauce.  Done.
  • Beer (pictured), Coffee, Tea, Juice, or water (not pictured but available).

Snacks:

  • Fruit (dried, canned, or fresh)
  • Nuts
  • Granola Bars (not pictured but available)
  • Potato Chips (not pictured but available)

It’s important to remember that people who are not vegan have a hard time understanding what a vegan eats.  Showing how easy and accessible vegan items are is an important form of vegan advocacy.  Convenient stores are in every city, that’s pretty accessible.  And let’s not forget, some convenience stores like 7-Eleven carry full vegan meals.  Vegan food is literally everywhere!

One Comment

  1. Miguel April 8, 2013 at 12:34 pm - Reply

    Great post! Whenever I hear about the inconvenience of eating vegan and how expensive, tiresome, or boring it is, I think of how easy one can drive (or walk) to a local grocery store and pick up fruits and vegetables. Even 7-11 carries fruit!

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HELLO! I'm KD Angle-Traegner.

Writer, activist, and founder of Four Urban Paws Sanctuary. I’m on a mission to help people live a vegan life. Read more about KD…

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