Is Costco Going Vegan?

Nope, not really, and yet….

I have to admit I do enjoy the shopping experience at Costco and I’m finding that they just keep on increasing their organic, vegetarian and vegan options every time I go.  Of course you can find endless, gargantuan bulk packages of fruits, vegetables, nuts and spices—obviously all great ingredients for vegan recipes. (Before I changed my diet to plant-based, I always wondered why you want to buy huge packages of 8 red peppers or 12 apples or 5 pounds of anything!) For the fruits and vegetables alone, Costco is now always a shop stop for me. Costco keeps going in the right direction…here are some unprocessed, bulk items with long shelf lives (in the fridge) that I was excited to see…all staples for your kitchen!

C & F Foods, Inc. Premium Black Chia Seed

Chia Seeds:

C&F Foods, Nature’s Wild Grains, Premium Black Chia Seeds, 32 oz package $14.99: Rich in antioxidants, high in protein, fatty acids, omega-3’s, calcium, potassium, iron and fiber.  It is an ancient superfood of the Mayans in Mexico and Guatemala and is mild enough in flavor to add to many recipes. I like to add chia seeds to smoothies, hot and cold cereal, salad dressings, peanut or almond butter. Chia has been touted as a great diet food because it absorbs and retains water or any liquid and bulks up, making you feel full.  It also sweeps through the digestive tract and can help with irregularity.  There have been claims that chia can be beneficial to people with the following ailments: weight loss/balance, thyroid conditions, hypoglycemia, diabetes, IBS, celiac disease, acid reflux and high cholesterol.

Earth’s Choice Raw Shelled Hemp Seed

Hemp Seeds:

Earthly Choice, Raw Shelled Hemp Seed, 24 oz package $10.89: Rich in proteins (11 grams per serving of 3 tbs), iron, zinc, phosphorus and magnesium,, omega-3’s. Also an ancient super food, hemp is considered one of the world’s most nutritious plants. Hemp seeds contain all of the essential amino acids making them an ideal source of protein for vegans. Similar to the chia seed, help seeds have a mild flavor that makes them ideal to add to recipes, smoothies, salads, cereal and muffins. Adding hemp seeds to your diet has helped people suffering from immune deficiency diseases, it is purported.

C & F Foods, Premium Organics Quinoa

Quinoa:

C&F Foods Inc., Nature’s Wild Grains, Premium Organ Quinoa, 4 lb package, $9.69: Quinoa, the latest darling of vegans, is the ancient grain claimed as “the gold of the Incan warrior.” By now, everyone knows about quinoa! High in protein (6 grams per 1/4 cup dry serving), containing all the amino acids you need, high in fiber, iron, lysine, magnesium, B2 and manganese, quinoa seems to belong in everyone’s diet!

Debby also has a Costco vegan shopping list and here are some of her previous suggestions…Debby’s Costco ideas.

Once you get all three of these big bags home, what to do with them?

CHIA LEMONADE “AGUA FRESCA”

adapted from Bon Appetit

Ingredients

2 tbs black chia seeds

2 cups fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 cups superfine sugar

Preparation

1) Whisk chia seeds and 5 cups water in a pitcher; let sit until seeds soften, about 10 minutes.

2) Add lime juice and sugar and stir until sugar dissolves. Add more sugar to taste if sweeter limeade is desired.

3) Fill glasses with ice; divide lemonade among glasses.

Click here for some more recipes using chia seeds.

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HEMP PESTO

from Choosing Raw

Yields approx 1 1/3 cup

Ingredients:

1 cup shelled hemp seeds
2 tightly packed cups of fresh basil
1/2 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced (2 cloves if you’re a garlic fan)
2/3 cup water
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1) Place hemp seeds in a food processor and grind till they’re powdery.

2) Add basil and pulse to combine well.

3) Add salt, pepper, lemon, garlic, and pulse again.

4) With the motor running, add water in a thin stream, as if you were making a nut pate. Stop once in a while to scrape the bowl. Keep adding water until the pesto is still quite thick, but not pasty.

5) Keep motor running, and finish the pesto by drizzling in the 2 tbsp EVOO. This isn’t necessary, but it’ll give the pesto a more traditional mouthfeel and flavor!

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EASY VEGAN QUINOA SALAD

by Ellen Francis, Vegan American Princess

Ingredients:

4 cups vegan vegetable broth

1 1/2 cups raw whole grain quinoa

1 cucumber, diced

2 tomatoes, diced

1/4 cup olive oil

1/3 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup slivered almonds

salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

1) Cook quinoa in vegetable broth about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally

2) In the meantime, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, garlic cloves and salt and pepper

3) When quinoa is finished cooking, allow to cool slightly then, toss with vegetables and lemon juice mix, stirring to combine well. Add more salt and pepper to taste

4) Chill before serving

Enjoy shopping, cooking & eating!

xox Ellen

Leaning Into Veganism

Ellen Francis