Stocking a vegan kitchen

I get a ton of questions about what I eat and whether I'm healthy. All I can say is that I exercise often, I rarely get sick and I have boundless energy. Is it because of my vegan diet? I'd say that has a lot to do with it. I also think it's really important to keep a positive, curious outlook on life and to reduce stress wherever possible (I know, but a guy can dream, right?). And I highly recommend - but rarely get - a full eight hours of sleep per night.

To continue finding new, healthy and interesting things to eat, however, all vegans need to have a few staples. Here's a quick list of stuff you'll always find in my pantry, on my counter and in my fridge:

• Organic root vegetables: carrots and potatoes mostly - so easy to cook, and great comfort food!
  
• Organic onions and garlic - I do a ton of stirfries and you need to have lots of these tasty, super healthy staples
  
• Red Star Nutritional Yeast - I love the stuff: over pasta, in stir fries. It's the perfect grated cheese substitute.
  
• Lots and lots of whole wheat pasta and brown rice
• Polenta - my favorite is made by Monterey Gourmet Foods. You can get it at Whole Foods and other health food stores. And I like it prepared in a very basic way: pan fried in olive oil with some salt and Earth Balance. Yummy!
• Earth Balance Buttery Spread - all natural, healthy and so good you really (really) won't believe it's not butter. I prefer the original flavor but there's also a "whipped" flavor that includes soy; it's good, but the original cannot be beat.
• Silk Soy Milk - vanilla is delicious and it's the kind they use to make soy lattes at Starbucks. Great for cereals and any recipes that call for cow's milk
• SoyBoy organic tofu - the firm kind is best for stir fries and you can get it at almost any grocery store
• LightLife organic tempeh - ditto. Look for it at any grocery store. Tempeh has a rich, satisfying "meaty" texture.
• Spices of all kinds
• Beans, beans, beans - in bags. In cans. Beans are the food of gods
• Lots of fresh, organic fruit
• Lots of fresh, organic veggies - broccoli, chards, kale. Great for stir fries!
• Almond butter and peanut butter - perfect on a side of toast when you're runnin' late for work
• Agave nectar - the perfect substitute for honey. Great for tea, oatmeal and in recipes as a substitute for honey or sugar

All of the above are widely available and relatively cheap. Go stock your kitchen today!