Accidentally Vegan

Being vegan doesn't mean that you necessarily have to give up all of the "normal" foods that you love.  Let's be real: there are going to be lots of changes.  And as a result of those changes, you are going to be healthier, happier, and hotter.  But that doesn't mean you can't still shop at your regular old grocery store and buy plenty of regular old foods.  There are lots of foods that we shall call "accidentally vegan," meaning that they just so happen to conveniently lack animal ingredients.  You can visit PETA to find a more comprehensive list, but here are some of my favorites:

1.  Oreos
     Thank heaven.
     Also, in serendipitous fashion, I just found out that today is the 100th birthday of Oreos.

2.  Nature Valley Dark Chocolate and Nut Granola Bars
     This flavor happens to be my favorite, but most of the others are vegan, too.
     I pack one in my teacher lunch bag every day.

3.  Frito's
     Probably the most unhealthy food I dare to consume these days.

4.  Keebler Vienna Fingers
     More cookies.

5.  Nabisco Nutter Butter Cookies
     These things take me back to my childhood.

6.  Nabisco Teddy Grahams
     You can still eat food shaped like animals!

7.  Ritz Whole Wheat Crackers
     All of the Ritz crackers are vegan.  I enjoy the whole wheat variety the most.

8.  Wheat Thins
     What's not to love?

9.  Thomas New York Style Cinnamon Swirl Bagels
     Delicious with Tofutti cream cheese.

10.  Duncan Hines Creamy Home Style Frosting - Classic Vanilla
       Much easier than frosting made from scratch!

11.  Ghirardelli and Starbucks hot chocolates
       Chocolatey goodness mixed with soy milk.  

There are lots and lots of other "accidentally vegan" foods, and you will find them too, once you start reading food labels.  You can add most cereals to the list, many varieties of chips, and quite a few candies.  I do not recommend stocking up on vegan junk food, but hey, it's nice to know you can eat a few Double Stuf Oreos at a party or grab a bag of Sour Patch Kids at the movies and not abandon your vegan philosophy.

Ingredients: SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), HIGH OLEIC CANOLA AND/OR PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORNSTARCH, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, SOY LECITHIN, VANILLIN--AN ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CHOCOLATE; CONTAINS: WHEAT, SOY