Groceries to Purchase For Site

It's important to stock up on some basic groceries before you head to site, because you may very well be fending for yourself. Here's a list of some basics that I recommend.

I cook for myself for most meals. I love to bake. I love to cook.

I am, as they say, a bit “extra.” So when I shopped for site, spices and flavors were crucial. You may find your basic groceries were a lot more basic, and that’s completely understandable.

When you’re at site for walkabout week, you really should check to see what’s available at your store. Some volunteers only have access to what comes out of the ground or the sea. My store, however, sells flour and tin tuna. Some other blogs encourage you to bring spices from home. I’ve found all the spices I need in Vila. The only rarities are special items, like your favorite steak or fish seasoning. Basic, single-ingredient spices are plentiful and easy to find.

I am the healthiest unhealthy person there is. I will eat a pack of Pringles for dinner on the rare occasion, but I refuse to eat rice if I have a choice in the matter, because of its lack in nutrition.

I focused on protein, fiber, and flavor with this list. As always, only buy what you will use and need.

Be sure to check out my housewares shopping list for your first few months at site!

For Baking

• Yeast
• Almond, vanilla, peppermint extracts
• Chocolate bars (for baking...and snacking)
• Ginger
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon
• Flour
• Cocoa powder
• Sugar
• Molasses (any recipe that calls for brown sugar can be substituted with some molasses and white sugar)
• Powdered milk

Spices

• Dill
• Cumin
• Black pepper
• Paprika
• Sage
• Curry powder
• Hot masala
• Chili powder
• Chili flakes
• Turmeric
• Salt
• Italian seasoning
• Mustard seeds (because I'm gonna make pickles)
• Couscous powder (a special seasoning for couscous and middle eastern food in general)

Pantry Staples

• Cornstarch (for cooking but also just baby powder to make you feel less sticky and sweaty all the time)
• Baking soda (so much. Just get so much of it. You can use it for EVERYTHING...not just baking!)
• Cooking oil (please use sunflower oil that you buy at Au Bon...the “vegetable” oil on the islands is all palm oil and contributes to deforestation.)
• Apple cider vinegar (it's like vinegar...but BETTER)
• Balsamic vinegar (a basic salad dressing, a special ingredient to make your Italian meal special, the best thing to throw on some canned chickpeas...)
• Hot sauce
• Soy sauce
• Vegetable buillion cubes (do you believe you should be eating the most flavorful food in the world? then get this. It's stock in a cube. Or, if you're sick, just boil up some pasta with these bad boys)
• Jam
• Peanut butter
• Ketchup
• Honey (so freaking expensive at nearly $7 for a 10oz bottle, but man is it irreplaceable)
• Canned vegetables, for that time your garden isn’t yielding and you want something to feel healthy
• Ramen (I prefer curry ramen, but whatever floats your boat)
• Polenta
• Lentils
• Brown rice (if I gotta do rice, it’s going to be whole grain)
• White beans
• Instant oatmeal
• Coffee
• Tea
• Pasta
• Tomato paste (add flavor to any soup, make pasta or pizza sauce...)
• Pasta sauce
• Whole wheat spaghetti (which I also use for Asian-inspired noodle dishes like stir fry)
• Bulgour
• Eggs (Doesn’t require refrigeration)
• Tub of margerine (doesn’t need refrigeration)

Snacks

• Popcorn
• Breakfast crackers (in a tub for some extra storage!)
• Nuts
• Cookies (for those days when you don’t feel like baking)