If you're new to South Australia or Australia, our first shopping suggestion is to check out your local supermarket. We are lucky to have a good range of vegetarian-friendly products available on most supermarket shelves. For example:

• fridge section - most supermarkets now sell
  • fresh soy milks and soy yoghurts (check the label to make sure it's free of genetically modified ingredients - see Why vego = GE free)
  • Nuttelex vegan margarine (which although the label doesn't say so, is also identified in Greenpeace's "True Food" Shopping Guide as GE free - see Why vego = GE free for more)
  • fresh tofu
  • a range of vegetarian patties, burgers, sausages etc
• long life milk section - most supermarkets now sell soy milk (check out the label to make sure it's free of genetically modified ingredients - see Why vego = GE free for more)
• health food section - here you can often find vegetarian specialties including
  • long life tofu
  • soy chocolate
  • various nuts and dried fruits as well as grains, dried beans and peas, etc
• freezer section - most supermarkets sell soy gelati

Asian grocers (though not vegetarian) tend to stock quite a few vegetarian products - in particular, tofu, tempeh and seitan are commonly found in Asian grocers and often cheaper than in supermarkets, (let alone 'organic' or 'health food' shops). (Check our Vego Store Cupboard for information on these ingredients including how to cook them.)

Asian grocers also have wonderful vegetables like bok-choy which are great in vego dishes like tofu stir fries. Curry paste and laksa paste are another ingredient of vego dishes, but beware - these preparations often contain animal ingredients like shrimp paste or fish oil.

By "bulk food stores" we mean shops which sell vegetarian foods in bulk - rather than in individual, sealed pre-packed packages. You help yourself from large vats or containers, select the quantity you want, and can even take along your own containers or bags, thus helping the environment by reducing packaging and waste. (Many "bulk food stores" offer a discount or refund for taking your own container or bag.)

"Bulk food stores" are generally health food shops and organic stores. These shops are not exclusively vegetarian, but sell animal-derived products like fish oil or royal jelly, so (in accordance with our policy) Vegetarian Action doesn't promote them explicitly.

However, both health food stores and organic stores generally offer a range of vegetarian staples like nuts, seeds, beans/legumes, grains, and dried fruits, often sold in bulk. In addition, they frequently stock a range of vego foods like tofu and tempeh, soy products, as well as vegan biscuits/cake mixes, and various other specialised vegetarian products.

In addition, continental grocers (although, again, not vegetarian shops as such) often sell legumes in bulk and sometimes also grains, nuts, and dried fruit.

Vego is not the same as organic. There are many animal-derived foods (dairy, eggs and even meat) which are certified "organic". Just because foods are "organic" doesn't mean they are vegetarian or free of animal-derived products.

That said, organic products can be of interest for vegos, because it's often easier to figure out exactly what's in them - and where it came from. Also, organic certification means that products are free of genetically engineered ingredients - an issue for vegos (see Why Vego = GE free).

There are quite a few organic shops around, and they usually offer a a wide range of products, including some vegetarian products. However, do be aware that most of them also sell foods which are not vegetarian.

Some non-vegetarian businesses and restaurants advertise in the phone book (and elsewhere) under the heading "Vegetarian". (Eg, the "Cuisine Guide" in the Yellow Pages.)

Normally, these businesses do offer some vegetarian options, but are far from being exclusively vegetarian. You may be in for a shock!

We prefer not to support business which falsely or misleadingly use the description "vegetarian", because it adds to the confusion about what is, and isn't, vegetarian. We also consider it pretty rude to the many dedicated truly vegetarian businesses out there, whose owners work really hard to provide a business where you can be 100% sure that whatever you order is vegetarian.

Many foods which are made of mainly vegetarian ingredients also contain additives or small amounts of other ingredients which are not vegetarian. If you want to be sure your shopping is vego, check out our guide to Animal Ingredients and Additives.

Truly vego shopping means keeping GE foods out of your shopping basket. Click here for more about why vego = GE free

For something a bit different, Great Nature is a totally vego Asian grocer. In addition to a wide range of Asian grocery products (such as drinks, ingredients, teas, confectionery, etc) Great Nature also offers freshly home-cooked vego hot foods such as curries, spring rolls, curry puffs, stir fries and more. Everything is 100% vegan.

In addition, Great Nature's owner, John, offers free one-on-one or small group vegetarian cooking classes. Just give him a call to arrange a time.

Unfortunately, we don't know of any local suppliers of these products.

Vegan footwear and accessories are available by mail order from Vegan Wares in Melbourne - see www.veganwares.com

A number of excellent vegetarian and vegan websites based in Australia offer a wide range of vegetarian and vegan food, animal-free shoes and accessories, cruelty free personal and household products, and more.

For more information see our Vego-Friendly Businesses, Products and Services page

Although it's based in the UK, and so involves paying by credit card overseas, we highly recommend Viva! They have an excellent catalogue of books, videos and posters as well as clothing, stationery, gifts and more. Even animal-friendly computer games!

Viva!'s products are high quality and they do arrive reliably from the UK (we've tried). What's more, Viva!'s work internationally for animals is so fantastic that we think they're a highly worthy destination for your hard-earned pennies.

The Queensland Veg Society has an excellent range of books, videos and other resources on vegetarianism. You can browse through their catalogue online or contact them at 1086 Waterworks Road, The Gap QLD 4061 (07) 3300 9320

For more books, videos and other vego information resources, please see our Vego-friendly businesses, products and services page

More on the scene:
campaigns <> happenings <> health practitioners <> eat out guide <> shopping guide