Roasted beets with horseradish sauce, steamed asparagus, raw carrot, apple-nut salad, and roasted potatoes. By mollyjade. Licensed under creative commons

I think there’s a misconception out there that fancy vegan products are necessary to being vegan. I know it’s a trap I fall into occasionally. But really, you can be vegan anywhere, so long as you can get to and buy the basics.

Natala of Vegan Hope has started a new website about simple cooking. Cooking doesn’t need to be complicated. It doesn’t need fancy ingredients or even recipes. Don’t get me wrong. I love trying fancy new foods and complicated recipes. But when it comes to getting dinner on the table night after night, simple really is better. And sometimes I need a reminder of that.

Baked tofu, garlic, onion, purple cabbage, and peppers waiting to be stirfried. Photo by mollyjade. Licensed under creative commons

And Natala’s explanation of how to grocery shop anywhere is a perfect example of this simplified food philosophy. Having traveled and lived all over the country, it makes sense that Natala can distill grocery shopping down to its essence: whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, and seasonings. As Natala says, if it doesn’t fit in one of those categories, you probably don’t really need it. Natala focuses on healthy eating for people with medical concerns, so if you’re not watching your health that closely, I’d throw some nuts in there, too.

If you’re considering going vegan, but think it’s not possible because the nearest Whole Foods is 300 miles away, keep your eye on Simplified Food.