13 Comforting Vegan Grocery Finds, Snacks, and Meals for Bleak Times
Just in case you're needing a boost for no particular reason at all!
It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times. Or at least that’s generally how I’ve been feeling this week. Not to be dramatic.
In all of the chaos, darkness, uncertainty, and dread that is living through January 2025 — what with the climate crisis, impending oligarchy, extreme cold for half the country and fires for the rest, Tiktok ban, etc etc., you’re probably needing a little treaty treat. And while I fully recognize there aren’t enough little treaty treats in the world to substantively fix these systemic issues, duh, a little dopamine boost never hurt nobody. IDK about you, but I’ve found it helpful to make my focal points VERY narrow lately. This isn’t to say I’m not consuming the news and didn’t get my final (?) Tiktok doom-scroll in last night, at a rate that literally left my thumb feeling strained. But I’m also trying extra hard to control the controllable in my own little sphere. And, though I hate how cliche this sounds, make my own joy.
And while there are a whole host of dopamine menu items to choose from, not least of which for me at least, is always food-and-bev-centered. If diet culture — either the 90s-early 00s version of it or the ozempic-era diet culture rhetoric of late (which, to be clear, is the exact same tired old narrative, just repackaged under the guise of “wellness!) has ever made you feel you are somehow bad for turning to food for comfort or joy, same girl same. In thinking about writing this even, I felt a familiar nagging voice of “I should be writing about non-food ways to find joy! Turning to food for emotional regulation is bad!" Yada yada yada.” But you know what? Eff that. While obviously I care about health and nutrition and understand more than most the evils of ultra processed foods, comfort food is called that for a reason. Don’t let diet culture steal the whole joy of it from you.
I actually got curious about the origins of comfort food — the term itself and the concept. Doing some Googling, I found this quote on the internet, by Cheryl K Webster, a Doctoral student studying Clinical Health Psychology and Neurological Psychology, who defined the term as, “foods that we grew up on that have been passed down from our ancestors, or foods that have created and maintained communities (i.e., Sunday dinners and potlucks).” And what could be more important right now that nurturing and cultivating community!? Comfort food, whatever that is for you, reminds us of simpler times, of home, of our ancestors who passed down these foods or made them for us as kids. It makes us feel safe and secure, even when things around us are anything but.
An article published on JSTOR about the history of comfort food offers a scientific explanation for the appeal of these foods, stating, “many dishes are high in fat or sugar, substances that the body can process into temporary stress relief.” The benefits transcend just the physiological though, the authors admit. “Psychologists have explored a more complicated connection between food and individual memory, theorizing that well-loved dishes can evoke the same feelings of security or contentment they did when the diner was younger.” They even point out that throughout the decades, “giving these dishes the label comfort food was a bit of permission to admit to one’s indulgences—at least until the diet industry tried to claim the term.”
Let’s not let it!
Enough apologizing, feeling guilty, or otherwise succumbing to diet culture’s BS that what we really need to care for ourselves is a walk, a spa day, a face mask, or the 2309239 other things that — by the way — are also just capitalistic ploys to get us to spend money under the illusion of “self care.” We’re barreling into fascism — we can stretch, drink water, take a walk, call a friend, scream into a pillow, meditate, AND tuck into boxed mac and cheese and a tray of chocolate chip cookies, if that soothes your soul.
Here are a few suggestions of some of my go-to —all vegan — comfort foods to fill your soul in the sure-to-be-challenging coming day, or any time you feel the need for some edible security, nourishment, and indulgence.
Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sweet Lorens When the cookie craving strikes, but you don’t feel like creaming butter and sugar and scrounging up all the necessary ingredients, these ready-to-bake ones really do the trick. You can also eat the dough raw if you feel so compelled, which is honestly a perk about veganism that simply isn’t talked about nearly enough.
This Gooey Mac & Cheese
Daiya I grew up on mac and cheese — the homemade kind — and like any child of the 90s with an almond mom, feverishly coveted the neon-orange kind from a box ( a hot commodity at neighborhood friends’ houses only!) Now that I’m a (vegan) adult, I can buy my own! This is my go-to. I’ve tried numerous other brands and keep coming back to this one for when I want a quick gooey warm bowl of carbs to tuck into.
by ChallahHub If comfort food is inherently cultural and tied to one’s lineage, which it is, Challah is right up there at the top of my list of comfort foods. I grew having it every Friday night, and while this isn’t the exact recipe of my Ukrainian great grandmother (and likely even further back,) it tastes pretty darn identical. Whether it’s culturally significant to you or not, fluffy, cakey, pillowy bread warm out of the oven and slathered with butter never hurts!
A Homemade Better-Than-Starbuck Latte
by Homemade Haley Making these has made my mornings substantially better lately and my only regret is not mastering this sooner. It’s so easy to DIY! You don’t need a fancy espresso machine — any will do. Nor do you need a frother! It’s just brown sugar, cinnamon, espresso, ice, and oat milk. No notes. 10/10.
Copious Amounts of Dark Chocolate
Ever since I read about the very science-backed health benefits of dark chocolate in this very good book, I’ve taken it as gospel, and haven’t missed a daily dose. This is my current fave — from Walmart’s new in-house line. Keep several bars around, for emergencies.
by ElaVegan You can never go wrong with any of this creator’s recipes, but this soup in particular is a constant sick-day, rainy-day, or stress-day staple in my house. Creamy from the coconut, spicy and rich from the spices and curry powder, slurpable from the rice noodles, and nourishing from all the veggies, I dare you to find a more comforting or bracing soup when you’re under the weather — either physically or emotionally.
The Vegan Cheese of All Vegan Cheeses
If you don’t live near a store where you can find this brand, deep condolences, but check for this brand — it’s equally as creamy, cheesy, and indulgent! Just the thing for a girl dinner spread of crackers, olives, and cheese.
by Rabbit & Wolves Think lasagna — al dente layers of noodles, creamy ricotta, hearty tomato sauce, melty cheese…but, in a bowl. It’s as good as you’d think it’d be. This entire site by the way, is vegan comfort food GOLD. You are welcome.
by Vegan Richa Growing up, a common dinner on busy weeknights was frozen single serve pot pies by the brand Amy’s. Nothing topped coming home from ballet class to learn it was a pot pie night! I found myself deeply nostalgic for their flaky crust and gooey potato and veggie fillings a couple of years ago, and now routinely make this recipe as a delicious dupe. I tweak it a bit — using cubed tofu and potatoes in the filling. I’ve even used leftover cashew “cheese” sauce in it before, which was also divine. It’s easy to modify to your taste.
A Crazy Cake
by Protest Kitchen This recipe comes from the excellent part activism manual part cookbook, Protest Kitchen, and we’ve made it so many times the book practically falls open to this page on its own. Crazy or wacky cakes originated during the Great Depression when supplies were scarce and people couldn’t get costly eggs and butter to make their cakes. Turns out, baking soda and vinegar, plus oil, do the trick just perfectly, so this is inherently, accidentally vegan.
The Burger King Impossible Whopper Meal
Listen, a turn through a drive-thru is sometimes the most comforting thing of all to me — especially when I’m overwhelmed or exhausted and simply can’t think about cooking. The plant-based Impossible Whopper combo — the burger, a side of fries, and preferably a crisp Diet Coke — is one of the best things to ever happen to us vegans, and you can’t tell me otherwise. Pro tip, order on Wednesdays when they’re super cheap, and use the app where you always get a free upgrade or some sort of reward.
by World of Vegan I realize this is a divisive, and antiquated, dessert, but for me, it doesn’t get more pure comfort than a creamy jiggly bowl of pearly tapioca. Probably because I grew up making the treat every time I visited my grandma, who we all called Mom. She let me stand on a stool to stir the pot of tapioca as it bubbled on the stove top, and poured the servings out into delicate crystal cut bowls to chill in the fridge. I liked mine to develop that pudding-top skin I’d skim off carefully with a spoon. Anyway, a vegan version makes me feel like I’m back in mom’s kitchen with her linoleum floors and baskets hanging on hooks from the ceiling.
This Soup I Kinda Can’t Believe I’m Sharing With the Whole Internet (But I Don’t Gate keep!)
This is a big moment. I’m finally sharing the soup recipe that honestly, kinda changed my life. It feels deeply personal, as a dear friend made it up off the top of her head and left a pot on my porch one day years ago when I was sick. Since then, we’ve traded off continually making batches of it for each other — whenever anyone had COVID, or a cold, or PMS, or is just feeling down. Is there a better kind of friendship? I think not. So, full credit to Maddy, my Soup Sister, but it’s simply too good a recipe NOT to share with you. Make double and drop some off on a friend’s porch — bonus points if you only text them after the fact to surprise them with a home cooked dinner. I’m telling you, it’ll make their year.
Take good care of yourself!
<3 - Emmy
Um..... I didn't see the phenomenal soup recipe (#13) you hyped. =/