Vegan on a Budget

     Has your pet been complaining of eating the same omelettes and jellies every day? Perhaps your Shoyru has asked about plant-based diets and is interested in trying them? Or maybe you played a game of Feed Florg and have been rethinking your petpet-derived breakfasts? Worry not! I am here to tell you that vegan foods can be found in abundance here in Neopia, and for cheaper than you might think ;)

      I've compiled a list of some of my pets' favorite vegan foods for you to reference. I included a price range so you know what to expect when buying them. Prices may fluctuate depending on when you're reading this article, but nothing in this list, at the time of writing, is over 500 NP in user shops.

     1. Altadorian Bread (10-40 NP)

     Cheap and filling, this bread can be found in user shops or given as a reward for completing the Altador plot. It can also be bought straight from the Exquisite Ambrosia, but I wouldn't recommend it as it's usually overpriced. Goes great with Homemade Gooseberry Jam.

     2. Tangella (40-100 NP)

     Tangellas are a combination of a peach and an orange. Sweet, tangy, and very juicy, they make a great snack. While the price does fluctuate often, they can be bought cheaply in user shops or from Brightvale Fruits.

     3. Spiced Pumpkin Coffee (20-50 NP)

     This one is a fall favorite of mine. Usually bought from user shops, as the Coffee Cave overprices theirs. Not much to say except: Yum!

     4. Tchea Fruit (15-80 NP)

     If your pet loves blueberries and bananas, this is the snack for them. Tchea Fruits can be eaten raw or roasted, and they are abundant here in Neopia. Commonly purchased from user shops, but they can also be won from the Fruit Machine or even found under the Money Tree.

     5. Snorkle Vegan Platter (100-200 NP)

     Great for family gatherings where your pet may need to bring their own lunch or dinner. Plus, it's Snorkle-shaped! The Snorkle Vegan Platter can be bought from user shops, or from the Exotic Foods shop for a bit more NP.

     6. Water Faerie Apple (20-80 NP)

     Oh my Fyora, my pets and I LOVE Water Faerie Apples! They're so refreshing that it's worth the mess of juice left behind. They can be found in the Faerie Foods shop, of course, but I almost always purchase them from user shops. Be careful that your apple doesn't fly away before you've finished eating!

     7. Stack of Slightly Used Carrots (200-400 NP)

     A delicious and nutritious snack for your pet, if they don't mind that they're nibbled on. If it really bothers them you can cut the tips off. They're crunchy, slightly sweet, and great for veggie stew! These particular carrots were given out by the Advent Calendar back in Y10, but you can get them from user shops as well.

     8. Organic Cashew Butter (400-500 NP)

     Be sure your pet is NOT allergic to cashews before buying! I love cashew butter in general, and this one is even better because the cashews were grown organically. Full of protein and creamy goodness, it's great as a dip or paired with Skeem Jam for an interesting take on the classic sandwich. Can be bought from user shops or the Neopian Health Foods store.

     9. Veggie Hot Dog (300-400 NP)

     Now normally I wouldn't recommend anything from Hurbert's Hot Dogs, but the Veggie Hot Dog is an important exception. It's suitable for vegans and is also full of leafy green plant protein! I'd recommend buying from user shops since walking up to a hot dog stand can be upsetting for you and your vegan pet.

     10. Bunch of Tomatoes (20-50 NP)

     Tomatoes are a great addition to salads, but I usually use these ones for homemade tomato sauce! They're a bit overripe, which makes them easy to mash or blend depending on your preferences. Goes great with plant-based pasta or noodles! You'll find these in user shops for quite a low price. You can also buy these from Merifoods if you have the extra NP.

     11. Qando Pita (10-40 NP)

     The Qando Fruit is a rather interesting, spiky species from a small city in the Lost Desert called Qasala. If you've never tried it, it's best described as "somewhere between a pear and a fig" in taste. Combined with the soft pita pocket, it makes a refreshing breakfast that really helps you beat the heat of the desert sun.

     12. Rocket Fizzy Drink (8-20 NP)

     While breathable air may be 82% of normal quality on Kreludor, this green pop is made in the Virtupets Space Station, where carbon dioxide is imported from Neopia to give the Rocket Fizzy Drink its distinct fizziness. I'd say it's "out of this world" but I'll spare you the pun. Luckily, if you can't afford a ride all the way to the Space Station, you also have the option of buying it from user shops for cheap.

     13. Vampire Apple (10-50 NP)

     I feel a strange kinship with this apple for some reason. It's like a memory of a past life... anyway, there's absolutely no reason to fear this apple - it only drinks the juice of other apples! The Vampire Apple is a common prize from Apple Bobbing, which you can find in the Haunted Woods if you're brave enough to venture therein. Should you be unlucky in the bobbing department, though, it can be found in user shops as well.

     14. Jug Of Fresh Phearade (10-50 NP)

     Though it's definitely a Tropical Food that can be bought on Mystery Island, I've won Jug of Fresh Phearade from the Qasalan Expellibox a few times! Because of this it's very cheap in user shops, where I recommend you buy this premade drink; the Phear itself can cost upwards of 99,000 neopoints! As the description brags, it's a tangy twist on the traditional Lemonade and makes a great summer refreshment.

     15. Sack Plant Stew (4-15 NP)

     A relatively new recipe from Tyrannia that almost every user has, oddly, won from Trudy's Surprise by now. Sack Plant Stew is made from - you guessed it! - the Sack Plant, a squishy and strangely salty vegetable grown locally in the Tyrannian Plateau. The stew is pleasantly reminiscent of squash soup.

      Whew! There you have it, a list of 15 of the cheapest and best quality vegan foods Neopia has to offer! Even if you bought every item from user shops at the most expensive price listed, you'd still only spend 2,075 neopoints, so there's no excuse to be feeding your pets those dirty omelettes and jellies anymore. In fact, feel free to try these foods out yourself! I guarantee you'll like at least some of them.

      And with that I must conclude this article. If you haven't seen it yet, go read part two by my fellow vegan friend _ahre_! She has written her own article on some of the more expensive and gourmet vegan foods out there, if you are interested.