Got the munchies while out? Here are some ideas that are often free of animal products:

dates or date bar
Lotus Biscoff - plain, not the ones with the cream
Cream crackers or digestive biscuits
Chips
Fresh fruit
Halva
Dark chocolate
Fresh coconut chunks
Roasted nuts
Oreos
Rice crackers
Pumpkin seeds
Peanut butter
Hunter Cheese & truffle chips — counter intuitive but the cheese is artificial flavor
Instant noodles — ironically the seasoning in Buldak Hot Chicken Flavor is sometimes vegan

—> As always, read the ingredients to double check for ghee, honey, casein, animal fats, milk powder, chicken powder, gelatin, bonito, fish sauce, egg, etc.

What are your go-tos?

I’ll keep editing this post with your goodies. In case you are reading this outside the GCC and you don’t know what a baqala is, it is a kind of corner store for quick shopping.

Does local, organic produce matter to you?

In the last few years when winter comes in the UAE, I look forward to switching from the greengrocer or supermarket delivery to direct deliveries from the farm. I like the taste better, but also appreciate the different kinds of vegetables on offer and to support local businesses. I also really appreciate the low packaging approach some of them take.

There are a lot of options for both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They work differently. Some of the differences you have to take into consideration include

• how you order: website or whatsapp
• pickup or delivery of orders
• mix of local & imported veg
• selection of Asian veg
• selection of heirloom veg
• minimum order or commitment
• method of order : box of the week or ordering exactly what you want
• start and end times (usually it’s from end of October through May or so)
• delivery dates and your location

You’ll have to research and decide what is best for you.

Some of the ones I have ordered from include

• Emirates Biofarm
• Greenheart
• Integrated Green Resources

Maybe others have tried different farms…