If you live close enough, you could check out your local farm shop for fruit and vegetables. For the more energetic, you could think about picking your own fresh produce, which usually ensures you save money.

For those who might lack the time or inclination, there are now even supermarkets who will take your order over the phone and deliver to your door. This is seen as something with great potential that will perhaps become more popular, particularly regarding the wider use of internet shopping.

The organic food market has grown considerably in recent years. Such foods have not come into contact with synthetic chemical fertilisers or pesticides, which pollute the environment and affect wildlife. The very best organic vegetarian foods employ farming methods which work in harmony with nature, safeguarding the health and sustainability of land and animals.

Organic foods are not treated with insecticides or fungicides following harvest, whilst also being usually GMO-free. Organic foods may be slightly more expensive, but many consumers view this as a price well worth paying and organic produce is now more popular and widely available than ever. But, do be sure to check, as organic does not necessarily mean suitable for vegetarians.

Try to buy foods produced locally which are in season. This will ensure food is fresh and not over-priced. It also means that foods have not been transported over long distances, which also has implications for the environment. It's a good idea to buy certain foods in bulk, freeze them and use when needed, which will also save on trips to the supermarket. If you go by car, share the journey, and try to re-use your shopping bags.

Tofu is a curd that comes from curdled soya milk. It is manufactured by a process similar to cheese making and is very healthy, containing more protein than any other natural food -- it's low in saturated fats and is cholesterol-free. Tofu is able to take on a vast range of flavours and either comes in regular (block) or softer (silken) form. The block form is great for stir-fries, salads, kebabs for the barbecue, just about anything savoury. Silken tofu is usually used to replace cream in desserts, sauces or flans.

Tempeh is also made from soya beans and resembles chicken in flavour and texture. It can be fried or grilled, and used in many great-tasting meals. Quorn is not made from soya, it is a mycoprotein made from the fermentation of a fungus, mixed with egg white, usually found in such things as burgers.

What better way to relax when the shopping is done than to sit back and enjoy a nice hot drink? Vegetarians are a caring bunch and by their very nature, ethical consumers. Shops like Oxfam now stock foods under a banner of 'Fair Trade'. This means products such as coffee have been produced in safe, ethical working conditions, with a larger share of the money reaching the workforce, generally in poorer parts of the world.

To cut down on caffeine, why not try a refreshing, delicious cup of herbal or fruit tea? There is now a superb range on the market and they present an alternative which is healthy, offers a change from the norm and they taste good as well.

As with all things vegetarian, approach the subject with an open mind and explore all the alternatives open to you.

Happy shopping!!