Today I’m kicking off vegan grocery shopping week! We’ll take a look at some common brands and plant based products available at various stores. Plus, you’ll also find my vegan shopping guide. Let’s dig in!
Aldi
While Aldi is synonymous with budget shopping, it is also quickly becoming synonymous with plenty of vegan options (which are also budget-friendly!) 🙌
Earth Grown is the house brand of Aldi, many items of which are vegan. Products include meatless “meat,” burgers, vegan frozen meals, and ice cream pints.
In addition to its Earth Grown brand, Aldi also carries a wide variety of produce, canned beans, plant milk, and other pantry items. As an added bonus, many are organic.
In fact, Aldi recently won PETA’s Top Grocer Award. Aldi was recognized for “promoting compassion for all animals and protecting human health by offering a wide variety of vegan foods.”
PETA stated, “Aldi recognizes that shoppers today are looking for products that match their personal values and needs, which is why it’s stocking shelves with plant based foods galore.”
Check out these lists of vegan items at Aldi from various sources. (Product availability subject to location.)
Kroger
Offering a wide variety of vegan brands and plant based options, Kroger is a great go-to store. Simple Truth, Kroger’s own brand, also produces plant based products. Items include vegan meat, dairy, and desserts.
Other brands available at Kroger include Gardein, Miyoko, So Delicious, Earth Balance, Follow Your Heart, and even Louisville Vegan Jerky.
Search your local Kroger website for vegan items or check out this list from PETA.
Meijer
With locations all around the midwest, Meijer is one of the largest grocery stores in the U.S. And with these large chains, comes a lot of vegan options. 💃
For quick and easy meals, Amy’s, Annie’s, and Annie Chun’s brands offer plenty of choices. You’ll also notice lots of plant based meats, cheeses, and dairy alternatives, including Beyond Meat.
Check out this guide to grocery shopping at Meijer or visit their website for products available in your location.
Costco
Anyone who shops Costco knows: here today, gone tomorrow. That’s just the way Costco works. (That, and constantly rearranging the store, forcing you to walk up and down every aisle, making impulse buys along the way. Well played, Costco. Well played.)
Some vegan products at my local Costcos include Beyond Burgers, Chao cheese, organic tofu, frozen fruit and veg, and plenty of canned beans and dried grains. My favorite though is the amount of organic fresh produce available.
In addition to plant based food, Costco also carries some vegan and cruelty-free beauty products (including BioClarity.)
I also recommend following the Vegan Costco Facebook group for even more vegan products and suggestions for how to request items at your local store.
Target
I can’t get enough of Target! Yes, I am one of those people who goes to Target with two things on my list and walks out with an overflowing cart. (Or at least I used to before the pandemic. Now, Curbside Pickup is a Godsend–both for keeping me safe and saving us money!)
Target is known for having a wide variety of plant based options–the amount of which has grown even just since I became vegan less than a year ago!
In the refrigerated produce section, you’ll find tofu, tempeh, and other artisan plant based meats and cheeses; in the freezer section, watch for Beyond meat and frozen meals and entrees (my local Target has the plant based section labeled); and in the refrigerated section, there is a wide variety of plant based milks and dairy alternatives available.
Target has also expanded their vegan snack and pantry items.
Along with food, Target also carries plenty of vegan and cruelty free makeup and hair products.
Walmart
Like Target, Walmart also stocks a wide variety of vegan products throughout their aisles.
From plant based dairy alternatives to vegan burritos and microwave meals, Walmart has something for everyone.
You’ll even find meatless chicken and beef broth base, vegan chocolate, and marshmallows! You can look for the vegan diet tab directly on Walmart’s website.
The best part though may be that Walmart offers vegan gift baskets! Is it still considered a “gift” basket if I buy them and give them to myself? 🤔
Vegan Shopping Guide
These are not complete lists, just some suggestions.
I personally recommend a fully (or at least mostly) whole food plant based diet in order to get the maximum health benefits from a vegan diet.
Staples
- Grains
- Brown rice, quinoa, barley, millet, farro
- Dried beans & legumes
- Black, pinto, garbanzo, cannellini, lentils, kidney, soybeans
- Nuts
- Cashews (especially for making cheeses and sauces)
- Pecans, walnuts, peanuts, almonds, pistachios
- Seeds
- Flaxseed, chia seeds, hemp seeds
- Sunflower, pumpkin, sesame
Produce
- Vegetables
- Red: red pepper, beets, red onion
- Orange: carrot, sweet potato, butternut squash, orange pepper
- Yellow: corn, yellow summer squash, yellow pepper
- Green: broccoli, kale, lettuce, collard greens, swiss chard
- Purple: cabbage, eggplant, purple potatoes
- White: cauliflower, garlic, onion, potato
- Brown: mushroom, onion
- Fruit
- Red: apple, strawberry, tomato, raspberry, watermelon
- Orange: orange, grapefruit, cantaloupe
- Yellow: lemon, mango, pineapple, banana
- Green: grapes, apples, kiwi
- Blue: blueberries
- Purple: grapes, plums, blackberries
Breakfast
- Bread (without honey or milk additives)
- Tofu (firm or extra firm for “eggs”; silken tofu for smoothie bowls, casseroles, pancakes, etc.)
- Cereal
- Granola
- Oatmeal or overnight oats
- Plant based yogurt, fresh fruit
- Frozen fruit and vegetables for smoothies
Lunch
- Bread, nut butter, jam
- Salad ingredients
- Pitas and wraps
Dinner
- Dried pasta and pasta sauce
- Curry paste and sauces
- Tortillas and tacos
- Plant based meat substitutes
- Tofu, tempeh, seitan, TVP
- Meat and dairy replacements
Snacks
- Crackers, tortilla chips, kale chips
- Popcorn
- Roasted chickpeas
- Dried fruit
- Homemade vegan cheese
- Hummus with fresh veggies
- Guacamole
Pantry
- Nutritional Yeast (a must-have!)
- Garlic, onion
- Canned beans, refried beans
- Canned tomatoes
- Coconut milk
- Canned jackfruit
- Herbs and spices
- Vegetable stock
- Vinegar
Refrigerated
- Dairy free milk: soy, cashew, almond, oat, etc.
- Vegan butter
- Earth Balance, Miyoko’s, etc.
- Dairy alternatives
- Condiments: lemon and lime juice, ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, sriracha
Frozen Foods
- Beyond Burgers
- Frozen fruits and vegetables
- Microwave meals
Baking and Sweets
- Flour: all purpose, whole wheat, almond, chickpea, oat, coconut, etc.
- Sugar: organic or raw to ensure it is vegan
- Baking powder, baking soda
- Thickeners: arrowroot, cornstarch, tapioca flour, potato starch, agar, xanthan gum
- Egg replacers: ground flaxseed, chia seeds, applesauce, banana, silken tofu, Ener-G egg replacer, aquafaba (liquid in canned chickpeas)
- Cocoa powder
- Vegan chocolate
- Enjoy Life, Equal Exchange, Nestle Simply Delicious, etc.
- Dates
Vegan Brands
With more plant based options than ever before, there are plenty of vegan-specific brands to choose from! 🙌 Here are some of the exclusively plant based brands:
- Beyond Meat
- Chao Cheese (made by Field Roast)
- Daiya
- Earth Balance
- Field Roast
- Follow Your Heart
- Gardein
- Kite Hill
- Lightlife
- Miyoko’s Creamery
- No Evil Foods
- Silk
- So Delicious
- Tofurkey
- Violife
Vegan Grocery Shopping
Grocery shopping for a vegan diet is actually much simpler than people realize. With the plant based movement continuing to grow, expect to see an even larger growth of products and brands in the near future.
Not only are vegan options abundant, but a whole food plant based diet also happens to be far less expensive than you might realize (sometimes even costing less than an omnivore diet–even when buying organic!)
My personal favorite stores for organic vegan food, plant based alternatives, and cruelty-free products are Sprouts, Natural Grocers, and Trader Joe’s. Shopping at farmers markets and buying local is best, but only if you can do so safely in this era of a pandemic.
Vegan shopping and eating has never been easier, which is why now is the perfect time to go plant based!
What’s your go-to grocery store? What are some of your favorite vegan finds? Comment below! And be sure to come back on Friday for part 2 of vegan grocery shopping!
