Trader Joe's store and vegan wine selection.

Vegan Grocery Shopping (part 2)

Welcome to my vegan grocery shopping week! Tuesday we talked about vegan options at Aldi, Kroger, Meijer, Costco, Target, and Walmart. Today we’ll continue with more plant based products available at some additional stores.

Publix

If you live in (or have traveled to) the south, chances are you’ve been to a Publix. (It was always my family’s go-to for groceries on vacation!)

Plant based burgers and meats, dairy alternatives, snacks, and even JUST egg are only a handful of the products available at Publix.

Not only will you find plenty of vegan food, but Publix also carries a number of vegan supplements and health items.

Person putting fresh oranges into a reusable grocery bag.

Vons & Safeway

Much like Publix, you’ll be able to find an abundance of plant based options at Vons or Safeway.

From bread and breakfast cereal to snacks and sweets, there’s something for everyone!

Search “vegan” on either one of their websites, and browse the hundreds of items available (subject to location).

Trader Joe’s

If you’re lucky enough to have Trader Joe’s in your area, shopping here is a must! Browse the vegan-specific section in the refrigerated aisle (including vegan mac and cheese!), organic produce, pantry items, and frozen foods.

For a splurge from time to time, my husband and I really enjoy the jackfruit crab cakes and vegetable samosas. But our favorite has to be the spring rolls. They’re garlicky and delicious! 😋

As if all of this goodness weren’t enough, you can also enjoy a variety of vegan-friendly wines at Trader Joe’s. Even their “two-buck-chuck” is vegan! 🙌

Whole Foods

The OG of the healthy, plant based diet movement, Whole Foods has endless options! Not only do they carry lots of vegan meats, dairy alternatives, and frozen foods, they also have plenty of pantry staples and fresh prepared food for purchase.

Plus, the 365 Whole Foods brand offers many vegan options and healthy alternatives.

Whole Foods is your one-stop-shop when it comes to produce, vegan food, and cruelty-free health and beauty products.

Woman grocery shopping for fresh produce wearing a face mask during the coronavirus pandemic.

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

Lunch

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

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, 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
  • Dates
Large selection of leafy greens and fresh produce at a grocery store.

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

With the plant based movement continuing to grow rapidly, be expecting to see an even larger amount of vegan 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 people might even realize (even when buying organic!)

My personal favorite stores for organic vegan food, plant based alternatives, and cruelty-free health, beauty, and cleaning products are Sprouts, Natural Grocers, and Trader Joe’s.

Colorful selection of fruits and vegetables at a local farmer's market.

Buying from farmers markets and purchasing 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 don’t forget to subscribe to the blog! 🥰

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