How to Keep Your Vegan Essentials Stocked

Grocery shopping should be as easy as possible.

Chances are you’re already ordering your regular groceries online such as bread, produce, and non-dairy milk. If you’re not, consider giving it a try. Aldi, Safeway Walmart, and even Target, are in most regions and offer online shopping.

Download the app, add items to your cart from previous orders, use saved card, boom, you’re done. If you’re like me, opt for pick up to save on the delivery fees and tip (they can be a lot!)

However, how about stocking up on some specialty vegan essentials to make veganism more enjoyable and realistic for you and your family?

In addition to having your standard groceries on hand, we recommend you stock up on some traditional foods, but vegan, to help ensure you stay vegan in the long run. Going vegan doesn’t mean you can’t have gooey “cheese” sauce, jerky, candy bars, or packaged food ever again, it just means you may have to put in a tad more effort to get it, and that’s okay.

Here are our favorite vegan online grocers (not affiliated):

1. ​Vegan Essentials – They have a really, really good candy selection, which may not seem like a big deal, but it is! Did you know most mainstream candy had gelatin (pig and cow derivative)? Vegan Essentials isn’t the cheapest, but have just about everything. Also the cheese selection is unmatched. Get a few blocks and put aside to have on hand when guests come over and you don’t want your snacks to scream “vegan.” 10% off when you sign up for emails.
2. ​Thrive Market – Currently offering 40% off your first order and the membership fee is $5/ month. Check out their selection of sauces. Consider this cheese sauce over steamed broccoli (with a side of rice and topped with seeds or nuts for a quick meal), or this lemon cauliflower dip mixed in with pasta and peas.
3. ​The Vegetarian Site – $5 flat shipping and they always have a stocked clearance section. Their Meat Alternatives section has really affordable options like Dixie Foods Beef (NOT!) Ground, Primal Soy Jerky, and Viana Vegan Sausage.
4. ​Imperfect Foods – Sends you a pre-selected box of groceries via a subscription service based on your preferences (like “vegan dairy,” “fresh produce” or “meat alternatives.”) Set your budget, edit their suggestions, or let yourself be surprised with a box of vegan specialty items weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. No subscription fees.

Remember, by having vegan substitutes around, it makes it easier to prepare and serve familiar meals you’ve made tons of times, like tacos and sandwiches.

Having your own stash of sweets helps ensure you won’t fall prey to the dairy-laden cookies in the cupboard.

Storing packaged goodies like jerky and “cheeze” crackers in your car or office will help you avoid boring carrot sticks or nuts when you really want something yummy and salty.

Just give yourself a break here, set aside $50 if you can, and order yourself some vegan goodies that will make your life easier, and MORE ENJOYABLE.

Go on, do it!