5 best online + in-person vegan grocery shops (+ shopping list!)

Our household contains one meat-free and dairy-free eater and one gluten-free eater…

So it’s safe to say, the cook of the house has had to learn to make meals that supported more or less a gluten-free and vegan diet all in one!

The truth is, your inspiration, passion, and biggest ideas are more likely to come when you’re nourishing your body and mind with whole, healthy, detoxifying foods than when you’re slugging, unmotivated, and tired, which is what inflammatory, low-fiber foods like refined carbs, sugary snacks, and even glutens and dairy can do.

Before anything, I’d like to define what I’d consider to be healthy, as I know the definition can range!

For this instance, we consider healthy food a plant-based, gluten-free, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying diet, which has personally been the most helpful way for me to nourish my body so I can have more energy and inspiration to follow my creative pursuits.

This blog post doesn’t touch on outside protocols to be healthy, like exercising, practicing lymphatic drainage, sweating, nebulizing, using essential oils and skin care, and other practices, but we’re certainly advocates for those as well and believe they’re vital to living a healthy and creative life.

Alright, let’s delve into some vegan groceries, pantry essentials, and our favorite grocery stores in case you need a little help yourself to get started on your journey to a more plant-based, whole-food-based diet.

1. Thrive Market

Great for foodies who need fast and healthy foods at their door

What it is

This little online hub is where you can shop for specialty foods focused on organic, vegan, gluten-free, and other diet-conscious choices. Unlike a few other grocery delivery services that are limited to just foods, Thrive Market has bath and body products, cleaning products, supplements, and meats and seafood.

Pros: What makes it special

The fact that Thrive Market compiles lots of trusted brands is what gets it for me. I personally know that it can take me so long to scour the aisles at traditional grocery stores and take time to read each ingredient label, so being able to do that online and with a hand-picked and curated selection of items that I already trust is really great. Here are the pros of Thrive Market:

• Always organic or non-GMO foods
• Guaranteed price matching through their program* (we’ll discuss this later)
• Trustworthy brands like Siete, Oatly, and Banza which are sometimes hard to find at big grocery stores like Costco or Food Lion
• Soooo easy and convenient to shop online and have the order show up at your door
• A list of “never” ingredients so your ingredient-checking can be a little easier
• Occasional free gifts with your purchase, which makes opening your boxes a little more fun

Cons: What to look out for

I’m learning every single day about things like green labeling and the difference between what a brand will label itself as and what they actually are. It’s always important to look past the mask of things like “natural flavors,” and labels that make it seem like something’s healthy but really isn’t. Along with this practice I’ve had to have with any food I buy, here are some of the cons of Thrive Market:

• They have a fee, which you’ll either pay monthly or annually. As of this writing, you’d either pay $12 per month or $60 for the year.
• Their “price matching” is… weird. I had to dig around in their Terms of Service to find what it really meant to them, and it basically says that they base price matching on a made-up Reference Price that doesn’t actually mean anything. (as of June 16th, 2023)

Explore Thrive Market →

Shopping List

• Simple Mills Gluten-Free Crackers
• Siete Grain-Free Chips
• Banza Chickpea Pasta
• Primal Kitchen No Dairy Queso Style
• Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars
• SmartSweets Peach Rings (don’t @ me, I know these have “natural flavors” and they’re the ONE time I’ll break this rule)

2. Imperfect Foods & Misfits Market

Great for foodies who want a simple delivery

What it is

One of the OGs of turning ugly foods into usable yummies, Imperfect Foods, and Misfits Market takes foods that brands are relabeling, have some cosmetic quirks, or are just in a surplus, and curates their own selection for their shoppers. The food’s delivered to your door weekly in recyclable boxes and ice packs that they’ll pick up the next time they come back. I decided to combine these two together because they’re super similar, they partner together, and they’re mostly based on where you live.

Pros: What makes it special

• Recyclable boxes and ice packs
• Easy to shop and restock with your favorite items; curate your order every week, or they’ll curate your box for you based on your preferences
• Imperfect-brand snacks
• Has wellness and personal care items too like sunscreens, lotions, and oils (only Imperfect Foods)
• No monthly subscription cost— you’re just paying for your food!
• The convenience factor— if you’re a busy creative and have no time for grocery shopping it’s important to get nutrient-dense food to nourish you

Cons: What to look out for

• Some find the brands at Walmart or Costco for cheaper
• FedEx issues if you’re in their area; known for screwing up delivery or causing box to be delayed, open, or have broken food
• You can’t start seeing the products that they have without signing up for an account— super annoying if you want to do your research first!
• They’re not as focused on vegan products as plant-based grocery services as they also sell meats, fish, and dairy.

Shopping List

• Imperfect Foods Dried Mango
• Imperfect Foods Cashew Halves & Pieces
• Myokos Cultured Vegan Butter
• Oatly Ice Cream

Explore Imperfect Foods →

Explore Misfits Market →

3. Trader Joe’s

Great for foodies on a budget

What it is

If you’re a healthy foodie, you’ve gotta love good ol’ Joe’s. I have to say, I get very intimated and uncomfortable when going into grocery stores, but Trader Joe’s was never an overwhelming place for me. The staff is always (mysteriously) so happy, and it really feels like you’re shopping at a little local farmer’s market!

Pros: What makes it special

• The people who work there (and many who shop there) are so stinkin’ friendly! It’s like there’s something in the water.
• Super affordable: I’m always in awe after spending at Trader Joe’s. It seems like I can get bags and bags of food for under $100 whereas in other stores I’d be paying well over that price.
• It feels homey and warm. Not every grocery shop makes you feel like you’re in a little market. In fact, most affordable places to shop like Costo feel more like a factory rather than a place to buy food. Trader Joe’s is always so comfortable.
• Plants! I’ve gotten so many plants and herbs from Trader Joe’s that have blossomed and bloomed for years! It just adds to the warm experience I get whenever I go there.
• Fun snacks and pre-made meal selections: For those who like experimenting with different foods and flavors, Trader Joe’s has some great crowd-favorite snacks. Pickle-flavored popcorn, mochi, gluten-free chocolate muffins— you never quite know what you’re going to find or if you’ll pick up a new favorite.

Cons: What to look out for

• The selection isn’t super broad. If you like having a lot of selection in your foods, you might find that TJ’s falls a little short. There are some times when I won’t find basic things like green onions (while their pickle-flavored popcorn is well in abundance!)
• There aren’t many name-brand items, that you get used to when eating particular diets, you’ll start getting used to trusting brands (until you don’t?). For us, this means having to hit a second grocery store after getting some of our Trader Joe’s favs.
• The fruit and vegetable quality doesn’t feel like it’s top shelf. we’ve found that we can’t get things like spinach at Trader Joe’s because they’re rotting in the bags on the shelf! I’m not sure why this is, that it’s not cool enough, organic, or something else. We’ve also found that our bananas go bad faster.
• Some sketchy ingredients in some prepared frozen bagged meals especially; just because it’s from TJ’s doesn’t mean it’s healthy! In their prepared frozen bagged meals especially, you’ll likely find super long ingredient labels with sketchy ingredients in them. Just like with every other place, particularly when you’re not familiar with the brand, do your due diligence and read every ingredient label!
• No delivery or curbside pickup option

Shopping List

• Three-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Honey Mints (they’re discontinued but live forever in my heart)
• Canned Dolmas Vine Leaves (dolmades/grape leaves)
• Trader Joe’s Organic Vegetarian Chili
• Absolutely Acerola Juice Shot
• Dried orange slices

Related: Exploring acerola cherry

4. Whole Foods

Great for foodies who only buy trusted name-brands

What it is

Remember years ago when Whole Foods was so expensive? Well, not to say she’s quite as affordable as Trader Joe’s, but she certainly calmed down a little. This is our go-to place for specialty brands that we love and know we can find here. Pros:

Pros: What makes it special

• Lots of amazing gluten-free and vegan essentials from trusted brands like Myokos, Oatly, and Simple Mills
• Can use your Amazon Prime membership to redeem deals and discounts
• Has a nice, upscale vibe; it’s not overwhelming to step into like other grocery stores
• They have a self-checkout option
• They offer same-day delivery for a fee and curbside pickup options for free with an Amazon Prime membership
• They have bulk food options available like nuts, trail mixes, seeds, rice

Cons: What to look out for

• It’s traditionally more expensive than Trader Joe’s

Shopping List

• Simple Mills Almond Flour Pancake and Waffle Mix
• Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Bread (Mountain White)
• Myokos Liquid Vegan Pizza Mozzerella
• Myokos Double Cream Garlic Herb Cheese
• Oatly Mint Chip Non-Dairy Frozen Ice Cream

Explore Whole Foods (shop online!) →

5. Splendid Spoon

Best for foodies who need a personal chef

What it is

We were on Splendid Spoon for about a year when we still had a tiny kitchen that was super difficult to cook in. Once we moved, we were able to cook again, but I have to admit, I still crave it so much! Compared to the other grocery delivery service where you can buy things like vegan protein powder and vegan snacks, you’re ordering entire prepared meals that you can heat up in minutes. It saved us so much time when we were in our smaller house and didn’t have the capacity to cook ourselves, and we never had to check to make sure we were ordering vegan foods over food with meat in it— all of them were already vegan and gluten-free.

Pros: What makes it special

• All meals are vegan, gluten-free, and made intentionally for low inflammation and fiber abundance
• There are lots of meal selections to choose from, including smoothies, bowls, noodles, dishes, shots, and juices
• You can input in “avoidances,” which will filter out allergens, restrictions, and non-preferred ingredients like soy, tree nuts, coconuts, and mushrooms
• You can see and pronounce all of the ingredients, unlike services like Purple Carrot where there are a ton of additives
• Their bundles are super easy to purchase in their marketplace if you want to give them a try without a commitment
• You can see all the options online without having to put in your credit card first!

Cons: What to look out for

• It’s more pricey than purchasing your groceries, especially if you’re doing it alone (we ended up purchasing for one and then stretching out the meals by adding more noodles or rice to them!)

Vi’s favs (to add to your shopping list)

• Creamy Butternut Squash Noodles
• Coconut Curry Rice
• Cauliflower Potato Chowder Soup
• Lentil & Kale Soup
• Blue Majik Smoothie
• Mint Chip Smoothie

Explore Splendid Spoon →

Hope you enjoyed this little list of the best vegan grocery spots to try out! While some are in-person and others are online, we hope whichever one you find helps you get into a healthy flow a little bit more so you can focus on your creative dreams and pursuits.