The Plant Based Shopping Strategies To Make Every Day Life Easier

Life is busy and most of us are usually short on time.  Grocery shopping doesn’t have to be a chore.  We break down the best plant based shopping strategies to show you different ways to shop and some of the best finds at each store.  Couple that with a little planning, our handy GROCERY LIST PRINTABLES, and our time-saving MEAL PLANNING PRINTABLES you will always be organized and prepared!

Once you figure out what you are looking for, you no longer even have to go to your local store to do your shopping.  From your local neighborhood grocery store, to your local WALMART SUPERSTORE, and even your local warehouse club, you can shop in store or order online and then either pick it up or have it delivered.  With these plant based shopping strategies and a little pre-work figuring out those basic pieces, you can load up on all the plant based groceries you need in just minutes.

The plant based revolution is here, and grocery stores are bursting with options! But navigating all those aisles can be tricky. We’ll break down different store types, highlight our favorite plant based finds at each, and offer tips to make shopping a breeze. Remember, every store is unique, but our general guidelines will work wonders no matter your location.

Like Albertsons, Kroger, etc.
Found in your local neighborhood this is old-school shopping at its best.  Many of these retailers have even upped their game to compete with online stores so you can order online, and then pick it up or have it delivered.  Shopping at your local grocery store is probably familiar to you and they carry a wide selection of brands and most items you need.

What we typically shop for here:
Misc. Produce (based on freshness, immediate need, and sales), Last Minute Items, and Certain Plant Based Perishable Availably Stocked Items.

SHORT ON TIME?  FIND NEW WAYS TO SHOP AT YOUR LOCAL STORES
Take a look at separate grocery delivery services like INSTACART and SHIPT to make the most of your time and let a personal shopper go to your local store and shop for you.  Fees are added and tips are recommended but if you have the budget for these conveniences they can be worth it.

Like Trader Joe’s & Aldi
These stores offer great prices and unique foods along with smaller packages and their custom brand.  These are great places to shop at, look around, try new foods, and experience new flavors.  With the smaller store footprint, you can do your weekly shopping in much less time.  Both offer a decent selection of Plant Based items but if you don’t care for that particular item, you don’t have another choice.

♥ OUR FAVORITE SMALLER LOCAL GROCER ♥
TRADER JOE’S:  They offer a great selection of Plant Based items throughout their store.  They are reasonably priced and have a very friendly staff to assist with finding items and recommending new things to try.

What we typically shop for here:
Kale Pesto, Nacho Dip, v-English Muffins, Tortillas, Artichoke Cans, Boxed Soup, Jackfruit in Brine, v-Refried Black Beans, Lentils, v-Dressings, Nutritional Yeast, Tahini, Frozen Pizza Crust, v-Chx Nuggets, v-Mandarin Chx, Frozen Potato with Peppers & Onions, Frozen Fried Rice, Tempura Cauliflower

Like Walmart Supercenter and Target Superstore
While a nearby superstore might be a little further than your local market and a lot larger footprint to shop, you can find some great prices and a very large selection of Plant Based items.

♥ OUR FAVORITE NEARBY SUPERSTORE WITH ONLINE ORDER, FREE PICKUP & DELIVERY ♥
LOCAL WALMART SUPERCENTER AND OUR CURATED PLANT BASED STOREFRONT FROM WALMART.COM
For several years, Walmart has been rated the #1 grocery chain in the US according to Axios.  We certainly know why!  It offers great low prices and doesn’t charge a service fee or an upcharge to use its grocery pick-up service.  Simply order online, set your pick-up time, pull up, and they load your car.  They offer a low-fee delivery service and just started advertising that they will not only deliver but PUT AWAY your groceries for you.  We started using the order online and pick up for free service in 2019 and continue to use it today.  We think it gives the best bang for your buck and carries a WIDE variety of Plant Based Items, with more and more each day.

What we typically shop for here:
Some Produce (Shredded Carrots, Cucumbers, Radishes, Celery, Onions, Spaghetti Squash, Bananas, Cabbage, Lemons & Limes), Sliced Olives, Sun Dried Tomatoes, v-Cereal, Oats, Raisins, Coffee, Vegetable Broth, Buns/Bread,  Non-Dairy Milk, Hummus, Tofurky Sausage, Violife Cheese, Just Egg, Frozen Gardein Products (Ground Crumbles, Chx Strips, Turk’y Cutlets, etc), Morningstar Veggie Crumbles, Boca Chicken & Burger.

Like Costco & Sam’s Club
These types of stores offer competitively low prices, bulk products, and a no-frills shopping experience.  You can find some great products at bulk quantity low prices.  You can find everything from nuts to tires and everything in between.  If you have a few people in your household and space to store items in bulk, we highly recommend a membership because you can usually save overall.

♥ OUR FAVORITE CLUB STORE ♥
COSTCO & COSTCO.com
We shop here every 3 weeks to a month and come home with a trunk full of fresh goodness and bulk items we can backstock and store for every rainy day.

What we typically shop for here:
Fresh Organic Produce (Apples, Fruit, Grape Tomatoes, Potatoes, Brussel Spouts, Asparagus, Baby Carrots, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Lettuce), Tofu, Frozen Mixed Berries/Blueberries/Mangoes, Frozen Mixed Veggies/Peas, Frozen Stir Fry Veggies, v-Cereal, Vegetable Broth, Seeds (Pumpkin, Hemp, Chia, Flax), Pasta Sauce, Quinoa, Beans (Kidney, Black, Garbanzo), Nuts (Pistachios, Cashews).

The only downfall here:
Costco members are some of the most loyal shoppers on the planet.  One small downside that we have experienced is their “seasonal” items, that in our book, aren’t so seasonal.  Items like Vegetable Broth and Kidney Beans aren’t always stocked, so you need to plan for alternates or alternate stores for some of these items.

Like Thrive Market & Boxed
Among the last plant based shopping strategies for a personalized experience is a universal one.  By choosing an online retailer you are not bound by location and you can find just about everything for your pantry.  You can tailor your shopping experience to the different specialties of each online retailer, each offering some unique benefits.

♥ OUR FAVORITE FOR A SOLE ONLINE RETAILER ♥
THRIVE MARKET
Thrive Market is the place to shop if you are looking for a subscription service that will save you money on your pantry goods with a focus on organic and non-GMO selections.