When you’ve eaten vegan for years and years, you don’t have to think twice about grocery shopping anymore. You know exactly what is vegan and what isn’t vegan. You know what you like and where to go to get it.

For those just starting out on a vegan diet, grocery shelves can all of a sudden seem mysterious. Your go-to staples must be reexamined for their veganism. So many labels, so little time.

This is a starter list for you to get to know the pantry of a vegan. It doesn’t include fresh produce, which is really central to the vegan diet. Also, packaged goods like Mac & “Cheese” and Tasty Bite are handy to have in the pantry but this list is just the basics. Many baking ingredients like flour, baking soda, baking powder, and canola oil, are already vegan so they’re not itemized here.

People have their own preferences, obviously, and not everyone’s kitchen will look the same. Also, while many of the items below are eaten by people of all dietary persuasions, they hold a special place in the hearts of vegans and often take a more prominent role in the daily diet of a vegan (vs. an omnivore or even a vegetarian).

Pantry

Refrigerator

Freezer

Frozen Fruit for Smoothies (packaged or that you freeze yourself)

Almond Flour/Meal

Chickpea/Garbanzo Bean Flour

Notes:

A great way to transition into a vegan diet it to replace your favorite things. So, if you eat sour cream a bunch, get some Tofutti sour cream. If you want to put shredded cheese on your burrito, get some Daiya shreds.

What are some staples YOU rely on. We all have different tastes after all! COMMENT below here.

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If you have questions about specific pantry items – like if they are vegan or where to find a specific vegan substitute, ASK by filling out the form below. Plenty Vegan or someone else in the forum will be sure to answer it!

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Cheat Sheet: How to Stock Your Vegan Pantry Print This list doesn't itemize vegan foods such as: fresh produce, packaged goods or baking ingredients. Ingredients Pantry Nuts - Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans, etc.

Nut butters - Almond, Peanut, Sunflower, etc.

Raw Cashews (used a bunch in vegan cream sauces)

Dried Fruit - Mango, Raisins, Cranberries, Dates, etc.

Vegan Chocolate Chips

Canned Coconut Milk

Plant-Based Milk (Almond, Soy, Rice, etc. - can be stored unrefrigerated before opening)

Apple Cider Vinegar

Rice Vinegar

Balsamic

Veggie Stock or Bouillon

Olive Oil

Coconut Oil

Quinoa

Rice - Brown and/or White

Popcorn Kernels

Oatmeal

Chickpeas, Black Beans, Pinto Beans, etc. (+ Any Other Beans you Like)

Lentils

Pasta and Other Noodles Like Soba

Turmeric

Liquid Smoke

Plant-Based Protein Powder

Packaged Goods (chips, crackers, cookies, chocolate, candy, etc. (The 5 C's!) Refrigerator Earth Balance

Plant-Based Milk (Almond, Soy, Rice, etc. - refrigerate after opening)

Flaxseed

Chia Seeds

Hemp Hearts or Hemp Seeds

Nutritional Yeast

Soy Sauce

Sriracha

Hummus

Just Mayo, Vegenaise or other Vegan Mayo

Tofu (prepared baked tofu, too)

Tempeh (including prepared tempeh strips)

Vital Wheat Gluten/Seitan (use the flour to make seitan or buy prepared seitan) Freezer Frozen Fruit for Smoothies (packaged or that you freeze yourself)

Almond Flour/Meal

Chickpea/Garbanzo Bean Flour Instructions Note: A great way to transition into a vegan diet it to replace your favorite things. So, if you eat sour cream a bunch, get some Tofutti sour cream. If you want to put shredded cheese on your burrito, get some Daiya shreds. 3.5.3217

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