It’s no secret that living a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle can become extremely expensive. You’d think that not having to buy meat or dairy products would result in a lower grocery bill, right?
But ohh nooo, this couldn’t be further from the truth!
If you want to live a balanced, healthy life, substitutes for protein and other important nutrients can rack up quite a bill! And if you’re trying to save money, this puts a major strain on your pocket.
It’s most definitely a challenge to balance both a healthy lifestyle and healthy finances. So how do you find the middle ground? Does one really need to suffer?
Well, I’ve scoured the Walmart and Aldi aisles, and I’ve been over the grocery apps and sites to help you find the best prices for the ultimate vegetarian grocery list on a budget!
I’ve compared the prices, done the calculations and wrapped it all up with a pretty bow, below. In fact, this is the very list I use for vegetarian meal plans when we’re on a tight budget!
Now you can finally enjoy a plant-based diet without feeling guilty that it’ll affect your financial goals.
Table of Contents
Grocery Shopping with a Plant-based Diet in Mind
Personally, when I create a vegetarian weekly meal plan, I don’t include any meals using animal products. But it can get complicated from person to person – there are vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians, and of course, the “in-betweeners”. Eatright.org explains the difference between various types of vegetarians, from lacto-ovo, to lacto, to those who don’t even eat honey!
For the sake of simplicity, this is a general vegetarian grocery list. You can take note of the grocery items that apply to you and ignore the ones that don’t. All in all, these vegetarian staples are cheaper options for your weekly meal plan.
Pantry Staples for Vegetarian Grocery List on a Budget
The following are great budget-friendly staples that are perfect for a vegetarian diet. When building your vegetarian grocery list, you’ll want to ensure that you have the basics to cook a complete meal.
This means having plant-based proteins, grains and pastas and of course your fruits and veggies. You should also have spices and seasonings on hand to vary flavors and add some “umph” to your cooking!
Once you have these stocked, there are tons of delicious meal options you can whip up in a jiffy! Let’s start with a basic list of items you should be looking out for as you build your vegetarian grocery list on a budget.
1. Fresh Fruits
2. Fresh Produce
3. Brown Rice
4. Other Whole Grains
5. Black Beans
6. Kidney Beans
7. Peanut Butter
8. Soy Milk or Almond Milk or Coconut Milk
9. Sweet Potatoes
10. Pantry Staples
11. Tomato Sauce
12. Olive Oil
13. Dairy Alternatives
14. Animal Products Alternatives
15. Vegan Meats
Healthy Vegetarian Grocery List
When brainstorming your basic vegetarian shopping list, you’ll want to remember to stick to whole foods that are not just budget-friendly, but also packed with important nutrients. A combination of a few of the following items is a great way to reap the health benefits while saving a lot of money every week!
The items below are vegan staples that can whip up delicious recipes in no time!
1. Fruits
Fresh fruits are a must for a vegetarian grocery list on a budget. I always choose fresh fruits that are in season for the best prices. I love visiting the local farmer’s market for a wide variety or sometimes it’s easier to grab a frozen version from the chilled section.
Oranges 88¢ each
Bananas 27¢ each
Fresh Sweet Corn on the Cob 50¢
Apples 69¢ each
Pears 96¢ each
Mangoes $1.68 each
2. Fresh Produce / Vegetables
Honestly, there are so many different types of fresh veggies and leafy greens that can be added to your weekly meal plan as a vegetarian. What you choose to buy really depends on what you like to eat and how much you’re willing to save.
Baby-Cut Carrots / Whole carrots 98¢ (1 lb bag)
Green Bell Pepper 72¢ each (technically a fruit)
Red Bell Pepper 72¢
Cucumber 68¢ each (also technically a fruit)
Roma Tomato 21¢ each (yes, yes… A fruit)
Broccoli Crowns $1.10 each
Zucchini Squash 93¢ each
Russet Potatoes 83¢ each
Yellow Squash 89¢ each
Avocado 78¢ each (technically a fruit)
Sweet Potatoes $1.65 each
Lettuce $1.87 each
3. Bakery Items
These bakery staples are an easy (and cheap!) way to make your meals filling and complete.
Bread $1.48
Taco Shells, 10 shells, $2.46
Tortillas/Wraps 10 count, $2.92
Buns, 8 count, $1.53
4. Grains
Brown rice is one of the most common items that you’d find on a plant-based diet meal plan. It’s a must on mine!
It’s budget friendly and versatile, as it can be incorporated into several different recipes. However, if you’re looking for something different, there are many types of grains that you can consider for your next grocery shopping trip.
Brown Rice, 32 oz $1.37
White Rice, 32 oz $1.86Quinoa, 16 oz $3.53
Oats, 42 oz $3.98
Corn (various prices)
Barley, 24 oz $5.86
Popcorn, 32 oz, $2.26
5. Beans
Beans are a staple for a vegan diet because it’s a cheap source of protein and other important nutrients! You can choose to purchase canned beans, which will be faster and easier to cook. Or you can go with the healthier option of dry beans but will need to put a little more time and effort into cooking!
There are so many types of beans to add to your weekly meal plan line up. Here are a few (canned) options.
Pro Tip!
Use store-brand or no-brand to save even more money!
Black Beans 82¢
Kidney Beans 88¢
Baked Beans $1.12
Lentils $1.22
Pinto Beans 88¢
Butter Beans $1.43
Garbanzos Chickpeas 88¢
6. Vegan Meat Alternatives
There are some recipes that include meat alternatives that are extremely similar to real meats. On top of this, these alternatives also provide a similar nutritional content and adds variation to any vegan diet!
Tofu $2.08/lb
Soy Chunks, 8 oz $2.37
Plant-based burger patties, meats, nuggets etc. (various prices)
7. Pantry Staples
There are a few miscellaneous items that can take your vegan weekly meal plan to the next level. This includes items such as peanut butter, tomato sauce, olive oil, almond milk, condiments and spices and seasonings.
Peanut Butter 16 oz, $1.84
Tomato Sauce 15 oz, $1.06
Vegetable Broth
Olive Oil 17 fl oz, $5.00
Almond Milk 64 fl oz, $2.44
Coconut Milk 13.5 fl oz, $1.64
Soy Milk 0.5 gal, $2.56
Nutritional Yeast, 1 0z, $9.00 (this is a bit expensive so can be left out)
Pasta Sauces (various prices)
Jams and Jellies (various prices)
Condiments (various prices)
Spices and Seasonings (various prices)
8. Drinks & Snacks
If you’d like to add some variation to your drinks, you can add the following to your vegan groceries line up.
Tea
Coffee
Juice
Milk
9. Miscellaneous
Pretzels
Nuts
Dried Fruit
Potato Chips
Salsa
Vegan Ice Cream
10. Dairy Products
Finally, there are some vegetarians (who are not vegans) who do eat dairy products such as eggs and/or cheeses. If you fall into this category, here are some of the items groceries you will be stocking.
Eggs, 1 dozen $2.66
Cheddar Cheese, 24 count $2.48
Milk, 2 l $1.77
Vegetarian Weekly Meal Plan on a Budget
Now that we have a list of common items for your vegetarian grocery list on a budget, let’s get to a fun, easy and delicious meal plan for the week! Many of these often make it to my own meal plan every week!
Even though some vegetarians do eat eggs and cheese, for simplicity, I’ve left these recipes out from the line up. Feel free to add what you love to your own vegan meal plan!
Breakfasts
Sunday – Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bowl
Monday – Breakfast Smoothie
Tuesday – Pancakes and fruit bowl
Wednesday – Vegetable Fritters
Thursday – Banana Bread
Friday – Breakfast Muffins
Saturday – Hash browns
Lunches
Leftovers from Dinner the night before
Dinners
Sunday – Black Bean Tacos
Monday – Tofu & Broccoli with Jasmine Rice
Tuesday – Vegetable Soup
Wednesday – Stir Fry Veggies & Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Thursday – Burgers (with a vege burger patty)
Friday – Spaghetti & “meatballs” (meatballs made with veggies)
Saturday – Falafel Stuffed Peppers
Other Popular Vegetarian Foods & Snacks
Refried Beans
Black Bean Burgers
Vegetable Broth
Vegan Ice Cream
Vegan Protein Shake
Salad Dressings
Top Tips for Reducing your Vegetarian Grocery Bill
When you’re on a budget and pinchin’ pennies, there are many ways to lower your grocery bill and increase your savings. Using a combination of these tips and tricks will give you the best bang for your buck when it comes to shopping for your vegan diet.
Always Meal Plan
Heading to the grocery without meal planning is a very bad idea. Trust me. This is the easiest way to overbuy and overspend. If you find yourself throwing out rotted vegetables more often than you’d like, consider creating a weekly meal plan to save money and prevent food waste.
Choose budget-friendly meal ideas that your family will love and enjoy. But also make sure that they’re quick and easy, so that you’re not running to the fast food restaurant from the dread of a long evening in the kitchen!
Once your meals are planned, you can create your grocery list based on the ingredients you’ll need.
Have One Designated Grocery Shopping Day
Choose one day as your grocery shopping day. You already know how easy it is to spend money once you step foot into the grocery store.
Having one designated day reduces impulse purchases throughout the week, and from several visits.
Use Online Shopping & Select Delivery or Pick-up
Even better, utilize online shopping when possible. This is a must when you’re trying to eliminate the temptation of random purchases, and doing this helps you stick to your budget.
Buy Generic Brands
Believe it or not, many times the generic brands are just as good as all the name brand products. If you’re trying to cut down on your grocery bill, this tip will actually make a huge difference!
In fact, many of the items listed on this vegetarian grocery list on a budget are generic store brands that I swear by!
Never Grocery Shop While Hungry
If you do need to shop in-store, remember to eat before you go. Experts say that grocery shopping while hungry actually causes you to overshop and overspend.
So, if you’re on a budget and watching your coins, you’ll surely want to grab a bite before your next grocery shopping trip!
Use Cash Back Apps or Coupons
Coupon codes and cash back apps can save you hundreds of dollars a year! Sometimes it’s as simple as scanning and uploading your receipt to the app and receiving free cash back immediately!
This can now be used to save even more money during next week’s grocery shopping trip!
Additional Information on Filling a Vegetarian Grocery List on a Budget – FAQs
How to shop cheap as a vegetarian?
The key to shopping cheap as a vegetarian is sticking to budget store brands, and purchasing items with a longer shelf life.
Canned foods and frozen vegetables are not only cheaper, but can also stay a while, and are quick and easier to cook.
If you’re a vegetarian on a budget, you’ll also want to buy local fresh fruits and fresh produce that are in season. These have a significantly lower price tag than their foreign (exported) counterparts, and those that are out of season.
Uncooked beans, pastas and grains also have a long shelf life and are easy on the pockets.
How to grocery shop cheap on a budget vegan?
Along with all the other given tips, as a vegan on a budget, you should be sticking to a basic vegan grocery list instead of splurging on luxuries.
A typical vegan meal plan on a budget consists of items such as seasonal fruit and vegetables, dried or canned beans, rice, bread, oats, potatoes, pasta and grains.
Does being a vegan save you money?
Statistics show that a vegan diet is cheaper than other diets because it eliminates animal products from your grocery list.
This doesn’t mean that vegan diets are cheap. However, compared to most other diets, vegans can end up saving hundreds of dollars because of their plant-based diets.
Related Posts to Vegetarian Grocery List on a Budget
The Super Cheap $18 per Week Meal Plan for when Money is Tight
Affordable Walmart Weekly Meal Plan ($68 for a Family of Four)
12 Budget-friendly $1 per Person Recipes for Tight Budgets
Final Thoughts on Filling a Vegetarian Grocery List on a Budget
Eating as a vegetarian can be exciting and delicious without putting a strain on your pockets! Remember to stick to your budget, choose cheaper brands and shop for items with a longer shelf life.
Small habits like saving coupons or uploading your receipts to a cash back app can save you hundreds of dollars!
Do you have any other tips for creating a cheap vegan grocery list? Share with us in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you!
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