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If you are wondering where to buy vegan keto foods, this guide breaks down where to find common low-carb plant-based ingredients in regular grocery stores, specialty markets, online shops and even the pharmacy or supplement aisle.
Hi friends! This is a question I’ve seen pop up a lot lately, so I thought I’d answer all the variations in one central place to make it easier on everyone. When you first start vegan keto, especially after eating a non-keto/paleo/low carb diet, there are a lot of ingredients that may be unfamiliar and that you haven’t purchased before. There are also ingredients which may not be where you think they should be (I’m looking at you, lupini beans). So, for all of you wondering where I buy all the less-common ingredients for my recipes, here we go!
Quick Vegan Keto Shopping Guide
- Produce/refrigerated section: tofu, tempeh, shirataki noodles, fresh vegetables, herbs and some vegan cheeses.
- International foods aisle: lupini beans, kelp noodles, seaweed snacks, curry pastes and specialty low-carb ingredients.
- Baking aisle: coconut flour, almond flour, sweeteners, cocoa powder and extracts.
- Natural foods aisle: hemp hearts, chia seeds, flax, nut butters, coconut milk and protein powders.
- Supplements/pharmacy section: psyllium husk and some fiber products.
- Online: harder-to-find pantry staples, bulk seeds, protein powders and specialty noodles.
Where to Find Common Vegan Keto Ingredients
| Ingredient | Where to find it | What to look for | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirataki noodles | Produce or refrigerated vegan section | Plain noodles with very low net carbs | Noodle bowls, ramen, stir-fries |
| Lupini beans | Italian imports, Kosher foods or international aisle | Brined jars or pouches with low net carbs | Snacks, salads, bowls |
| Kelp noodles | Whole Foods, Asian markets or online | Plain kelp noodles without added sugars | Pad thai, cold noodle salads |
| Psyllium husk | Pharmacy, supplement aisle or online | Plain psyllium with no added sugar or flavor | Vegan keto baking and breads |
| Freeze-dried fruit | Trail mix/dried fruit aisle, Trader Joe’s, Target or online | Unsweetened fruit | Fat bombs, toppings, flavoring |
| Hemp hearts | Natural foods aisle or online | Plain shelled hemp seeds | Noatmeal, smoothies, salads |
A quick note – most of this stuff is available at Whole Foods, but the prices there can be a bit steep on these types of items. So, I tend to avoid buying them there unless there aren’t other options. Also, most of these items are regularly available for a great price at my local grocery store (Market Basket, for those of you in New England).
It’s also worth noting that no one is sponsoring this post in any way, shape or form. Any brands mentioned are just for information, and because I like them. There are also a few Amazon affiliate links, which won’t cost you anything extra but do help to keep this site up and running. :)
For protein powders, check out this low-carb vegan protein powder guide and for mock meats, look no further than this low-carb vegan meat substitutes guide! You may also find The Ultimate Vegan Keto Shopping List, My Favorite Sources of Plant-Based Protein for Vegan Keto and My Vegan Keto Essentials helpful.
I’ll be updating this post as I receive more questions, so if you’re curious about a particular ingredient, let me know in the comments!
Shirataki Noodles
If you follow me on IG, you’ll know that I really, really like shirataki noodles. I know they’re not for everyone, but I’ve been enjoying them for almost 7 years and find they really hit the spot for me in noodle dishes.
Anyway, I almost always buy these at my local grocery store. They’re almost always in the produce section, usually hanging out with tofu, some mock meats, and other veg-friendly items. My go-to brand is House Foods – they make a bunch of different varieties and shapes.
Lupini Beans
I always buy lupini beans at my normal grocery store. In fact, most of the stores near me carry them. Lupini beans can be frustrating to track down in the store, because they aren’t often where you’d expect them to be. Instead of being in the section with the beans, I tend to find them in the following places:
- Italian imports
- Central American imports
- Kosher foods
It’s also worth noting that lupini beans aren’t sold canned like most other beans, but are brined in jars. The brand I buy most often is Levant, from the Kosher area of the store.
I’ve also seen them (rarely) packaged in pouches with more paleo-themed snacks, despite not being paleo.
Kelp Noodles
I can always find these at my local Whole Foods, but that’s the only place that seems to carry them regularly. They’re in the section with all the Asian ingredients. You can also find them at some Asian specialty stores.
Psyllium husk
Fun fact: psyllium is the main ingredient in a lot of fiber supplements, like Metamucil. Because of this, it’s more of a supplement than a food ingredient in the eyes of grocery chains, so usually psyllium husks are actually found in the pharmacy section. So, if your grocery store has a supplements section, it will likely be there.
You can also find plain psyllium (be sure that it has no added flavor or sweeteners!) at drugstores and even in the little pharmacy area in Target. I typically just buy mine on Amazon, though.
I prefer buying whole psyllium husk to the powder, as I find the powder clumps more easily, which can throw off baked goods and is really unpleasant to bite into…
Freeze Dried Fruit
This is another item that’s just regularly sold at my grocery store, but is also available at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and even Target. This is usually merchandised with the trail mixes, nuts, seeds and other dried fruits. I like using freeze dried fruits in things like fat bombs because they don’t add any additional moisture to the recipe, and they can be store for much longer than fresh fruit.
Hemp Hearts
This is another Amazon purchase for me. Even though they’re widely available in grocery stores (usually with the health foods or the Bob’s Red Mill products), I find Amazon has the best prices, and I have them set to be delivered every month.
The brand I use the most is Manitoba Harvest, but I also like the Bob’s Red Mill variety.
What to Check on Vegan Keto Food Labels
- Added sugar: watch for cane sugar, syrup, dextrose and sweetened sauces.
- Net carbs per serving: subtract fiber from total carbohydrates, but pay attention to serving size.
- Hidden dairy or egg: some low-carb and keto products are not vegan.
- Protein-to-carb ratio: higher-protein, lower-carb options are usually more useful for vegan keto.
- Realistic servings: some labels look low-carb because the serving size is tiny.
Where to Buy Vegan Keto Foods FAQ
What vegan keto foods should I buy first?
Start with versatile staples like tofu, tempeh, hemp hearts, chia seeds, flax, low-carb vegetables, coconut milk, tahini, nut or seed butters, shirataki noodles and lupini beans.
Can I find vegan keto foods at regular grocery stores?
Yes. Many regular grocery stores carry tofu, tempeh, shirataki noodles, hemp hearts, chia seeds, flax, low-carb vegetables, coconut milk and nut or seed butters.
What pantry staples do I need for vegan keto?
Useful vegan keto pantry staples include hemp hearts, chia seeds, flax, coconut milk, coconut flour, almond flour, psyllium husk, nutritional yeast, tahini, nut or seed butters and low-carb sweeteners.
Where do I find lupini beans?
Look for lupini beans in Italian imports, Kosher foods, Central American imports or specialty snack sections. They are often sold brined in jars rather than canned.
Are shirataki noodles vegan keto?
Most plain shirataki noodles are vegan and very low in net carbs. Always check labels for added ingredients or sauces.