If you really want to order something from the internet, the two food items I’d encourage you to try are  Dixie Diner’s “beef not/chicken not” broth and nutritional yeast.  The Dixie Diner broth is all vegan, does NOT contain salt and lasts a long time.  Here’s the main website:  http://www.dixiediner.com/home.php   Go to ‘shop’, ‘products’, and on the left, ‘broths.’ 

 

Nutritional yeast is also something which may not be readily available in smaller local stores.  Nutritional yeast is  not the same as brewers yeast.  (See Recipe Ingredients).  Nutritional yeast is a great ingredient for anyone interested in plant-based cooking.  it is low in processing and has a ‘cheesy’ taste.  Some brands are also high in vitamin B12.  In addition to a larger container for cooking, we always keep some in a shaker for easy and ready use at our table.  

 

As for basic cookbooks using inexpensive and easy to find ingredients, try Vegan on the Cheap by Robin Robertson, Vegan on $4 a Day by Ellen Jaffe Jones, or Unprocessed by Chef AJ.

 

Weather or not you buy anything online, I encourage you to focus on eating as many whole foods as you can - grains (brown rice, quinoa, etc.), beans and other legumes of all types plus lots of veggies and fruit.  These foods are the cheapest, healthiest and easiest to find.   Make lots of salads using all kinds of veggies, beans, grains, fruits, maybe a few nuts and seeds.  Make pots of soup and stews using these same food groups.