I'm the girl that knows the price of natural peanut butter at nine different grocery stores.
I'm frugal. There, I said it. Being the compulsive grocery shopper that I am means that if I didn't navigate the aisles with some sort of financial prudence, I would most definitely not be able to afford raw organic cacao and hemp protein. No sir-eee.
I've partnered up with my friends at Whole Foods Upper Arlington to share with you my favorite value items as well as a few cost-effective tips for being supermarket savvy. Now I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. Whole Foods 365 Value Brand is the bees knees. A pound of organic whole-wheat spaghetti for $1.99? A liter of extra virgin olive oil for $6.99? I tell you no lie. There are tons and tons of high quality natural and organic items that you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for.
Because lezbehonest, a trip to the grocery store shouldn't cost the equivalent of a car payment. Or forty-two Chipotle burrito bowls. Lettuce all shop smarter, not harder.
Below are some of my all-time favorite 365 Everyday Value items:
stevia extract $6.99 // sliced beets $.89 // organic whole leaf frozen spinach $2.99 // frozen whole strawberries $1.89 // natural peanut butter $2.49// organic frozen three pepper blend $2.99 // organic reduced-fat and sodium popcorn $2.29 // bulk bins // canned pumpkin $1.29// organic extra firm tofu $1.99 // extra virgin olive oil $6.99//organic corn tortillas $1.49 // wild-caught tuna $1.69 // bulk spices // organic vegetable broth $2.19 // organic whole wheat spaghetti $1.99
Now let's chat about some money-saving tips!
1. Make a list and stick to it. As delish as those trendy new gluten-free-kale-spinach-sweet-potato-quinoa-bean-chips look, they're likely pretty pricey and far from a necessity. That's not to say you're not allowed to splurge on a fun new snack here and there, but making a list ahead of time will drastically reduce impulse buys like chocolate covered kale chips.
2. Buy in bulk. I've said it before and I'm gonna say it again. Whole Foods has loads of grains, dried beans, dried fruit, spices, etc. available in their bulk section and theyr're super affordable. One time I needed dried mustard for a recipe and didn't want to buy a whole container of it so I put a couple teaspoons in a baggie and guess what? It was free! Didn't even weigh enough to cost anything. Winning! Other items I buy in bulk include nutritional yeast, quinoa, steel-cut oatmeal, and medjool dates. You can also get volume discounts if you buy more than a case of a particular item.
3. Shop the sales. It may sounds obvious, but be sure to stock up when you notice your favorite items are on sale! I'm that girl that will buy five packages of crackers when they're a dollar off. You can also peruse the sales flyer before you shop so don't miss out on any deals. I subscribe to the Whole Foods Market news email newsletter which outlines all of the sales as well.
4. Clip coupons. There is always a coupon or three lingering in my wallet. You can even print coupons from The Whole Deal value guide online before you shop if you want to plan your meals around the coupons. The Whole Deal is always in print in stores, too.
5. Eat more plants. Load up on super cheap nutritional superstars like beans, lentils, oats, brown rice, and fresh or frozen fruits/veggies. Eating more whole, unprocessed foods and shying away from pricey packaged ones will boost your body and your bank account.
Join me and a Whole Foods expert for the next Healthy Eating on a Budget tour and tasting on Wednesday, April 1st at 6:30pm at Whole Foods Market Upper Arlington! We'll be sharing our strategies for planning shopping trips, in addition to tactics for easy batch-cooking and our top choices for simple, fresh, and delicious recipes. You’ll go home with lots of knowledge, a handful of coupons and a few goodies. Register by calling Customer Service at Whole Foods Market 614-481-3400.
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Halsted says
I always try to buy in bulk and I have learned the hard way about making a list and sticking to it. Great tips for saving money!
Alexis says
Buying in bulk is key, fo sho.
Halsted says
I always try to buy in bulk and I have learned the hard way about making a list and sticking to it. Great tips for saving money!
Alexis says
Buying in bulk is key, fo sho.
Hollie says
I really enjoyed this post. Eating healthy does not have to be expensive at all. Like you, I stick to a list. It makes it so much easier to stay in budget.
Alexis says
I'm thrilled it spoke to you, Hollie!
Hollie says
I really enjoyed this post. Eating healthy does not have to be expensive at all. Like you, I stick to a list. It makes it so much easier to stay in budget.
Alexis says
I'm thrilled it spoke to you, Hollie!
Miss Polkadot says
... and here I was feeling crazy for knowing the price differences of my staples at different stores ;). Thanks for making me feel less weird. More often than not we're really not just talking a few cents so hey, I can totally save using my grocery shopping skills. Hm ... maybe I should turn that into a book and sell it ...
We don't have Whole Foods over here - my jealousy knows no limits - but your #1, 3 and 5 are applicable for pretty much every [health food] store over here, too. I wish some people would stop assuming you had to be made of money to afford eating healthy or include some organic foods in your diet.
Alexis says
You are not alone, my love! I would totally buy your book by the way.
Miss Polkadot says
... and here I was feeling crazy for knowing the price differences of my staples at different stores ;). Thanks for making me feel less weird. More often than not we're really not just talking a few cents so hey, I can totally save using my grocery shopping skills. Hm ... maybe I should turn that into a book and sell it ...
We don't have Whole Foods over here - my jealousy knows no limits - but your #1, 3 and 5 are applicable for pretty much every [health food] store over here, too. I wish some people would stop assuming you had to be made of money to afford eating healthy or include some organic foods in your diet.
Alexis says
You are not alone, my love! I would totally buy your book by the way.