Whole Foods…Whole Paycheck…a foodie’s fantasy…call it what you will.
Whole Foods may be a bit on the pricey side, but hidden among the luxurious thirteen dollar jars of coconut almond butter speckled with gold and three dollar organic red bell peppers, there are some serious bargains. Speaking of nut butter, Justin’s is currently two dollars off, so I obviously had to get a jar of maple almond butter. Ridiculously good, people.
I was not compensated in any way for this post. I simply love the Moocho app and wanted to share it with you all! As always, all opinions are my own.
I’ve been at Whole Foods a lot recently since the Moocho app has been giving away free money in groceries left and right. Have you heard of Moocho? If not, you’re about to get excited. Pay with your phone. Get deals. Earn free stuff instantly. Yes, please.
Warning: this is directed toward people who live in Columbus, since those are the restaurants that Moocho is coordinated with. Basically Moocho lets you pay without needing your card, meaning you can walk in without your clunky wallet. First you need to download the app and add your card information. No worries–it’s totally safe and you won’t get charged, I promise. When you go to checkout, simply hit “Tap to Pay” on the Moocho app and your name will appear on the register so the cashier can complete the sale. If you don’t have an iPhone or Android, you can just open Moocho on your mobile browser or sign up for text to pay.
Moocho is available on a few campuses throughout the country, and ever since I got the app, I’ve been beyond obsessed. It’s totally FREE, and you get $10 every time you spend $100 at Whole Foods Upper Arlington. They also have deals for Aladdin’s, Cold Stone, Phat Wraps, Big Bar, McDonald’s on High, Hangover Easy, Grafitti Burger, Pita Pit, BD’s Mongolian Grill, Cazuela’s and more places near campus. You don’t even have to be an OSU student to get the app!!
Moral of the story: if you live in Columbus, get your butt to Upper Arlington Whole foods for your $10 of free groceries. The Moocho booth will be there Friday from 4pm-8pm and Saturday- Sunday from 11am-7pm. If you get the app on your phone now, you’ll get $5 just for signing up. I mean who doesn’t love free money? Let’s mooch!
Now back to Whole Foods. I apologize ahead of time for these crappy pictures…let’s blame it on the dreary weather, shall we? Here are some of my fave staples that won’t break the bank. You’ll notice lots of them are 365 brand, which is Whole Food’s house brand. Items labeled with this brand are just as cheap (if not cheaper) than any other grocery store.
100% Whole Wheat Tortillas
Nothing funky, just good old 100% whole wheat flour and a few other necessary ingredients. Make sure to store them in the fridge since they don’t have preservatives. The best part is that they only cost $1.99! I love them smeared with peanut butter and jelly and sprinkled with chia seeds, then allllll rolled up. Lately I’ve been really digging the scrambled egg, avocado, salsa and chia seed combo. Um, as if you haven’t noticed, I’ve been sprinkling chia seeds on everything. Why not?
Bulk Bin Items
Speaking of chia seeds…I’m a HUGE fan of the bulk bins. You only get as much as you want and you avoid all that bulky packaging, plus you can store them in cute Mason jars. Items I regularly purchase in bulk include chia seeds, Medjool dates, nutritional yeast, goji berries, almonds, pumpkin seeds and buckwheat groats. I also love getting a little baggie of those spices that I don’t use all the time. Last month I got a baggie of cloves for only fifteen cents! And one time my bay leaves literally weighed nothing so they were free! Go bulk or go home.
Organic Popcorn
This popcorn is low in fat and calories but tastes AMAZING. I love that it’s free of icky chemicals and preservatives, unlike the microwave kind. Popcorn is a whole grain that’s loaded with antioxidants, so get snacking! This big bag only costs $1.99.
Prepared Whole Wheat Pizza Crust
Let’s be real…I really have no desire to make whole wheat pizza dough from scratch. Making homemade pizza is a breeze with this baby. Choosing toppings is super fun and you’ll save lots of mula making it at home. My fave is obviously this summer sweet corn and zucchini pizza. Make it now and thank me later. These bad boys will set you back $4.99 (the package comes with two crusts).
Canned Beans
Who could pass up an 89 cent can of beans? Not me.
Organic Valley Soy Creamer
There’s nothing worse than fat free “creamer” made of partially hydrogenated oils (aka trans fat), artificial flavors and corn syrup solids. Processed soy is a scary thing, but this is made simply from whole organic soybeans. I adore soymilk in my coffee, but since I dont drink it on a regular basis, I love having this creamer on hand instead. It’s also a wonderful addition to add creaminess to pasta dishes! This creamer + a splash of white wine + sautéed mushrooms over whole wheat pasta = heaven on Earth. It’s not sweet at all, which I love. Once again, nothing funky! It’s currently on sale for $2.00.
Puffed Kamut
This only has one ingredient: kamut! Never heard of it? It’s just an ancient variety of wheat that tastes nutty and yummy, especially when all puffed up. A cup has a mere 50 calories and 3 grams or protein and fiber. I LOVE it with ice cold unsweetened vanilla almond milk and a dash of cinnamon for a bedtime snack. Note: this would never fill me up for breakfast…that’s why I save it for snack time. And it only costs $1.99!
What are you fave Whole Foods goodies? Tell me tell me!
Oh Whole Foods. Such a love/hate relationship with that place. But mostly love, lets be honest. You’re right though, if you shop smart…it doesn’t always have to cost a lot. I go there for the non-dairy yogurts like So Delicious and Green Valley Organic, which aren’t exactly cheap but I just love them. 365 brand is awesome for sure. Definitely looking for those pizza crusts next time.
Totally a love/hate relationship. Totally wish I could shop there exclusively but I definitely can’t!! I’ll stick to the 365 brand for now 🙂
Oh Whole Foods. Such a love/hate relationship with that place. But mostly love, lets be honest. You’re right though, if you shop smart…it doesn’t always have to cost a lot. I go there for the non-dairy yogurts like So Delicious and Green Valley Organic, which aren’t exactly cheap but I just love them. 365 brand is awesome for sure. Definitely looking for those pizza crusts next time.
Totally a love/hate relationship. Totally wish I could shop there exclusively but I definitely can’t!! I’ll stick to the 365 brand for now 🙂
I’ve actually only been to Whole Foods one time. When I went there I wasn’t sure what to get or what was good, so this list is perfect and gives me some great ideas!
Hope this list will help on your next shopping trip, Holly 🙂
I’ve actually only been to Whole Foods one time. When I went there I wasn’t sure what to get or what was good, so this list is perfect and gives me some great ideas!
Hope this list will help on your next shopping trip, Holly 🙂
Ummm I totally got the maple almond butter the other day too! I felt like I was obligated since it was on sale. Makes sense, right? As if $8 for a jar of almond butter isn’t riduculous at all. More like a steal!
Hahah nice! Whenever something is on sale I’m like 10 times more likely to buy it…good marketing on their end!
Ummm I totally got the maple almond butter the other day too! I felt like I was obligated since it was on sale. Makes sense, right? As if $8 for a jar of almond butter isn’t riduculous at all. More like a steal!
Hahah nice! Whenever something is on sale I’m like 10 times more likely to buy it…good marketing on their end!
Whole Foods like you said is on a very pricey side for me esp when you need to feed a hungry bunch and organic produce is not hard to afford and sometimes justify for me. I am a TJ and farmers market kind of person..but their bulk bin is just amazing. I always come home with new products from there though 🙂 thanks for sharing new finds 🙂
I agree! The organic produce there is quite pricey…but I love stocking up on essentials at the bulk bins!
Whole Foods like you said is on a very pricey side for me esp when you need to feed a hungry bunch and organic produce is not hard to afford and sometimes justify for me. I am a TJ and farmers market kind of person..but their bulk bin is just amazing. I always come home with new products from there though 🙂 thanks for sharing new finds 🙂
I agree! The organic produce there is quite pricey…but I love stocking up on essentials at the bulk bins!
I meant to say hard to afford**
I meant to say hard to afford**
Such a cool app! I wish they had one like that where I live. I share the same feelings about Whole Foods – I absolutely love it for some things and hate to love it for others. My favorite finds are the bulk bins like you said and I find they actually have really good prices on tubs of feta/blue/Parmesan cheese (The 365 brand is where it’s at.), like $2-3. I also love their hot foods/salad bar and prepared foods counters for healthier “fast-food” options. I think the prices are comparable to eating out (maybe not MacDonalds or BK), but are much healthier alternatives.
I agree! I’ve been loving this roasted veggie sandwhich with spicy hummus that they have. SO good! Great tips on the cheese, too 🙂
Such a cool app! I wish they had one like that where I live. I share the same feelings about Whole Foods – I absolutely love it for some things and hate to love it for others. My favorite finds are the bulk bins like you said and I find they actually have really good prices on tubs of feta/blue/Parmesan cheese (The 365 brand is where it’s at.), like $2-3. I also love their hot foods/salad bar and prepared foods counters for healthier “fast-food” options. I think the prices are comparable to eating out (maybe not MacDonalds or BK), but are much healthier alternatives.
I agree! I’ve been loving this roasted veggie sandwhich with spicy hummus that they have. SO good! Great tips on the cheese, too 🙂
Love this, must try their popcorn! Yes WF can suck my wallet dry, but only when I let it. The 365 brand is my JAM and their whole deal coupons! I picked up the cliff fruit and nut kit bars for 50 cents a pop yesterday!! Oh and vega is on sale this month 🙂
Nice!! Great to know that vega is on sale! Which one do you buy?
Love this, must try their popcorn! Yes WF can suck my wallet dry, but only when I let it. The 365 brand is my JAM and their whole deal coupons! I picked up the cliff fruit and nut kit bars for 50 cents a pop yesterday!! Oh and vega is on sale this month 🙂
Nice!! Great to know that vega is on sale! Which one do you buy?
Great post! I almost just dropped everything to run to Whole Foods and pick up Justin’s AB…and then I remembered I live in Canada now and they don’t sell Justin’s at the Whole Foods here 🙁
Wahhhh that’s so sad! Buy it online maybe??
Great post! I almost just dropped everything to run to Whole Foods and pick up Justin’s AB…and then I remembered I live in Canada now and they don’t sell Justin’s at the Whole Foods here 🙁
Wahhhh that’s so sad! Buy it online maybe??
Cool app and finds. I am literally going to sprint to the store now and buy all the maple almond butter now- that stuff MUST have crack in it. There is just no other explanation haha
It definitely has crack in it. I eat it by the spoonful and have a VERY hard time putting the spoon down.
Cool app and finds. I am literally going to sprint to the store now and buy all the maple almond butter now- that stuff MUST have crack in it. There is just no other explanation haha
It definitely has crack in it. I eat it by the spoonful and have a VERY hard time putting the spoon down.
I do pretty much all of my shopping at whole foods! The quality is worth the added cost.
I do pretty much all of my shopping at whole foods! The quality is worth the added cost.
STOP RIGHT NOW you live in Ohio?! I was up there all summer! Why didn’t I find your blog sooner?!?! P.S. Whole Paycheck… I die. Luckily the nearest Whole Foods is about 30 minutes from me so I’m not tempted by all the sparking cucumbers and nut butters dripping with diamonds that often.
I do! Ahhh so fun that you were here this summer! Nut butter dripping with diamonds…I need.
STOP RIGHT NOW you live in Ohio?! I was up there all summer! Why didn’t I find your blog sooner?!?! P.S. Whole Paycheck… I die. Luckily the nearest Whole Foods is about 30 minutes from me so I’m not tempted by all the sparking cucumbers and nut butters dripping with diamonds that often.
I do! Ahhh so fun that you were here this summer! Nut butter dripping with diamonds…I need.
Man this app sounds amazing- love the idea of getting compensated to shop at Whole Foods ;)! I sure miss WF when I’m in Mumbai! Aside from their salad/hot bar, I love the “grind your own” nut butter section. Freshly made hazelnut butter? Yes please! If you haven’t tried, you must- it’s too.die.for!
OMG– I’ve definitely seen the grind your own almond, peanut and cashew butter but I’ve never seen hazelnut!!
Man this app sounds amazing- love the idea of getting compensated to shop at Whole Foods ;)! I sure miss WF when I’m in Mumbai! Aside from their salad/hot bar, I love the “grind your own” nut butter section. Freshly made hazelnut butter? Yes please! If you haven’t tried, you must- it’s too.die.for!
OMG– I’ve definitely seen the grind your own almond, peanut and cashew butter but I’ve never seen hazelnut!!
I LOVE puffed kamut!! I top my overnight oats with it!
Great idea! I’m totally trying that.
I LOVE puffed kamut!! I top my overnight oats with it!
Great idea! I’m totally trying that.
Whole Foods is my guilty pleasure–I shop there almost every week, but I have to avoid some aisles so I don’t completely blow my budget! I love that they have some great convenience foods that are actually healthy and their bulk section is a lifesaver for me. It’s great being able to stock up on the exact amount of spices, flours and nuts that I need without spending a lot, and then I can try new things all the time!
I agree! It’s so nice being able to try a teeny bit of a spice, flour or nut and then get more next time if you end up loving it!
Whole Foods is my guilty pleasure–I shop there almost every week, but I have to avoid some aisles so I don’t completely blow my budget! I love that they have some great convenience foods that are actually healthy and their bulk section is a lifesaver for me. It’s great being able to stock up on the exact amount of spices, flours and nuts that I need without spending a lot, and then I can try new things all the time!
I agree! It’s so nice being able to try a teeny bit of a spice, flour or nut and then get more next time if you end up loving it!
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