My dreams of wealth aren't about diamonds or fancy cars. My fantasy is this: I do all my shopping at Whole Foods and I'm never shocked when the cashier tells me the total. As it is, I only occasionally shop at Whole Foods because I'm often shocked by the total, so when I saw a promotion from the chain claiming "For about $99 you can stock a healthier pantry!" I was skeptical — but also curious. Could I purchase everything on their long list of items at my local Whole Foods for under $100? I grabbed my shopping bags and headed to the store to find out.
The Approach
It's no secret that the key to saving money at Whole Foods is ignoring the fancy name brand items and filling your basket with items from the bulk bins and the store's private label 365 Everyday Value brand. This is the strategy the store recommends for its pantry list and it paid off; nearly all the items I purchased were in the $2-$3 range. I couldn't find the 365 brand tahini at my store and at $8.99, the cheapest alternative ended up being the most expensive item on my shopping list. I also couldn't find an inexpensive option for the arame seaweed, only a 1.75-ounce bag for $10.99, so that was the one item on the list I skipped. (I'm hoping Whole Foods has a less expensive option that my store doesn't carry.)The List
Here are the 38 items that were on my list:• 4 lbs dried beans (pinto, white, black & lentils)
• 4 15-oz cans no-salt-added beans (kidney, pinto, black, garbanzo)
• 4 lbs whole grains (1 quinoa, 1 pearled barley, 2 long-grain brown rice)
• 2 lbs whole-wheat pasta of your choice
• 2 lbs rolled and/or steel-cut oats
• 1 6-oz can tomato paste
• 2 14.5-oz cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes
• 1 32-oz box low-sodium organic vegetable broth
• 1 32-oz box organic unsweetened soymilk
• 1 32-oz box organic unsweetened almondmilk
• 1 14-oz can organic lite coconut milk
• 1 8-oz pkg organic mellow white miso
• 1 2-oz pkg arame sea vegetable
• 1 16-oz jar tahini (ground sesame seed butter)
• 1 18-oz jar organic no-salt-added peanut or almond butter
• 8 oz each organic raw almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds
• 8 oz each organic unsulfured apricots, dates and raisins
• 1 8-oz squeeze bottle organic Dijon mustard
• 1 32-oz bottle organic apple cider vinegar
• 1 6-oz bottle Bragg Liquid Aminos
• 1 10-oz bottle reduced-sodium tamari soy sauce
The Total
I'll admit I was nervous as the cashier was scanning my items. I was at a store just outside of Los Angeles, where I assume the prices are on the higher end of what Whole Foods offers. But when the total came in, I was shocked — in a good way, for once! It was $93.52, well under the $99 total Whole Foods promised. (If I had purchased the arame, the total would have been $104.51, but I suspect that I still could have gotten in under the $99 mark if my store stocked the 365 brand tahini.)
The Verdict
I'm always pleased with the quality of the bulk goods and 365 Everyday Value products at Whole Foods, and I would have a hard time finding another store in my area with an extensive selection of organic pantry goods at comparable prices. If you're looking to stock a healthier pantry with plenty of whole grains, legumes, nuts, dried fruits, and flavor-boosting seasonings, this list is a simple and affordable way to start.• See the list: Stock a Healthier Pantry at Whole Foods
Do these results surprise you? What pantry staples do you shop for at Whole Foods?
Related: How to Save Money by Shopping at Whole Foods
(Images: Anjali Prasertong)
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I'm curious as to how well the quantities in your grocery cart would have stacked up against the same $100 shopping list purchased at an average grocery store, especially if you aimed for similar quality (organic, unsulfered, low/no salt, etc).
@Bakingstone I have the same question!
But still this is good to know for when I finally move out of the parents house, how to stock my pantry!
In all honesty, I don't find Whole Foods THAT expensive. Yes, if you want to buy all brand names, it will add up very quickly. But, if you go for the store brand and buy bulk (as the writer did) and only splurge on what you really want, then I find it is reasonable. My local grocery store, Giant...is more expensive in some cases than Whole Foods.
This isn't all that shocking. I can get that same list of items at Trader Joes for significantly less. There is this view on Whole Foods that it is the holy grail of food stores and it's just not. I try to keep my Whole Foods visits saved for when I need really good produce and I can't get to a farmers market or a decent piece of meat. Anything that comes in a bag, box, or can I save for the more economical stores.
For most items, WF is cheaper than our local grocery, Raleys. But as the OP mentions, its when I go off my list that the bill tends to migrate upwards then again that happens at Raleys too. But, for many things-Trader Joes is far cheaper-especially for cheese and other specialty items.
I'm not in a hurry to support a company whose CEO disrespects our government and presidency by calling things like healthcare proposals, "fascism." Pass. http://goo.gl/97rPV
Yeah it's really just the prepared foods and specialty items that are very expensive. However there are other reasons to not shop at wholefoods, for instance the CEO's political beliefs!
GirlfriendinaCome, I was pretty exercised when I heard about the CEO's lobbying efforts, too. I've steered clear of WF since.
As for the bulk bins, let me provide a caution. I recommend that the MOMENT you bring items into your home you put them into glass jars with tight-fitting lids. In many parts of the country, pantry moths are a real issue. You bring them into your pantry in something you buy -- grains, beans, pasta, mixes, cereal, etc. And soon everything not sealed up tight is infested. A recent NPR program by our state extension service said bulk bin purchases are particularly rife with pantry moth infestations; this makes sense since the bins are, essentially, open. So an infestation in, say, barley, will quickly migrate to oats, quinoa and so forth.
So save those quart-sized jars for storing your bargains -- from Whole Foods or elsewhere. They won't prevent infestations in foods already infested when you buy them, but they are some defense against your infestations migrating.
Why even shop there? Surely there are other options where you live. Most grocery stores have organic sections these days, and local farmer's markets have organic produce. I see no reason to shop at a store whose owner possesses such repugnant political beliefs. In fact, why even give them any press at all?
There's a cheaper 365 brand tahini? I've never seen it. Maybe they're pulling one over on us....
Whole Foods may be cheaper for a few things, like tofu and butter, and it may be the only place I can find tahini (or you can find arame sea vegetable and white miso, probably), but I think everything else is still cheaper at Stop & Shop or, as others have mentioned, Trader Joe's.
I'm in total support of you, Lorielle. I refuse to shop at Whole Foods (in this arera they are affectionately called Whole Paycheck). Most of the items are available at Wegman's, and the prices are significantly cheaper, in my experience.
Don't have Wegman's? Move someplace that does. Seriously.
Why would you buy Tahini? It's clearly cheaper to make. All you need are sesame seeds and oil. Just toast the seeds, add the oil and blend. Simple. Salt, garlic and lemon juice are all optional.
Anything I purchase at Whole Foods has an additional price tag of a 150-mile round trip.
Totally agree with you concerning Wegmans. Best grocery store ever!!
I don't get Whole Foods. The first time I went in there, even the potatoes were imported. I live in Toronto and Ontario is rife with local produce so I don't see the need to bring in US produce when it can be grown here.
I realize this isn't different from regular grocers, but if you are branding and selling yourself with superior ethics, you can be held to such a standard.
Love Wegman's. Can we have a post about its wonders? Seriously--and I don't even live anywhere near a Wegman's!
I will shop at the new Whole Foods store just opened in my neighborhood. I agree with the CEO so I will support a store that shares my views and values.
So many Whole Food haters.
Too bad every business person I patron isnt in lock step with all my political beliefs. Im sure Wegman's etc and the Amish farmers are totally on board for universal healthcare.
Great to know that $99 can buy so much. A pantry definitely needs more than this but this is great. At $94 you could've added their $6 basic olive oil. It's cheapest olive oil I've found as is their butter at $2.80 lb( not organic but hormone free) as is their store brand grated parmesan under $3.
The one thing that really struck me about this list is that there is NO fresh produce. I agree, you can save money at WF if you stick to bulk items (and none of the other grocery stores in my area carry the selection of bulk items WF has -- I like to shop bulk for environmental reasons, to limit the packaging, but it is also generally cheaper). That said, this is extremely deceptive because you can't really have a healthy stocked kitchen if you aren't including fresh produce. And the cost of produce at WF is ridic.
I do buy bulk items at WF but, like others, find the political beliefs of the owner to be repugnant. I don't mind shopping from Amish farmers or others who don't share my beliefs as long as they are not using their proceeds to advocate for ideas I disagree with. That's the problem I have with the WF CEO ... not his repugnant beliefs, but the fact that he uses the money he makes from me to advocate for those beliefs.
I like going there for specialty stuff, but a can of beans? Why would I go there when theres a cheaper grocery much closer.
Plus, as others have mentioned, cutting wages while prices stay the same? Not okay with the CEO's views.
I think it's bizarre that so many commenters are claiming that Trader Joe's is cheap. My girlfriend wanted to get a couple items there a few weeks ago, and I decided to just do my entire grocery shopping there rather than go to another store. The bill ended up being $150, about twice what I'd normally spend for a week. I couldn't believe it. That place is a total rip-off.
Well, stocking a pantry generally refers to dry goods you can keep in the pantry for a long time, not fresh produce that you have to store in the refrigerator and use quickly. It isn't the same thing as
I can't have that much of a problem with the WF CEO because yes, his talk is bad, but WF employees get better benefits and job security than most other grocery stores, similar to Trader Joe's. His company policies are actually better for workers than most of the retail sector. And perhaps buying everything directly from local farmers is even better, but sometimes that's hard to do (e.g. farmer's market is only open 3 hours a week, farm-fresh produce is very expensive in less rural areas, and they don't sell stuff like grains, nuts, and butter).
The CEO of Whole Foods may be a jerk, but the company is so much more than him. Whole Foods has done a lot to promote healthy food in this country. They also have standards about artificial ingredients, animal cruelty, sustainability and employee compensation, all of which may make the food cost a bit more, but I support these ideas. I only want to buy sustainable salmon, so if it costs 25% more per pound, that's it. At least the fish is fresh at Whole Foods. It certainly isn't at Trader Joe's.
I don't like Trader Joe's, really don't get the love for that place. The food is not the same -- TJs allows artificial ingredients that Whole Foods does not. And they don't have good produce at all, it's definitely not top grade A produce and I don't like to buy everything in shrink wrap. TJs also doesn't stock everything like I would find in a regular grocery store, so if I plan on making something spinach manicotti, the only spinach TJs has was grown in China and I have to go somewhere else for the manicotti shells.
@sporadicus: the point of the post is to stock the pantry, not your fresh produce, cheese, meat, or meat substitutes. In other words, not the items on the perimeter, but the interior aisles.
i'm disappointed with Mackey's personal views, but, i am 100% sure that many of the services i utilize have leaders with viewpoints that differ from my own. battles must be chosen. first and foremost, i choose to offer healthy options for my family as long as i can afford to do so.
If you know what to buy, you'll be fine at any store. The danger comes in when you go without a list, or with a list but without the will to keep to it. For a little over $200, I can buy a month's worth of groceries at Trader Joe's to feed two people. I also don't buy organic foods and keep snacks to a minimum - maybe that's why I can save so much money. I tend not to go for the organic label - organic always costs $1-$2 more for the exact same thing, and I'd rather save my money. I am not yet convinced that the label "organic" is anything more than a marketing ploy.
As for fruits and veggies, I buy those either frozen at TJ's or fresh at the chinese market near me. Buying fresh at TJ's or Whole Foods is just too expensive. Especially WF. They are ridiculous. TJ's also has MUCH better prices on almond milk and cheese. Flowers as well.
I can also see how WF could be a good deal if you shop specials and their 365 line.
We don't have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's in our small city because our local stores are too much competition for them. We have wonderful local stores with lots of organic stuff, plus they are local so my money is going back into the local economy. I avoid chains. I comparison shop among my local places and I do routinely drop $100-200 at the Amish bulk food store every other month. It's amazing how cheaply you can get great food if you're willing to buy simple staples and make some things in your own kitchen.
Why would anyone choose to support a conglomerate that not only over-charges their customers but also contributes to repugnant social policies? Go to your local grocer or co-op.
Come to my neighborhood Harris Teeter and view the tired produce, questionable meat and poultry and please hold your nose if the fish counter window is opened on the customer's side. I prefer to shop in Whole Foods, thank you. I agree that the CEO is a growing problem for that company and he should be muzzled before customers mount a serious boycott of the stores.
I've never quite gotten WF. Between TJ and farmer's markets, I can get everything I need.
I splurge on Rancho Gordo beans but I will buy store brand and non-organic everything else (except for some produce). The problem is, WF doesn't always give you a choice. And I don't know how much this is "stocking" the pantry. It's clear the person only purchased one box of pasta - even if that made two or three meals, regular pasta (name brand, non-organic) on sale would be about $1. You could have two boxes of pasta for pretty much the price of one WF box.
And I think when you factor Amazon.com, you could probably get all of it for a lot less. WF and my regular grocery store charges $3.29 for soba noodles. Amazon charges about $2.33 per pack when you buy the 8-pack.
Keep in mind there are MANY places in this country that don't have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's within a few HUNDRED miles. That being said, their grocery stores most likely don't have a health market stocked with specialty items and organic produce. We should consider ourselves lucky to have access to fresh food, organic or not, at all.
As for stocking up at any store, this list is very helpful!
I've noticed that Whole Foods is a very different store in different parts of the country. Where I live in DC it's just a grocery store--nice, with a healthy and somewhat upscale, but really normal and the only grocery store even remotely nearby. For basics many times it is the same or slightly cheaper than Trader Joe's--they will have a special on organic milk and eggs, while TJs doesn't do that--and they are the same or better on a lot of essentials like beans and nuts. Where my mom lives in Orange County it's more of a Dean and Deluca--extremely upscale, extremely expensive. In the Seattle area it's more of a family store, with totally different prepared foods than I've seen anywhere else. That said, beware of the price per pound--some of the stuff in those bulk bins is much more expensive than stuff in packages, and vice versa.
It seems as though Whole Foods tries to fit itself into whatever is the best open niche in the local market, so if other grocery stores also have great produce and healthy options in your area, great! Now you also have a place to get crazy good cheese!
What is Whole Foods?
YES! I have an amazon subscription for the 8 pack of soba noodles. Such a better deal.
I always avoided Whole Foods because I thought it was a bunch of crazy hippie dippes who probably took the profits and put it into political funds that I disagree with. So many in the fresh produce world unfortunately have to take a Left of Lenin approach to everything so it's refreshing to see that Whole Foods isn't in the same camp.
I think once they come to Albany, NY (later this year I think) they will be on my list of places to check out! That said, I'm content with The Fresh Market as our occasional splurge outside our normal bulk purchases of ingredients.
I went to Trader Joes and seriously, it's nothing more than Aldi for people who think they are too good to shop at Aldi. Well, Aldi actually had some better items but it doesn't have the Trader Joes name on it.
Wegmans is fantastic, and my wife and I make a point to stop at them when we're on a road trip near one. It's not cheap but they have some stuff that our local places just don't stock. The closest we have is Hannaford and they are anything but cheap!
@pumaunicorn & @buttons_whims: I worded my last post badly. I do know that "stocking a pantry" refers to non-perishables. But I meant that the larger spirit of the post was deceptive -- ie, the post implies that you can shop affordably at WF (and note that it is basically testing out and then reaffirming a WF advertisement!), when in fact you simply can't. And of course, it is worded so there is nothing actually untrue. But the fact of the matter remains that most people cannot afford to eat healthily from WF, even if one could (if shopping very selectively and carefully) "stock a healthier pantry" from there.
Like I said, I do shop at WF for bulk items in spite of my disagreement with many of their business practices, because I don't have other options. But I guess my annoyance at lacking other options makes me especially annoyed at the way this post is presented.
If you're lucky enough to have a Sprouts nearby, you could likely half the bill in this post! I love playing my "receipt game" after I shop to find there are only 4-5 items on my list that were over $3 :) My husband and I shop once a week and get tons of relatively local (regional to local generally) produce and staples for about $85 (sometimes less!). And we eat TONS of fresh fruits and veg. We rarely shop anywhere else. Look up a location near you if you're in AZ, CA, UT, NV, CO, TX, NM, or OK (http://sprouts.com/stores).
@sporadicus: Yes, I was testing out a Whole Foods advertisement -- that was what I was curious about: was their claim true? And as it happens, they were basically correct.
I don't say anywhere in the article that you could do all your shopping at Whole Foods affordably. Instead, I said it is possible to stock a healthier pantry (i.e., nonperishable items) for under $100, which I found to be true. It's right in the title of the post -- no deception intended.
I took notice of the canned beans, too. I will never buy them again! Dried beans are the way to go. Cheaper & so much better in every way. And with my wonderful rice cooker, I cook the soaked beans without a thought of the pot ever burning. It's the best! bought this in 2009 for $120. I make brown rice, quinoa and beans. The best! Sanyo ECJ-HC55S 5½-cup Micro-Computerized Rice Cooker and Slow Cooker.
I just started making my own almond milk starting with raw almonds. Tres easy and cheaper. Here's one of many links about this: http://www.eatingrules.com/2012/10/how-to-make-almond-milk/
Tahini I get at a local place called Meditteranean Gourmet. Beirut tahini 32 ounces, $6.99
Great post!
@anjali: Yeah, my point was that the WF advertisement itself was deceptive (ie, yes, WF can be affordable if you purchase select limited items and only limit yourself to a small portion of what an actual healthy nutrient base should be, but who actually shops that way?) and that, by not pointing out that WF can only make claims of affordability by carefully selecting its language The Kitchn basically reproduced its advertisement for free ... but I seem to be the only one bothered by the ways in which carefully crafted linguistic distinctions can mask larger truths, so do carry on :)
I wish we had a coop in Omaha. Sure, we have an "indoor farmers market" that does a good job, but it's quite far out of the way for most people. And we have a locally owned shop, where you can buy wilted kale and the small bottle of sriracha for $6. And in the summer, we have a pretty rockin' farmers' market, but that only runs May-October.
For $2.50 I can get my kale at WF or HyVee, same price, I track it,...and I guarantee you it's going to be a longer-lasting, bigger bunch at WF. Want an onion that you don't have to peel two layers off of? I'm not going to Baker's for that. And the quality and price of the WF olive oil beat out anything carried at the other two. If I stay away from the prepared foods and meats at WF (having a vegetarian partner helps so I don't buy much at all) it comes out to be okay for me. If I know things are considerably cheaper at the HyVee (usually potatoes, herbs, and a few other veggies are) then it's on the way home and will add an extra ten minutes to my shopping. But for anything that I want to last me a while, WF is the way to go.
And really, you think the CEOs of other companies are great guys (or ladies)? I bet they aren't...they just aren't as outspoken...or aren't in a position that makes them as...let's say vulnerable...to that level of interest.
Whole Foods has higher quality standards than other grocery stores such as Trader Joe's. No artificial anything! Everything is all natural, Trader Joe's does not follow these standards. You get what you pay for. I never buy produce or any kind of meat from Trader Joe's because it's always terrible.
I'm curious to know - were those items on YOUR pantry list, or Whole Foods'?
Just wondering because most people I know would not care to stock tahini, arame, or miso, so it would be weird to me if those were the WF recommendations.
Also have to say holy crap is peanut butter with no salt disgusting. It tastes like paste. And watch out for "organic" brands that use non-sustainable palm oil as a stablizer.
That being said, every time I visit my local grocery (no Whole Foods, Wegmans, Trader Joe's, or Sprouts within less than an hour's drive, but an Adam's Fairacre Farms five minutes away - yay Hudson Valley!), whenever I "stock up" the pantry it usually ends up being about $75 for canned and dried beans, canned tomatoes, peanut butter and jam, frozen veggies, butter and cheese, condiments, and pasta. Occasionally I'll add some baking supplies, but that doesn't bring the price up much, even when I go organic.
I will agree that store brand is key. The Price Chopper store brand organic is sometimes cheaper than conventionally-grown brand name stuff!
They are really cheap for canned goods, dry products (pasta, rice, etc), frozen veggies, and specialty cheese but I've found their produce and meat overpriced.
I hadn't heard anything about this CEO hub bub (I'm currently living in Sweden) but after a little research, its evident that he may have his own PERSONAL beliefs but that doesn't necessarily translate into poor conditions for his employees or his company's role in the American food web.
Whole Foods offers classes (at most stores) to help their patrons shop the store in a more cost effective and practical manner.
There is also this "experiment" that was done that I found really interesting.
http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/02/challenge-buy-30-days-of-groceries-at-whole-foods-on-a-poverty-level-budget/
No, its not perfect, but I can appreciate the work they've done and the resources and options they provide. Its up to us to spend our money wisely once we walk in the door.
I live within walking distance of three WF markets. While as a corporation they are far from perfect, as a dairy-allergic celiac I will always appreciate WF for being food-intolerance-aware and going the extra mile to provide ingredient info for their prepared foods - it's just about the only ready-made takeout I can trust, and that to me is worth any extra cost. As others have mentioned, the 365 brand items are usually reasonably priced - two of my staples, almond butter and coconut oil, are the same price as Trader Joe's (and unlike TJ's, always in stock). Other items leave me baffled at the markup - why are the same eggs at WF a buck and a half more than at TJ's? So, I keep two lists and hit both stores in the same shopping trip - and feel very lucky that I have this option in my city.
I'm with Thrift at Home on this! I live in small city in a rural area and have pretty much the same shopping strategy. Lately, however, I've challenged myself to shop seasonally and keep a minimal pantry. I live by myself, so there's no reason to have so much food always on hand. I choose a few recipes to make every week, and then keep only a few basic staples on hand for on-the-fly meals. It keeps my kitchen tidy, and my grocery shopping focused. Oh yeah, and it keeps my grocery bill down : )
I'm curious about how Central Market stacks up-- it's owned by HEB and competes with Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. I used to shop there a lot when I lived near one in Fort Worth, and now that I'm in Seattle I confess I miss it terribly.
Somebody told me yesterday that there is, in fact, a Central Market near Seattle, but before I drive all the way up to Northgate I would love to hear some comparisons, if anyone has opinions?
I've found that WF prices in my area (Manhattan) are often lower than other area grocery stores, at least for the items I purchase. The store itself is also large, spacious (you can use a full-size grocery cart AND still have room to maneuver in the aisles!), well-lit and well-staffed... honestly, I'm okay paying a few cents more for my kale in order to have a more pleasant shopping experience within easy walking distance of my apartment.
While I most often buy produce, meat, and bulk bin items (WF is my only nearby option for bulk bins), I have noticed that the two "labeled" items I buy regularly (Almond Breeze Unsweetened Original, which can be ridiculously challenging to find, and Kashi Go Lean cereal) are $1 to $2 LESS at WF than other grocery stores. Small victories.
I buy basic ingredients, and shop the weekly sales religiously. It's a choice I've made - for me, a 5th floor walk-up is worth wholesome food I feel good about buying. I am a little tired of the eye-rolling from others who inquire about my shopping habits, but everyone seems to like coming over to my place for dinner!
If you can avoid the prepared foods aisle, and magazines, then Whole Foods is not more expensive than Wegmans.
It's true that basic foods are not expensive no matter where you shop, however, the idea that foods should be inexpensive puzzles me in two ways- why we need to cheapen something that shouldn't be cheapened and why we usually see food as a challenge to our waistlines and our pocketbooks before we see it as a way of supporting economies. If we get something for less than it should reasonably cost to produce or supply shouldn't we ask why? If you're not paying for, it who is? And if a single chain of stores capitalizes on their buying power to obliterate competition who suffers in the end? You get cheap tuna today but what about tomorrow? What will tuna cost then? I do not have the income to avoid bargain hunting but I always ask this question and if I don't like the answer it doesn't seem like a bargain to me.
The CEO is RIGHT!! Glad we have some courageous people in this country speaking up and trying to get the low information morons to listen to the TRUTH!
I love WF!!