Strollerderby

Going to Whole paycheck to save money on food.

Oh Brother, that's a riot.

I figure that if it is sealed in a plastic bag or can and has more than 5 ingredients then it is no longer food.  Even bread is a concoction of chemicals and corn syrup these days.  What happened to wheat flour, yeast, salt and water?

Ironically enough, I've found that Whole Foods is actually CHEAPER when it comes to organic food and when you have food intolerances and food allergies in your family, you don't have any other options. My younger son has a peanut allergy (he's 14 months old) and I usually shop at both Trader Joes and Whole Foods. 90% of the items I looked at yesterday at Trader Joes were processed on equipment shared with nuts which means I'll probably be doing most of my shopping at Whole Foods. If it saves a trip to the ER or my ever having to use the epi-pen I now tote around, it's worth it.

Another thing to note, Whole Foods wasn't always the mecca we now know it to be. The store in Berkeley, CA where I went to school is still the hippie, mellow store (aside from brand new sign) in a bad part of town that I remember it to be 15 years ago. Car of choice in parking lot--beat up Volvo station wagon, not a BMW X5. Nice to know some things haven't changed all that much...

I wish Whole Foods would come to my part of the country.  With the cost of gas being what it is now, I literally can't afford to drive to Chicago to do my grocery shopping.  

It sounds like most of the $3000 advice this woman was giving out is just common sense.

Ugh, the last time I shopped at Whole Foods, I spent about fifty bucks on some produce and about a pound of meat--basically enough for two meals. Absolutely no cost-savings there--I might as well eat out or order in and not have to cook. (I'm guessing that sort of thing will change once the kid comes :)

Sucks because it's the only grocery store within walking distance--and parking is so atrocious in my neighborhood, I'm not going to give up my street spot without a fight. Plus, our regular grocery store isn't much cheaper, and the produce looks gross.

If Whole Foods is the cheapest organic where you are then it is, and be happy you can afford it. Most can't.  Yes, I wish my kids would eat cabbage and beets, and soup made from the dog's bones.

Instead, we buy carrots and celery (organic if they're on sale) at our grocery.  We buy whatever fruit is on sale at Sun Harvest, and the kids eat it.  They don't get a lot of sweets, and they'll eat whatever fruit is in front of them.

And then my husband brings them to the quickie mart and buys them ice pops.

It's all balance.

A great way to save money while getting the very best produce is to buy LOCAL! Shop at farmer's markets if you can. I don't have any near me, so I just joined a CSA (community supported agriculture). Aside from the great produce, I also love the anti-conglomerate-corporation angle. This way I know most of my money goes right to the farmer (rather than to some industrial designer trying to figure out which form of muzac will make me buy more arugula). Makes me feel oh-so radical.