Tips for Saving Money at Whole Foods
About a month or so ago, I received an email from Whole Foods asking me about partnering together to create a one-week meal plan for me and Ryan that included two meals each day for the two of us for $125. (Full disclosure: I was provided a $125 gift card.) Since getting a little creative in the kitchen is one of my favorite things, I was more than game and immediately started brainstorming ideas for a healthy and delicious meal plan.
The first step in my meal plan journey involved attending a value tour at my local Whole Foods led by Jennifer, the regional marketing specialist at Whole Foods in Charlotte. Jennifer and I walked around the store and chatted for about an hour while she pointed out lots of money-saving tips and tricks.
Some key takeaways:
- Check the bimonthly Whole Deal brochure which features more than $45 of savings per issue on average (you can also find these coupons at www.wholefoodsmarket.com/coupons) and check out weekly sales fliers, One Day Sales and sale items throughout the store.
- Sign up for your local store’s newsletter and follow them on Facebook and Twitter to receive bonus coupons, budget-friendly recipes, and notices of sales and more.
- Shop seasonally.
- Cut costs, literally. If you need only half a cabbage, sandwich, chunk of cheese, fish fillet, loaf of fresh bread, etc., simply ask a team member to help you get (and pay for) only the amount you need.
- Utilize the bulk bins to buy as much or as little as you need.
- Check out the 365 Everyday Value line for hundreds of affordable organics, including peanut butter, organic frozen veggies, pasta, sauce, canned tomatoes, soups and more.
- Consider purchasing Value Packs to help you get fish and meat at a better price, and allow you to use only what you need.
- Look for budget-friendly pricing on lesser-known cuts such as boneless sirloin, flat iron steak or skirt steak.
- Receive discounted pricing on most items when you buy a full case.
- Make the most of your leftovers with the Whole Foods Market recipes app, which allows you to save recipes, create meal plans and shopping lists, view sales items at your local store and more.
When it was time for me to create my two-meals-a-day meal plan, I opted for breakfast and dinner since breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and dinner is often the meal that requires the most planning in our house. When I set out to do shopping for our meals, there were a few hiccups in my plan. My father-in-law was in town, so our dinners needed to be able to feed three people and I knew we’d likely be going out to dinner once or twice. Whole Foods wanted the meal plan to include two meals each day, but food I bought did cover breakfast, lunch and dinner for me and breakfast and dinner for Ryan. (Ryan actually did bring his lunch to work using food from our grocery haul a couple of times, but he also ate at his workplace cafeteria or out with coworkers during the week as well, so I’m not counting his lunchtime meals.)
And a few important notes: We went out to dinner twice during the week because we wanted to take my father-in-law out to some of our favorite local hotspots, so we did not consume two of the planned dinners on the “correct” days (Tuesday and Friday) but we ate the “dinners” for lunch for two of the days during the week. I hope this makes sense! The meal plan is just a guideline for our breakfasts and dinners, but I wanted to be sure to actually make and eat everything, too, which we did!
As I shopped for our food, I did a lot of price comparisons (buying in bulk ended up being the cheapest every time!) and clipped coupons to save money, like I usually do each week.
I was truly surprised when I went through the checkout line and only spent $69.76! I ended up going through the line again and picking up more food to use to get closer to the $125 total.
Our total for the week ended up being $115.20, but it did not include the jar of peanut butter I also used in the meal plan that we already had at home. (I figured being $10 under budget made up for the peanut butter since that would be an easy purchase within the budget.)
Here is what our one-week meal plan looked like:
- Breakfast: Tortilla topped with banana, peanut butter and cinnamon
- Dinner: Fish tacos with (frozen) mahi mahi, black beans, chopped romaine lettuce and pico de gallo
- Breakfast: Overnight oats made with oatmeal, Greek yogurt, honey and raw almonds
- Dinner: Turkey and ham rollups with romaine, tomatoes and pumpkin seeds, served with apple slices
- Breakfast: Cottage cheese topped with a sliced apple, cinnamon, almonds and pumpkin seeds
- Dinner: 365 Everyday Value whole wheat linguine with steamed spinach and 365 Everyday Value marinara, served with roasted broccoli
- Breakfast: Two waffles topped with a dippy egg and tomato slices, served with a plum on the side
- Dinner: Chopped salad with romaine, ham, tomatoes, black beans, edamame, wheat berries and pumpkin seeds
- Breakfast: Two waffles served with a cup of Greek yogurt
- Dinner: Baked chicken breasts with sweet potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts
- Breakfast: Three-minute egg white oatmeal, topped with chopped almonds
- Dinner: Crockpot lentil wheat berry soup <—We loved this soup!!!
Crockpot Lentil Wheat Berry Soup
Serves 6
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups dry lentils
- 3/4 wheat berries
- 6 cups reduced sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 sweet onion, roughly chopped
- 2 cups chopped carrots
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper (depending on taste)
- 1/2 – 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (depending on taste)
Directions
- Combine all ingredients and cook on low for 8 hours. Serve and enjoy!
- Breakfast: Strawberry, mango and spinach smoothie
- Dinner: Leftover lentil and wheat berry soup
Giveaway
Now Whole Foods Market wants to give you guys a chance to shop at their store and create some healthy budget-friendly recipes.
FIVE readers will win a $25 gift card to Whole Foods!
To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post, telling me about some of your favorite Whole Foods finds!
I will randomly select five winners on Friday.
Good luck!
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They have the best cheese!
The bakery and pastry counter is by far my favorite!
fave whole foods food: I’m obsessed with Japanese sweet potatoes, and I usually can’t find them other places. I also really love ground bison. oh yum.
Hot bar ALL.THE.WAY!
I love their olive bar!:)
I love their selection of grains!
There is a whole foods one mile from my house and I am addicted to it! I’d rather pay a few more dollars in healthy, nutrient dense foods now then thousands of dollars on my health down the road.
I’ve actually never shopped at Whole Foods but there’s one opening down the street from me soon – I can’t wait to try it!!!
Whole Foods Almond butter is amazing!
Sound like a repeate of everyone else, but the hot bar and cheese sections get me every. time.
I LOVE their hot bar, and prepared foods in general…but food wise, I love their 365 brand as well. I love being able to cut down on added sugar & a lot of their products help me do that. 🙂
I love the fish from Whole Foods. The wild salmon=amazing!!
I love their breakfast hot bar!
I love Whole Foods chicken Italian sausage! I also love their bin of mini cheeses. Often we will go to Whole Foods for an at home ‘fancy date night’ and splurge on a cheese plate and of course some bakery sweets. It’s nice to buy a small amount rather than the whole block.
I love the food bar! And I always stock up on the 365 brand products from the food to the cleansers and moisturizers!
I absolutely love Whole Foods’ salad bar when I want something quick and easy for dinner. Also, their fish is always so fresh and delicious and I always buy kombucha whenever I’m there.
I love their bulk foods section.
I like walking around the prepared foods for inspiration- kale salads, grain salads, etc.
I love the bulk foods and their wide array of cheese. And their wine – and the wine bar at the whole foods near me.
Thank you for the money-saving tips! I don’t go to Whole Foods often because it’s far for me but, when I do, I always spend way more than I should! My favorite find has to include the bulk section! I love getting my nuts and grains here so I can get the amount I want at a good price.
Coffee!
I love their fresh-pressed juices!!
Whole Foods is my go-to grocery store. I love their salsas, juices, organic chicken, gelato, fresh breads, cheeses, wines, popcorn, and hot bar! Oh man, everything!
I LOVE the hot bar!
I love the bulk bins and the organic produce!
I love the Hot Bar and the 365 line!! Love WF! Thanks 🙂
I’ve never actually shopped at Whole Foods before…I was always under the impression that it would be too expensive. I’ll definitely have to give it a try now! That Crockpot lentil soup sounds fantastic!
I love Whole Foods, especially their green juices!
I love Whole Foods, especially their bulk bins!
Hot bar, yum!
LOVE Whole Foods fresh juices!
love their plantain chips!
I love shopping from the bulk bins. They have a great selection, and it’s an easy way to buy only what you need.
The Califia Farms Cold Brew Coffee is THE BEST!
My favorite thing to buy at Whole Foods is some of the unique teas you can find there!
I love Whole Foods minced ginger! It is easy for recipes that include ginger without the hassle of cutting and peeling. I also buy whey protein powder there, too while my husband loves the sourdough bread from the bakery!
Anything on the hot bar, the whole wheat tortillas, and all peanut butters!
I especially love the peanut butter that you ground yourself! I live next door to a Whole Food so I frequently stop by to pick up the pizza or a salad for dinner too!
Their Chicken Noodle Soup in the soup bar is the absolute best!! Perfect for any day, but especially if your under the weather.
I love Whole Foods’ fresh produce!
I love their bulk bins and the Mediterranean salad that is pre packed. It is so good!
I love the bulk bins to buy Israeli Couscous and Quinoa!
I love the biscotti from Whole Foods, as well as their prepared wraps! I’m constantly on the run, so it’s good to know that there are quality bites that I can grab for a full meal! Also love their deli counter selection – yummy!
I love their brown rice sushi and their salsa!
Their produce is always a hit for me!
I love Whole Foods and am so excited that we will be getting one in our town very soon! I love their 365 brand pasta and pasta sauce!
Salad bar.. mmm
Love the bulk bins for staples and spices!
Whole Foods has great deals on cans of no salt added beans, which can sometimes be difficult to find (and expensive) at other stores. And you of course can’t go wrong with their salad and hot bars!
love the cheese selection at wholefoods!