Things I Buy At Whole Foods

Since my posts entitled Things I Buy At Costco and Things I Buy At Trader Joe’s have been quite popular, I decided to let you have a peek at some of the things I buy at the Whole Foods Market. I have been an avid Whole Foods’ shopper long before I became vegan and long before Whole Foods was popular. I am still waiting for an executive from Whole Foods to call me and thank me for the store’s success.

Anyway, there are quite a few things which are exclusive to Whole Foods that I have been buying regularly over the course of many years and some things which are sometimes stocked at other supermarkets but are easily found at Whole Foods. Here is my list of things which I almost always buy every time I step foot into my local Whole Foods Market. This list excludes whole (uncut) fruits and vegetables which vary with each of my visits…

1. Whole Foods’ Original Hummus

This is undoubtedly my family’s favorite store-bought hummus. It would probably be healthier without the added oils, but not as delicious. I like to use this hummus in my collard green wraps mixed with salad and pre-cut veggies.

2. Whole Foods’ Vegetarian Split Pea Soup

The soup is called “Vegetarian Split Pea Soup,” but it is vegan also. Although I prefer my own homemade Super Simple Split Pea Soup, I sometimes have no time to prepare it. This Whole Foods’ soup is hearty and delicious and I always keep a container in my refrigerator for a quick lunch or easy dinner. My eldest son lived on this soup before he left for college.

3. Whole Foods’ Vegan Veggie Ravioli

These vegan veggie raviolis are found in the refrigerated section with the other store-made pastas. They are surprisingly good and make a quick easy dinner. I like to serve them with My Perfect Tomato Sauce, although you could always use your favorite vegan sauce from a jar.

4. Bread Alone Bread

I absolutely love Bread Alone’s organic “made by hand” breads which are shipped fresh from Bread Alone’s Bakery in the Catskill Mountains every day. Although I know there is a lot of controversy out there concerning eating wheat ingredients, I love bread and I’m not about to give it up. I try not to eat too much of it but, when I do, I love this bread which has few ingredients and no added chemicals or preservatives. The yeast-free Organic Sour Rye is my favorite, but my kids love the Organic Peasant Bread the best. I love to toast the Sour Rye and top it with avocados and naturally fermented sauerkraut.

5. “Real Pickles” Sauerkraut

If you’ve read my post A Word About Real Pickles, then you already know how healthy raw naturally fermented pickles are for your gut. My favorite brand of naturally fermented pickles, sauerkraut and kimchi is “Real Pickles” which I buy at Whole Foods. They can be found in the refrigerated section of the store with other live raw foods which require refrigeration.

6. Whole Foods’ Vegan Cupcakes

The Whole Foods’ store-made vegan cupcakes don’t qualify as a vegan health food, but they do qualify as an occasional yummy treat! I often buy the chocolate ones with vanilla frosting, although they come in other flavors too. I think it’s okay to be sinful once in a while, as long as you don’t make a habit out of it.

7. Whole Foods’ Chocolate Chip Scones

Okay; maybe I’m sinful more than once in a while…sue me. I also love Whole Foods’ chocolate chip scones which are baked on their premises. Although I don’t eat them too much, I always buy a few to keep in the house when I have breakfast cravings for baked goods. Whole Foods also makes oatmeal date scones which are good, but I prefer the chocolate chip ones.

8. Mountain Valley Spring Water

Although I have a reverse osmosis water filtration system in my home, it sometimes gets clogged, leaks or needs a filter change. I like to keep some bottled water in my house for those rare times when my water filtration system is down. I prefer water in glass bottles, and I like the Mountain Valley brand. Mountain Valley makes a sparkling water too.

9. 365 Brand Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

This is my favorite almond milk. Although it’s unsweetened, it still tastes great because it’s flavored with vanilla. I love to use this wonderful non-dairy milk when I make my Fire Engine 2 One-Dish Oatmeal Bake.

10. Soy Dream’s Vanilla Soy Milk 

Although this brand of milk can be found in almost any supermarket, I always pick up a container when I am shopping at Whole Foods because I love this non-dairy milk in my Frothy Hot Soy Chai Tea Lattes which I make with my Starbuck’s Verismo Milk Frother.

11. Ezekiel Brand English Muffins 

I love these Ezekiel muffins which I often toast and top with some sort of nut butter for breakfast. I also buy the other Ezekiel brand products such as breads, tortilla wraps and pastas. They are healthy and great!

12. Tortilla Wraps

I never leave a Whole Foods Market without some type of tortilla wrap to make quick and easy meals with. I have been buying the 365 brand Whole Wheat Tortillas for many years (and sometimes the Ezekiel brand), but today I spotted these Engine 2 Sprouted Grain Wraps which are low in sodium, high in fiber and have no added oils. I can’t wait to try them.

13. Brocco Sprouts Deli Blend

I would never dream of leaving a Whole Foods store without these Brocco Sprouts, unless they were not in stock that day. Dr. Oz once described them as nutritional powerhouses. I love to add them to sandwiches, wraps and salads. It’s such an easy way to get an extra boost of antoxidants. Sorry about the lousy photo.

14. Amy’s Premium Organic Family Marinara Pasta Sauce

I always grab a jar of vegan marinara sauce when I am shopping in Whole Foods for those emergencies when a last minute dinner is thrown together. My sons like this Amy’s brand of vegan marinara, but Muir Glen also makes some excellent tomato sauces. It is really easy to use this sauce with the vegan veggie ravioli for a quick dinner. Please be aware that not all jarred tomato sauces are vegan. Many of them contain cheese enzymes and other milk products, so be sure to read the labels carefully.

15. Barbara’s Snackimals Vanilla Animal Cookies

I always grab a few bags of these cookies to keep in the house. I have been eating them for a long time (before I became vegan) and my family loves them. They are a great treat to have once in a while, kids love them and they make great travel snacks. Please read the ingredients in Barbara’s products before indulging, because not all of her products are vegan.

16. Pre-Cut Vegetables For Salads And Wraps

Although it is much less expensive to chop your own veggies, I always buy Whole Foods’ shredded carrots, shredded red cabbage, chopped peppers and chopped red onions to add to my salads and wraps. Since I love these items all the time, and since they are often (but not always) organic, I splurge to make my life easier.

17. Pre-cut Organic Butternut Squash

It is not often that I see pre-cut organic squash in a supermarket; when I do, I grab a package. This makes life so much easier when I’m in the mood for squash, but don’t feel like tackling the peeling and preparation issues. This package will easily allow me to prepare one of my favorite dishes, Azuki Beans With Kabocha Squash, for dinner tomorrow night.

There are so many other items I buy at Whole Foods including grains, pastas, beans, fruits, vegetables, and prepared foods; however, these are my staple items which I usually do not leave the store without. I hope you enjoyed a little peek into my shopping habits and that I gave you some good ideas as to what to buy during your next excursion to Whole Foods.

So long, for now…

Debby

xoxoox