Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Whole Foods: to shop or not to shop? and some giveaways...

Today's post is short.  I haven't shopped at a Whole Foods since August.  Thought it would be hard to do, especially where I live, because there aren't any other health food stores nearby and my local grocery chains don't carry most of what I need.  So I ended up ordering a lot of stuff online from Barry Farm and Pangea.  They've got a ton of great stuff.  But....I was almost considering shopping at WF again, at least for bulk grains,etc...and some frozen items.  I'm not sure I can get myself to do it.  I stopped going there after the whole John Mackey thing....and I also see WF as catering to the wealthy as opposed to the healthy.

So I'd like some opinions please.  I wonder if it's cheaper or more expensive to buy the bulk grains there, rather than online.  I wouldn't have to pay shipping, so maybe it would even out?  And I'd like a bit more access to some specialty items and not have to wait for a once every 3 months online order....like some vegan cheese, etc.  I know a lot of you still shop there and I just wonder if it would be awful for me to start again....it would be only once a month or less. Or am I caving in and giving up on my boycott?  Or was I not making a difference anyway, since I'm only one.

And onto a different subject: Giveaways!

VeganChickie is giving away a copy of The Blissful Chef's e-cookbook!

HungryVegan is giving away 5 coupons for FREE Turtle Island (So Delicious/Purely Decadent) items!
       -go there and leave a comment and tell them I sent you, so we can BOTH win!

LoveVeggiesAndYoga is giving away a Celestial Seasonings Natural Wellness kit!

VegIsSexy is giving away a Spiralizer! See here for my recent use of a spiralizer.

So please leave your opinions about Whole Foods and if you shop there and if I should start going there again or not. And why....thanks!

Eat smart,
T.

4 comments:

  1. Whole Foods is much more expensive than other health stores. I have found that IHerb has great products. They might have whole grains in bulk and if you have not ordered before from them they take 5 dollars off. You should shop around online to see whether weight and shipping is worth paying a it more just in store. I still do not think it evens out. They are a little more overpriced. So you do nto have any other health food stores around?

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  2. It's pretty sad really. Locally I can get my soy creamer and that's about it. If I drive 20 minutes, I do have access to Tofutti Cream Cheese and one flavor of SoDelicious "ice cream". If I drive across the lake, about 45 minutes away, there's a tiny tiny store where I can get Vegenaise and 1 or 2 other items. Then for a full on large health food store, I'd have to drive 2 1/2 hours away. Sniff....but thanks so much for your thoughts :)

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  3. Maybe this is self-indulgent, but I tend to think that eating this way is an effort and expense in and of itself. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying that in some ways life would be easier if I could just march down to my local Jewel Osco or Kroger for the OG produce and vegan delights I need and love. But I live in a very non-veg-friendly town. If I had a Whole Foods that was convenient, I would go there, gratefully. I would try to make my lifestyle easier on myself. But that's just me, the place I'm at in life.

    Also, I tend to think that WF has done a lot of good for the organic movement, and for the healthy living movement in general. I used to work for their major distributor, and in my experience, they are relentless in trying to keep prices as low as possible, while maintaining their high standards for quality.

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  4. You're right....I guess I'm "lucky" to have a WF within a 15 minute drive. There are lots of people who don't even have that. Thanks for sharing your views :) I'm still contemplating...until my oat groats run out and I must either go buy some in bulk at WF or order them online.

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