Do You Really Have to Burn Your 'Whole Paycheck'?

Buying organic food can be a costly venture. Anyone who’s strolled through the aisles of a Whole Foods or even a local coop knows this. It’s why Whole Foods has come to be known, by some, as “Whole Paycheck.”

It’s unfortunate that steep prices turn away many would-be healthy eaters, who quickly come to the conclusion that it’s impossible to buy organic and sustainable products on a budget.

I know this because I am one of those people. Which is why my local Whole Foods free “Frugal Shopping” tour caught my eye.

The perception that green costs has prompted several Whole Foods stores to begin offering tours during which a knowledgeable employee guides shoppers through the store. The tour guide teaches shoppers to look for bargains, select products thoughtfully, and leave the store without having to take out a second mortgage (or, in my case, request a deferment on my student loan) in order to pay the grocery bill.

This week, I visited the Whole Foods in Berkeley, CA to see if these tips really do help. Would the store live up to its infamous “Whole Paycheck” moniker, or is it actually possible to shop frugally at the nation’s largest retailer of organic and natural foods? And would their affordable green grocery tips work outside the walls of their store at, say, Safeway?

My grocery-values guru began the tour outside the door with a clear battle plan: “Know what you want, exactly how much you need, and what’s on sale…and don’t come in hungry,” he told me. These “tips” were underwhelmingly intuitive; any shopper on a budget knows this.

Within the store, there was a significant push for Whole Foods own “365 Organic” brand. My guide frequently mentioned that these products meet Whole Foods’ high standards while still being a good value. It is, in fact, true that the 365 products are less expensive than their name brand counterparts. And many products – like the 365 peanut butter and the 365 fruit spread – were about the same price as their non-organic versions available at larger supermarket chains.

I was also encouraged to buy cheese that was six dollars a pound rather than seventeen (not exactly frugal by my standards). And my guide showed me a twenty-dollar bottle of champagne, which he said tastes just as good as a fifty dollar bottle also sold there. Though I don’t know many people on budgets who splurge on fine cheeses and champagne, his point here was otherwise well-taken: it’s important not to confuse quality with price. Lower-priced products can be as delicious and wholesome as more expensive ones.

Here are the four best tips I learned:

1. Flip through your local store’s flyers to see what’s on sale for the week. This will give you an idea of what recipes to make and what’s in season, and it will give you a plan before entering the store. Whole Foods has a great flyer (available in stores) which shows the weekly specials. The quarterly “Whole Deal” flyer provides short articles, cooking and shopping tips, coupons, and (my personal favorite) creative recipes. What’s great about these is they break down how much you’ll be spending per person.

2. Plan out your (or your family’s) meals for the week, and buy accordingly. If you are making fish for four, buy pre-portioned cuts to reduce leftovers that may not be eaten. Also, be sure to freeze what you don’t eat for re-heating later. One of the quickest ways to reduce waste is to make sure that food doesn’t spoil. Once you’ve eliminated this type of food waste, you may find that you’ll have a few dollars to purchase more sustainable products. Buying in bulk for non-perishables is a fantastic way to save; however, when it comes to things that may mold, rot, or sour, bulk is not the best option.

3. Remember the Dirty Dozen. In the produce section, budget according to which products should be bought organic and which conventionally-farmed items are safe for eating. This way you don’t spend unnecessarily on more expensive produce. Peaches, nectarines and strawberries are best bought organic, whereas bananas, broccoli, and avocados don’t absorb pesticides as much as their “dirty” counterparts. If you’re looking to save money, this is a good place to start: knowing which products are worth buying organic and which aren’t.

4. At the meat counter, choose the cuts that are appropriate to how you’ll be preparing them. There’s no need to put an expensive cut into a soup or stew. If you come across a deal on meat, you can always freeze and save it for later. Pre-portioning before you freeze may insure you actually use it, since you won’t have to wait hours upon hours for a 12-pack of chicken legs to thaw. Also, thawing and re-freezing is bad for food safety, so you’ll eliminate that risk.

Of course, the most sustainable and frugal option is to bypass the meat/ fish/ poultry section entirely. About 25 percent of a person’s carbon footprint comes from what he eats, and raising animals for food is one of the most resource-intensive industries. You don’t have to become a vegetarian, but you can cut back your consumption. Instead of relying on animal products as your source of protein, try the inexpensive grain quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah). It’s a perfect protein, meaning it contains all the essential amino acids.

Buying green groceries on a budget is possible. With preparation and a few painless trade-offs, you’ll have more control over what you put into your body.

In the end, your body and the earth will be thanking you. You’ll also have the peace of mind knowing you’re doing your part to contribute to a sustainable planet.

Photo by Herry Lawford

Whole Foods image by Allim. via Flickr.