Anonymous wrote:We find the berries at TJ's usually look good on outside but can have mold growing on the inside. I bring them back if that happens. If I have any produce issues with a WF purchase I bring it back, the manager told me to. They guarantee freshness. If I get home and am not satisfied it goes back. This rarely to never happens.

I have never brought back shrink wrapped peppers.

That's why I open the carton and take a look around first. After repeated problems at Whole Foods, why on earth would I bother going back again? The staff at the one I go to is hardly helpful to begin with. Nope, only returning for my kiddo's baby shampoo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I buy everything there except for Asian specialty foods. DH is Asian, so we go to H-Mart for things like high-quality fish sauce and good noodles (the stuff at WF is sub-par), or certain veggies.

That said, I don't buy any processed food except for peanut butter, bread, cereal, and pasta (if those count?). I shop around the edges of the WF. Grocery bill for 3 adults is about $60/week.

Before I hear the cries of protest, yes, $60 for almost all my groceries -- I have posted before how it's this low (we mostly eat very little meat, lots of veggies -- including weird ones you probably don't eat unless you're Vietnamese -- and rice, a little fish here and there, and a decent amount of pasta).

Can you break down your grocery bill by item? I'm doing something very wrong if you can feed 3 adults on $60/week from WF. Thank you!

Like I said, I've already done this elsewhere, but can do it again. Groceries this week were:

almond milk $3.50
1/4 lb bacon $2
1 lb spaghetti $1
1 papaya $2
1 lime 50 cents
bananas (organic) $3
frozen okra $2
1/2 lb pork (boston butt) $3
arugula (organic) $4
yams (organic) $4
whole chicken $10 (organic)
frozen spinach (organic) $2.50
1 can 365 spaghetti sauce (w/coupon from whole deals, whoo hoo!) $1.50
1 lb penne (organic) $2
1/2 lb mushrooms $3
1 tub sour cream (organic) $3
onions (organic) $3
garlic (organic) $1
egg noodles $2

From H-mart:
potherbs (chrysanthemum, maybe?) $1.50
sen choi $2
dried anchovies $4
green beans $2

What I already own: rice, olive oil, hot peppers, fish sauce, other pantry staples (sugar, salt, etc).

What I made: spaghetti with olive oil, pepper and bacon; penne with sauce; chicken with arugula and yams; beefless stroganoff; pepper pork; and many variations of the rice-vegetable&soup-salty food (anchovies) meal that's staple food (mostly for lunch). Fruit for dessert.

When we have to buy rice (20-lb bag) the bill is about $20 higher one week per two months.

Hope that helps. You're not doing anything wrong, we just save money by eating "ethnic" a lot -- I doubt you'd like the normal lunch of rice, anchovies, and vegetables cooked in fish sauce (I love it, though)!

We find the berries at TJ's usually look good on outside but can have mold growing on the inside. I bring them back if that happens. If I have any produce issues with a WF purchase I bring it back, the manager told me to. They guarantee freshness. If I get home and am not satisfied it goes back. This rarely to never happens.

I have never brought back shrink wrapped peppers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I am buying less and less there these days. I find Trader Joe's produce fresher and cheaper,

Then, you are the only person of the history of DCUM to find that.

There have been entire threads devoted to shitty TJ's produce that spoils immediately ....

I concur. TJs has shitty produce. I like TJs for cereals, granolas and dry foods (and wine!) that is half the price of Whole Foods.

I love TJs for so many things--but I can't count on their produce. I do buy some stuff there but you just never know until you can inspect it. Often things are on their last leg or are already gone.

I'm the OP above. I buy lots and lots of berries from TJ's and generally don't have a problem. I say generally. The last few times I've gone to Whole Foods for berries, they were much more expensive, and I've found them to be of poor quality. Specifically, I remember the last few times I've bought blueberries there, my DD, who normally gobbles them down, wouldn't touch them because they were so sour. The last time I bought raspberries there, they were mushy and flecked with dirt. Never buying berries at Whole Foods again.

And, as for spoiling immediately, I routinely keep berries around for a week or more. Maybe each TJ's is different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I am buying less and less there these days. I find Trader Joe's produce fresher and cheaper,

Then, you are the only person of the history of DCUM to find that.

There have been entire threads devoted to shitty TJ's produce that spoils immediately ....

I concur. TJs has shitty produce. I like TJs for cereals, granolas and dry foods (and wine!) that is half the price of Whole Foods.

I love TJs for so many things--but I can't count on their produce. I do buy some stuff there but you just never know until you can inspect it. Often things are on their last leg or are already gone.

I'm the OP above. I buy lots and lots of berries from TJ's and generally don't have a problem. I say generally. The last few times I've gone to Whole Foods for berries, they were much more expensive, and I've found them to be of poor quality. Specifically, I remember the last few times I've bought blueberries there, my DD, who normally gobbles them down, wouldn't touch them because they were so sour. The last time I bought raspberries there, they were mushy and flecked with dirt. Never buying berries at Whole Foods again.

Anonymous wrote:I used to buy a lot more. The Giant near us now stocks a lot of the things I used to only be able to get at Whole Foods, like chlorine free diapers and wipes (in a pinch, otherwise try to order online), organic almond butter, organic cheese and dairy, Amy's frozen pizza, fresh baked bread, organic frozen berries, and now they have more organic produce, Greek yogurt, and certain more "natural" body products like Tom's of Maine or Burt's Bee toothpaste, certain lotions etc.

I still buy chicken at Whole Foods, and though we don't eat deli turkey or red meat that often, if I do buy it I buy it at Whole Foods. Also like their bakery items - cupcakes especially, some kinds of cookies. I like how they actually go bad when you don't get them to right away - scary how long some of the bakery items at Giant last!

I've been impressed that over the last two years Giant has stocked a lot of the stuff I could only get at Whole Foods. Clearly there is a demand.

A lot of these items are even cheaper at Target or Magruders.

I used to buy a lot more. The Giant near us now stocks a lot of the things I used to only be able to get at Whole Foods, like chlorine free diapers and wipes (in a pinch, otherwise try to order online), organic almond butter, organic cheese and dairy, Amy's frozen pizza, fresh baked bread, organic frozen berries, and now they have more organic produce, Greek yogurt, and certain more "natural" body products like Tom's of Maine or Burt's Bee toothpaste, certain lotions etc.

I still buy chicken at Whole Foods, and though we don't eat deli turkey or red meat that often, if I do buy it I buy it at Whole Foods. Also like their bakery items - cupcakes especially, some kinds of cookies. I like how they actually go bad when you don't get them to right away - scary how long some of the bakery items at Giant last!

I've been impressed that over the last two years Giant has stocked a lot of the stuff I could only get at Whole Foods. Clearly there is a demand.

I buy their sugar-free, salt-free peanut butter.
Pita bread
Prairie Bread
Fish
All produce

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

^^These are my new favorite thing to buy at WholePaycheck. Unbleached waxed sandwich baggies. Better for the environment and I love the 1940's feel of the bags as you slip the items in. And the crinkly sound they make as you fold them. I know, weird. I staple them shut.

Not weird at all. I totally get that. My dad was a laborer and my mom always packed his sandwich and other foods for his lunch in wax paper. Very cool retro vibe.

Now I want some of these but mostly I want the crinkley sandwich experience and would love it if I could get a thermos of soup with it. Just in time for the cooler weather.

cheese, fish, chocolate. occasionally, on a special occasion, their meat.

Anonymous wrote:I buy everything there except for Asian specialty foods. DH is Asian, so we go to H-Mart for things like high-quality fish sauce and good noodles (the stuff at WF is sub-par), or certain veggies.

That said, I don't buy any processed food except for peanut butter, bread, cereal, and pasta (if those count?). I shop around the edges of the WF. Grocery bill for 3 adults is about $60/week.

Before I hear the cries of protest, yes, $60 for almost all my groceries -- I have posted before how it's this low (we mostly eat very little meat, lots of veggies -- including weird ones you probably don't eat unless you're Vietnamese -- and rice, a little fish here and there, and a decent amount of pasta).

Can you break down your grocery bill by item? I'm doing something very wrong if you can feed 3 adults on $60/week from WF. Thank you!

Whole wheat orzo - but the Rockville Whole Foods had more choices- the only kind I could find in Bmore at Harbor East was $8- and I know I didn't pay that much!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:San Marzano spaghetti
Yogurt
Produce
Cases of Vanilla Milk
Milk
Cheese
Pasta

what's great about san marzano spaghetti and why do you choose WF pasta vs other?

I've taste tested canned san marzano tomatoes against other brands & I prefer the taste, WF just happens to be where they are sold. WH organic pasta is $1.99 a box so it's worth the price to me.

I buy everything there except for Asian specialty foods. DH is Asian, so we go to H-Mart for things like high-quality fish sauce and good noodles (the stuff at WF is sub-par), or certain veggies.

That said, I don't buy any processed food except for peanut butter, bread, cereal, and pasta (if those count?). I shop around the edges of the WF. Grocery bill for 3 adults is about $60/week.

Before I hear the cries of protest, yes, $60 for almost all my groceries -- I have posted before how it's this low (we mostly eat very little meat, lots of veggies -- including weird ones you probably don't eat unless you're Vietnamese -- and rice, a little fish here and there, and a decent amount of pasta).

Anonymous wrote:The lunchmeat from the deli at WF is nitrite free and my dh eats at least a sandwich or 2 a day, hot dogs, yogurt, sausages.

TJs has some excellent (and significantly less expensive) lunchmeat that is nitrite and nitrate free.