do you prefer Whole Foods or Trader Joes for Groceries and why

[powellrj]

DH and I are trying to change the way we eat. We started small and are now ready to take the plunge all the way. We have been attending healthy living classes and while we are not ready to go all vegetarian, we did find it pretty easy to go with leaner healthier diet.

I thought I would take a road trip this weekend for some new food options and would like to try Whole foods or Trader Joes. Which one do you like and why do you like it.

Also do you have any healthy eating food sites that you like.

 

[Christine]

I find that I can't do *all* my shopping at Trader Joe's. The store isn't big enough for everything I need. Whole Foods has everything but they are VERY expensive. I do a combo of both.

 

[powellrj]

I find that I can't do *all* my shopping at Trader Joe's. The store isn't big enough for everything I need. Whole Foods has everything but they are VERY expensive. I do a combo of both.

Thats what I was wondering. I am use to shopping at Krogers, Aldi but I wanted to see if I could get more of a variety trying these places.

 

[Christine]

Everything at Trader Joe's has a great price.

You will want to buy your cereals, canned goods (especially tomatoes), olive oils, etc. at Trader Joe's. They are all high quality and a lot less than at WF. For instance, my Puffins Cereal is $3.29 for a huge box at TJ's but about $4.99 at WF for a smaller box.

TJ's does carry fresh meats but I prefer WF for that.

 

[Lynn CC]

I shop at Trader Joes here on the Cape and Whole Foods in Boston.

We only eat All Natural...organic.

It's very expensive but we have been eating that way so for us it's just a part of a healthy lifestyle.

Trader Joes has a few items I like such as ginger scones, their organic milk in half gallon size, eggs and a few snack items but I get most of my groceries at WF.

I can't say enough about WF They offer a huge variety I love the meats (I don't eat red meat) but they have a huge selection of other varieties as well. Their chicken sausage is so good! Their produce dept. is always fresh, unlike our Trader Joes.

I can't wait to get a WF here on the Cape, I even e-mailed their headquarters .

Try them both for yourself and see what you like better, I spend about $200 in WF a week and about $50 in Trader Joes. That includes my college son who shops at WF for himself (and cooks for himself)...he can't eat dorm food it gives him a stomach ache and worse!

If you want other tips on healthy eating you should go to www.oprah.com and look up Dr. Oz. He is the best! You will learn so much from Dr. Oz if you haven't already been watching him. He has specials on Discovery Health Channel "The Truth About Food". Great information and entertaining as well!

Welcome to Healthy Eating! You'll love the way you feel.

 

[powellrj]

Thanks so much, you told me exactly what I wanted to know! Looks like I will make a trip to trader joes and save whole foods for another time. I am trying to re-stock my pantry, so I really want to find the best prices!

 

[wnissen]

To concur with the other posters, Whole Foods is primarily an expensive store, not a "natural" store. Even for staples that are the same everywhere they are much more expensive. Wine, cereal, prepared foods, all are as expensive at Whole Foods as you'll find anywhere outside big cities.

This is not to say they don't have a good selection of natural foods, but you will pay even more of a premium. I save them for special occasions, and make my shopping trips primarily to the farmer's market, then Trader Joe's, then Safeway.

Since Safeway is the last stop, there's usually only a few items that we need, and they often are all for different meals. I always wonder what the clerk thinks when we check out with a basket containing only yogurt, bread (but no butter or jam), cereal (but no milk), club soda (but no spirits), ice cream, and a steak. We must look like the most forgetful shoppers ever.

Walt

 

[jbthi]

Powellrj, where do you have to travel to for Trader Joes and WF? I see you are in Central Indiana, we live in Terre Haute. We don't have either around here and I wondered how close they were. What is Wild Oats? Is it a food store? My daughter lives in Carmel and I see one over there. Have been meaning to check it out but never have time.

We buy a lot at farmers markets in the summer and St. Mary of the Woods College has an organic farm. Other than those Krogers is really our only local option.

June

 

[Imzadi]

Thanks so much, you told me exactly what I wanted to know! Looks like I will make a trip to trader joes and save whole foods for another time. I am trying to re-stock my pantry, so I really want to find the best prices!

Then definitely go to Trader Joes. Here's a couple of threads that list favorite things DISers buy there.

Trader Joes - whats your favorite food finds here?

Trader Joes...

A warning though: Once you stock up on all of these EXTRA goodies, you may not end up saving money.

 

[MAKmom]

I buy most of our food at Trader Joe's. I do buy cases of water at the supermarket & soda when we have a party.

I have started buying more meat at the Super Fresh like turkey breasts when they are on sale.

I also am not buying the coffee although my Dh wants me to buy the Fair Trade coffee. It does come down to money for somethings.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I have both around but given the choice I pick Trader Joe's.

Whole Foods is expensive.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Another vote for TJ's because it's less expensive, although I do have to agree that it doesn't have everything. The produce section at WF is much better, but the prices are also much higher. We ususally go to TJ's for most things, but stop past Safeway or some other "regular" grocery store to get produce. We can still find organic fruits and veggies there like at WF, but at a cheaper price.

We really love the ethnic food selections at TJ's. DH calls it "baby steps to cooking ethnic food" because they have sauces and mixes and frozen things that take you most of the way, and you just have to add in fresh veggies and rice or noodles or something like that.

 

[iggbees]

trader joe's has a lot of food that is very cheap. the mango chicken sausages are amazing. the spinach lasagna is great too, as are the teriyaki rice bowls. i also like the chicken chimichangas and burritos. they recently raised their prices on eggs, but for 1.09$ a dozen, you can't go wrong. i'm also obsessed with moshi (a japanese ice cream treat).

whole foods has ridiculously expensive food items, but i do go there for (odd) vegetables, fish, and meat (i only like buying either free range chicken or beef and/or buffalo meat). my boyfriend likes their prepared food as well.

 

[cccm]

Lynn CC there is a Whole Foods in Hingham at Derby Street Shops (exit 15). Also word on the street is that there will be one built either at Colony Place or Shops at 5 in Plymouth. Didn't want you having to drive to the city if you didn't need to.

Trader Joes - I typically buy olive oil, nuts, kitchen hand soap, chicken sausage, cheeses. I buy specific frozen stuff that is really good. Peanut butter filled pretzels...need I say more.

Whole Foods - Mango Salsa, Guac, specific desserts, Bell and Evans chicken nuggets. I love the mozzarella that they have from Vermont and get huge amounts of basil (only cheap thing they have).

I go to each about once a month.

 

[jipsy]

Price Chopper.



I only have one TJ's that is about a 40 minute drive from my house. It's small and doesn't carry two buck chuck (no liquor license). I really wasn't impressed with it. Seems a little gimmicky for me.

Whole foods I like because they carry more organic, but I can't afford them. They are the same drive time, and down the road from TJ's. I go there about twice a year.

Price Chopper I love. I have a new supersize store that is on the way home from work. They carry organic at more reasonable prices, they have a great butcher shop/meat department and a huge wine selection. I shop there about once every two weeks. I can make my online grocery list which also does pricing and I can search my local ad online and add to my list.

I really prefer my local hilltown market - you can't believe all the stuff they cram into the tiny space they have; and the meats/seafood are just as good or better than any I can find anywhere. Darryl is a true butcher, and will cut you any slice of meat you want. I shop there about once a week.

I grow my own veggies and chicken. What I can't or don't grow, I get at local farmstands. We are really blessed where I live with a huge organic farming community.

 

[LuvMickey36]

All I can say about Trader Joes is Pirates Booty!!!!

I buy most everything @ TJ since i have a child with a lot of food allergies. He is allergic to soy, eggs, peanuts, beef, pork & rice.

Most everything I have to make from scratch, but I am able to find things there that I can't buy in the grocery store. They have fruit bars, poptarts, cereal, cookies & crackers, bread/bagels and few jars of pasta/pizza sauce that he is able to eat.

Their prices are awesome! I think I spend less there than I did @ the regular grocery store.

 

[mom2grace]

Powellrj, where do you have to travel to for Trader Joes and WF? I see you are in Central Indiana, we live in Terre Haute. We don't have either around here and I wondered how close they were. What is Wild Oats? Is it a food store? My daughter lives in Carmel and I see one over there. Have been meaning to check it out but never have time.

We buy a lot at farmers markets in the summer and St. Mary of the Woods College has an organic farm. Other than those Krogers is really our only local option.

June

I live in Indy, there are 2 Trader Joes, one on 82nd street just south of Castleton Mall, and one on West 86th, near 86th and Michigan. There are 2 Wild Oats, 1 in Nora, approximately 82nd and College (it's on 82nd), and 1 in Carmel at the north end of Clay Terrace.

There is a Sunflower Market in Broad Ripple on Broad Ripple Ave, as well as Good Earth market in Broad Ripple.

Whole Foods has bought property at 86th and Keystone, but Whole Foods recently bought Wild Oats, so I am not sure what is going to happen.

If you are in the Indy area on Thursday, there is Farm Fresh Delivery (www.farmfreshdelivery.com that has very high quality organic produce. You can pick it up at their warehouse on Binford Blvd, and they deliver to many areas of Indy.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Meijer organics, and they had some variety of organic veggies and fruit. The bread, milk, crackers, cookies, etc are terrific. I know there is a Meijer in Avon, that may be the closest one to you.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I also do a combo of three!

I get my organic milk at WF (I like it by the gallon), organic spinach and some produce. I also buy my dog food and some wine at WF. They have 365 Organic's brand that is relatively inexpensive.

Most of my staple items I can get at the commissary. Still buy organics and natural foods there.

The rest I get at TJ's. However, our TJ's isn't very big.

 

[Mickey527]

My favorite place to shop TJ's.
Of course I am prejudice, all 3 of my son's work there. they are all older, 30, 28, and 24 but get paid better there than they would at any factory job in the area.
The hours are sometimes tough, one day be in at 4 am and work till 2 pm, the next be in at 6 and work till 2. but the company works around their school and childcare schedules and they really have fun there. Lots of company parties, bowling, picnics, food tastings etc....

 

[Papa Deuce]

I like them both.... but REALLY, I can't wait 'til Wegman's opens near me.... supposed to be real soon.