Everything in Whole Foods Is NOT Organic?????

Recently, I have heard from many different people that they think everything in Whole Foods is organic. Every time I'm there I see at least 20 people piling up plates and to-go boxes with food from the bar. BUT, did you know that a majority of the foods on that bar are NOT organic, and most likely are cooked in GMO Canola oil??? Did you know that Whole Foods brand "365" is not organic? That's right. Whole Foods is not as great as you thought is was, and is definitely not worth the money (most of the time).

Who can blame the people who think its all organic? Whole Foods promotes themselves as a "natural" and "organic" store. I will give it to them. Them have plenty of great holistic body care products, and a good selection of produce and groceries in many different categories like, Local, Vegetarian, Vegan, Paleo, and Gluten-Free. But just because they have all those options, and they sound good, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are. Let's go through each category.

Local. Supporting Local Farmers is wonderful! Going to a farmer's market, and picking up freshly picked tomatoes is one of the best feelings in the world, but supporting Local organic farmers feels even better. No, Local does not mean organic. It just means that the farm the produce came from is within a certain mile radius of the store. A local farmer can still be using pesticides, herbicides, and other things that contaminate the soil, the plant, and your body.

Vegetarian. Being vegetarian is the best! It's the first step to becoming vegan. Less animals are consumed, which means less stress on your digestive system, and more ease on your conscience. But, if you stick to the vegetarian section at stores, like Whole Foods, you will be consuming a lot of soy, and other GMO products. Most vegetarian directed products have dairy products in them that are not organically raised, so are therefor toxic to your body. Even if they are organically raised they are toxic, so just go vegan.

Vegan. I love being vegan. I feel better inside and out! My mood has changed, and things have become more normal (if you know what I mean). But, I am not a vegan who eats tofu, Boca burgers, and vegan cheese. Those things have TONS of chemicals in them to make them taste the way they do. Well, I guess tofu doesn't because it doesn't have a taste on its own, but it is made completely of soy, and soy is toxic to your body (organic or not). Whole Foods has many Vegan products, but most are not organic. Sprouts is a much better option to find Organic Vegan food.

Paleo. Paleo is good. I've never done it before, but I have family members who have. Paleo isn't focused on organic, anyway, so I can understand why Whole Foods wouldn't have many organic Paleo products.

Gluten-Free. Here's the zinger. Since the Gluten-Free craze started, companies started putting "GF" on their products because they thought if people know they're Gluten-Free, they'll buy them. Well, being Gluten-Free is great! The things is, Gluten-Free doesn't mean sugar free, animal product free, chemical free, toxin free, or organic. It just means they didn't use wheat in that specific product.

So, you see, just because a company makes something sound good, doesn't mean it really is. I'm not trying to shun Whole Foods, but I do think they should be trying to get more organic products in.

Allyson Marie

Please see other posts on Whole Foods:

Whole Foods Market and Monsanto Partner Up to Halt GMO-Labeling

Why is Whole Foods in Love with Canola Oil????

How to Save Money on Organic Produce in Nashville, TN - 6 Tips For Saving Money

A lot of people think that eating organic fruits and vegetables is expensive. Well, it doesn't have to be, if you play your cards right. This week I am talking about how to save money on organic produce in Nashville, TN.

I live in Nashville, so I can't speak for any other cities or states, but I'm sure if you look around, you'll be able to find some of the things that I will talk about.

 

 

How to Save Money on Organic Produce in Nashville, TN

1. Shop According to the Weekly Ad

   Most health food stores, and regular grocery stores have weekly ads. Sprouts, a new grocery store here, has a lot of Organic Produce, and some of it is the same price, or cheaper than conventional produce, when they put it on sale. For example: this week they have a 5lb bag of organic russet potatoes for $1.98! That's just about $0.40 a pound (before tax)! I've never seen potatoes that cheap! Here, on my blog, I have a page dedicated to the weekly ads of all health food and grocery stores, here and around Nashville, TN. If you would like an easy source to see all the sales on Organic Produce, please click here. 

2. Buy In Season

   Have you ever started buying a fruit or vegetable that you really started to like, and then one day when you went to the store, it wasn't there, or its price shot up? Just FYI, it changed seasons, and the fruit or vegetable stopped producing. That means they can't get as much of it, if any, as they did in the previous season. What you need to do to not be disappointed, or forced to pay a pretty penny is learn the seasons of your favorite fruits and vegetables. You probably already know that Pumpkins come out in the Fall, and Watermelons in Summer, but what about strawberries? Cauliflower? Learn the seasonal fruits and veggies, so you don't spend your whole paycheck!

3.  Buy In Bulk, If You Can

   Some stores will give you a deal if you buy a case of a certain fruit or vegetable. If you are the only one in your household, this may not be the best option for you, unless you know you will eat it all. If you buy in bulk, but there is a lot of waste, you didn't save any money. Costco and Sam's Club are also great places to look for organic produce! If you don't have a Costco or Sam's Club membership, never fear, you probably have a friend or family member who does, and would gladly take you shopping with them!
   

4.  Look For Closeouts

   Most grocery stores have a section where they put produce that is ripening too much, and they reduce the price of it. They also might do Manager's Specials if they have too much of something, and they're getting a shipment in of the same product soon. Look out for these! These can be very useful! For example, Kroger sometimes has Organic bananas that have ripened too much for $0.49 per pound. Even if you don't think you'll eat that many bananas, you can buy them, freeze them, and use them for smoothies, and such. Then, for a few weeks at least, you won't have to buy any bananas for smoothies! See how this works?

5.  Shop Locally

   At some grocery stores shopping locally can be expensive, but get out to the Farmer's Market! Sure, in the Winter time you won't find many vendors there, but that's no excuse now! Its Spring! The time for blooming flowers and fruition! Get out there, and you'll see some grt prices from some even greater people! The best thing? You get to meet the people growing the fruits and vegetables you will be eating. How great is that?
   

6.  Buy Frozen, It's Okay

   Don't worry about buying fresh all the time. Sometimes things just won't be in the budget, and that's okay. Frozen is the next best, and its great for making smoothies, or a Raw Ice Cream! in some cases Frozen might even have more nutrients than fresh because it is going straight from the farm to a freezer. Its not traveling all that way. Just always make sure its organic, and it really is cheaper than Fresh. Also, if you think you can't afford the fresh, look in your cart and see if you can give something up that might not be as healthy as that fresh fruit or veggie. Sometimes you just have to cut back on your comforts to be able to eat healthier.
   
   See? Eating organically doesn't have to be expensive. you just have to know how to look for deals, and play the seasons.
   
   Thank you so much for reading, and I hope this was helpful!
   
   Allyson
   
   P.S. Happy April Fool's Day, but this wasn't a prank! :p