Grocery Shopping

I thought I would share what I usually buy at the store and try to keep in stock.  When I began this journey years ago, I would just use up what we had and replace it with the healthy version.  It took a while to convert.  Be patient with yourself.  It is trial and error finding brands that you like.  There have been seasons in this journey that I have been vegan, had no dairy, no wheat, never ate anything out of package but I think what we have settled on for now is that we eat real food.  We try to eat it as close to the way God created it and stay away from artifical junk.  You will see some healthier junk food under "snacks" that would by no means be as healthy as eating some "kale" but it is better than eating a bag of "cheetos". I try to buy the healthier cookies from WF that do not have trans fats and artificial things...if we wanted a treat or I bake it myself.  I have tried to share some my kids favorite things on this list, too. You can find everything listed at Whole Foods and some of the things at Hy-Vee, Bakers and Super Target. 

• Veggies- spinach, zucchini, red & yellow peppers, tomatoes, avocadoes, other dark leafy greens, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, asparagus, large bag of carrots for juicing, sometimes kale, cabbage and beets for juicing.  (Pick your favorites and try 1 new veggie a week)
• Fresh fruit-blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, fuji apples, pears, grapefruits, oranges, bananas and pomegranites (This varies...pick your favorites)
• dates
• Raw nuts unsalted and plain (cashews, almonds, walnuts, pinenuts, pumpkin seeds and pecans)
• Fresh ground peanut butter and almond butter at WF
• Mustard
• Bragg's 24 herbs and spices seasoning
• All types of herbs
• Organic Fruit Sweetened Ketchup
• Bragg's Salad dressing
• Sea salt
• Organic Butter
• Cold Pressed Olive Oil
• Coconut Oil-Spectrum is my favorite brand
• Bragg's liquid aminos
• Bragg's apple vinegar cidar
• Red wine vinegar
• Pomegranite vinegar (great for making salad dressings)
• Cans of albacore tuna
• Capers
• Cans of Artichoke Hearts
• Cans of Black olives
• Whole Wheat, Spelt, Ezekial Pastas (Lasagna noodles and spaghetti)
• Muir Glen Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
• Cans of unsalted beans (Black, Pinto, Black eyed, Kidney and White)
• Bags of uncooked beans (try Mung, Azuki, Lentils)
• Whole Grain Couscous from the bins at WF
• Granola (Triple Berry or a Meusli without sugar) at WF in the bins
• Hummus (WF Red Pepper is my favorite)
• Ezekial Bread(sesame seed, cinnamon raisin or plain)
• Ezekial Bread English muffins
• Ezekial Cereal (Almond, Raisin or plain)
• Frozen Whole Grain Waffles for the kids when we are in a hurry.  They like the Kashi Honey Wheat the best but I try to buy 100% whole grain most of the time
• Steel Cut Oats Bob's Red Mill
• Rolled Whole Oats in bin at WF or Bob's Red Mill
• Thompson's large raisins (These are in the bins at WF and they are AWESOME)
• Whole wheat flour
• Oat Flour
• Spelt Flour
• Eggs
• Organic skim milk
• organic unsalted chicken and veggie broth
• Annie's Whole Wheat Macaroni and Cheese for the kids
• Brown or Wild Rice
• Other grains-barley, oat bran and any types of grains that I might want on hand for recipes
• Chia Seeds
• Plain unsweetened Kefir
• Frozen Fruit (mangos, blueberries, mixed berry any and all)
• Frozen Veggies (I keep a good stock in case I run out of fresh during the week)
• Whole Grain Pizza crust from WF or I make a homemade spelt one
• Amy's frozen Bean and Cheese burritos for the kids to have a quick, healthier version
• Ezekial wraps (Corn and Whole Grain)
• Organic Cheese (mild cheddar, mozzarella, parmesean)
• Rice and Almond Milk
• Xylitol
• Agave Syrup
• Lemon and Lime juice
• Organic Cottage Cheese
• St Dalfour all fruit spread or other brand of all fruit no sugar jelly (NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETNERS)
• Ground Flax
• Vegenaise (instead of mayo)
• Greek Yogurt
• Brown Cow Yogurt Plain Unsweetened
• Frozen Wheat Grass

Meats

• Fresh Salmon-from WF or Absolutely Fresh
• Fresh Tilipia
• Organic Chicken
• Organic Beef (not often)
• Skinless Chicken Breakfast Links (not often)
• Wellshire Turkey Bacon (not often)

SNACKS

• unsweetened apple sauce
• Original Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks (Kids LOVE them)
• Pirate Booty in the chip section of WF 
• Popcorn (whole kernels and I cook them in coconut oil on stove for the kids)
• Whole Grain Graham Crackers at WF
• Feldkamp Famous German Fitness Bread
• Kavli Crispy Thin Whole Grain Crispbread (it's a cracker)Mary's Cracker's Twigs Sea Salt
• Mary's Organic Sea Salt Twigs
• Ryvita Sesame Rye Crackers
• Spelt Pretzels
• Dried Fruit juice sweetened cranberries
• POM juice
• Cascadian Organic Purely O's Cereal for the kids
• Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato Chips (these are great)
• Julie's organic ice cream bars (I do NOT keep these often but they are REALLY good)
• Uncle Eddie's Cookies at WF (This is a RARE Treat)
• Newman's Fig Newtons (Rare but if occasionally)
• Orange Juice

This can vary but these are some things that we really enjoy eating.  If I am cooking a certain recipe then I will buy whatever I need for that recipe but these are my go to foods for our family. 

Please let me know if you have any questions about where to find anything. 

Happy Shopping!!

Melissa