Now, grocery shopping doesn't necessarily seem like it would be a treat. But if you're like me and plan your shopping trips like a CFO might strategize his annual financial presentation, figuring out which store will have the best bargains and what meals will yield leftovers enough for lunch, then a leisurely Saturday afternoon trip to the gorgeous culinary wonderland of Whole Foods is indeed a treat.
I love the gorgeously displayed organic [2] produce, the mounds of beautiful artisan cheeses piled high on their wooden crates, the rows of gleaming, line-caught fish in the display case, and the bakers in their toques pulling whole-grain breads out of the ovens. For a foodie who is also an environmentalist, Whole Foods is definitely nirvana.
But somehow, picking up fixings for one little meal often ends up being $40—nearly half what I normally spend during my Monday night shops at Publix for the whole week! After a few too many visits like this, I started becoming more aware that these indulgences are blowing my shopping budget. After all, for $40, we could probably eat out at a halfway decent restaurant.
I guess there's a reason why some people refer, rather uncharitably [3], to the organic-foods emporium as "Whole Paycheck."
But Whole Foods must be all too aware of its reputation, because I've noticed that, at least at our local market, the management has been making efforts to show how you, too, can shop at Whole Foods without breaking the bank. Last summer, there was a weekly in-store workshop called something like "Whole Foods on a Budget."
And the other day, I picked up a recipe booklet called, "Meals for Four Under $15." Emphasizing Whole Foods' house brand, 365 Organic, the booklet offers a week's worth of family-friendly dinner recipes. The simultaneously fun and thrifty meals included "Roll Your Own Burrito Night," "Grilled Mozzarella Sandwiches with Tomato and Basil Tortellini Soup," and "Spaghetti and Meatballs." It appears that lots of cheese and starch is the way to make even the cheapest meal tasty and satisfying.
I was particularly taken with "Breakfast for Dinner"—eggs scrambled with onion, green pepper and cheese, with cornbread and sausage links on the side. This brought back childhood memories of our own "Breakfast for Dinner" of omelets or pancakes. It was unclear whether this flight of fancy was due to my parents feeling poor, or more plausibly, because my dad was in charge of that particular supper.
But I digress...
This past Saturday, during my weekly visit to Whole Foods, I tried instead to stick to my list and not get distracted by the samples of expensive cheeses, the aisles of organic wines, and the bakery, strategically placed at the end of my shopping route, just beckoning me to grab a snack for the road.
I still ended up spending about $30, somehow, on organic Portobello mushrooms, fresh mozzarella cheese, locally grown [3] zucchini, and—I couldn't resist—a bottle of organic Malbec. After all, it's the weekend!
Sure, it was a splurge, but the earth-lover in me always feels good toting home a bag (reusable, natch) filled with eco-friendly choices. And the meal I concocted from my shop—grilled Portobello mushrooms topped pizza-style [3] with mozzarella cheese—was well worth the extra money. As was the glass of wine that I sipped as I settled down to watch a movie.
In My Kitchen
Every week, I tally my grocery bill, and give you a peek at what's on the dinner table at our house.
Note: It was a busy week, and we got take-out more than usual.
Groceries: $59.81
Meals Prepared:
- Stir-fried flank steak, red peppers, onions and broccoli on brown rice
- Portobello Pizzas [3] grilled zucchini, couscous