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I took the Whole Foods Market Value Challenge!

A few weeks ago  Whole Foods Market sent me a $100 gift card and asked me to take their Value Challenge to feed my family for  a week.  I was, to say the least, skeptical. I didn’t think I’d come anywhere close to feeding my family of 5 for  a week- but several days later, after a pretty amazing shopping experience….I almost did it.  Almost. I went a few dollars over (and I mean a few- the total for the groceries for 1 week was I think $108.xx but definitely under $110).

whole foods madness sale

That’s right- I shopped Whole Foods Market and took the Whole Foods Value Challenge and (almost) rocked it!  HOW is it possible?

You have to be a smart shopper.  First thing?  Check the sales.  Seriously.  Shop the sales.  Whole Foods Market even has these cool fliers found in a few different places in the store that give you menu ideas for your family in certain price amounts.  They tell you what to buy.  Now, if you are like me and hate planning meals— this is for you.  Trust me.

whole foods $100 challenge

The next thing you want to do is check around for some coupons.  Manufacturer coupons, and store coupons.  Whole Foods Market has a coupon booklet they put out every few months.  They have extras by the customer service booth, and a few places around the store.  At customer service, there’s (at least at every Whole Foods Market I’ve been in) always a little basket with like coupons paper clipped together.  All for the taking. (And the giving, so leave your extras).

Check Facebook.  Erica, my guardian shopper, even told me that a staff member at her store finds amazing deals and coupons, which is how we came to enjoy so much Risotto from Whole Foods Market- for $0.49 each.  COUPONS and sales, my friends.  Even at Whole Foods Market.  Ask the staff.  Chances are, they work at Whole Foods Market because it jives with their lifestyle too- and most people try to be smart with money these days.  I’m sure they’d be more than happy to give you tips and suggestions!

whole foods sale

What kind of meals did we eat for this $108?

Dinner: Eggs, salsa, cheese omelets, fresh fruit on side, loaf of fresh bread ($1.49 with coupon!)  18 eggs cost me less than at my regular grocery store (sale)

Snacks: chips, salsa (weekly deal)

Dinner: Split chicken breasts marinated in 365 Italian Dressing, roasted potato, salad.  (Cooked extra, saved for another night)

Dinner: Stuffed clams- $1/each.  served with risotto ( $0.49 each) and some salad (spring mix was the same price for a huge plastic bin as my regular store has in non-organic bags!)

Sides for Breakfast and Lunch, and Snacks: pineapple, grapes (hands down, the best.grapes.ever), apples – produce is always what gets me but oh so good

 Dessert: 365 Chocolate Graham Cookies- Whole Foods’ answer to Teddy Grahams.  You have been warned.  An open bag=empty bag.  Goodness.

Dinner: Spaghetti Squash with sauce and a salad? Meat free dinner!

Dinner: Kielbasa, sauerkraut (and veggies I had from the garden)

Dinner: General Tso’s chicken (pre-made meal was a splurge $11.99 BUT this is far less than we’d spend for take-out and far healthier) I added more broccoli, filled 5 of us up.

Lunch: Earth’s Best Chicken Nuggets (on sale, plus coupon found at store for $1/bag), fruit, yogurt

Lunch: Chicken at prepared food counter- only a few pieces, but chopped up into salads lasted me for 2 full lunches (3 pieces chicken on a stick, about $3.00)

Breakfast: 365 brand “O” cereal, and brown rice cereal (krispies), fruit, yogurt (Brown Cow, on sale)

Dinner: Homemade pizza- leftover chicken from previous dinner, Irish Cheddar cheese (on sale for less than our normal brand goes for at grocery store) and a little barbeque sauce (already had)  with salad

Lunch: Peanut Butter (365 crunchy- SO good) and Jelly (blackberry)

Dinner: Leftover chicken breast shredded up and served on some of the fresh bread loaf with couscous and salad.

We still have some packets of Risotto left.

I’m still in shock that I was able to buy all of that and have food leftover.

I did BUY more at Whole Foods Market when I was there on my trip, but they weren’t menu items for my week– some health and beauty items I like to buy there.  So those aren’t  included in my total.  My eyes have been opened, and I’m still very surprised at how the folks AT Whole Foods Market  kind of hand you the ways to save on a platter, so to speak- the sales, combined with recipes (and not just for a main dish!) and coupons- it’s almost like they are so obvious about helping us to save more and eat better foods.  The savings were NOT all on the store brand, either, which really surprised me.

I’m kind of thinking that perhaps one of YOU wants to take the Whole Foods Market Challenge, and see if you can feed your family for a week with $100? One reader is going to win a $100 Gift Card to Whole Foods Market to do just that!
1. To enter, leave a comment and tell me where the closest Whole Foods Market is to you.

Want extra entries? 

2. Like my Facebook page (leave a comment on this post that you are a fan)

3. Like Whole Foods Market on Facebook (leave a comment on this post that you are a fan)

4. Share this giveaway-  Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, email  (+1 entry each, just leave a comment with the link of your share please) (This can be done daily but you need to leave a new URL in a new comment each day).

This giveaway will end at 11:59 pm EST on November 4, 2012.  Winner to be chosen randomly.  US only.  One entrant per household.  A gift card  was provided to me for this challenge, but opinions are my own. 

About Brett

I'm a 40 something lifestyle blogger living in Connecticut with my husband and our 3 kids, plus our two rescue pups. We love to hike, travel, play games, watch movies, and just be outside together! Having 3 active kids makes for a hectic schedule and I try to share content, recipes and other things that can help to make today's busy family life simpler, easier, or just plain more fun!

I started working full time at a local middle school in fall 2021 and some of my students are insistent that I am mean.

Comments

  12. Rose says

    There are TWO Whole Foods within one mile of me. I’m doubly blessed!!! One is about a quarter mile and I walk there all the time.

  71. Heather O says

    The closest Whole Foods Market is 10 minutes from me, but I drive 20 minutes to one I like better each week with my 2 and 4 year old. They have healthy snacks for the kids(in lieu of cookie at most stores). And we end up making a morning out of our grocery shopping, picking up lunch from their prepared foods area on the way out! We love it!

  146. Victoria Lester says

    I’m a fan on facebook on yours
    I’m victoria liester on facebook
    victorialester777 at yahoo dot com

  147. Victoria Lester says

    I’m a fan on facebook: Whole Foods Market
    I’m victoria liester on facebook
    victorialester777 at yahoo dot com

  148. Victoria Lester says

    The closest one is located at:
    2918 East Walton Boulevard Rochester Hills, MI 48309
    (248) 371-1400
    victorialester777 at yahoo dot com

  239. Wild Orchid says

    shared on fb–https://www.facebook.com/crave.tosave/posts/428332287234200

    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

  240. Wild Orchid says

    tweet–https://twitter.com/CrazyItalian0/status/263421676778303488

    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

  243. Wild Orchid says

    We have a whole foods in VA about 20 minutes from my home.
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

  281. Nicole Larsen says

    The next town over from us just opened a brand new Whole Foods! It’s maybe 15 mins away!

  316. Jemima P says

    The closest one is in Middletown, NJ, but I like the one in Princeton a little better, I think!

  372. Martha Michaud says

    I am a fan. I can’t believe you got all that at Whole Foods spending only $108. I like the Whole Foods in Glastonbury, CT

  380. tracy simms says

    sorry if this is a duplicate…I like whole foods but the closet to me is over 20 miles so I will need to win this and have a lot of coupons before I got to 6401 Woodway Dr
    Suite 149
    Houston Texas 77057.
    thanks

  381. tracy simms says

    I like whole foods but the closet to me is over 20 miles so I will need to win this and have a lot of coupons before I got to 6401 Woodway Dr
    Suite 149
    Houston Texas 77057.
    thanks

  399. Dena S. says

    3. Like Whole Foods Market on Facebook (leave a comment on this post that you are a fan) I am a fan — Dena Sablotny

  400. Dena S. says

    2. Like my Facebook page (leave a comment on this post that you are a fan) I am a fan.
    Dena Sablotny

  401. Dena S. says

    1. To enter, leave a comment and tell me where the closest Whole Foods Market is to you. Chicago, IL

  430. Allison Downes says

    closest one is 3100 Cahaba Village Plaza
    Birmingham Alabama 35243
    United States

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

    lola_violets_2010{at}yahoo[dot]com

  516. Eileen says

    I know exactly where our nearest is…just off University Ave. in Madison. Not sure if our big family could make it on a $100 but with coupons and using their instore booklet sales coupons maybe?

  598. Annie says

    The closest Whole Foods to me is one town south. I like to try and get there every other month.

  600. Annie says

    The closest Whole Foods to me is just one town south. I usually try to make it there every other month!

  601. sandy weinstein says

    my whole foods is abt 30 min away, on six forks rd, raleigh,nc, i live in wake forest, nc

  609. Nicole Strunk says

    The nearest whole foods or the one I visit most is a very short walking distance from my work. There is also one about 4 miles from my home.

  638. mary fanara coleman says

    The nearest one is in University Heights, OHio…just about 10min from my house.

  683. Jackie says

    The closest to me is in Ridgewood, NJ…about 15 minutes from my home.
    Thank you!
    jackievillano at gmail dot com

  699. Denise Wilson says

    The closest one to us is about 20 miles away. It is on the north side of Indianapolis, and we live on the south side.

  701. Laurel T says

    The closest is in Metairie LA. I bought some risotto last night. Try the butternut squash flavor!

  707. Melanie Rhodes says

    I liked you on FBook. I live in Houston TX. Thankfully there are multiple WF near me!! 🙂

  742. Lauren O says

    The closest Whole Foods is just 10 minutes away, I’ve always wanted to try it, but figured on Single income we would never be able to afford it. Hope I win!

  756. Dana says

    We hit the Fairfield and Milford CT Whole Foods….Love them! always thought of it as “whole paycheck” but of course, you have taught me a better way. Love this!!!

  757. Amy says

    I am a fan of Whole foods on Facebook!!

    Sorry for the duplicate comment @ being a fan of yours…computer was acting whacky! 🙂

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