THE GROCERY LIST

We are surrounded by plenty of grocery stores, but which one really has the best bang for your buck? To be honest I switch off between two different stores in order to get my favorite goods and still stay with my budget. It may be easier to stick to that one store, but if you’re looking to save some money and get a variety of enjoyable food choices then I recommend branching out between a couple different stores!

My main two stores are Sprouts and Trader Joe’s. In the rest of this post I will explain which foods/products are best to purchase from each store as well as some others that I will occasionally visit.

Trader Joe’s:

Almond Milk- perfect size for just one person at a reasonable price. I get the original unsweetened to avoid added sugars.

Hummus- well priced. I like the original flavor in the blue packaging

Vegan Kale Pesto- a fun dairy-free alternative that I use on almost everything(if you’ve seen my Instagram then you know0

Rolled Oats- a big bag of oats for $3.99 that lasts me ages. Always buy plain oats and naturally sweeten yourself-you can microwave these too if you’re about convenience.

Peanut Butter/Almond Butter/Cashew Butter- probably the best priced nut butter because it’s a Trader Joe’s product. I always get the natural, unsalted kind-ingredients are just the nuts and nothing else.

Eggs- I just get the organic cage free. Always organic.

Baking Supplies- Almond flour, honey, vanilla extract, coconut sugar, baking soda/powder, chocolate chips.

Spices- well priced and lots of fun options to spice up your life!

Avocados- I get the green bag of about 4-5. A reasonable price and they are typically always in good shape if you really search for the right bag for you.

Cauliflower Rice/Frozen Berries/Frozen Meals- I believe TJ’s has the best frozen section with plenty of options that are budget friendly and fun! I mostly shop their frozen section out of any other store.

Meat- I get their lean ground chicken, chicken sausage, and frozen turkey burgers. Again, budget friendly for good food-no probably not grass-fed, but not the worst for you.

Canned Goods- great organic options that are cheap.

Pasta- offer fun alternatives as well as just your normal pasta. Budget friendly.

Sprouts:

Trader Joe’s makes it very easy for families to shop for healthy goods on a budget, but Sprouts has awesome sales! I recommend reading their weekly ad to see what deals you can score-honestly one of my favorite things to look at.

Produce- I typically don’t have problems with any of the produce I purchase. I get all my fruits and veggies that I need, some on sale as well.

Bars- There is at least one brand I enjoy always on sale, so this were I stock up on those quick snacks when on-the-go.

Brand Name Products- When they are having a superb sale I will stock up on my favorite pricier products. This is when I get my gluten free/dairy free crackers, granola, cereal, frozen waffles, yogurt, popcorn, tea, kombucha, nut butters, eggs, pasta, chocolate.

Deli Meat- sliced fresh with options to buy a smaller or bigger amount.

Trail Mix/ Nuts- I like the bulk section that allows you to choose how much you want When shopping for one I don’t need a huge bag of trail mix/nuts.

Bread- many options whether you are gluten free or just looking for a budget friendly whole grain loaf that won’t spoil too soon.

Rice Cakes- I just their unsalted and they’re super cheap.

Other stores I randomly end up at~

Costco:

Bulk sized almond butter and peanut butter. I LOVE THEIR ALMOND BUTTER.

Avocados

Fun snacks- good nut clusters, chocolate covered nuts, ect.

Paper Goods- toilet paper, paper towels, and napkins

Whole Foods:

I only shop here when my favorite brand names are on sale. I typically look out for tea, nut butter, chocolate, chips, ice cream, kombucha, and granola.

I honestly just love to eat at their hot bar because who doesn’t love buffet style?!

Vons:

If you’re a club member you can really benefit from their club sales prices. Again I typically look for my favorite products on sale.

Deli meat- cut fresh in front of you and can choose how much you want.

Bread- many options at a fair price.

Bagged Salad Mixes- easy to mix for a quick lunch and can serve about 2-3 people.

Hope this helps your grocery adventure! Happy shopping~

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Photos thanks to Tom Williams

Photos thanks to Tom Williams

Brittney Gingrich