Next time you go shopping, use this as your grocery list!
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While grocery shopping we tend to gravitate towards items that look appealing at the moment. That can lead to a grocery cart full of processed junk, sugar, and empty carbs. Make a shopping list and stick to items from each of the categories below to get a balance of nutrients and a variety of different yet healthy and nutritious foods.
Before we turn you loose in the grocery store, remember the following 3 shopping rules:
- Never shop on an empty stomach
- Make a shopping list and stick to it
- Shop the perimeter as much as possible
And with that in mind, here’s a list to get you started. Click on the links to order products and familiarize yourself with the packaging. This list is not inclusive, just designed to give you some ideas.
Whole Foods Shopping List: Whole Grains
- 100% Whole wheat flour (we use a lot of whole wheat pastry flour – big difference!)
- 100% Whole-wheat or whole-grain bread
- 100% Whole-wheat pasta
- 100% Whole-wheat pitas or tortillas (the sprouted variety is also wonderful)
- Amaranth
- Barley
- Brown rice
- Buckwheat – hot cereal or flour
- Bulgur
- Quinoa (technically a seed, but treated as a grain)
- Rye
- Spelt
- Steel cut oatmeal
- Whole-grain breakfast cereal like millet or Whole Grain Buckwheat Cereal
- Wild rice
Whole Foods Shopping List: Canned/Jarred Items
- Canned beans with no added sugar and little to no added sodium
- Canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- Light coconut milk
- Marinara, no sugar added, low sodium
- Olives
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Tomato sauce /paste, no sugar added and little to no added sodium
- Tuna packed in water
- Unsweetened fruit
- Vegetable or chicken stock/broth , no sugar or dextrose added, and little to no added sodium (we love the Imagine brand)
Note that acidic products like tomatoes or pineapple are better purchased in glass jars whenever possible.
Whole Foods Shopping List: Dried Fruits and Nuts
- Almonds, pistachios, and walnuts, to name just a few
- Dried cranberries, fruit juice sweetened
- Raisins and other dried fruits such as apricots with no added sugar
Whole Foods Shopping List: Condiments and Spices
- Balsamic vinegar
- Herbs and spices of all varieties (not the spice mixes like taco seasoning, just the pure herbs.)
- Mustard with no added sugar
- Naturally sweetened ketchup (we love OrganicVille Ketchup)
- Non-fat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream or mayo
- Safflower oil, grape seed oil, walnut oil and extra virgin olive oil
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
Whole Foods Shopping List: Vegetables (Fresh or Frozen)
-
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Avocados (technically a fruit)
- Beets
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage (all kinds)
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Garlic
- Green beans
- Greens such as spinach, chard, collard or kale
- Leeks
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Parsnips
- Radishes
- Rutabagas
- Shallots
- Squash of all kinds (we love butternut, spaghetti squash and sugar pie pumpkins)
- Sweet potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Turnips
Whole Foods Shopping List: Fruits (fresh or frozen with no added sugar)
-
- Apples
- Apricots
- Bananas
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
- Grapefruits
- Grapes
- Kiwi
- Lemons
- Mangoes
- Nectarines
- Oranges
- Peaches
- Pineapple
- Plums
- Plutos
- Pomegranates
- Raspberries
- Star fruit
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
Whole Foods Shopping List: Lean Meats (buy organic when you can)
- Fish of all kinds
- Chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- Whole chicken (more cost effective)
- Turkey
- Bison or venison (in place of beef)
- Eggs
Whole Foods Shopping List: Beans & Legumes (dry or canned)
- Adzuki beans
- Black beans
- Chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
- Kidney beans
- Lentils (all types)
- Navy beans
- Pinto beans
- Split peas
- White beans
Whole Foods Shopping List: The bulk section
If your local health food store offers a bulk section, be sure to check it out. The items there are typically very healthy and you save money when you shop in bulk.
Be sure to check out these healthy recipes that incorporate some foods on the list.
- 15 High-Protein Low-Carb Dinner Recipes
- 37 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes for Weight Loss
- 28 High-Protein Dinners
Anything you would add to the list? Let us know in the comments!
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This post was originally published July 7, 2012
Thanks for publishing this list. It will be a great help!!!
Pam – Glad you found it useful!
haha, nevermind, I answered my question 🙂
No problem! 🙂
Question: in the fruits section I didn't notice blackberries mentioned. Is there a reason to avoid them or was it an oversight?
blackberries were mentioned, in the fruits category towards the top
Question: in the fruits section I didn’t notice blackberries mentioned. Is there a reason to avoid them or was it an oversight?
Is there a list for a low carb diet
Teresae, Not as of this writing…maybe soon!
Yeah, because I can't eat half the stuff on this list.
I don't see an answer for this question. I would like to know too.
The list is not inclusive…just some ideas to get you started. 🙂
Blackberries are listed under blueberries halfway down the fruit selection.
Thanks!
how about a gluten free list
Great idea. We're actually working on that now. 🙂
What about dairy? Is almond milk really better for you than 1% milk? And what about coffee creamers? I am trying to lose weight so any advice is appreciated.
Annette, As far as whole foods go, if you don't have any issues with dairy…then drink away. There's so much disagreement on dairy and whether or not it causes inflammation in the body. Almond milk is good but the commercial kind is typically full of other ingredients…not so healthy. So unless you make your own with a powerful blender or vitamix…I'd stay with 1%. Also, as far as coffee creamer…I'm having a cup of Joe as I type this and I make my own. Here's how with my simple recipe: Morning Cup of Joe in the Raw
What do you mean by commercial stuff? So does that mean Silk isn’t good for your heart like it says it is?
Miranda, It means that it’s important to read the Ingredient’s list in everything you consume.
How about a printable .pdf list with check boxes? Like the Ultimate Shopping list layout?
Myra, There is a red print button on the right top part of the post.
Unsweetened almond milk is better for you than pasteurized cows milk, especially if you are not drinking organic and/or raw cows milk. Cows milk is very high in fat, (not that all fat is bad for you, our bodies need healthy fats to balance our blood sugar/insulin levels as well as make our cell walls). Also pasteurized milk also causes inflammation in our bodies along with being loaded with hormones and antibiotics.
If you use any coffee creamer, make sure it is plain creamer, and organic. Never use the fake flavored creamers, especially if you are trying to lose wight.
Jennifer,
Thanks for the tips…we love feedback! 🙂
What about coconut milk creamers? I've been using the So Delicious brand….
I've been reading a lot lately about how BPA lines the inside of food cans. Have you heard that? Is it true? If it is, we should probably only eat fresh, frozen or food in glass containers, right?
might be wary of plastic frozen food bags
Yes, that is true, but I'm talking specifically about BPA plastic lining cans, not frozen foods.
Ingrid, True.
Kimberly, Yes I know about BPA in cans. It's always best to eat fresh or frozen when possible.
Respectfully disagree that almond milk is healthier than cow's milk. There are many important nutrients present in cow's mild that are not in almond milk. And please, do your research on the dangers of raw milk before you ever drink it.
Kelly, There is so much disagreement on the subject…and I'm talking from 'so called' experts. Personally, I drank raw milk until I was an adult, without problems. That's been awhile and I'm sure it's much less safe today. Thanks for your feedback.
Kelly, I agree that there are some nutrients that are found in cow's milk that are not in almond milk. The challenge with cow's milk is the processing it goes through and not in the milk itself. Although I will say that most of our milk today is coming from cows that have been fed a grain diet filled with growth hormones that make them sick, resulting in the need for antibiotics which are passed through the cow, into their milk and onto you and I. Then raw milk is pasteurized to kill bacteria. The pasteurization process eliminates the digestive enzymes that are inherent in raw milk needed to break down the lactose. In raw milk, which yes you need to be confident in the source, the enzymes have not been destroyed, so it is more easily digested. It is very important that if you consume dairy, it should be from an organic source at the least and preferably grass fed as well. You cannot find raw milk in the grocery store, but you can find raw cheese which has been aged for at least 60 days to ensure the bad bacteria has been eliminated. It is absolutely safe and delicious.
Be careful of the amount of added sugars there are in artificial creamers. Read the labels.
This is a great starter for me. Thanks a bunch
Tracy, You're welcome! 🙂
Hi. What would you recommend to use a a sweetener? I like to drink tea, and use honey…
If you’re looking for a natural unrefined sweetener, I would recommend both Coconut Sugar and liquid Stevia.
Hi there, what about zucchini? 🙂
Hi Grace,
Zucchini is definitely a great whole. There are hundreds of wonderful whole foods. The list could go on forever… 🙂
A good read …I would really like to see some videos and tips on how to do weekly meal prep maybe including modifications for someone living in a small condo with no freezer other than the small one with the fridge.I don’t know why but the thought of meal prepping feels overwhelming so any tips would be great.
Hi Diee, Check these recipes for two https://skinnyms.com/?s=for+two
I notice Olive Oil absent from many plant based shopping lists. I love it on my salads.
Is there a better alternative?
Al, Personally, I like Tahini as an alternative to oil. It adds that nutty flavor.