Our Whole Foods Pantry, Freezers and Refrigerator
By
After several hours of list making, link finding and price figuring, here is the resource I’ve been promising for such a long time! I’ve tried to include everything that typically can be found in my fridge, freezers, pantry and bulk storage. I obviously don’t have all of these items on hand all of the time, but I do try to keep a good stock of most of these items so that I am flexible to put together a variety of healthy meals, as well as open our home to guests frequently.
I’ve included prices I prefer to spend on each item, but prices vary depending on which site is offering a sale. Keep in mind that prices are going to vary depending on where you live as well. Because I live in a small town with very few whole foods/organic food grocery store options, I buy most of my food from local farmers, from online shops or from Azure Standard, depending on where I find a better deal. (Plus, I try to save up most of my Swagbuck earnings to purchase food occasionally for “free” from Amazon.)
I buy almost all of the listed items in bulk quantities because I know we’ll use it. I also try to purchase just about all of the items in this list in organic form if possible.
Because you are all reading from different locations, I also recommend that you read through the comments on this post in order to find a health food co-op or whole food resources in your area. Also, check out LocalHarvest to find meat, milk, eggs and produce in your area.
Hopefully the linking system I used in each section is user friendly! If I linked to Tropical Traditions, Amazon, Azure Standard or Mountain Rose Herbs, I tried to link each item to the specific product page on those sites for easy navigation.
If you’re curious, you can read more about our food budget for our family of 6 here.
And now, without further ado, here is my very long list of grocery items I love to have on hand:
Dairy
In addition to the following products, occasionally I make butter and mozzarella cheese, if I have enough milk/cream/time.
Milk – I am blessed to only pay $4.00/gallon for raw, organic milk.
Cream – I buy this raw from our milk farmers – $3/pint.
Buttermilk – Homemade
Kefir – Homemade
Yogurt – Homemade
Sour Cream – Homemade
Butter – I usually purchase a case of Willow Made Sweet Cream, Unsalted Butter from Azure Standard. The case lasts us 2-3 months and averages to be $3.50/pound.
Cheese – I purchase raw organic Landmark white cheddar cheese from Azure Standard. It is $5.47/pound if purchased by the case.
Meat/Eggs/Beans
I purchase most of my grass fed beef and free range whole chickens from a local farm – NorthStar Neighbors. Occasionally, I will get it from Tropical Traditions if they have a great sale.
Hamburger Meat – $4.35/pound at most
Cube Steak – $4.95/pound
Stew Meat – $4.95/pound
Beef Roast - $5.55/pound
Chickens (whole) – $12/extra large chicken, which I can stretch to feed my family six meals!
Chicken Breasts – I typically purchase Smart Chicken brand when it’s on sale at our local grocery store for $3.oo/pound or less.
Deer Meat - from local hunters who like to share
Tuna (canned) – I buy Natural Value Yellow-Fin by the case either from Amazon or Azure Standard, shooting for $1.50/can or less.
Salmon (canned) – Rubinstein’s Wild Alaska pink salmon from Azure Standard or Roland’s from Amazon – $3.00 or less per can.
Frozen Fish, sometimes - I live in Nebraska, what can I say? We don’t have fresh fish here. I don’t necessarily trust frozen fish from a regular grocery store, but occasionally I will buy some tilapia or salmon.
Eggs – I buy these from my friend who raises free range chickens and pay $2.50/dozen.
Red Beans - Azure Standard – $1.00/pound
Black Beans - Azure Standard – $1.40/pound
Pinto Beans – Azure Standard – $1.10/pound
Garbonzo Beans – Azure Standard – $0.85/pound
Lentils - Azure Standard – $0.75/pound
Grains
Hard White Wheat – I buy this in bulk through a big Wheat Montana truck load drop off organized by a friend or from Azure Standard – $0.42/pound.
Whole Kernel Corn – Azure Standard or Tropical Traditions – $0.50/pound
Popcorn – Azure Standard, Tropical Traditions or Amazon – $1.25/pound
Rolled Oats – Azure Standard, Tropical Traditions or Amazon – $0.80/pound
Brown Rice - Azure Standard, Tropical Traditions or Amazon – $1.80/pound
Whole Wheat Pasta - Tropical Traditions or Amazon – around $2.00/pound
I sometimes have Kamut, Millet, Buckwheat, Spelt and/or Barley on hand – purchased from Azure Standard or Tropical Traditions – all less than $1.00/pound.
Baking/Cooking
Coconut Flour – Azukar Organics through Amazon (best price!) or Tropical Traditions when it’s buy one get one free – $3.50/pound or less.
Sucanat - Azure Standard or Amazon – $2.50/pound or less
Raw Honey – I purchase from a local bee keeper – $6.40/6 pounds (which is an outrageously good price)
Grade B Maple Syrup – Farmers Market or Amazon – $17.00/quart or less
Cocoa Powder – Azure Standard or Tropical Traditions – $4.25/pound or less
Vanilla Extract - I make my own; read how you can too!
Corn Starch – Azure Standard or Tropical Traditions – $3.20/8 ounce box
Arrowroot Powder – Azure Standard – $2.57/pound or less
Aluminum Free Baking Powder – Azure Standard or Amazon – $2.65/pound
Baking Soda – Azure Standard or Amazon – $1.00/pound or less
Shredded Coconut – Tropical Traditions- $17.50/gallon pail
Chocolate Chips – Homemade or Amazon – $4.50/package or less
Butterscotch Baking Chips – Homemade
Active Dry Yeast – Azure Standard or Sams (if I can get a friend with a membership to grab some for me!)
Herbs and Spices
These are purchased either from Tropical Traditions, Azure Standard or Mountain Rose Herbs. I didn’t link to any specific site for these – where I buy these depends on who has the best price at the time.
Redmonds Real Sea Salt
Garlic Powder
Turmeric
Minced Onion
Onion Powder
Onion Salt
Oregano
Basil
Cayenne Pepper
Black Pepper
Chili Powder
Paprika
Parsley
Cumin
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Condiments and Sauces
Ketchup – I make homemade ketchup or purchase Muir Glen Organic Ketchup from Amazon or Azure Standard – $2.70/bottle
Mayonnaise – I like Hain Safflower Mayo from Azure Standard – $5.50/jar or less
Mustard – Azure Standard – $2.35/bottle
Worcestershire Sauce - Azure Standard – $5.00/bottle
Soy Sauce - Azure Standard – $5.50/bottle
Liquid Smoke - Walmart ;)
Salad Dressings – I make my own, recipes are found here.
Jams and Preserves – Azure Standard or Tropical Traditions – $3.00/jar
Peanut Butter - I make my own, recipe found here
Fats
Coconut Oil, Virgin (tastes like coconut) – Tropical Traditions, Amazon, Mountain Rose Herbs – $15.00/quart
Coconut Oil, Expeller Pressed (flavorless) - Tropical Traditions, Amazon, Mountain Rose Herbs – $10.00/quart
Olive Oil – Azure Standard, Tropical Traditions – $17.00/25 ounces or less
Butter – Azure Standard (Yes, I’d already mentioned this in the dairy section, but it’s also a fat. Apparently, I love butter enough to mention it twice.)
Palm Shortening – Tropical Traditions, Amazon – $25.00 or less per gallon
Fruits and Vegetables
Tomato Sauce, Tomato Soup, Tomato Juice – we grow and can our own supply for each year
Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Peaches, Strawberries, Applesauce - we grow or buy from local farmers and preserve these ourselves each year.
Frozen Peas – Azure Standard – $7.70/5 pounds
All Other Fresh Produce – Azure Standard or local grocery stores
Nuts
Peanuts – Azure Standard or Amazon – $3.70/pound
Pistachios, Cashews, Almonds – Braga Organic Farms
Dried Fruit – Azure Standard or Braga Organic Farms
Cereal and Chips (purchased rarely)
Cornflakes – Amazon – $3.00/box
Rice Crispies - Amazon – $3.00/box
Corn Chips – Amazon – $4.00/bag
What have I forgotten to add to this page? Probably some very obvious food items! Leave a comment to let me know and I’ll add it as soon as I can.
Also, so that you will always and forever have easy access to this resource list, I have added a link at the top of my site called Whole Foods Resources. I’ve also added this pantry button to my side bar, which will link to this post:
Thanks for all your encouragement to get this list created!! You guys are awesome!
If you're new to Heavenly Homemakers, you may want to subscribe to receive free updates through RSS feed or by Email. Thanks for visiting!
nice :) thanks for sharing
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Thank you, so much, for sharing! What a great guideline!
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Onions. We try to have onions and potatoes around. Great list, Laura!
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Laura Reply:
August 7th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
Yes, those are great to have around! I get those through Azure Standard usually.
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wow! this is awesome! thank you!
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This is a fabulous post!! I am checking out Azure Standard right now…
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Thank you!! This is great!
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Nice! I’m happy to see we are not too far off! What a great post! I can see how much work this would be!
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Thank you, thank you for this list.
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Can I assume that you do not have a Costco or Trader joes near you either? If you do, is there a quality reason you wouldn’t shop for some of these items there? Just curious, and if anyone else wants to pipe in feel free. Only asking because some of these items I can find organic at those two places a little cheaper than where you get them.
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Laura Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 6:35 am
Right – the nearest Trader Joes is 50 miles away. When we go to that city, we do try to stop there. And the nearest Costco is something like 150 miles away. My town has Walmart. That’s it. :)
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Sarah Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 8:13 am
cool. thanks! What a wonderful resource you’ve made!! thanks so much!
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Abby Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 8:24 am
I was wondering the same thing Sarah. I live in Dallas & we have an abundance of Whole Foods Markets, Sprouts, and Costco’s. I was wondering the same thing.
I’m able to get organic eggs & milk & some other dairy at Costco and even Albertsons. It’s a great saving! 1 1/2 gallon of organic milk for $9.99 at Costco.
What it seems like we lack here is farms to get fresh fruit, produce, & meat at. I joined a produce co-op for like a month & it wasn’t worth it (price wise). I’ve always have it in my head to start my own garden but 1. thinking about starting one is SO intimidating to me! And 2. it’s been 110 degrees here for the last 2 months (not exaggerating!). So I’m still playing with the idea of starting a fall garden once it cools off …
Thanks SO much Laura for posting this! It’s very inspiring! :o)
Natalie Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:29 am
Abby,
You can find local farms selling raw milk in your state/area at realmilk.com. You can also find a directory of grass-fed meat, dairy, and eggs in your state at eatwild.com.
Laura,
Your site is super awesome! Thanks for all the great recipes and info!
Abby Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 7:01 am
Natalie,
What a HUGE help! Thanks so much!
The sad part is after seaching those sites, the closest farms to me are 2 hours away. :o( I need to move! lol
Natalie Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 9:09 am
Abby,
Maybe you can find something @ LocalHarvet.com or your local farmers market.
LaShell Reply:
August 11th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Abby,
I’m in Fort Worth and we get beef, milk, yogurt, and cream from Nors farm through a coop operated out of Arlington. We could also get pastured chicken from the coop, but Rosie’s pastured chickens at Sprout’s are cheaper. We just get produce from Central Market. We have a garden, but it has produced NOTHING because of the heat! Check out the coop yahoo groups website. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Whole_Living/
There’s also Lavon Farms in Plano.
Let me know if you need any more info or have any questions. lashell.labounty@gmail.com
You are awesome!! Thanks so much for doing this, “real food” is new to me and it is so confusing trying to figure out what to buy and where to buy it, not to mention what is a good price. This will be my go-to list. I know that Azure does not deliver to the east coast. Does anyone know of a co-op type place that does? Thanks again, Laura!
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Lisa Whitmore Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 7:11 am
you might check and see if unfi has a route near you. I live in the Ohio valley near Huntington WV and we use unfi as a food buyers club. The prices aren’t nearly as good as Azure and they don’t offer fresh produce but they do have a good variety of organic products I can’t find anywhere else and they prices are better than my local health food store.
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What a great resource to have! You are such a blessing! Thanks so much!!
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This could not have come at a better time! I put together a post on saving money by buying in bulk and was able to add a link to this comprehensive list of what a whole foods pantry should contain. While warehouse clubs are great for some items, I have found their selection of organic, whole foods items lacking. I sincerely appreciate the resources you add for whole foods bulk buying.
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Wow! What a great list! I will be coming back to this soon!
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i just wanted to say thank you for all the time you put into this!! it is such a great resource and i cannot thank you enough :)
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This is the best list. Thanks Laura for doing all the research and letting us enjoy too!
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Does anyone have suggestions for candied ginger? I like to use it in homemade granola. I used to get mine at Trader Joe’s but they haven’t had it for a while.
And yes, I know about stores being far away – Costco and Trader Joe’s are about an hour away. Our town has a very small store and other than people who sell veggies or eggs, that’s it.
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Abby Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 8:28 am
Have you thought about making it yourself? :o) I’ve never done it, but it doesn’t sound all that complicated.
http://www.food.com/recipe/crystallized-ginger-ginger-syrup-ginger-sugar-102933
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Brighid Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 11:23 am
I hadn’t thought of doing that! Thank you for the link – it *does* look very easy.
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Erin S Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 8:41 am
Azure Standard carries it.
http://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/1129/
So thankful for this. We can’t get Azure Standard deliveries so I was wondering if you would suggest some other butter’s if you know of any.
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Katie Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
If you have Costco near you they have Kirkland brand organis butter for about $7 for two pounds.
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I have a great resource for maple syrup that is OG. I buy mine from Branon Family Farms. They are a very small family run business and their maple syrup, when bought in the 5 gallon bulk jusg, is $42 gallon. That is a $28 per gallon savings for me! And they do all of the sugaring themselves with their kids!
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Sarah Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
Thanks for mentioning this!
Do you live local to get that deal, or can it be purchased online?
I didn’t see an option to buy 5 gallons online.
I also wasn’t sure about shipping costs for that amount!
Thanks in advance for any help with my questions!
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Laura, excellent list. Thank you. I have something similar here too ;)
I have some suggestions to make, maybe they will help you or someone else.
Have you tried Aunt Patty’s coconut oil? The regular is about $20 wholesale and the Extra Virgin is $52 wholesale (it just went up) They are much cheaper than the other brands.
For palm oil I have found Spectrum 33 lb palm oil for $64 wholesale. It comes in a box, but approximately it gives me 3 gallons that last forever.
We get Shady maple syrup (if it’s not available locally or other ways) grade B for $346/ 50 lb
Muir Glen has a 112 oz (it’s about 3 qt +) can ketchup that cost $10.82 /can (6 in a case) wholesale. I usually fill up my bottle for the fridge, make bbq sauce then I put the rest in a mason jar to the fridge.
Mustard also available in bulk.
Coconut flour comes in a 25 lb bulk bag for $2.84/lb wholesale, from Bobs Red Mill.
All available through UNFI, and I listed the wholesale prices because with my small co-op I can purchase them for wholesale, and I only get to be charged a small fee (for regular members) when I order.
If you are looking for truly raw unpasteurized almonds (since all almonds are pasteurized that comes through wholesalers) they are try Bremner farms on the web. It’s a small farm in CA selling directly to customers.
Applewood smoked salt is available through Frontier spice co-op. (Can’t remember the price.) As well as all your spices can be purchased through Frontier, if your Co-op sells them then you will get a discount.
For vanilla try Singing Dog brand. (I haven’t compared prices to your supply of vanilla)
I have found an excellent olive oil through my travels. There is a small store in Pensacola FL called Shoreline Store. The owner is Greek and he ships in excellent quality olive oil. After giving a test bottle to my co-op we started carrying it. It is not certified organic, but it is from a cooperative farm in Greece. I would say that this is the best olive oil int he USA. We carry his oil for $35 /3 L can. You can find him on E-bay.
If someone is looking for a food Co-op in western South Dakota, then visit Breadroot Natural Food Co-op in Rapid City. We get regular shipments from UNFI, Alberts, Federal, and Frontier, as well as small suppliers, like the ones I mentioned above and more. I have been ordering the bulk nuts, seeds, snacks, flour, rice and beans to the store for a couple years now. I enjoy the volunteer work I do and I get nice discounts as well. If someone needs more info about us then you can find us on FB as well as on the web.
Zsu
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Zsu Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 10:06 am
The coconut oil is a 1 gallon container. Sorry I missed that.
We only have 1 Sams club here, which carries a few organic items but not mot much, i mostly buy European cheeses there, and paper products. We have Walmarts and regular grocery stores, but I only go there if there is something I cannot get at the my usual suppliers. Like last time I bought 2 jalapeños at Safeway.
I know that organic milk products can be cheaper at Walmart or Safeway, but when someone really reads up on how here that milk is coming from and how the cows are living then most of the time that sawing is not so sweet anymore. We have one person here who sells milk regularly at the local farmers market. Also there is someone else who sells goat milk.
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I’m curious about coconut oil. I’ve never used it. I always use EVOO (extra virgin olive oil). Is coconut oil better? Why do you (anyone lol) prefer it?
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Zsu Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 10:13 am
Higher burning point, healthy, and less expensive than EVOO. You can deep fry in coconut oil stuff like breaded chicken and doughnuts, but EVOO would burn at that temperature.
So for scrambled eggs I use a mix of butter and EVOO or lard. Then for deep frying or stir frying I use coconut. When my mom visited she put this on bread too instead of butter.
Maybe the others can chime in too ;)
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Abby Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 11:11 am
Hum, maybe I’ll try it!
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Jen Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 9:40 pm
I use coconut oil in baking instead of shortening (yuck!). It can also be substituted for butter, which I will do if I’m low on butter. But our absolute favorite use is popcorn! Popcorn popped (in a pan on the stove) in coconut oil is THE BEST!! Top it with melted butter and sea salt, and you’re all set. It’s so good!
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Laura Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:18 am
Abby, here’s a post I wrote about What to Do With Coconut Oil: http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/what-to-do-with-coconut-oil. :)
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Awesome job Laura! I will be using this to start my own list. I love whole food shopping!!!
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You didn’t list palm oil, I thought you might have mentioned using it in the past. I purchased some from Tropical Traditions and after opening I put it back in my pantry. I rarely use it, so when I went to use it again, it had molded. The jar doesn’t say to refrigerate. Do you know anything about this?
Thanks for the great list! I’ve already started doing a lot of your suggestions in the past few months and I’m building up my stock. I’m buying less and less convenience processed foods, but sometimes I’m weak and buy them. :)
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Laura Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 10:43 am
I stopped using palm oil – only because I really didn’t care for it and prefer palm shortening much better. I’m surprised yours molded – strange!
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Zsu Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
I didn’t realize that there was a difference between palm oil and shortening. I double checked and the one I was talking about is a shortening.
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Erin S Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 8:47 am
I could have written that same post. Didn’t use the palm oil much from TT and mine molded too! Yuck!!
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Okay, I have been reading for a few weeks, and I am already inspired. A lot of how you cook and shop is how my mom did it, so I have a great foundation for implementing what I don’t already do. I made my first run to the organic food store only to find not much that is truly affordable ($7/lb. summer squash?? I don’t think so!), but I did get a few good things. I have been going to our local farmers’ market for years now, so not much changed there. The biggest thing is going to be finding chicken/beef/pork at a reasonable price, and my mom has generously told me I can have her freezer so I can purchase in season produce and freeze it. I was pleased to see that my local grocery store had whole grain wheat (with the germ and husk in it), and my local Braum’s (a local dairy store with the dairy down by where I grew up) whose milk is hormone free. I would love to grind my own wheat, but as a single mom who has to work, time is an issue unless I can grind a whole lot and freeze it. My grocery run Friday yielded better results in that if I could not pronouce it, or if I know it did not come from nature, I did not buy it. I did wince at paying $7 for real maple syrup, but that is only to get us by until I can find a place that sells it in bigger quantities.
Thank you again for reaffirming that you can go home again…if only to do things the way mom did them for us!
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Christy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:29 am
Sounds like a great start! Grinding wheat is super easy, it literally takes minutes and yes you freeze what you don’t use right away. :)
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Great list Laura, love it!
We just bought 1/2 a grass-fed Angus- I can’t keep my dh away from the freezer. He just wants to go ‘look at it’! ;-)
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Jen Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
We just bought a 1/2 last week too, only I’m the one who keeps going to the freezer to look at it! :)
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Thanks for the list…it is a great resource for those of us just starting out. I do not have access to Azure Standard here in Ohio so would love some great sources for these items. Do you have any recommendations for already ground flour as I don’t own a grain mill? Also I didn’t see yeast on the list.
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Laura Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Thank you – I added yeast! You can purchase ground flour from Tropical Traditions: http://tinyurl.com/45yy46w
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Laurie Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
I’m in Ohio too, and have gotten info about http://www.somethingbetternaturalfoods.com. I haven’t ordered from them yet, but plan to in the next month. I thought I’d share it because it took me a long time to find a mail order source for our area. Hope it helps!
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Kelly Reply:
August 12th, 2011 at 8:40 am
We’re in Ohio as well. The closest big store (Whole Foods) is in Columbus and it’s 1 1/2 hours away. :/ We have a couple Farmer’s markets in the area and access to Amish businesses, so I’m sure we can find some different ways to buy organic. My mom is well on her way – planting a garden (which I’m afraid of – I can’t make anything grow!) and making many of her food items. I’m not as handy as she, so anything you ladies find for Ohio that’s less work but just as healthy would be awesome! I’m looking into that link, Laurie. My husband and I aren’t in a position to be buying bulk foods quite yet, but if you are close, I’ll keep you in mind.
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We live in Florida. Anything like Azure Standard down here? Thanks Laura. Great list!
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Laura Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/what-health-food-co-op-is-near-you Read through the comments on that post to see what others from your area might have to offer!
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I don’t buy baking powder. You can make your own.
1 tsp baking powder= 1/4 tsp baking soda + 1/2 tsp cream of tartar or other acid
If using vinegar or lemon juice, use 3 times the amount.
So I personally use
1 tsp baking powder= 1/4 tsp baking soda + 1 & 1/2 tsp vinegar
for all of my baking.
Also, I was wondering why you don’t use Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acids instead of soy sauce.
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Laura Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
I’ve never heard of using amino acids instead of soy sauce. Does it taste the same?
Since soy sauce is fermented (and because the brand I choose is organic), Soy Sauce is the one soy item I feel is safe to eat.
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Zsu Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
There is also one called Coconut aminos made by coconut secret, works great in place of soy. I personally use organic fermented tamari soy sauce.
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Tara Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
i’m definitely with you on not eating soy with the exception of soy sauce. bragg’s basically isolated the amino acids in the soy and it tastes fantastic! i actually like it better. just google it for more info. :)
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Becki Reply:
October 26th, 2011 at 10:44 pm
My kids love Braggs amino acids much better than soy sauce anyway. It just has a little more flavor. That was a big surprise though, thought they would freak out about me not buying soy sauce anymore.
Laura, you are truely blessed to pay only $4. a gallon for your raw milk. Out here, we pay $5.75 a half gallon for our raw milk. We buy it cause it is the only milk that I can drink – and it is very healthy for the family!!! Poor guy has to ‘jump’ through sooooo many political hoops just to sell good milk!!! Have a blessed week!!< :0)
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Azure carries the Wholesome Sweetners brand sucanat in both organic and regular. I see that your link is to the organic. Do you think that it is better than the regular? I looked over both descriptions when I purchased my fifty pound bag and it seemed like it was practically the same thing. If you have the time to answer, i’d love to know what you think/why you go with the organic on this one. Thanks!
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Laura Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
A while ago when I had looked at their two sucanat choices, the Natural variety has “sugar and molasses” in it’s ingredients, so I didn’t trust it. The Organic version says, “dehydrated cane sugar juice” which is what I want!
NOW though, I see that the “Natural” variety also says “dehydrated cane sugar juice on it”, which makes me feel like it’s been updated and will therefore be okay?? Yikes, I’m not sure. Tough to spend $75 on a bulk amount and not know for sure!! I may have to call them to ask more specifics!
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Kristina Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Thanks for responding. If you ever do talk to them about it please share what you find out! The price is quite a difference for me: $75 for 50 pounds of natural and $62.35 for 25 pounds of organic! ouch! Thanks again for the list and links!
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Thanks Laura for putting this all together! What about pastas?
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Laura Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Thank you!!! I added pasta to the list under “Grains”. What a silly thing to forget! :)
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Thank you does not seem enough for all the time that went into making this incredible and very practicle list. If I knew how to say Thank you in 12 different languages maybe you would get the appreciation :)
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Lynn Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
*practical* sorry
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I have ordered from Frankferd Farms for bulk grains, they also have quite a few other products as well both locally produced and also organic. I live on the east coast and this company covers Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. http://www.frankferd.com/index.htm
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Great list. I actually finally ordered coconut flour the other day and can’t wait for it to arrive to try your recipes.
But I have a question. I have two little bottles of liquid smoke that were sent to me as free samples. And they just sit in my kitchen because I have no idea what to do with them. Any suggestions??
KK
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Laura Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:17 am
I use it to make BBQ sauce – good stuff! http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/high-five-recipes-homemade-barbeque-sauce
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Becki Reply:
October 26th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Oh, my! We LOVE liquid smoke! Try a little on meat, love it in BBQ sauce, in a burger, make a salmon dip with it, in pepperoni…LOTS you can do with it. Great stuff!
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Thanks for all the great coconut oil tips! I’m so going to try the switch when I finish all my EVOO. So excited! :o)
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Erin S Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 8:56 am
We use both EVOO and coconut oil depending on what it’s being used for. If you don’t want an coconut flavor in your food, use expeller pressed. I love the flavor when I make brownies though.
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Cheri Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
EVOO is great for salad dressings and pesto, not high heat sauteeing.
Regular olive oil, butter, and coconut oil is best for cooking.
Although I use OO and butter more than my coconut oil, I’ll have to opt
for it more often.
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Okay, this post & everyone’s comments have been SO helpful! I thought I’d throw this out there & see if I get any ideas …
My daughter, almost 17 months old, loves NutraGrain bars. I’m not a huge fan of them but there’s worse stuff she could be eating. At least it’s whole grain but it’s still a highly processed food with more sugar than I’d prefer she have. Does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative?
I’ve tried to give her other bar options from the whole food’s store & she won’t touch them! lol Oh, except for the Organic’s Toddler Bars. I’d love to be able to make her a bar she’d love just as much!
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Laura,
Thank you so much for taking the time to put together this wonderful list. I have been on the fence about using a starter for our buttermilk, yogurt and sour cream needs. Our family only has 3 people and I was wondering if purchasing the starter from Cultures for Health would be cost effective? What do you think? Here in Nashville at the market I can buy whole milk–half gal.–3.50. Buttermilk–pint–2.50. Cream–pint–5.00 (yikes!!) I do try to make all of our food from scratch so…???
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Laura Reply:
August 13th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
Yes, I believe it would be cost effective for you to purchase the starters, simply because once you have the starter, you can keep making batch after batch of these products, saving lots of money in the long run!
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Hi, Abby…I don’t know for sure about this but my little girl loves Laura’s homemade poptarts. She also would eat an entire box of Nutrigrain bars if we let her :). But we don’t and she will eat the poptarts. Hope that helps you out!
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Abby Reply:
August 10th, 2011 at 7:01 am
Lol Gotcha! I think I’ll try them! Thanks so much.
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Abby Reply:
August 11th, 2011 at 8:48 am
Okay, so I made poptarts! Let me just say, a rolling pin is ESSENTIAL when making these! lol I do so much baking but I don’t have a rolling pin … don’t ask me why! They taste delicious but they’re SO thick! Eve’s not a fan. But I’m not giving up! I’m going to go buy a much needed rolling pin and try another batch.
Oh and my dough ended up really tough. How do I prevent that next time?
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Christina Reply:
August 12th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Abby,
Hmmm…I am trying to remember if mine did as well. I always soak mine so it did seem a little tough when I rolled it out but after it baked…very buttery and yummy! Hope second time’s the charm!
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Abby…I meant to say…I don’t know for sure about this working for your daughter! I AM SURE my daughter loves Laura’s homemade poptarts!!
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Hi!
I bought the cheese you mentioned, Cheese – I purchase raw organic Landmark white cheddar cheese from Azure Standard. It is $5.47/pound if purchased by the case., but no where does it say it’s organic, so I’m wondering if you know something I don’t? This time I’m going to buy the cheddar cheese from Sierra Nevada Cheese Company. Oh and I’m SO jealous of your raw milk price, I am just switching over to raw and I’ll be paying $10/gal…eesh!
Thanks!
kristin
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Thanks for the post! I am getting ready to place my first order with Azure standard this week and wondered if the prices from there are really “that” good, or if it is just an easy place to order from.
I am new to living in a city (now Seattle) and it seems that I could get all the same items probably at a local food co-op or whole food-like store. Does anyone have thoughts on prices?
Having children that I would have to tote around looking at places Azure seems like a simple answer but is it really the cheapest? Thanks.
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Laura Reply:
August 11th, 2011 at 8:43 am
I don’t live near a Whole Foods or anything like it, but I have shopped there when we are in “the city”. Overall, I feel like Azure’s prices are less.
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Kristin Reply:
August 12th, 2011 at 11:41 am
Wendy,
I am doing a price comparison on items I buy between the stores I shop at and Azure. I have found that Costco’s organic frozen and canned veggies are A LOT less expensive. Most things are less expensive through Azure than Whole Foods, however, I have found a few things, like black beans and chocolate chips to be less expensive at WF. I’m not finished with it, but it’s helping me keep things straight. Plus Azure is a good, small company with positive values, I like supporting them
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wendy Reply:
August 12th, 2011 at 11:53 am
WoW! That would be the greatest! Can you link your comparision!? I ordered this AM and got some pretty basic things…butter, WW flour, Honey, oats, eggs and a few others…things that seemed pretty cheap. Thank you!
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wendy Reply:
August 30th, 2011 at 9:13 pm
Kristin,
Did you ever get that list together? I would still love to see it! Could you send me the link? Thanks.
Very much enjoyed reading this post, although I SO did not want to know that you only pay $4 for raw milk!!!! It goes for $10 per gallon around our area – although it is still worth it, knowing how good it is for my family! We just really have to limit our dairy intake to keep within the family budget!
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I have often heard that organic isn’t always best and that some organic farming practices are actually more harmful than conventional methods. I mean, salmonella is “organic” as are many other harmful substances. One of those things that I’ve heard you shouldn’t eat is organic peanut butter. Have you researched this? I’d love to hear if you have any other information or if you just assumed that organic is ALWAYS best.
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/007598.html
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Jennvan Reply:
September 4th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Everyone should research their food for themselves.
There is a lot of misleading info out there about food and it seems to
change every other week about what is healthy and what isn’t. I liked
one of the comments to the article who did a MS degree studying the
fungus described. If we avoided everything that “could” possibly harm
us, we wouldn’t be able to eat or drink or breathe. Its everywhere and
all around us. We just need to educate ourselves to reduce our risks.
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Thank you for your wonderful pantry list!! I am slowly replacing things that we eat with real whole food completely inspired by your blog.
I don’t get azure standard where I live but wanted to pass along a tip about getting the Wheat Montana Prarie Gold Wheat at (of all places) WalMart!!! I found that they are a distributor on the Wheat Montana website and so I checked out WalMart.com for the stores that carry it near me. I found some at a store about 17 miles away and I was driving up that way today. Hooray! I have 2 -25lb bags of Hard Spring White Wheat Berries for $13.98/bag which is 56cents/lb. That is $2.80/5lbs.
Now I just need to get that wheat grinder!
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Whole Foods has Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Organic Sucanat® 2 lb. for 2/$6.98 until 8/30/2011. Just thought I would share – bought my first bag today and can’t wait to try it. Slowly moving into eating more healthy using whole foods.
Also, do you know if there is a Azure Standard stop in or near Omaha, NE? Thanks!
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I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on salt. Is sea salt the way to go? Can you use it in recipes? What would be a good price for sea salt or regular iodized salt?
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Janet Kiessling Reply:
August 24th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
I have heard that sea salt is much healthier for you!! And, yes, you can use it in every recipe that you have!!! Have fun cooking < :0)
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Laura Reply:
September 10th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
I prefer to use Redmonds Real Sea Salt. It is completely pure and not iodized or bleached. Very healthy for us! I use it for every salt need – cooking or baking.
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I don’t know if you have Save-A-Lot in your area, but they sometimes put the Muir Glen Ketchup on sale for $1.00.
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Thank you for sharing this list! Its become my Master list for getting my pantry ready! I love Azure Standard too! So glad I learned about it here! Our driver Joe is always on-time or early and with quick, friendly off loading. I’ve loved everything I’ve gotten from Azure! Fixin to try the coconut oil with my next order!
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I just happened onto your website while looking for a whole wheat bun recipe. I am new to making the switch to whole foods and baking breads. I am grateful for all the info. I can’t read fast enough!
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When you buy a case of butter from Azure, do you store some of it in the freezer? If so, does the freezer do anything weird to it? Thanks!
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Laura Reply:
October 6th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
I store it in the freezer and it does great!
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I have in in general question. How did you get your husband to agree to living this way? Mine is SO, SO picky.
Though recently he has been dealing with some blood pressure scares, so it may be a good time to jump on the crisis.
Was it a joint idea? Or did you have to make a presentation?
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Laura Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 10:01 am
My husband was actually on board before I was, so that made it easier for me! Here’s a podcast I recorded regarding this: http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/trust-dr-mercola-and-picky-husbands-podcast-6
Also, you may find some answers in this series: http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/category/getting-real-with-food
:)
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