Getting Cheap Groceries at Whole Foods: Top 7 Food Items

Updated 7/4/2022

Is Whole Foods a good place to find cheap groceries? It sure can be! Find out more about the deals that can be found at Whole Foods.

First things first, I love Whole Foods. Shopping at this upscale supermarket feels more like an experience than a chore. Although I don’t shop there often, I look forward to my grocery runs and always leave inspired by some new and interesting products.

Whole Foods has become a more affordable grocery store to shop with in recent years, thanks to its partnership with Amazon in 2017. While it’s not considered a discount grocery store by any stretch, shopping there has become more affordable.

Yet grocery shoppers are facing higher grocery costs at all grocery stores, thanks to record inflation, as well as sneaky “shrinkflation” and supply chain issues.

But never fear, there are deals to be had at Whole Foods. And I’ve spend some time compiling my list of my 7 favorite budget-friendly foods for your reading pleasure. As always, please feel free to add your ideas below. I’d love to hear what some of your favorite products are.

#7: Bulk Spices

If need a small amount of a spice for a recipe and don’t want to buy a whole container, check out the bulk spices at Whole Foods. The bulk prices are usually much less per ounce than packaged spices.

#6: Frozen fruits and vegetables

Whole Foods stocks a wide variety of frozen fruits and vegetables, all at affordable prices. I like to stock up on smoothie ingredients, including frozen mango, cherries, and avocado.

#5: Pita pockets

This pita bread is delicious – and it’s a steal. I have used it as a crust for superfood pizza and bruschetta-style pita pizza. It’s also good with hummus, made into a pita sandwich, or made into homemade pita chips.

#4: Roasted garlic from the salad bar = $9.99 per pound (previously $7.99 per pound)

This may seem like an odd item to include in this list, but hear me out. This roasted garlic is amaaazing. Use it as a pizza topping, in quiches, in soups, pureed with softened butter for a delicious spread, and to up the ante on pretty much any savory dish. I find it much easier to grab a small container of this roasted garlic at the salad bar than roasting my own at home. This is one time that I’m willing to pay for convenience.

#3: Canned goods

On your next trip to Whole Foods, take a swing through the canned goods/pantry aisle. There are usually some good deals on canned tomatoes, vegetables, beans, peanut butter, and pasta.

#2: 365 Everyday Value products

The 365 Everyday Value products are the Whole Foods store brand products. The quality is great and the prices are usually reasonable. Check out the end caps for discounted items.

#1: Bulk section foods

Most Whole Foods stores have a plentiful bulk foods section. This is a great area to get bulk items – rice, lentils, beans, quinoa, pasta, popcorn, etc. – for a good price. Additionally, you control how much you buy, which is great if you only need a small amount of a particular item for a recipe.

Other Cheap Grocery Items

There are certain food items that are cheap no matter where you shop. While you’re at Whole Foods, be on the lookout for:

• Bananas
• Carrots
• Cabbage
• Oatmeal
• Eggs
• Chicken thighs
• Frozen vegetables and fruits
• Canned beans
• Tortillas
• Pasta

Shopping around is the best way to score great deals on groceries. Check out my other grocery store posts highlighting ALDI and Trader Joe’s. And don’t forget to add your own favorite products in the comments section below!