by | May 3, 2022 | 0 comments

Ever step into Whole Foods and feel overwhelmed … both by the sheer amount of amazing choices, and the sheet amount of money you could spend if not careful? 😊  I do!  To be honest, I rarely shop at Whole Foods, because I always end up blowing my budget out of the water.  If I go in without a list, I can find all the things … things that I love and enjoy, but that I didn’t really need.  Do you hear me on that?  To help you out with what to buy at Whole Foods, I’ve put together this list of 25 healthy items to add to your Whole Foods shopping list.  Enjoy, and let me know what YOUR favorites are in the comments!

Don’t shop at Whole Foods?  I’ve got you covered with shopping lists for Trader Joe’s, Kroger, Target, Costco, Sprouts, and ALDI … enjoy!

First, a note.  The produce is outstanding at Whole Foods.  There’s a wide variety of organic items available, and they do a great job at cultivating several vegetables and fruits that aren’t available at more conventional grocery stores.  If you’re looking for a specific fresh herb or variety of apple, or you want purple cauliflower or rainbow carrots, or you’ve just got to have sunflower sprouts or French haricot vert, Whole Foods is your place.  But you’ll pay for it!  I get most of my produce from Farmhouse Delivery, which delivers local, fresh produce straight from farmers (try Farmhouse Delivery with code LYONSHARE for a discount!), so I’m largely skipping over it here, but please know that fresh, whole foods like produce are always healthier than packaged snacks, no matter what!

Here are my top 25 healthy foods to buy at Whole Foods:

  1. Brad’s Veggie Keto Crisps. It’s tough to find a gluten-free, grain-free, healthy, veggie-filled cracker that doesn’t spike blood sugar … and tastes great.  But Brad’s has done it with this new variety!  Full of seeds (flax, sunflower, chia, and sesame) for healthy fat and a bit of protein, and packed with veggies (carrot, celery, kale), this cracker stays crispy and holds up really well.

  2. Dang coconut chips. I used to love these, and then honestly forgot about them for a few years, but I’m back in love!  With only coconut and sea salt (be careful not to get the sugar-added varieties! The blue bag is best!), this is a satiating snack due to all of the healthy fat.  Just a hint of natural sweetness and a little bit of salt makes the perfect sweet & salty combo.

  3. Bhu Keto bites. Have a sweet tooth but don’t want to dig into a full dessert?  I love these mini bars for a sweet but healthy treat midday.  6g of fiber and 6g of protein complement the 1g of sugar and plenty of healthy fat, so they’re more filling than most.  I don’t love the palm oil (even organic and sustainable) or the sunflower lecithin, but I do love the taste and lack of other junky ingredients.

  4. Hu Kitchen Grain-Free Cookies. Looking for another sweet? These grain-free cookies are not all that sweet, but if you prefer sweetness from dates instead of monk fruit (which the Bhu Bites have), these are a great option.  Everything made by Hu Kitchen has clean ingredients – you pay for them, but I think it’s worth it.

  5. High Key Mini Cookies. OK, one more cookie and then we’re done.  These are sweeter than the Hu Kitchen, and melt-in-your-mouth buttery … because they contain butter!  So if you need to stay away from dairy, go back up to the Hu.  But if you want a mini treat (these are the size of a huge grape), you might love the High Key variety.

  6. Navitas Organic Cacao Nibs. I said we were done with cookies, but not chocolate! If you haven’t had cacao nibs before, prepare yourself – they are not sweet at all.  In fact, they’re quite bitter.  But as a topper to yogurt, smoothies, or anything else with a hint of sweetness, these add an amazing, antioxidant-packed, chocolate-tasting crunch that I adore!  For a super quick treat, sometimes I’ll dip a spoon into a jar of peanut butter and sprinkle cacao nibs right on the spoon – it’s divine!

  7. Along with Brad’s (up there at #1), these flax-based crackers are one of the crispiest and crunchiest healthy crackers on the market. The ingredients are just organic flax seeds, organic apple cider vinegar, and sea salt – you can’t beat that!  Top with hummus and cucumber slices or olive tapenade (see below), or dip in a healthy tuna or chicken salad, for a healthy crunch.

  8. Miracle Noodle. Almost too good to be true, konjac flour noodles are becoming more and more popular these days, because they’re almost pure fiber and they take on the flavor of whatever you put on them! The texture mimics “regular” noodles but they’re really flavorless … add some homemade marinara, fresh basil, and shrimp, or use in a stir fry filled with vegetables and protein for a filling, blood-sugar-stable pasta meal!

  9. Nori sheets. I always have romaine lettuce leaves or nori sheets on hand, because putting food in a wrap makes it much more fun! If I make a stir-fry or simple protein and veggies meal in my meal prep and I’m just not feeling it after a few days, I’ll spread some hummus on a nori sheet, add a few spoonfuls of the meal, roll, eat, and repeat!  I definitely recommend including something with moisture (like hummus or another spread) to soften the nori.  I like this brand because it’s organic and doesn’t contain low quality oils.

  10. Divina Organic Kalamata Spread. Admittedly, I had not purchased this before this specific Whole Foods trip, but now I’m in love. It’s packed with that tangy, salty olive flavor and just a little bit goes a long way. Will continue buying! 

  11. Primal Kitchen Plant-Based Queso Dip. There are several plant-based queso dips out there, but I think the ingredients on this one win the prize for healthiest. No oils, several veggies, many organic ingredients, and full of flavor – a great option if you’re in the market for a dairy-free cheese dip. 

  12. Epic Chicken Sriracha Bites. Epic stopped making this variety for a while (I love it because it’s the only chicken variety without added sugar!), but they’re back and I couldn’t be happier! A super convenient protein-packed snack option – easy to pop a few in 30 seconds between clients or meetings.

  13. Archer Grass-Fed Beef Jerky. You would think (OK, I would think) that it wouldn’t be tough to find grass-fed beef jerky with no added sugar and no gluten. If you did think that, you’d be wrong!  This Country Archer Provisions variety is my favorite – the texture is great and I appreciate not having sugar in my protein-packed snack! 

  14. Applegate Organic Turkey Burgers. Just like with the jerky above, it surprises me that it’s hard to find organic turkey burgers with clean ingredients.  It doesn’t’ get much cleaner than these, with just organic turkey and organic rosemary extract.  They’re easy to keep on hand for what I call “throw together meals” – use extra roasted veggies, heat up a burger, and add whatever seasoning or sauce you want.

  15. Caulipower Chicken Tenders. Another item that I hadn’t tried before this particular Whole Foods trip, but since so many clients have raved about them, I had to try them out.  I’ll be honest – chicken tenders are not something that I regularly crave, but if I did, these fit the bill!  Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re getting a serving of veggies with these – you’re certainly not.  They’re a healthiER option though!

  16. Vital Farms Pasture-Raised Eggs. Yes, they’re more expensive, but as far as health goes, pasture-raised is the best when it comes to eggs. Funny story on this – I was buying Kevin “regular” eggs for a while, and switched to these, and he said, “I can’t believe you’ve been holding off on me for so long!  These yolks are SO much brighter and they taste much better!”  Take it from him, and go grab these eggs!

  17. Laird Unsweetened Superfood Creamer. You know I love my Nutpods, but this creamer is arguably healthier, with brain-boosting lion’s mane mushroom and energy-enhancing chaga mushroom to boot. It’s creamy but not super creamy, so it might take a bit of adjustment.

  18. Kevita Sparkling Probiotic Drink. For those who love kombucha but want to lower sugar a bit, this is a great probiotic-rich option with very little sugar!  It has a kick, but it’s a nice change up from water every once in a while, and the added gut health benefits are welcome!

  19. Bubbie’s Sauerkraut. Speaking of gut health, eating fermented foods is one of the healthiest things you can do for your gut, and real fermented sauerkraut like this one tops the list! This is by far the best-tasting sauerkraut I’ve ever had, and the ingredients are incomparable.  (Note: if your sauerkraut has vinegar, preservatives, and even artificial colorings, it’s not truly fermented so you’re missing out on all the gut health benefits!). 

  20. Base Culture Keto Bread. I’m not a huge bread lover, but for those looking for grain-free and gluten-free options, my clients say this brand takes the lead in terms of texture and taste.  It’s stored in the freezer so it lasts a while.

  21. 365 Organic Frozen Vegetables. I keep several bags of frozen vegetables (no other ingredients or sauces, just the veggies) on hand at all times for when I come into town at the last minute or need to throw together a quick meal.  Simply defrost on the counter for a few minutes, add to a baking sheet sprayed with avocado oil, spray some more avocado oil on top, season with whatever you’d like, and roast for 22-25 minutes at 425.  Much tastier in my opinion than straight microwaved, mushy frozen vegetables.

  22. Praeger’s Egg Whites & Kale Breakfast Bowl. For those looking for a quick but healthy breakfast option, this bowl is one of the best (taste-wise and ingredient-wise) I’ve found!

  23. So Delicious Dipped Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Bars. Many dairy-free ice cream substitutes either taste terrible or are full of sugar – this one is neither.  I love the taste, the chocolate covering, and the low amount of sugar!

  24. Whole Foods Wild-Caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Fillets. Individual filets of wild-caught salmon are hard to find, but Whole Foods comes through with a great option in this store branded item! I get my salmon from Butcher Box, but if I didn’t, I’d keep these on hand.

  25. Diestel Organic Ground Turkey. You know I love Kroger, but my one complaint is that they don’t have organic ground turkey.  Whole Foods to the rescue … this brand is tasty, and ground turkey is SO versatile, from burgers to stir-fries to my old favorite, the breakfast hash. 

 

Now it’s your turn … Do you shop at Whole Foods?  If so, what are your favorite healthy items?  Anything I missed?

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Megan Lyons Headshot

Hi! I'm Megan Lyons,

the voice behind The Lyons’ Share. I love all things health, wellness, and fitness-related, and I hope to share some of my passion with you. Thanks for stopping by!
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