Whole Foods and transitioning to eating better

[Guest guest]

" ...Ok, my name is Sara. I've tried some " natural " foods before

that were pretty icky. Is it best to just start slow and ease our way

into it? I don't know that we have the money to just cold turkey

everything and get all new food. I'm hoping to make a trip to Whole

Foods Market down in Minneapolis in the next day or two to pick up

some things. Speaking of Whole Foods, does anyone shop there? Any

recommendations on things that we " must " pick up there? Since we have

the space to do it, we are also planning on a big garden. I would love

to have food we grew to eat. "

Hi Sara,

I have a couple of thoughts on what you mention above from my

experiences. I am not sure exactly what you meant by " natural " foods

being icky, but I do know that the transition between eating a lot of

processed foods and eating more natural foods can be a bit difficult

when you first begin. If you're used to eating sugar sweetened foods

this is what your palate is used to. It takes a bit of time to get

used to the taste of a new way of eating. You're taste buds do

adjust and if you try to go back to the old way your body will

rebel. You also might feel sick when you first start eating better

and might wonder how can anyone say this is better for me I feel

terrible. The body has to detoxify. You can get headaches, etc. If

and to what degree you experience this will depend on your body and

what you've been eating and how well your body deals with it.

Easing your way into it is a good idea. I've heard other people

say they start with one thing. You sound like you are moving toward

having your own goats and chickens, so maybe you might like to start

with just getting free range meats. Someone else has suggested just

starting with the breakfast meal. Something along those lines.

I would agree that eating well is expensive. My husband and I

shop at Whole Foods. He moans on occasion at the price of the food

as he checks over the check out slip. We are members of Lakewinds Co-

op, but stopped shopping there because my husband wanted to go to a

grocery store that felt like a traditional grocery store and whole

foods does. They both carry the same products. Many more products

available at Whole Foods. Lakewinds has moved into the old cooper's

supervalu now and I haven't been in there since this move. Eating

organic is more expensive. It's most expensive to get organic foods

at the " regular " grocery store. Next comes Whole Foods that is

sometimes referred to as Whole Paycheck. It is less expensive to

become a member of a co-op and buy your stuff there. Someone alreay

mentioned that it costs $90 to become a member. You invest in the co-

op. As a member you get 5% off one purchase a month (so use it on a

big one!) and you get dividends at the end of the year that is

dependant on how much you spent at the store during the calander

year - a percentage of the profits.

A couple of products that I noticed a significant and improved

taste difference between the regular store and co-op/Whole Foods are

Free range chickens and black olives. Wow! Is the taste better.

The chicken can't be beat - and fortunatly for you, you'll soon have

your own. The black olives taste more pure and aren't coated with a

waxy, oily film that sticks to your tongue long after the olive has

gone down the hatch.

My husband and I have a huge garden. It saves us significant

money at the grocery store in the summer (and also through out the

year - we can tomatoes, make salsa, green beans, etc).

Here's a list of the Minnesota Food Co-ops: Maybe there's one

nearest to you that would work.

MINNESOTA

Crow Wing Food Co-op:Brainerd

Good Food Store:Rochester

HAMPDEN PARK CO-OP :St.

Lakewinds Co-op:Minnetonka

Linden Hills Food Co-op:Minneapolis

Mississippi Market:St.

North Country ative Grocery : Minneapolis

Rochester Good Food Co-op:Rochester

Valley Natural Foods ative:Burnsville

The Wedge Co-op:Minneapolis

Whole Foods Community Co-op:Duluth

Marie.