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!
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 buy raw, organic milk from local farmers.
Cream – I buy this raw from our milk farmers.
Buttermilk – Homemade
Kefir – Homemade
Yogurt – Homemade
Sour Cream – Homemade
Butter – I usually purchase a case of Willow Made Sweet Cream, Salted Butter from Azure Standard if I can get it for $3.50/pound or less. Otherwise, I just buy real butter from the grocery store.
Cheese – I purchase raw organic Landmark white cheddar cheese from Azure Standard. It is $5.50/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
Cube Steak
Stew Meat
Beef Roast
Chickens (whole) – I try stretch these 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 $4.0o/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, Vitacost, 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
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.
Red Beans – Azure Standard – $1.00/pound
Black Beans – Azure Standard – $1.40/pound
Pinto Beans – Azure Standard – $0.88/pound
Garbonzo Beans – Azure Standard – $0.85/pound
Lentils – Azure Standard – $0.49/pound
Grains
Hard White Wheat – I buy this in bulk from Azure Standard – $0.83/pound.
Whole Kernel Corn – Azure Standard or Tropical Traditions – $0.68/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, Vitacost, or Amazon – $2.50/pound or less
Raw Honey – I purchase from a local bee keeper – or I buy it from Azure Standard
Grade B Maple Syrup – Farmers Market, Vitacost, 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, Vitacost, 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, Vitacost, or Amazon – $4.50/package or less
Butterscotch Baking Chips – Homemade
Active Dry Yeast – Azure Standard or Sams
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, Vitacost, or Azure Standard – $2.70/bottle
Mayonnaise – I like Hain Safflower Mayo from Azure Standard or Vitacost – $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, Vitacost, 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, Vitacost, or Mountain Rose Herbs – $18.00/quart or less
Coconut Oil, Expeller Pressed (flavorless) – Tropical Traditions, Amazon, Mountain Rose Herbs – $13.00/quart or less
Olive Oil – Azure Standard, Vitacost, or 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
Fruits and Vegetables
Tomato Sauce, Tomato Soup, Tomato Juice – we grow and can our own supply for each year or I get them from Vitacost when we run out of our home canned goods
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 or Vitacost – $3.00/box
Rice Crispies – Amazon or Vitacost– $3.00/box
Corn Chips – Amazon or Vitacost – $4.00/bag
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:
nice :) thanks for sharing
Thank you, so much, for sharing! What a great guideline!
Onions. We try to have onions and potatoes around. Great list, Laura!
Yes, those are great to have around! I get those through Azure Standard usually.
wow! this is awesome! thank you!
This is a fabulous post!! I am checking out Azure Standard right now…
Thank you!! This is great!
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!
Thank you, thank you for this list.
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.
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. :)
cool. thanks! What a wonderful resource you’ve made!! thanks so much!
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)
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!
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
Abby,
Maybe you can find something @ LocalHarvet.com or your local farmers market.
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. [email protected]
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!
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.
What a great resource to have! You are such a blessing! Thanks so much!!
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.
Wow! What a great list! I will be coming back to this soon!
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 :)
This is the best list. Thanks Laura for doing all the research and letting us enjoy too!
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.
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
I hadn’t thought of doing that! Thank you for the link – it *does* look very easy.
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.
If you have Costco near you they have Kirkland brand organis butter for about $7 for two pounds.
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!
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!
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
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.
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?
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 ;)
Hum, maybe I’ll try it!
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!
Abby, here’s a post I wrote about What to Do With Coconut Oil: https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/what-to-do-with-coconut-oil. :)
Awesome job Laura! I will be using this to start my own list. I love whole food shopping!!!
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. :)
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!
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.
I could have written that same post. Didn’t use the palm oil much from TT and mine molded too! Yuck!!
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!
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. :)
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’! ;-)
We just bought a 1/2 last week too, only I’m the one who keeps going to the freezer to look at it! :)
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.
Thank you – I added yeast! You can purchase ground flour from Tropical Traditions: http://tinyurl.com/45yy46w
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!
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.
We live in Florida. Anything like Azure Standard down here? Thanks Laura. Great list!
https://www.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!
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.
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.
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.
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. :)
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)
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!
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!
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!
Thanks Laura for putting this all together! What about pastas?
Thank you!!! I added pasta to the list under “Grains”. What a silly thing to forget! :)
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 :)
*practical* sorry
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
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
I use it to make BBQ sauce – good stuff! https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/high-five-recipes-homemade-barbeque-sauce
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!
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)
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.
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.
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!
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…???
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!
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!
Lol Gotcha! I think I’ll try them! Thanks so much.
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?
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!
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!!
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
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.
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.
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
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!
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!
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
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.
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!
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!
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?
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)
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
I store it in the freezer and it does great!
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?
My husband was actually on board before I was, so that made it easier for me! Here’s a podcast I recorded regarding this: https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/trust-dr-mercola-and-picky-husbands-podcast-6
Also, you may find some answers in this series: https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/category/getting-real-with-food
:)
I FINALLY found a farm that I can buy raw cow’s milk, cream and butter from, but holy cow (ha, ha), is it expensive…milk is $8.75 a gallon, cream is $8.00 a pint and butter is $7.00 for 6 oz.!!!! If there’s anyone in the Houston/Galveston, TX area who knows of a better place to get these items, PLEASE let me know!!! Otherwise, there’s NO chance we will be adding this to our diet (we are a family of 6) anytime in the near future!
http://www.realmilk.com/where5.html#tx
Did you see this list?
What an invaluable resource! Thanks so much for sharing:)
I am in the Spring/Woodlands area and buy milk north of me at Gramen Farms, where it is even pricier. I just buy it once/month, or twice if budget allows. .
Actually, that’s the farm I ended up going to…the prices I mentioned above were what they had on the website before I went…it was higher (winter costs) when I got there! Too far and too expensive for me to use on a regular basis…I’ve only found one other place locally that has a listing for cow’s milk on realmilk.com or related sites and I can’t seem to get ahold of them…everywhere else is goat milk…
The place that I’ve been trying to get ahold of for months finally responded! They are only about 10 miles away and their prices are better ($6/gal)…they only sell milk and occasionally eggs…but I’m thrilled with that at this point!!!
I know this was posted a long time ago, but goat’s milk tastes just like cow’s milk as long as it’s not too old, which is unlikely that you’ll buy old milk. You may consider it because it’s actually healthier than cow’s milk. Drinking cow’s milk (especially feeding it to babies), can make you completely intolerant of lactose–it’s just because it is so hard for humans to digest. Goat’s milk is much easier on your whole body.
I buy my milk from Stryk dairy. They have a delivery point every other Saturday in Katy. I know they have other locations on their schedule. Call them to see if there is one near you :) http://www.texascheese.com/milk.htm
Alyssa, we’ve had to change our mindset on milk. We now consider it a FOOD. And doing that, we feel it’s a good deal to get a gallon of whole fresh highly nutritious food for the rawmilk price. Our drink now is good cold water. That price offset (because water is nearly free) – has enabled us to look at our milk budget differently. We drink a lot less of it now. AND, I’ve become more willing to pay the xtra, because I know I’m not feeding my family crap. It all evens out in the end. :) Just something to think about.
Thanks…we finally got a hold of the farm only 10 miles or so away from us and they are cheaper than the first farm we tried…I get my milk and eggs there now…very happy and we’ve been enjoying it since January! :)
Alyssa, I am East of you in the Lake Houston Area. What farm are you using that is ten milkes away? I’ve been looking, and all I’ve found is Gramen, which is very high. If you are getting it for less somewhere closer, I would be very interested. Thanks!
Darla…The Healthy Way Dairy farm is in Santa Fe, off of HWY 6…you can contact Mrs. Nelson via email at [email protected]…hope that helps!
Thank you! I will give them a try!
This is extremely old but I thought I’d add http://www.localharvest.org to the list :)
I hope you found a good farmer!
We live in western MD and go to Your Family Cow in Chambersburg, PA for
raw/pasture only/organic milk from Jersey cows :) They sell everything
else too, we found them on localharvest.org.
My farmer just recently went on the ‘raw milk diet’ and lost about 20lbs
drinking 5 glasses of raw milk from his dairy per day. He did it to
prove that all fats are not created equal!
Alyssa – Try Stryk’s Dairy…..
I know its been a while since this has come out, but I was wondering how you store your butter. I want to buy from Azure the larger amount, but wasn’t sure the best way to store it.
Thanks!
Butter freezes very well. I buy a huge amount at a Farmer’s Market
freeze most of it when I get home. When one block starts to get
low, I just pull another out of the freezer and stick it in the fridge.
Laura also stores hers in the freezer. :)
I came to this post to see where you get your peanut butter. Our favorite brand, Kirkland at Costco, has been discontinued and I am looking for another good brand. However, I did not see it on your list. Do you make your own or do you have a suggestion of where I could find a good peanut butter?
I do make my own: https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/how-to-make-peanut-butter I forgot all about adding that to the list. I’ll edit that now. Any natural, organic peanut butter is a good option. I used to buy it in bulk through my health food coop, Azure Standard.
By the way, thank you for this incredible post. I have found it very helpful!!
I’m wondering if anyone knows of a bulk food source like Azure Standard available on the east coast, specifically Maine.
I hope these two sites help you! =]
http://www.coopdirectory.org/
http://www.unitedbuyingclubs.com/
I just stumbled upon this list, and I am so glad! We just got an Azure Standard drop. I have been trying to figure out to how to utilize it most effectively, and this is very helpful! Thank you!
Thank you for this list. It gives me a good place to start. I’m in Orlando, Florida, and having trouble finding sources for raw milk and cheese. The only source for cheese is selling it for $22.00 a pound. I can’t afford that! I’m going to keep researching, but if anyone knows of any sources in the area, please post! In the meantime, I’m working on getting stuff from Whole Foods, Amazon, and a local farm that provides me veggies, herbs and eggs.
I am in the Tampa area in FL and I have just recently starting eating whole foods and organix .
We shop a lot at Costco and online, mainly Amazon, as well as some local farms for produce. I also am struggling with a good place to get cheese from. Still looking around.
The link above http://www.realmilk.com/where5.html#tx should have some places you can find raw milk and cheese near you. We actually have a few places not too far from here that have them. Just have to find the cheapest place now. :) Good luck!
I found raw milk for $11.00 a gallon. We just can’t do that right now. But, I’ll keep watching and trying!
Where do you buy stevia?
I usually buy it through my health food co-op, Azure Standard.
Your cheese and butter aren’t listed as organic. I figure you have done the research, but wanted to get your feedback.
I trust the brands of the cheese and butter, so feel okay about them even though they aren’t organic. I can tell a difference in the way they smell and taste, compared to regular store bought butter and cheese (although I think it sounds weird to say that!).
I just looked at Azure Standard and it doesn’t look like they carry the Willow butter anymore. Do you know anything about Rumiano? That’s the only other brand besides the Organic Valley Pastured Butter. It’s a BIG difference in price!! Any help would be great!
I recently contacted Azure Standard with some questions about cheese and ended up getting some specific info about Rumiano. They don’t use any milk with growth hormones and overall seem like a great company. I’d feel confident about purchasing Rumiano products.
Have you recently found rolled oats/oat meal for .80 lb? I’ve checked all three companies you’ve listed and they’re all significantly more expensive.
Yes, the oats at Azure Standard right now are around $0.72/pound, if I buy a 50 pound bag.
I buy Cinnamon, peppercorns, Beeyoutiful essential oils, Berkey & various other items from this source, which offers FREE shipping when you buy $99 or more in products http://www.morethanalive.com/?a_aid=837c265b (that is my referral link :)
You’ll want to check out the limited time offer, promotion ends on 3/8/12, to save an additional 25% off (on your MTA order placed by 3/12/12) when purchasing a book, through an Amazon purchase. See their site for more info.
Just wondering if anyone has heard of a bill they are trying to pass that the government will be able to collect on all past taxes for items purchased through places like Amazon.com, Vitacost, etc. because they don’t charge tax when your purchase through them. Someone told me there was a story on tv about a woman that was charged for 4 years of taxes with interest. If that happens to me, I am in big trouble.
I haven’t heard that, but it sounds ridiculous. I know that in Oklahoma, we pay a “use tax” on all internet purchases. Either you keep track of what you buy to determine the tax, or you take the standard use tax. We think it’s dumb. But it would be even dumber to do something retroactive like that–I hope it’s not true!
What? That story is completely fabricated. The customer when they purchase something is not held reliable for paying the taxes, the business is. That’s why businesses get closed down when they do not collect taxes. Yes, we can get in trouble for not paying taxes, but is related to our business, not our individual purchases.
Also, Amazon does charge tax, but only if you are located in the state from which they ship. Just like numerous other online businesses do. Legally, you are not charged Sales Tax for goods located in another state. No one in the history of the USA has ever paid Sales Tax with its intention of going to a different state than the one they are located in.
(Ever notice when you purchase something online it will say something like “7.5% sales tax if you are located in Florida”? Thats what I am talking about.)
Hey Laura,
Thank you for this extensive list! I appreciate all the time you put into your blog! I may be missing it, but where do you get your cream cheese? I am new to Azure and saw they have 3lb logs for $10.00, but they are not organic but are rBst free. I remember reading that milk products higher in fats hold the uckiness more so I am trying to find the best option. The truly organic cream cheese is significantly more expensive.
Laura makes her own cream cheese. You can read about it here:
https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/make-your-own-yogurt-and-cream-cheese
Also, I forgot to ask. Not sure if this is the right place, but we are talking groceries so, here goes: If I freeze cultured buttermilk does it kill the cultures? I know I could make buttermilk, but with the price of raw milk i can get a case cheaper through azure, but if freezing it would kill the cultures that would be pointless! :)
Freezing it will kill it. BM lasts a while in the fridge, but apparently
you should not use it for a starter past 3 weeks.
I guess you just have to balance cost and health benefits for the best
fit for your budget. I know that’s what I have to do and about 50% of
the BM that I use is from the gross-ery store unfortunately right now.
Practice makes progress :)
Can anyone tell me if and why Canola Oil bad for you? Why choose Coconut Oil since it so high in Sat. fat? I know it has a lot of other nutrients but most are lost in the cooking process aren’t they? Thanks for any advice!!!
Here’s a post I wrote about how good coconut oil is for you: https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/coconut-oil-why-it-is-good-for-you-and-where-to-buy-it. I am not afraid of saturated fat because our bodies recognize these fats and are able to process them well (butter, coconut oil, palm oil). Here is a good article on the dangers of canola oil: http://www.truthaboutabs.com/the-canola-oil-deception.html
This post is old, but I wanted to thank you Laura for putting the time into it. It’s really helped me source some of my family’s food and budget well. I’ve just started to bake our own bread, etc and put up veggies/fruits for the winter, your blog has really be an inspiration and help along the way this year!
The way we save a TON of money on beef and chicken is to buy in bulk.
We buy 1/4 beef from a farm that we trust and get it for $3.50/#. That includes filets and ground beef. It usually costs us $400-500 and you have to pay all at once, so we have to save some $ each month towards buying our yearly cow. They are not organic, but they treat their cows extremely well, do not feed any grain, and they butcher at a very small abattoir that they trust.
Our chicken comes from our raw/pasture only/organic farmer. We buy WHOLE chickens when they have the bulk price each summer.
It took about a year of searching to find these folks, it was well worth it and now we have it dialed in, so my budget is spot on for food (well it could be if I was more organized :)
You all are so blessed, we have to pay $25 p/gallon of raw milk. How in the world can we afford it. We make the effort because I know is best. So, for our family of 6 we get only half a gallon per week. I pray we can do more soon.
I will never complain about paying $6.50/gallon again! (actually I
never DID complain, but I will tell my farmer about this my goodness!)
Yes, I have to pay 15.00 per gallon, so we do part raw milk, and then the rest organic milk , my family of 6 drinks at least 4 gallons of milk a week!
Pine Creek Products is a local family that raises goats. We get our raw, organic goats milk from them It is wonderful! So much better for people with digestive issues. They sell shares and deliver locally! Sedalia/Sprucewood Colorado. Contact-Dawn Brower
I’m dying to try your Turkey Sausage, where do you get your ground turkey?
It is the Shelton brand from Azure Standard.
This is an awesome giveaway….what a blessing this would be! Thank you for another great opportunity!
This information has been incredibly helpful! Thank you so much!!
Where do you buy your sun dried cranberries? And do you make your own beef broth and vegetable broth or purchase them?
I make my own broth, and typically I buy cranberries from Vitacost.
I just found your blog.
I know this post is old, so I hope you see my question.
I am curious, do you eat rice at all?
If so, where do you purchase it.
Thank you,
Tasha
Yes, Brown Rice is listed in this post in the Grains section. I get it from Amazon, Vitacost, or my food co-op, Azure Standard usually.
Wow. Fantastic post. It couldn’t have been an easy one. Thanks so much.
where do you find contaners for storage?
Dollar store, leftover ice cream buckets, I request them for gifts – the possibilities are endless! Here’s a post about where I get free or inexpensive large storage buckets: https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/how-to-store-bulk-grain
Hi. I remember reading an article you wrote about Vitamin C supplements and what to avoid. I can’t find it. Will you please direct me to it or answer it here? Thanks. Susan
I don’t remember that I posted about that. I actually just use a generic Vitamin C from Vitacost. :) https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/save-10-off-your-first-vitacost-order-as-you-make-healthy-changes-you-can-do-this-ecourse-bonus-tip