Where we shop

It's typically not possible to go to one grocery store and buy everything that you need for the right prices and for the right reasons.

Here is a list of the places we shop at and why we go there:

Whole Foods Market: Meat, Eggs, Seafood and Produce

We like to support the human treatment of animals...and then eat them. As my sister, Diana, puts it, "I am an obligate carnivore". If you are going to eat animals, be an "eco-friendly, obligate carnivore".

One of the suppliers for the grass fed beef at Whole Foods is White Oak Pastures. We had the opportunity to meet with with Will Harris, the President, who took the time to travel to the Whole Foods in Rockville and introduce his grass fed beef personally with some exceptionally tasty pan fried meatballs seasoned only with a dash of salt and pepper.

Good quality beef, along with other animal protein, can provide vital nutrients that your body requires. Pair a small amount of meat with larger amounts of vegetables and whole grains and you will have one hell of a great a dinner.

Because we do a lot of juicing, we also like to pick up the organic vegetables available at Whole Foods. When juicing, you are concentrating your intake of vegetables, so pesticides from conventional vegetables can accumulate much faster can negate the benefits of juicing. More on organic vs conventional vegetables on later posts :)

Mom's Organic Market: Produce

Caution folks: MOM's is VERY expensive if you are not careful! Do not get dazzled by the hundreds of tasty looking pre-made treats for celiacs (like me!), vegans, dairy-free people etc. I've made the mistake of buying "just a few" boxes of gluten free cookies, crackers, snacks and mixes and ended up going over $100 many times. Keep these treats for special occasions only and you can make it through this store with money to spare.

 Like I explained with Whole Foods produce, I like to get produce from MOM's because it is local and organic. They have a small offering compared to other stores, but the quality is superb.

 Some other things I like to get here are BRAGG©  organic apple cider vinegar (there will be many future posts on this stuff...it's amazing), unsweetened cranberry concentrate, and various spices (sold in bulk).

 Trader Joe's: Juice, Cheese, BBQ Sauce, Brown Rice Tortillas etc

Trader Joe's is a fantastic place to find good quality food for normal prices. Because they buy directly from suppliers, prices stay low for consumers...yay for us! Over the years, TJ's has added more gluten free items to their stores, which has been a big plus. I love their brown rice tortillas to make quesadillas and mini pizzas. Their bbq sauce is beyond fantastic and only costs a few bucks. 

While I am trying to limit my dairy intake, I have started to transition to goat cheese. Cheese prices at TJ's are very good and they have a great selection of cheeses. 

Cranberry juice is very good for your kidneys, so I like to keep a good supply of cranberry juice around. Tart cherry juice is great for inflammation, and concord grape juice helps strengthen immunity. All these juices can be found at TJ's and at very aggressive prices. I find unsweetened cranberry juice to be one of the most expensive items that I regularly buy (up to $12 a bottle), but I can buy a 32oz bottle at TJ's for about $6.

Penzey's: Spices

Penzey's has a large variety of spices that they sell in bulk, which is great for those of us that cook on a regular basis. We like to buy the spices in large enough volumes that they come in plastic packs instead of jars. This way we reduce our overall waste and can simply refill our current jars as we go with the plastic packs.

Ethnic markets

Listen up, ladies and gentlemen. GO TO YOUR LOCAL ETHNIC FOOD MARKETS!!! These guys are absolute gold mines! Asian markets sell roasted, seasoned seaweed snacks for a fraction of the price they are sold at TJ's. You can buy soy sauce by the gallon and rice in 25lb bags for dirt cheap. Persian markets sell walnuts in bulk for much cheaper than surround stores. Indian stores sell tumeric powder and chickpeas in heaps.

Americans have become so detached from their food that they often forget where this food came from. Cows are not made up of only tenderloins and roasts. They have lips, cheeks and tails. Chickens don't walk around on drumsticks, they have scaley feet. All these pieces that Americans refuse to touch make other countries laugh at us. We waste some of the most nutrient dense, flavor-packed pieces because we turn our noses up at the way they look. 

I admit we both say this about Americans without having tried to cook liver in a long time... but I promise... there will be a post soon about our adventures with liver. Stay tuned!

Get acquainted with your local international markets and find the hidden treasures that they can provide your kitchen with.

I could write about food shopping all day, but seeing as how I am still at work...this will have to be it for now!

 Recipes coming up soon!

The Zinners (really just Liz this time)