Natural Parenting

Yesterday we went grocery shopping, just like we do every weekend.  This week, though, we found a new store to shop at.    It’s called Sprouts, and although we’ve shopped there before, we were unaware that there was a location close to us.  As a matter of fact, it’s only four miles from one of our other weekly shopping stops, Cox Farms Market (their website isn’t up, yet).

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I was elated to find out Sprouts was so close.  I absolutely love them!  They have a large variety of produce, and it’s all usually priced very reasonably.  They also have a lot of organic products, which is nice.  The staff has always been friendly, and the store is very easy to navigate.  The center of the store has “bulk” items, that you can scoop, such as granola, dried fruit, and nuts.  Overall, it’s an all around great place to buy food.

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As for Cox Farms Market in Duncanville, I would give them a five star rating simply based on their organic romaine lettuce.  It’s the best around that we’ve found.  The leaves are always a rich, vibrant green color, and they have a wonderful crisp texture.  It’s best to call ahead before going because they are sometimes out of stock, although I’ve only come across this once (it was on a Sunday).

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The third and final store we visit weekly is Whole Foods.  I’m sure most of you have shopped there, or at least heard of it.  It can be extremely overpriced, so you definitely have to know your stuff before going there.  Otherwise, you’ll end up with a huge bill, and very little food. 

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Occasionally, you can find some good deals when fruit goes on sale, and there are also a few items that we purchase there simply because no one else carries them.  Above all, the thing I like most about Whole Foods is that there are no artificial preservatives, or hydrogenated oils in ANY of their products.  Sometimes it’s worth the extra money just so you don’t have to worry about reading every single label.  (This doesn’t apply to us, however, as we are on a budget, and my diet is so restricted.)

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This week, I came across a few great deals, and I’d like to share them just in case there is anyone in the DFW area looking for cheap and healthy food.  (Keep in mind, Whole Foods and Sprouts have other locations in the US, just run a search on their websites to find a store near you.)

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Whole Foods

1. 18 pound bag of grapefruit for $8.99 - These grapefruit are the large variety, and are a deep red color inside.  They are sweet, juicy, flavorful, and have consistenly tasted delicious.

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Cox Farms Market

1. 5 lb bag of potatoes (not organic) for .99 cents – We usually stick to organic when it comes to potatoes, but the deal was just too good to pass up.  We bought 70 pounds, and so far they’ve all tasted great, especially for the price!
2. 8 lb bag of grapefruit for $1.99 – These grapefruits are smaller than the ones from Whole Foods, and don’t taste as good, but are slightly cheaper.  (If you can, I would recommend buying the larger variety from Whole Foods)
3. Organic romaine lettuce heads for $1.89 each - I cannot say enough good things about this lettuce.  It’s delicious, and I can tell it’s very nourishing.  Also, the heads are usually ENORMOUS!  Just a tip: If they have just recently stocked the lettuce, check out the heads on the bottom, as they typically place the largest heads there.  Save me some! 

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Sprouts Farmers Market

1. Zucchini for .88 cents/lb – The cheapest I can find anywhere else is $1.49/lb, so this is a great deal.  Plus, these were the really small kind, which actually have much more flavor. 
2. Broccoli crowns for .77 cents/lb – The cheapest elsewhere was $1.29/lb.  They were fresh and crisp, unlike a lot of the limp stuff I see in other markets.
3. Tangelos for .99 cents/lb - So yummy! 
4. Organic bartlett pears for .88 cents/lb – These haven’t ripened enough to eat, so I can’t review the taste just yet.
5. Yellow and red bell peppers for .69 cents each – If you know anything about bell peppers, you know this is a great deal.  I haven’t tasted them yet, but they look great!
6. A huge box of Mom’s Best Natural’s Honey Nut Toasty O’s for $2.79 – We bought these as a treat for Patrick.  Cheaper, and much more healthy than Cheerios!

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As you can see, this week we scored big with Sprouts (although the 70 pounds of potatoes for 14 bucks wasn’t too bad, either).  I encourage you to check out one or all of these stores.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to do a weekly update of all the good deals we come across.  I know as “natural parents,” many of us place a high priority on health, so it’s nice to save a buck any where you can.  I hope I’ve been helpful! 

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If any of you know of any stores in the DFW area that offer good deals on food, please share the info!  I’d love to find more “health,” and “wallet” promoting food sellers.  Thanks in advance!