Sure two’s company but coming up with ideas for feeding two on a budget every day may turn the best of us into someone it’s best to avoid. That’s where The Whole Deal meal planners come in. Our week long meal plan for two paves the way for delicious, affordable meals and takes the pressure off of you. Sit back and enjoy:

MONDAY: Veggie Monday

Try our Winter Greens with Carrots, Feta Cheese and Brown Rice recipe. And then have sliced organic navel oranges with honey and nuts. Leftovers are great for lunch. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you one of those people who get so distracted by the great coupons in The Whole Deal value guide that you forget to read the rest of it? Well then you are missing out on a whole lot of hot value and meal planning tips. We’ve got lots of ideas to help make your life just a bit easier. For example, our meal planner for four (or more, more or less) gives you a week’s worth of meal ideas and recipes designed to save you money, save you time and save your sanity. Now that’s value! Take a look:

MONDAY: Veggie Monday

Try our Cashew Noodles with Broccoli and Tofu recipe and you’ll have a new family favorite. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s something you can really dig your spoon into: Learning to cook can really cut your costs, but not your nutrients. This “chili” time of year is actually just right for any warm, comforting bowl of soup or stew and many start with a healthy base of beans — good for you and your budget. So, let’s get to it and learn how to cook:

White Beans

Why Should I?

Why not? Cooking beans at home is renowned as a simple way to save money and provide the base for many a healthy meal. It requires little effort and they’re easy to keep on hand in the fridge or freezer. And then you can quickly put together everything from basic beans and rice (seasoned differently in different cultures) to soups, salads, dips and spreads. Read the rest of this entry »

Happy New Year savvy shoppers! The January/February issue of The Whole Deal gets the year off to a smart start with simple recipes that are less than $4 per serving, weekly menu ideas, Sure Deals and more than $40 in coupons-all in the in-store guide and some online now, too.

Check out some of the features and remember to pick up The Whole Deal in-store guide for even more value know-how.

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I’m a terrible shopper. Clothes. Household goods. Gifts. Even when it comes to food, despite all my good “guru” advice, I buy more than I need, struggle to carry it all home on my bicycle, struggle again to fit it in my fridge and cabinet and then struggle to use up all the so-beautiful-I-can’t-resist fresh veggies before they’ve given up all their nutrients. Fortunately, I’m a creative cook and do manage to let very very little go to waste, but back to gifts…

Maybe it’s my humble beginnings, or my grandparent’s humble beginnings or just the Grinch in me; I can’t stand the thought of a pointless gift. Nor can I stand the thought of a low-quality gift…some plastic thing that makes someone laugh or smile for about 2 seconds then gets forgotten for 5 years in a drawer somewhere until it gets tossed. Don’t get me wrong; being a food lover, I am perfectly fine with the temporary satisfaction of something that tastes amazing. I just believe it really should be amazing and memorable if it’s going to be temporary. Food, therefore is often my gift solution. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s the Deal…

…about The Whole Deal Online Coupons

We’re doing cartwheels because we think you might be! Our customers have been asking to be able to print The Whole Deal coupons right at home, so we put on our most colorful ties (yeah, right) and went to talk to our friends at Mambo Sprouts and our vendor partners—because they’re the ones who actually provide the coupons. Lo and behold, they were willing to join us in making it work! Because this is new territory for us and many of them, you’ll notice that only a limited selection of coupons are available online at any one time. Later, we hope to be able to offer more, but we really wanted to do what we could as soon as possible so you can save more as soon as possible! As always, you can find all of The Whole Deal coupons in the in-store guide along with even more ways to keep the budget blues at bay: money-saving tips, budget recipes, meal planners and the ever-popular Sure Deals.

This time of year can often leave you feeling short on time, short on cash and honestly, a little short-tempered. So, our shortened version of The Whole Deal value guide, in stores through December, should brighten your holidays. In it, we save you time by cutting straight to the good stuff that saves you money-holiday coupons, affordable party recipes and lists of thoughtful gift ideas for $15 or less. That’s enough to make the most harried holiday shopper take a moment to smile.

Here are some of the features you’ll find in this issue, but remember to pick up The Whole Deal in-store guide for the coupons!

Feel-Good Gifts
When is a gift more than a gift? When it gives back! Our “green” giving tips make it simple to give a little more-but not spend more-in very meaningful ways.

Small Bites for Big Entertaining
For less than 50¢ a piece, these stylish “small bite” recipes won’t take a big bite out of your party budget.

Money-Saving Tips for the Holidays
Whether you are shopping, entertaining or giving on a budget we have tips for all three that will save you money.

Holiday Ideas & Inspiration
Visit our All Things Good! holidays website for even more good stuff! You’ll find holiday recipes, menus and catering information; instructional videos and holiday help guides; gifts to make or buy; and store holiday events, sales, and specials.

I was talking to my friend Liza Burke the other day. She’s Marketing Team Leader at our store in Memphis. Every year she sits at the Whole Foods Market holiday table and without fail she gets frantic hosts that just found out “my niece and her boyfriend are coming for a holiday meal and they are VEGETARIAN!” I thought it would be great to share Liza’s story and her tips on the subject, so, without further ado, heeeerrrre’s Liza!

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I don’t know about you, but when I spend all morning in the kitchen preparing the Thanksgiving feast, I’m not that interested when the time comes to sit down and eat. My senses are completely overloaded from chopping, stirring and tasting and living in the wonderful aromas of the kitchen. I know, I know. I could make or purchase things ahead, or ask people to bring things or help-and I do to some extent-but my true enjoyment of that day is actually the cooking.

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I was flipping through the October-November issue of The Whole Deal and this money-saving tip caught my eye (I wrote the piece months ago, so I’d almost forgotten it):

Make Décor do Double Duty. Decorate your table with winter squash, fresh herbs, citrus, apples, pears, pomegranates and nuts, and then use them in recipes. Read the rest of this entry »