An Ode to Whole Foods

How I love thee, let me count the ways…

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1. Prepared foods bar

As you are about to see, I’ve been going through a few obsessions.  Whole Foods makes it dangerously easy to slip into food ruts because each dish is better than the last and meals require no effort whatsoever (aside from determining if you want the Kirstie Alley size or the more moderate portion) because they are already prepared.

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Fumi Tofu Salad

I was first introduced to this glorious dish back in my college days, when the Whole Foods opened in Westwood and my pathetic bank account went from sad-college-student-status to overdraft-fee-status).  Now whenever I see Fumi Tofu Salad in the prepared foods section, my meal choice is a no brainer.

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Of course the real perk of Whole Foods dining is the sheer variety at your fingertips fork tines.   How fantastic that you can have such choices all in the same place!?  It certainly makes it easy when eating with large groups (as a vegan, I can’t even put into words how clutch this has been).

So when I OD on Asian inspired eats (see above Fumi salad), I can simply wander two steps over and – voila – I have Indian dishes aplenty.

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Curry Gardein Chik’n Salad

This salad recipe needs to make it’s way to their website pronto because I’m now a Gardein worshiper.  The combination of the faux-meat with veganaise and curry makes for one delish treat.  They must have some secret ingredient in those magic kitchens of theirs though, because try as I might to recreate this dish, I can’t quite master it.  Whole Foods wins again.

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Falafel

(To be fair, this is not a recent obsession, it’s a lifestyle)

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So when I’m not in the Asian or Indian sections, it’s safe to say I’m filling my basket with Mediterranean goods.

The carry-out prepared foods items are perfect for on-the-go meals, and being the jet-setter that I am, they have become absolutely indispensable for car rides/flights/etc.

And then there’s the ‘FU…

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I don’t care how masterful at marinading you think you are, once you have tried WF’s tofu, there is no other that compares.  Sad but true.

2. Fresh fruit

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Paying my week’s earnings for a quart of strawberries is something I do willingly.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  Organic produce is worth the $$$$.

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How ‘bout them apples nails?

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Leads with a “9”  🙂

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The redness of the strawbz & apples looks fake – it’s just so gorgeous!

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3. Salad bar

If I were to add up the money I spend at the Whole Foods salad bar, it would make Kyle cry.

What can I say?  Some like shoes, some like purses, I like the WF salad bar.  And the fact that food is my not-so-secret obsession is a source of pride (hence this post).

Get ready for the montage of the century (and bear in mind this is only a couple of week’s worth of WF trips).

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If I were doing a salad bar highlight reel, the stars of the show would be: eggless “egg” salad, babaganoush,  couscous, udon noodles, edamame, seitan, and every different tofu offered.

I hope that heaven has a Whole Foods.

4. Baked goods

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On days that I can’t make up my mind, I go to the bakery section and get a fresh roll and a tub of hummus.  It’s simple, cheap, and I can be in & out of the store in less than 5 minutes.  You can’t beat that (plus it evens out the length of my other trips to Whole Foods, which are usually in the 2 hour range).

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In addition to their addicting fresh breads, recently Whole Foods has been carrying soft pretzels in the baked goods section.

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Well, we all know about my history with pretzels (it’s a salty carbohydrate, you do the math).

If you are a new reader, take note: I don’t think a better vehicle for hummus exists (in my humble, yet experienced opinion).

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Carbs + salt = what’s not to love?!?  This oat/seed coated twist is the best thing since sliced bread.

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5. Non-sugar, non-chemical drinks

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As a former soda addict, rehabbing with Zevia has made the detox period much more tolerable.

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And yet, I’m still a tad depressed that Kombuchas have been recalled from the shelves.  Now where am I going to get my beloved swamp water live cultures?

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THANK YOU WHOLE FOODS!  Without your endless supplies of new vegan eats, fresh produce, and healthy creative recipes, my hippie lifestyle would be way less tasty.

*Pics taken at various Santa Monica locations, as well as Walnut Creek, Westwood, and Santa Barbara.

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Comments (19)

  1. Megan @ The Oatmeal Diaries

    I officially love your blog! WF’s is the best.. I can go broke at that hot bar. Luckily (?) I can only go during the school year because there isn’t one near me at home!

  2. Run Sarah

    I am SO hungry now! I actually haven’t had any of the prepared foods/hot bar before, now I am thinking of conning Allen into bringing me some to the hospital..

  3. Lauren @ BIOCHEMISTA

    I loooooove Whole Paycheck! I mean Whole Foods 🙂

    So expensive but (imo) worth it! Their salad bar is to die for!!!!!!

  4. Kate

    I kinda live there. Well, at least around dinner. I will walk an incredible number of blocks to get there.

  5. clairedille

    Yum yum yum…WF’s really is amazing, isn’t it?

  6. VeggieGirl

    Glorrrrious Whole Foods! My second home 🙂

  7. *Andrea*

    i love whole foods so much. i wish my house had a salad bar built in with everything from whole foods.

    cute pic! you’re so pretty 😉

    did you hear about the kombucha recall!?!? crazyyyyyyy

    i did wonder the other day why i was so addicted to the drank…now it all makes sense 😉

  8. Lauren @ Eater not a runner

    I basically want to run out to Whole Foods after reading this…yum!

  9. Gabriela @ Fro-Yo Lover

    Now I REALLY want to write to Whole Foods.
    They simply NEED to come to Brazil!
    Such. delicious. dishes.
    Seriously, Elise – you´re the LUCKIEST 🙂
    Wish you an amazing week!
    Brazilian XOXO´s,
    Gabriela

  10. BroccoliHut

    Beautiful finds! I especially covet thy pretzel:)

  11. Katie

    I’m so jealous and so hungry after seeing your salad bar montage.

  12. rawkinrobin

    It’s official. I’ve hit my Whole Foods Limit. Please sit down while you read the next statement. I’VE NEVER BEEN TO A WHOLE FOODS! The closest one to my apartment is over 3 hrs away! No worries…I am going on a 20 hour road trip to Florida next week and I have already warned my friends that we will be making several trips to the dear Whole Foods!! Can’t effin wait!!!

  13. welshsarah

    See, I need a decent alternative to soda over here as I’m trying to break my sode addiction! We’re prob visiting the US in a month or so’s time and I can’t wait to see what the fuss is about wholefoods. That said, it looks and sounds AWESOME! x

  14. julie

    strawberries. so hot right now.

  15. Tammy

    I love Whole Foods.. my friend Kristen and I lovingly refer to it as “Whole Paycheck”…expensive! Unless you hit a good sale or have coupons!

  16. Candace

    you are the offical whole foods coniessur, and I thought I loved whole foods! I just found out a whole new bunch of things to love about WF. thanks!

  17. Erica

    i’m not sure which flavors they have at the one near you, but most WFs have kombucha ON TAP (amazing)

  18. Ethel

    I’m a fan of the nail polish! You should have a different polish color every post because a) you don’t need to be washing your hands every time you touch a patient, or whatevs, so live it up until then and b) they’re just sooo pretty polished! Add that on the list of things to do once you’re moved back…total girl sesh once a week for this…Kile can come too if he wants. 😉

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