Updated 11/18/2012
Before you judge the prices below, keep in mind that buying quality food costs more. This is because cheap food prices are a result of diluting quality items with lower quality substitutes, or by adding preservatives that will increase the shelf life and profit margin of the item. However, I think of it like this – I may pay more for my food now, but I will pay less later in healthcare costs, so in the end it’s a bargain. So, when you are trying to decide whether or not to buy an exotic fruit as a treat, think to yourself “I could spend $9.00 to try that dragon fruit as my dessert tonight, or I could spend $10.00 on a co-pay down the road to see my doctor about a health problem that could be prevented by eating well. In the end, I save $1.00, I get a treat, and I don’t have to waste time to see the doctor. What a deal!”
The items listed below are in alphabetical order, followed by the brand that has either no additives or the least additives, where to buy it, and the cost. I’ll update this list as I find better and cheaper places to buy these items.
Almond Meal /Flour, Trader Joe’s $3.99/1lb (0.25/oz). This has a coarser grain that almond flour, but it’s really inexpensive in comparison to the refined almond flours. Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour $12.19/16oz (0.76/oz) at Harvestin. NOW Real Food Almond Flour $7.39/10oz (0.74/oz) at Harvestin.
Almond Butter, Trader Joe’s $4.99/16oz (0.31/oz), Woodstock brand $12.99/16oz (0.81/oz) at Harvestin. If you need packets of almond butter to take on the go, you can buy Justin’s Almond Butter in 1.15oz packets for $0.99 at Wegmans (0.86/oz) or $0.89 at MOM’s (0.77/oz) .
Almond Butter Cocao Truffle (agave), Two Moms brand, Roots $3.99/3oz.
Aloha Annas, Wegman’s $3.99 per 1/2 pint. www.KiwiBerry.com See “Interesting things post”
Applesauce, Nature’s Promise at Giant $2.59 for 4x4oz cups
Avocados, Organic, Trader Joe’s $3.99 for four.
Bananas, Trader Joe’s $0.19 each
Banana Chips, Trader Joe’s $1.99/4.2oz
Boar, wild– Blackwing meats brand, Roots $8.99/1lb.
Brazil Nuts, shelled, Roots $10.49/lb.
Broth, beef – Health Valley brand at ???
Butternut squash puree canned, Farmer’s Market brand at MOM’s $2.79/15oz or Wegmans $3.19 /15oz.
Cacao Goji, Roots market brand, Roots $8.49/lb – these are a chocolatey dessert like snack (see interesting things entry for full description).
Cactus Paddles, AKA Nopales, Lily’s $1.50 / lb, so two paddles cost about $0.70.
Capers, wild mountain capers in sea salt, Les Moulins brand at Roots $7.99/3.5oz.
Carob Powder, NOW brand dry roased $10.49/12oz at Harvestin
Cashew Butter, Once Again, MOM’s $8.99/16oz
Chewing Gum replacement – Gujrati mukhtar masala (kalustyans.com $9.99/ 14 oz) is an Indian mouth freshener. It contains a mixture of aromatic seeds that you chew to freshen your breath. You can swallow the seeds once chewed, or spit them out.
Chicken, whole cooked – Wegmans is the only place that I know of that sells just plain rotisserie whole chickens with no sugar or other additives. $4.99 per chicken.
Chicory, roasted, this is a naturally caffeine-free drink that has a boldness similar to coffee. Amazon.com sells 6x12oz bags of Community coffee brand 100% chicory for $18.37 ($0.25/oz) or a 1lb Frontier organic chicory for $15.25 ($0.95/oz).
Coconut, shredded, Let’s Do Organic brand – Wegmans $2.99/8.8oz (0.34/oz), Roots $2.69/8oz (0.34/oz), or amazon.com $1.98/8.8oz (0.23/oz) but you have to buy 12 bags on amazon, NOW brand $5.39/10oz (0.54/oz) at Harvestin.
Coconut aminos, RAW brand, MOM’s $6.29/8oz, Wegmans $5.69/8oz, Roots $5.69/8oz – this is a tasty soy sauce substitute that is Paleo
Coconut Flour, Bobs Red Mill Organic brand $9.79/16oz at Harvestin. You can also buy this at a lot of other stores, prices to be posted later.
Coconut Milk, Trader Joe’s brand has no additives $0.99 per can.
Coconut Milk, Trader Joe’s brand has no additives. Wegmans also sells Organic creamed coconut by Let’s do organic which can be diluted as desired and used as coconut milk $2.49/7oz.
Coconut Oil, Spectrum Organic $7.99/14oz (0.57/oz) at Giant. Dr. Bronners organic fresh-pressed virgin fair trade $22.59/30oz (0.75/oz) at Harvestin
Coconut Wraps, made by Pure Wraps, MOM’s $5.79/4 wraps or buy it online at http://www.improveat.com/ for $4.99/4 wraps + shipping (order 12 packages and shipping is free) . These are soooo delicious and totally paelo. Comes in just coconut or with added curry.
Coffee, decaf – Wegmans sells Baltimore Coffee and you can get the Swiss water Decaff for $9.99/lb.
Coffee, caffeine-free replacement – see Chicory.
Cookies
Caveman Alpine cookies (honey) – MOM’s $4.49/3oz
Curry Paste, red or green, Thai Kitchen brand, Roots $3.19/4oz.
Dried fruits – Cherries Trader Joe’s $4.49/6oz or Roots $13.99/lb. Mango organic Roots $11.99/lb, Papaya Roots $6.39/lb, Pineapple Roots $13.49/lb. MOM’s also has a good selection of dried fruits without added sugar.
Dried fruits, soft – fruit bliss brand at Roots $3.99/6oz.
Eggs, Land O Lakes All natural at BJ’s $3.69/18count – we get these because we eat a LOT of eggs!
Elk Burgers AKA Elf bugers ;-), Blackwing meats brand, Roots $12.99/1lb. These are free range without added hormones or antibiotics. This a good source of protein, leaner that beef.
Energy Bar type things
Bearded Brothers
*Colossal coconut mango energy bar (chia seeds), MOM’s $3.49/2.3oz
Gopal’s
*Rawma bar Pumpkin & Date, MOM’s $1.89/1.9oz
*Rawma bar Pineapple & nut; Roots, $1.99/1.9oz
*Nature’s Gift Almond Raisin cookie, MOM’s $2.89/2oz
*Nori Wrapped Power Wraps, Roots $2.29/1.15oz.
Lara Bars, some are Paleo but not all. A number of the varieties have peanuts, sugar, or concentrated fruit juice (ie sugar). However, I will be soon reviewing the Paleo ones in the sweet snacks section so I thought I’d price them at a few places. Wegmans $1.29 each, Giant $1.25 each, Roots $1.20 each, Harvestin $1.89 each.
Raw Revolution Bars
*Coconut Delight (agave), Roots $1.59/1.8oz.
Two Moms in the RAW
*Gojiberry Nut Bar (agave), Roots $3.29/2oz.
Flackers (flax), Dr. Kitchen brand, Cinnamon&currant flavor, Roots $4.99/5oz.
Guacamole, Calavo Brand, Weis $3.99 /12oz.
Harissa Spread, Les Moulins brand at Roots $7.99/7oz.
Macademia Nuts, Mauna Loa at BJ’s $9.39/11oz. Roots $15.99/lb.
Mahlab, kalustyans.com, $3.99/1oz – this is ground black cherry pits and is used as a flavoring in baking tasty treats. See “Interesting things” post for an awesome cookie recipe.
Medjool Dates, Caramel Naturel at BJ’s $8.99/ 2lb
Pecans, Roots halves $17.49/lb or pieces $15.99/lb.
Pesto, Basil Olive, www.omvfs.com, this is an awesome pesto made with black olives. $12.00/jar.
Pineapple Chips, vacuum fried, Trader Joe’s $1.99/2.8oz
Plaintains, Weis 3 for $1.00, ALDIs and Wegmans 2 for $1.00
Plaintain Chips, Trader Joe’s $1.69/6 oz (sunflower oil), BJ’s Wellsley Farms brand $4.59/11oz (palm oil), Lily’s Mayte Brand Platanitos Maduritos $1.60/3oz (palm oil)
Pumpkin puree canned, Trader Joe’s brand $1.99/15oz, Farmer’s Market brand at MOM’s $2.99/15oz or Roots $1.99/15oz.
Pumpkin seeds, Gopal’s sprouties, Roots $2.29/2oz. Roots plain $5.99/lb.
Salsa, organic chipotle salsa (lime juice), Roots $2.99/16oz.
Salt, Field Day Salt $1.99/26.5oz at Mom’s, Redmond Real Salt $8.99/26oz at Harvestin,
Sea Vegetables, Eden Foods makes a variety (Kombu, Nori, Wakame, Arame, etc) but I haven’t tried them yet. You can buy them at Harvestin’ or online www.edenfoods.com. Some prices are higher at Harvestin some higher online.
Sesame Seeds, Roots $2.99/lb.
Soy sauce replacement, see coconut aminos.
Stevia – the actual green herb, MOM’s $2.79/bunch
Sun-dried Tomato Tapenade, another original recipe from Old Mountain Valley Farms, www.omvfs.com, $12.00/jar.
Sunflower Seeds, shelled, Roots $3.89/lb.
Sweet pepper spread, Vava brand $4.49/10oz or Les Moulins $7.99/7oz at Roots .
Sweet potato chips, plain or with salt (all other varieties contain sugar or additives), Food Should Taste Good Brand (sunflower oil) ~$3 or $4 /4.5oz at Wegmans (these are my favorite!), Terra brand regular or crinkle cut (safflower oil) Wegmans or Roots $3.29/ 6oz bag.
Sweet potato flour, kalustyans.com $6.99/12 oz cheaper in larger packages, MOM’s in the gluten free section
Sweet potato puree canned, Farmer’s Market brand a MOM’s $2.79/15oz or Wegmans $3.19 /15oz.
Tomato Paste, Contadina brand at Giant
Tomatoes, canned, Rienzi Italian cherry tomatoes at Giant $1.29/14 oz. Woodstock organic diced tomatoes at Roots $2.49/28oz or $1.69/14.5oz.
Umeboshi paste, Eden foods, MOM’s $8.99/7oz – This is a pickled plum puree (www.edenfoods.com) which can be used to make an awesome dressing (see “Interesting things” post). You can also buy the whole plums at MOM’s as well.
Vinegar, apple cider, Bragg organic Raw -Harvestin’ $4.69/16oz