Earth Fare and Grocery Shopping

Today we took our first actual shopping trip to Earth Fare. (We have been a few times, perusing and buying a few items, to see if we wanted to start shopping there permanently.) But today we was our first "official trip."

The Adventure Begins

Cutest Thing-Kid Sized Buggies!!!

Deciding Between Organic Snacks

I must say, starting out that the one thing that truly stands out about Earth Fare is their customer service. So friendly. Understanding. And helpful. I went in, clueless as to where things were and how it all worked. I barreled through anyway and found what I could. I was asked several times if I needed help, and was assisted every times. One man actually lead me all around the store, trying to find what I needed. We talked about the difference between Natural and Organic. He told me about the History of additives and preservatives. And about some of the studies they have done on the effects of those things. 

Everything in the store just LOOKED healthier. The packaging, which I know is just marketing. The color of the food, more natural, less dyed! Just all around, more attractive, to me anyway.

Which brings me to my second point, the environment. It was amazing. Just one of those places that SCREAM "CRUNCHY MOMMA!" The health and beauty area, smelled AMAZING. Everything so-pure. Bar soaps you can cut off as much as you want. Lotions made from goats milk. Organic shampoos that are truly 100% organic. I'm losing myself in a fantasy here...Here are some pictures of the store:

I just Loved all the signs!

"Because it is not worth playing chicken with your health."

Buying By The Pound-Pastas, Grains, Etc.

Organic Cheeses-YUM!

Spices

The Final Verdict: I TRULY enjoyed Earth Fare, and I'm not going to lie, I really like the status that goes along with shopping at Earth Fare.

I have been going back and forth all day with weather or not I will go back there to grocery shop. I feel like I am paying for the environment. (Given that the noodles and canned foods I buy at WalMart are both "All Natural," but they are 5x the price or more at Earth Fare.) The amount of things I would buy from Earth Fare, Samantha's snacks, Deli Meat, Milk, and healthcare products, like my Shampoo and Castile soap for detergent...I am not sure if it is worth the trip to Tennessee. I would do all my shopping there but I just can't pay for the environment. Although our $250.00 monthly budget will stretch enough to buy the natural and organic, it can't pay for the higher prices at a specialty store. Even if I could afford to pay for the environment, I don't think I could bring myself to do it.

Now, not to say that it would work better for everybody that way. Because it really depends on your diet. Like we eat a lot of noodles, rice, and vegetables. We can get the same stuff at WalMart and the Fruit Stand for cheaper. But if another family ate a lot of prepackaged foods and snacks or made more extravagant recipes, they probably would not be able to find the Natural stuff at WalMart and would need to go to Earth Fare to find healthy alternatives that went with their diet, but it just isn't beneficial for us. So I am torn...opinions?

With all that said, I still scored at Earth Fare today: (Got $16.00 off using coupons and special offers.) I spent $60.00 on everything. (And the deli meat was $10.00 of that.)

4 Containers of Juice, an Organic Coke for Jessie-He can't believe they make Organic soft drinks. Spaghetti Sauce, Italian Dressing, BBQ Sauce, 4 Packages of Noodles, Cereal, Butter, Sour Cream, and 1 Pound of Turkey ALL Natural/Organic

I also went to WalMart, where I get my Natural canned foods-vegetables I cannot find at the fruit stand, and can't grow myself. (We are trying to move away from canned foods and go for fresh vegetables from the fruit stand.) I also got some stuff I knew was cheaper at WalMart, like my Natural Cheese and my Organic Chicken.

Ingles, where I get my Natural meats.

And last stop, the Railroad Produce Stand.  My favorite stop. All local. All organic. All affordable.

Here is what I scored there: (I spent $24.00.)

15 DOUBLE Yolk Eggs-so 30 Yolks, Bell Pepper, Bananas, Tomatoes for Turkey Sandwiches-The organic turkey meat at Earth Fare is AMAZING, Lettuce For Sandwiches, Corn As Dinner Sides-Again, trying to move away from canned foods and go for fresh., Potatoes for Mashed and Fried Potatoes,  Homemade Pickles with Jalepenos, and Homemade Strawberry Jam. All Homegrown Without Chemicals or Pesticides!

This is how I store my produce now. Decorative and Resourceful. We Love the country look in this house.

And here is our refrigerator and cabinets, all Organic/Natural!