It's safe to say that Whole Foods has got some die-hard fans in Canada. Though some Canadian cities adore the popular grocer more than others (we're looking at you, Vancouver), it's got a special place in all of our hearts. Whether you're in it for the salad bar, the pizza, the café, or just the wonder of it all, you could probably benefit from some Whole Foods Canada hacks to save some money and we've got the goods. Even though you feel like you're shopping smart, are you always alarmed by your bill when you get to the checkout? Have you ever spent triple-digits on a basket full of stuff? Are you new to Whole Foods? If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, you could probably use a little Whole Food guidance, especially when it comes to protecting that bank account. If anything, it will save you some extra cash so you can come back to Whole Foods more. That is what we call priorities. There are also the obvious hacks like never shop hungry and bring your own bags so you don't have to spend a little every time to buy them. Beyond that, you're ready for your next Whole Foods adventure. If you're ready to get out there and save some money without any serious compromise, we're here to help. Here are 11 tips to keep in mind the next time you're headed to Whole Foods: Put Your Computer to Good Use Check the Whole Foods Canada website before you do your shopping, you might find some specials that you'll want to take advantage of while you're there. In addition, follow your local Whole Foods' social media accounts for more specific sale and discount information. For example, the Whole Foods Market BC Instagram often posts awesome savings oppertunities. View this post on Instagram Give back while you shop! Today is our Community Support Day where 5% of today’s net sales will go to support great charitable organizations and their programs in our communities. 🛒 On Thursday October 17, your support will go to Growing Chefs! as they work to offer food literacy programs to thousands of BC kids! 🍎🥕🍠 #5PercentDay #CommunityGiving #GrowingChefs @growingchefs A post shared by Whole Foods Market BC (@wholefoodsbc) on Oct 17, 2019 at 9:00am PDT Sample Everything Did you know that Whole Foods has a "Try Before You Buy" policy? You can sample anything, all you need to do is ask. You may be wondering how that saves you money apart from filling you up so you don't have to buy as much food. Well, knowing what something tastes like will help you make informed decisions and not end up hating something when you get home. It also gives you a chance to sample discount brands so you know if the savings are worth it. *whole food employees writing in their diaries at night*Today, the girl came in again. she proceeded to try all of the samples while wandering around our store for two hours, only to walk out empty handed— sara dobrinic (@sara_dobrinic) June 22, 2018 Never Take More Produce Than You Need If you're shopping for one, why not try actually shopping for one? You probably don't need a whole watermelon or an entire cabbage. You can ask to have your produce cut up so you only have to buy the amount you want. Now they aren't going to give you half an apple or anything wacky like that, so use your reason. View this post on Instagram Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Squash them all. Looking for unique ways to use squash check out the link in our bio. #Squash #MakesMeWhole A post shared by Whole Foods Market BC (@wholefoodsbc) on Oct 3, 2019 at 9:39am PDT Hit Up The Salad Bar For Small Ingredient Portions If you're making something at home that calls for a sprinkle of chopped celery or a half a tomato, go grab the pre-sliced goodies from the salad bar. It's pay by weight, so don't overdo it. This is also a good option when it comes to their toppings like shaved almonds or olives. If you just need a few, don't bother buying a bag, can, or jar. Get what you need and nothing more. View this post on Instagram Thanks for sharing this shot of your taco using Coconut Flour Tortillas @jenniferdanakroll! 😍🍴 . . . . . @sanaratulum @bydaniellahunter #therealcoconut #bydaniellahunter #veganfoodshare #healthyeating #iamwellandgood #wellandgoodeats #wholefoods #makesmewhole #celiac #healthysnacks #beyondglutenfree #grainfree A post shared by The Real Coconut (@therealcoconut) on Oct 28, 2018 at 12:01pm PDT Get An Amazon Prime Membership You know, you should probably just do this anyway. But, if you're just in it for the Whole Foods discounts, it's still totally worth it. Amazon Prime members get Prime Savings at Whole Foods and we're not talking a couple of cents. If you frequent Whole Foods, this might be the right call for you. View this post on Instagram Out here livin my best life with these $1.25 avocados 🥑 🥑 • • • #wholefoods #amazon #amazonmemes #memes #wholefoodsmemes #produce #organice #healthylifestyle #fitfam #diet #dietplan #wholesome #raw #vegan #veganrecipes #recipes #oprah #oprahmagazine #oprahmemes #oprahforpresident #oprahwinfrey #homegrown #homegarden #california #groceries #deal #bestlife #exercise #bodygoals A post shared by Serving Memes Hot All Day (@servingmemeshotallday) on Apr 9, 2018 at 9:19am PDT Don't Even Think About Buying Rice or Potatoes at the Hot Bar We mustn't forget that the buffet-style hot and cold bars and measured by weight. If you're scooping cooked rice or potatoes into your little box, you've made a fatal error. Stay away from heavy, cheap fillers that cost next to nothing normally but cost a ton by weight. View this post on Instagram One for me and one for you! 🍽 Holidays meals available in Turkey, Vegan or Paleo right on the shelf - making it easy for you to have dietary restrictions. If you aren’t looking for the full meal, we have options on the hot bar to choose from. 🙌 #HappyThanksgivingWeekend #HolidayMeals #Turkey #Vegan #Paleo A post shared by Whole Foods Market BC (@wholefoodsbc) on Oct 12, 2019 at 11:24am PDT Cut the Cheese Cheese is remarkably expensive, especially when you're buying more than you need. Get the exact amount of cheese you need by asking to have it sliced. Also, Whole Foods has literal cheese experts in-house, so take advantage of their knowledge by asking how to get the flavours you're after without spending the big bucks. View this post on Instagram Sometimes I make custom cheese plattters :) #harbisoncheese #midnightmooncheese #moliternotartufo #petitbasque #humboldtfog #beemsterxo #cabraromero #cheeseplate #cheeseplatters #cheesemonger #cheese #foodporn #foodart #edibleflowers A post shared by Laice O’Malley (@laicegomalley) on Oct 18, 2019 at 8:29am PDT Go for the “365 Everyday Value” Whole Foods has its own discount brand, 365 Everyday Value, and it's actually amazing. Don't bother reaching past the 365 brand goods for your name-brand favourites, give it a try. You won't regret it. If you're not sold, try a sample! View this post on Instagram Help us settle a debate. Which flavor is the best #fall flavor: Pumpkin spice or maple? (We’re currently #TeamMaple thanks to these little cookies.) A post shared by Whole Foods Market (@wholefoods) on Oct 16, 2019 at 2:43pm PDT Buy a Case, Get a Discount Whole Foods often offers 10% discounts to people who buy entire cases of things. If you're obsessed with Annie's Mac and Cheese, a specific type of body wash, or any other non-perishable items, might as well buy a Costco amount and save some money in the process. View this post on Instagram We’re excited to team up with @FortPointBeer and the Bay Area Brewers Guild to debut the perfect brew for #SFBeerWeek: Say 👋 to the Farallon Tart IPA, a lightly tart tribute to local, Bay Area beers. Want a taste? 🍺 This February, cans are available in the Bay Area, across Northern California and Reno locations. If you’re in the area, click the link in bio for more details about how you can grab a taste at your store on select demo days this month.* Cheers!🍻 #Local #MakesMeWhole *Valid 1/30-2/26/2019. While supplies last. No rain checks. Must be 21. Please drink responsibly. Tastings are for patrons 21+ with valid photo ID. A post shared by Whole Foods Market (@wholefoods) on Feb 4, 2019 at 12:06pm PST Don't Even Think About Buying Anything Pre-Mixed If you've got your eye on a pre-mixed fruit salad, trail mix, dried fruit mix, or anything of the sort, we have one question: are you mad? The markup on this type of product is out of control and you can save tons by buying the same items in bulk and mixing them yourself. View this post on Instagram buy in bulk! A post shared by Clara Kirkpatrick (@clarakirk) on Dec 1, 2018 at 7:42am PST No Drinks While we're talking about markup, you should probably know that pre-mixed drinks such as iced lattes or coconut waters are some of the most marked-up products you can buy. If you're not dying of thirst, wait until you get home to mix your own drink or, you know, drink some water. View this post on Instagram Seen On The Street: Post-workout healthy meal at @Wholefoodsmarket A post shared by FITiST (@fitist) on Aug 2, 2013 at 1:09pm PDT There are stories everywhere. If you spot a newsworthy event in your city, send us a message, photo, or video @NarcityCanada on Twitter and Instagram.
