I thought a professor lied when he said the only way he survived graduate school without falling into debt was by eating canned beans for every meal.
Yet 5 months into grad school, I can see where desperation hit. While beans are a healthy, vegetarian protein, I was not so devoid of hope. It has to be possible as a student to eat at Whole Foods on a budget, right?
Testing and proving this theory brought me into foreign territory, one teeming with hormone-free meat and overpriced produce.
The foreign lands of Whole Foods.
My mission: To claw my way out with a bill less than or equal to $54.90, which is the U.S Department of Agriculture’s low-cost one-week food plan for a 19-50 aged man.
Known Success Rate: Unreported, but there have been many a credit card casualty.
Wildlife to Avoid: Twenty-something year-old vegans. Although a pleasure to view in their natural habitat, this species is hungry and their movements can be unpredictable.
Important Note: Nutritional health is a subject in which everyone has an opinion, and this writer is not an expert but a survivor in this task.
According to my calculations, I was under my goal price by 32 cents at $54.58. But Whole Foods threw me a curve ball with a damn tax.
My final outcome: $55.48. Over by 58 cents! So, close, yet unsuccessful.
For those curious about what I purchased:
Total (without tax): $54.58
Readers, tell me in the comments: What are your tips for shopping green without breaking the bank? Is it possible to leave Whole Foods under budget? Or is cost-conscious shopping at Whole Foods like licking your elbow: something that everybody tries, but no one succeeds?
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