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?
Catch up on the latest sustainability news: Philadelphia Zoo welcomes two feline arrivals. Rory, a…
New bundled service offers residents discounted composting and recycling options to keep waste out of…
Catch up on the latest sustainability news: PA lawmakers propose controversial funding structure for SEPTA.…
The upper portion of the watershed is ready to be discovered Ask any Philadelphian to…
City crews say they’re taking care to preserve trees during road repairs, but advocates argue…
Catch up on the latest sustainability news: Newly renovated playground and basketball court in Port…