Where I Grocery Shop

scott-warman-525481-unsplash.jpg

Grocery shopping tends to be one of the most overwhelming and daunting tasks on our to-do lists. Not every store has what we need, endless options, and the time we spend driving all seem to provide quite a challenge.

Thankfully in recent years, options for shopping have grown immensely and we no longer need to search high and low for foods that fit our diets. Below you can find some of my favorite places that have made grocery shopping so much easier!

Online Shopping

Online grocery shopping has only recently become more available and accessible. Nearly everything you find in a store can be found online, even fresh produce! For those who cannot find the time to do a thorough grocery run, online shopping is such a great option.

Amazon Fresh is a wonderful extension of the one-stop-shop and just as easy to use. For those who shop regularly on Amazon, you will find it to be the most convenient place for online grocery shopping. Prices tend to be similar to those you can find in a store but occasionally will even be less expensive. For Amazon Prime members, you can add this service to your membership for $14.99 per month. Orders under $50 cost an additional $9.99 to ship. You can even schedule a specific time you want your groceries to be dropped off. Check to see if this is available in your area!

For less than $5 a month, Thrive Market provides you with organic, healthy food at 25-50% off of retail price. I find that Thrive is one of the only places I can find the organic foods at a fraction of the cost. I tend to buy things in bulk from Thrive, like plantain chips, paleo snacks, and different nut butters. It does take a couple of days to deliver so if you need something right away, this might not be your best option. They also have natural beauty products and cleaning supplies available. Checking out is fast and easy with their app. Memberships cost $59.95 for the entire year, which pays itself off if you use it regularly.

Similar to Thrive Market, Vitacost offers a discount on organic foods and goods. It is a great place to find affordable pantry items without paying for a membership. Vitacost has a wide variety of options and even has baby and pet sections for shopping. Shipping is free with purchases of $49 or more.  

Instacart is a unique service that delivers groceries from a variety of stores in your local area. Their slogan is, “Groceries delivered in as little as 1 hour,” so it is the best option for quick and convenient delivery. You can choose groceries from your favorite store and once you place your order, someone else does the shopping and delivery for you. Depending on what store you are shopping from, there may be a slight markup on products and a delivery fee.

Giant Direct/Peapod has a great variety of organic foods and you have several options when shopping the section. You can shop online and choose to have it delivered to your house for $6.95 - $9.95 or you can go to a Giant store near you to pick it up for a $2.95 service fee and save a few dollars. Not only can you shop the Peapod organic section but the rest of Giant’s store as well!

Brick and Mortar Stores

Wegmans is a great option if you have a local one in your area. The organic section there is one of the largest and best I have found in a grocery store. If you have one nearby, you can use Instacart for delivery if you do not want to spend time going to the store.

Kimberton Whole Foods partners with local farms to sell products that are from the community nearby. I like shopping here because I know that my food came from a farm nearby rather than being shipped across the country. Plus, they have an awesome organic selection.

Whole Foods claims to be the healthiest grocery store. It is a great place to go shop and find new healthy foods to add to your diet, but be prepared to pay more for it. I like to go there to find things like white sweet potatoes, seafood and Siete brand tortilla shells. Plus, if you have Amazon Prime, you can order online and have it delivered to your home if it is available in your area. If you use your Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card, you can receive 5 percent back. The prices do tend to be a bit higher but I think it is worth it to have those favorite products you can’t always easily find.

  • BB’s

BB’s is a store local to the Elverson/Morgantown, Pennsylvania area. It is a discounted grocery store so it can really be hit or miss but if you know what you are looking for, you can find some amazing things at a great price. You just have to make sure to check expiration dates on nearly every item.

  • King’s Herb Nook

King’s Herb Nook is in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania and sells herbs, spices, teas, heirloom seeds and plants, organic body care, and other unique products that cannot always be found in a traditional store. I really like that items are local and handmade.

Local Farms

If you live in Berks, Chester, or Lancaster County, these farm stores are great options for meat and dairy products. We buy a half of beef and a whole pig each year. This allows us to save time and money. Local farms are a great place to get your food because you not only know where your food is coming from but you support a local business.

  • Freedom Acres Farms

    • 1063 Compass Rd, Honey Brook, PA 19344

  • Pleasant Pastures

    • 648 Cambridge Rd, Honey Brook, PA, 19344

  • Pasture Song Farm

    • 1333 Ridge Rd. Pottstown, PA 19465

  • Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op

    • 201 Running Pump Rd., Lancaster, PA 17603

Let us know about your favorite local stores! Choosing where you get your food from and how you get it is important but can be overwhelming. There are so many options available to us that provide us with healthy food no matter where we live.