https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 23:49:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792714 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 17:36:04 +0000 TheSwissWifeStyle 1792714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like WF much better. Where I'm from in NJ, the WF is way better than the TJ. The TJ is tiny. WF has a way better selection, especially for vegans. I went nuts in there last time I was in NJ! Don't even get me started on the food bar...heaven! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792698 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 17:24:18 +0000 makemake 1792698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No one has mentioned 2 Buck Chuck. Is that because we're all pregnant? :silly: </p> <p>We have all the grocery stores near us. WF is like, way too expensive for us, and sort of too "fancy" as well. They have great bison dogs, though, I will say that. </p> <p>I was never a TJ shopper but I'm coming around. It helps that the org where I volunteer is right next to one! TJ has some really good deals, and I can always find something "fun" to try there. But I don't really consider it a full-service grocery store, as some of the PP have said. I've been using their facial serum at night, too, and really have liked it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792623 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 16:45:28 +0000 looch 1792623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I shop at neither, we have both in the area. I prefer a traditional grocery store with a side trip to a local dairy store for milk and Costco. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792618 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 16:42:47 +0000 namaste 1792618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just got TJ's and honestly I wasn't super impressed. :( I think I need to go back at a time after the craze dies down to see what sounds good. There were easily 100+ people in our tiny store on a Thursday afternoon. It was ridiculous.</p> <p>Right now, I prefer WFs just because it's closer and it's all we've had until now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792569 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 16:27:52 +0000 skibobrown 1792569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Exactly. WF = Whole Paycheck. TJ's is great, but I always have to stop at another grocery store for the stuff I couldn't buy at TJs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792541 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 16:12:03 +0000 Greentea 1792541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: I agree.</p> <p>I can get everything at WFs. TJs is more convenience/ packaged/ frozen foods ime. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792469 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 15:39:33 +0000 autumnlove 1792469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have a WF nearby but I have a Sprouts and TJ. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792454 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 15:32:35 +0000 mrsjyw 1792454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We go to both for different things, like hilsy said TJs for specific TJ products, easy freezer meals, etc. WF for meat and produce! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792448 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 15:30:10 +0000 snowjewelz 1792448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>WF's too expensive for us... We prefer TJ and supplement with normal supermarket. Plus there really isn't a WF around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792445 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 15:29:17 +0000 birdofafeather 1792445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we actually do most of our shopping at TJs and then supplement at WF for more specialty items. i NEVER get fresh fish at TJs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792034 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:53:28 +0000 ValentineMommy 1792034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I prefer TJ's, but that's probably because we eat WAY too many pre-packaged and frozen stuff. They have great snacks as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792033 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:53:24 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1792033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@plantains: yup, same as you.</p> <p>I do a big haul at trader joes, but a few specialty items I get at WF. I don't buy much produce there because of the price. But of they have sales on meats or fish, I like to get some. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1792022 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:50:29 +0000 Mrs. Cheesecake 1792022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Trader Joe's is more prevalent here, but there is one Whole Foods near my office. I prefer to go to TJs because of the prices and the really yummy selection of snacks and frozen foods. Whenever I go to WF I feel like I am going to be dishing out some serious cash for "trendy-healthy" food so I would rather not go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1791987 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:41:10 +0000 septca 1791987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>VERY different.</p> <p>I love TJs for snacks and certain staples, but I rarely buy perishable goods there because they seem to go bad really quickly. The main things I buy at TJs are things you could also get at WF - shaving cream, frozen berries, organic sugar, coffee - but are much cheaper at TJs.</p> <p>I buy most of my perishable grocery items - dairy, meat and fish, produce, and bread - at WF. </p> <p>I also shop at a regular grocery store for staples like English muffins, peanut butter, OJ, pasta, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1791983 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:40:53 +0000 Cole 1791983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same as others, TJs costs less but we have to supplement. At whole foods we could do a whole shopping trip but we would cry at the end! Usually we just grab certain items there. We do the bulknof our shopping at trader joes and get a box of organic produce delivered through a CSA type program and buy meat and paper goods either at whole foods or Sam's/Costco. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1791976 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:37:46 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 1791976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Trader Joe's is like Aldi (actually owned by the same umbrella company) and they private label their foods to save money. </p> <p>Whole Foods focuses on strict standards for what they sell (meat and animal welfare, unacceptable ingredients for food, organic body care standards, etc.). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1791975 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:37:25 +0000 plantains 1791975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can never buy everything I need at TJ's so a trip to WF is always necessary. I find that pricing on WF 365 brand is quite similar to TJ so it doesn't have to be crazy expensive but the produce can be very pricey. The quality is top notch though so it is worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1791968 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:36:19 +0000 teamjse 1791968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have both, but TJ is cheaper than WF. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1791967 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:36:17 +0000 hellobeeboston 1791967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, what @hilsy85: said. </p> <p>TJs has their own brand - and some great items. It's also pretty affordable. </p> <p>Whole Foods is a full service grocery store as well as having a huge selection or hard-to-find/high end items (unusual oils, rare cheeses, huge fresh fish and meat selection, largest selection of both organic and local items). </p> <p>I would LOVE to shop full time at WF but its crazy expensive (although their 365 brand is reasonable) and they have excellent produce. They also have a great prepared foods selection! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1791959 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:34:49 +0000 PurplePeony 1791959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>IMO, WF is more of a full-service grocery store and TJ is more of a specialty store. For example, WF has butchers, fishmongers, and cheesemonger a who you can ask questions to and they'll cut to order; at TJs, on the other hand, those things are all prepackaged. Much of the produce at TJs is also prepackaged (for instance, you can't get whole Swiss chard, just precut chard on a plastic bag). WF has bulk bins, which I love because you can try out things like farro or buckwheat flour without having to buy a one-pound bag of it. On the other hand, TJs products are usually pretty great and tend to be cheaper than the equivalent at WF. For me, the two stores are complimentary, not either/or. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1791954 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:34:21 +0000 nana87 1791954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love tj frozen and packaged foods, but not their produce. Everything at wf is great but it's super expensive! Especially packaged foods </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1791949 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:33:29 +0000 jhd 1791949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have either where I live but TJs is an hour away. We love all the snacks' </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1791947 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:33:12 +0000 Honeydew 1791947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have both. I prefer TJ because of the overall value $ wise. We have a nickname for Whole foods "whole paycheck". It is more expensive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1791933 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:30:31 +0000 hilsy85 1791933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They're very different, IMO. I always feel like I can't do a complete shopping trip at TJs. but they have GREAT selection for certain products, like frozen foods and snack foods (and dessert snack type food--they have chocolate coverd everything!). </p> <p>I could easily buy everything I need at WF (and spend a fortune doing it!). They have a great meat/fish selection and great take out options. It's just more comprehensive, IMO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whole-foods-vs-trader-joes#post-1791925 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:28:18 +0000 Mamaof2 1791925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What's the difference?</p> <p>Everyone on here is always talking about TJ but never WF.</p> <p>Do you not have WF or are you partial to TJ? </p>