Whole30 Publix Grocery Guide

Hi Y’all!

For us Floridians and Southerners there’s nothing like Publix.  Sure you can shop at other retailers but Publix is a Florida institution.  Publix started in 1930 and has a great history. I’m just going to share a quick paragraph from Publix archives.

On Sept. 6, 1930, George Jenkins opened his first store, called Publix Food Store, in Winter Haven. In 1935, he opened a second location across town. He closed these first two stores to open his dream store, the first Publix Super Market, on Nov. 8, 1940. A "food palace" of marble, glass and stucco, this store included innovations such as air conditioning, fluorescent lighting, electric eye doors and terrazzo floors. In 1945, he acquired a warehouse and 19 All American stores from the Lakeland Grocery Company. He began replacing these small stores with larger supermarkets. He continued his never-ending expansion, bringing the Publix standard of clean stores, friendly service and quality merchandise to customers throughout Florida.

Currently, Publix is located in six states in the Southeastern U.S.: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.  It’s growing! But mostly us Floridians know it for - “Will you pick up the sandwiches for the Boat at Publix?”  Or my favorite (food freedom) “All I need you to bring is a Key Lime Pie from Publix”.

So what’s a body to do when you are Whole30-ing?  Publix is great. I am putting a few things in to date (Sept 2018) that are mostly Publix Brand.  I will update on subsequent shopping trips, but I wanted to get something out there for my Whole30 Coaching Clients.  

One of the things I truly love about Publix as a richly scheduled person - grocery delivery.  Publix has two services - Shipt and InstaCart.   So you can get anything you need delivered to your doorstep. I personally use Shipt and can get things delivered as I am arriving home.  It’s a huge help. Not that I don’t love just ambling around a grocery store (geek fest) but sometimes you just CAN NOT.

Here’s what I found on a quick trip.  Again, I focused on Publix Brands of staples and a few well known Whole30 Approved products.  I highlighted Greenwise, Publix typically a better choice, here’s the scoop:

GreenWise: products from a shared belief in good that meet one or more of these strict requirements:

• USDA Organic

• Made with at least 70% organic ingredients

• Made without artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors; may contain colors from natural sources

• Raised without antibiotics or added hormones; federal regulations prohibit the use of added hormones in poultry and pork; all GreenWise meats are fed a 100% vegetarian diet

• Non-food products that make an environmental claim on the package

While Greenwise “meats” are fed 100% vegetarian diet (this is not a good thing - chickens and pigs are not vegetarians) at least it’s no ADDED hormones.  You choose your battles. If you aren’t doing a cow share or ButcherBox then it’s what you have.

PRODUCE

I’m sure y’all know veggies are Whole30 so I am not going to list them all.  You can find that here.  I decided to put all the photos at the end of the post just for ease of reading.  My usual shopping trip, I will start at the organic section and select as much as possible from the items at hand and my budget.  If you want to know which items are best to grab organic and which aren’t quite as important, here’s a great list.

FREEZER

I do a LOT of frozen vegetables.  They last longer. Here’s just a speck of what I found in the frozen section.  Stay on THIS side of the aisle - the ice cream is on the other side! LOL. There’s so many “riced” and “noodled” veggie options now from so many companies.  

Do be careful of the frozen veggies and always read your labels.  Those sweet potato fries usually have other ingredients besides the sweet potatoes.  I’m not a huge fruit fan, but I love some frozen blueberries dumped in a bowl and cold coconut milk spashed over them once in awhile.  You can also buy berries in season then freeze a bunch in your Stasher Bag.

If you have never put the frozen yuca in the instant pot or your slow cooker with loads of garlic and ghee, you are missing out.  

MEATS

I didn’t go around snapping pictures of these, but there is a whole case of Greenwise meats. Llook for the label and maybe next time I go I’ll snap some pictures of that.  I buy primarily through ButcherBox, so I don’t really go to the meat case. Not unlike the produce section, start at the Greenwise section and work your way through.

DELI MEATS

You really have to watch this one.  Applegate has SOME approved Whole30 items.  Other than Aidelle’s I haven’t found much.  Husband loves to make his own roast beef with the Sous Vide and he HAD to buy a meat slicer to play with.  I digress. You need to be diligent in reading your labels in this food case. But you can find some and I have to tell you I have been impressed with how much more paleo, organic and healthier in general, options they have been stocking.

TEA & COFFEE

There are sneaky things in tea and coffee items.  Make sure you look for items such as soy lecithin and stevia.  I highlighted coffees from our local Tampa area and Publix Brand.  Labels change on a month to month basis - so what am I going to say?   Yup, you are quick. Read your labels.

I like the Traditional Medicinal Line.  I’ll pull from them mostly. Tazo and Pukka are usually compliant, but formulations change from time to time, so check.

BAKING AISLE

I wandered down the baking aisle for grins and found unsweetened coconut and there’s RAW nuts here.  I have better luck in the baking section than in the aisle by the produce. Nuts can be roasted in craptastic oils so beware.

SAUCES & STAPLES

I couldn’t resist a picture of my favorite sauces.  The New Primal. I know these aren’t Publix branded but they do such good work that when I find them I always grab a few.  My pantry is never without New Primal.

Then there’s Primal Kitchen Dressings and Mayo.  Another staple. Always have some apple cider vinegar, white vinegar and any other compliant vinegar you can find.  They spice up regular days. I did find coconut aminos but forgot to take a picture. It’s the run of the mill Coconut Secret one.

Canned/pouched salmon, tuna and chicken are all pantry staples too.  You can find a TON of marinara, spaghetti sauces and pastes that are compliant.  

I couldn’t believe they had 4th and Heart Ghee at Publix!  How cool is this? I use this in tea and coffee sometimes along with traditional ghee uses.  Heads up for your Food Freedom - 4th and Heart came up with a product called Chocti.  It’s like a great version of Nutella.  Understand it’s SWYPO territory.  You are welcome.  

Publix has it’s own coconut oil.  That’s a budget saver.

SPICES

These can get funky too.  Always opt for organic if it’s in your budget.  I’m psyched they have a Greenwise selection.

I hope this helps a little bit.  I’m a picky eater so if you know of some olives, fish things of any nature please drop me a line. I love to add to this and it’s nice to know what people pick up at our friendly, neighborhood Publix.  

See below for pictures.