I don’t shop at Whole Foods. I’ve been there a few times, but my eyes mostly just bulge at the price tags and I feel silly for even going in. I’m sure they have a lot of good products, but I like to go on vacations with my family every once in a while verses spending every last dime on groceries. If I’m going to continue to make this a lifestyle change, shopping at stores like Whole Foods is not realistic for me. I shop at Albertson’s, Smiths, Costco, Sam’s Club, Trader Joe’s occasionally, and Walmart. You don’t have to go to a fancy health foods store or spend a ton of money to find some good quality, healthy, even Whole30 approved products.
Not everyone has access to stores like Costco or Trader Joe’s, and that’s ok. I recently read somewhere that 90% of Americans live within 15 miles of a Walmart. Rest assured that you can find MANY Whole30 approved foods at your local Walmart. Remember labels like “organic” or “grass-fed” are not part of the Whole30 rules. See this chart here for guidelines and deciding what is best for your family and your wallet.
The products and information listed in this post are to the best of our knowledge. We share with our readers what has been successful for us in our own lives. Visit Whole30.com for full nutritional guide to ensure the products and food you consume are compliant.
WALMART SHOPPING LIST
Produce of your choice- My Neighborhood Walmart has a decent selection of organic produce. If your Walmart doesn’t have an organic section don’t worry, organic produce is not a requirement for the Whole30 as I mentioned before.
Raw Nuts
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Pecans
- Walnuts
- Pistachios
Aidell’s Chicken Sausage- The only one I know of that is compliant is the Chicken & Apple
Kerrygold Butter
Eggs- I found a few different options for cage free, organic eggs.
Almond Milk- Silk Brand
Coconut Water
La Croix
Sparkling Water- I found a few different Arrowhead flavors that were compliant.
Tea- Celestial Brand is our favorite
Kombucha
Fruit Juice and Vegetable Juice– Must be 100%
Apple Sauce-Motts or Wild Oats
Baby Food Pouches-I found a lot of compliant brands. These are great to keep in your purse for emergencies.
Almond Butter– Justin’s Nut Butter is my favorite. Some Walmarts even carry the individual packs which are also nice to keep in your purse.
Cooking Oil
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil for Homemade Mayo
- Coconut Oil- they had many options
- Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil
Cooking spray
- Bertolli Extra Light
- Bertolli Extra Virgin
- Chosen Foods 100% Avocado Oil
Almond Flour or Meal
Coconut Flour
Frank’s Red Hot
Mustard
- Regular
- Spicy Brown-Great Value brand
Salsa
- Most Pace brand salsa is compliant-check the labels
- Some Herdez brand salsas are also compliant
- Great Value brand Salsa Verde
Canned Tomatoes & Paste
Canned Green Chilis
Canned Jalapeños
Chicken Broth- Swanson 100% Natural, No MSG
Curry Paste-Thai Kitchen Red and Green
Canned Coconut Milk
Canned Tuna- Make sure the ingredients do NOT include vegetable broth(soy).
Fresh and Frozen Meats & Seafood- Now all Walmarts differ greatly in this department. For the most part, most Walmarts carry a brand of all natural, cage free chicken (both fresh and frozen), wild caught salmon, tilapia, cod, etc.
Frozen Fruit and Vegetables– Wild Oats Organic variety (keep in mind the corn and peas are not Whole30 approved)
If I left out any great items you’ve found at Walmart let us know in the comments! I know all Walmarts are a little different but for the most part I think you will find most of these common items. Happy shopping and good luck on your Whole30!
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If you liked this post, you might also like our 30 Day Whole30 Meal Plan
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66 Comments
Sorry, I didn’t know that organic or grass fed weren’t necessarily whole 30:)
That’s right. If you take a look at the link I posted or even the Whole30 website they explain that it is preferred but not a must. For those who can’t afford these more pricey products it’s okay and they can still follow the Whole30. 🙂
I guess my first comment didn’t go through… Walmart also has plantain chips (in the produce section, not the chip isle). Ingredients are: plantains and palm oil???
I thought I had read on the whole 30 site that most commercial almond milk was a no go???? I remember it suggesting to make your own, is the silk compliant? That would be awesome!
Hi Jess, making your own is always the better option, however unsweetened silk brand is compliant. Ingredients: Almond Milk (almonds, filtered water) sea salt, natural flavor, locust bean gum, sunflower lecithin, gellan gum. Just always check your labels I know there are others out there too.
I was under the assumption that anything that stated “natural flavors” was not compliant. The almond milk wasn’t compliant, not was the sparkling water.
Hi there! Melissa Hartwig, of Whole30 says this regarding natural flavors…
“While we think you should hunt for processed foods with little to no additives, the “natural flavorings” in these products aren’t going to affect your Whole30 in a negative fashion.- Melissa”
That from one of the Whole30 discussion boards. Hope this helps!
Thanks for sharing! I don’t have the swanky stores near me and that’s ok…my budget can’t afford anyway. I’ve actually had some luck at price right finding many compliant foods. And, as an added bonus, the have grass fed beef and lamb at AWESOME prices. Still it’s limited so I think I’ll make the trek over to Wally World. Thanks for the encouragement.
Thanks for stopping by Jeanne! Glad to hear you’re making it work. I am always pleasantly surprised by how many good foods you can find just about anywhere.
Hi there. Thinking of trying Whole30. I see you have Kerrygold butter listed. I thought I read that only ghee and clarified butter are allowed. Does Kerrygold fall into one of those categories? I would love it if it does. ?
Hi Laura, unfortunately no. However you can make your own ghee pretty easily using delicious kerrygold butter!
Hi Laura,
We just recommend using the Kerrygold butter to make your own ghee. As is, the Kerrygold butter is not Whole30 approved.
I was just wondering about the tomato paste and other canned tomato products that you mentioned. Don’t all processed tomato products contain sugar?
Canned tomato products are on the okay list as long as they don’t have added sugar. Check those labels! Natural flavoring is okay.
This is so helpful! Thank you! Love Whole Foods, but not their prices!
I hear ya girl! Happy to help! Good luck on your Whole30 Journey!
Going too try this for the 2nd time . I’m sure it will be a little more easier with all the info I just read here thanks ! ?
Happy to help! Good luck on your Whole30 Journey!
I’m such a visual person and this was so helpful! I am currently doing Whole30 and Wal-mart is 5 minutes away. Looks like I’ll be looking at this post again this weekend while I’m shopping! Thank you!
Good luck on your Whole30! I’m glad you find this post helpful. If you haven’t already, check out our Whole30 Facebook group. Everyone is so help it’s awesome!
I’m really curious about the Swanson natural. It says no msg on the label but has yeast extract which is a form of msg. This is very confusing to me. Do you know about this? Here is a link that has all the forms of msg. http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html I might actually email the company and ask. I break out in hives anytime I get something that has any form of msg. So I was excited to see this was on your list. But I know I still can’t eat it. Store bought broth is a hard one because normally all has some form of msg or yeast extract in it. There are a few brands out there but they are hard to find.
Yeast extract IS msg, not just a form of it. Like many “hidden” ingredients they use other names to confuse or hide the ingredients and people think it’s not there. Even the organic varieties have yeast extract.
Making your own is very easy! I make mine in my crock pot. I put in a whole chicken (usually publix greenwise), sometimes a chopped onion and carrots, then fill it up with water, a splash of Apple cider vinegar, and sometimes a shot or two of Apple juice. Cook on low all day, and you have good chicken for shredding, and great broth! A lot too! This usually fills two gallon size freezer bags plus a little extra.
If you’re extra fancy, you can do it again with the chicken bones and make bone broth. Just the bones and water, cook on low for at least 24 hours.
I was just wondering why you put vinegar and apple juice in chicken broth. I’m just preparing to start the Whole 30 and getting my shopping list together.
Kitchen Basics at Wal-Mart doesn’t have any yeast extract in. 🙂
Is the Irish butter compliant? It’s dairy and I thought dairy was a no go?
It’s not compliant as is but we use it to make our ghee.
How do you make your own Ghee? It’s pretty pricey (like $15) so if it’s fairly easy I would like to try. Thanks!
Ghee is easy. Google how to make it. You just need to heat it so that it separates the milk proteins and then skim those out. You’ll need a cheesecloth though. Cheap and you should find it at Walmart. 🙂
Why this brand and not any other? Can’t you make ghee out of any butter?
Yes, you can! Technically no butter is compliant, only ghee is and you can make that from any brand.
Walmart also has phenomenal coconut flakes. I can’t remember the brand but they come in a green bag that says organic on the front. They are located by the baking section. I love adding this to salads or home made Lara bars. (Okay let’s be honest, I totally eat it straight from the bag on a regular basis.)
I know exactly which ones you’re talking about! They are good! I need to add them to the list. Thank you!
I need help with ground beef and chicken. How do I know if it’s ok to buy or not?
That is mostly up to you. Most people suggest organic, grass-fed meat but it’s not a must for completing the Whole30. Obviously those things are preferred but if it’s not in your budget don’t let that get you down. Decided what is best for you and take it from there.
I’m fairly certain Great Value brand Low Sodium bacon is compliant!
I haven’t seen that but I’ll have to check it out and add it to the list if it is! Thanks Stacey!
The Aidell Chicken and Apple sausage have 2 grams of sugar I thought you couldn’t have added Sugar on the Whole30. I ate some do I need to start my whole 30 over?
Hi Bobby,
Look at the ingredient list for sugar rather than the grams. Natural sugars (as in fruit and fruit juice concentrates) are okay on whole30. The grams in the nutrition label are coming from the fruit, but there is no sugar in the ingredient list. You’re good!
Thanks. What about the Starkist Chunk Light Tuna it contains soy?
My WalMart started carrying Lara Bars. Most are not Whole 30 approved but they do have apple pie which is. Comes in handle for me at work. Tho I buy local honey I did see raw unfiltered honey on the shelves as well the other while shopping for our whole 30 this month
Hi Kim thanks for the info about the Larabars! They do come in handy on the go but we love the homemade kind the most! As for the honey, unfortunately it’s not allowed on Whole30. It’s great to use to sweeten recipes but hold onto it until your 30 days are complete.
What were your results?
http://stayfitmom.com/my-whole30-results/
I have found tessemae’s at Walmart as well! ?
Good find!
Ours carries Ghee!
One warning to other readers, read labels on nuts. So many are roasted in peanut oil, it’s hard to find them plain. Also one of the apple chips I bought there ended up having only one other ingredient, sulphites 🙁 (not compliant)
You are showing a few items in the pictures that are not compliant, like the corn and the mixed vegetables with both corn and peas, which are not compliant.
Also, it has been updated that all types of store bought chips are now non compliant.
Thank you for reminding us Jennifer, I went ahead and updated the list.
Great article but I was under the impression any better substitutes where a no go?
While butter itself is a no-go, ghee is whole30 Approved. You can make your own using store bought butter.
Can you let me know what is the meaning of compliant
Hi Preci,
Compliant means all these products are approved for the Whole30 diet.
Compliant means whole30 approved.
Wish our wal mart carried wild oats products…….
I thought that all oats were non compliant?
Wild Oats is the brand name, they have many products as pictured above. Great organic foods.
WalMart now carries WildPlanet Tuna which is Whole 30 compliant. No soy!
I do not like any kind of fish/seafood. Do you have a menu that doesn’t include any? I’m looking to start my journey of weight loss 80 to lose… But everything always includes fish. Thank you
The double chocolate, Xtra caramel German cake at the bakery is compliant, right? JK!! Day 10 & loving it!!
I am really surprised that Whole 30 would consider products with “natural flavorings” ok as part of a Whole Foods plan. If you do some research on the words “natural flavorings” you will find that they are chemical additives derived from plants and animals, but still in that gray area whether they are safe. Many times they claim the amount is small, but if you are eating or drinking many products that contain natural flavorings who knows what long term effect they may have on your health. If it isn’t completely natural, how can we trust it?
I prefer shopping at Smith’s over Walmart. I have many reason and one of them is that Smith’s is located within a mile from my house. It make things more convenient for me.
Great value brand organic Dijon mustard is compliant. It has to be organic though. Regular has white wine as most Dijon mustard. Great for making whole 30 mayo!
Thanks for the list, Krista.
– Tara
I suppose, like any chain, Wal-Mart stores can vary. Here in Northwest Florida (an area where good produce abounds) the Wal-Mart stores have miserable fresh fruits and vegetables. Never mind organic — most of it barely looks edible.
There is a special place in heaven for those of you making these awesome resources!!! Thank you so much! Do you have a running list without pictures for the Walmart list? I want to print it out but not waste the ink on the pictures. If not, no big deal. Thanks again!!
Kerrygold butter is not whole30 compliant