Stocking Stuffers from Whole Foods

Yesterday I went to Whole Foods. It's easily my favorite grocery store to shop at, but I only get there once or twice a month because the closest one is 25 miles away. In between, I shop at Randall's (Safeway) and Kroger. But it's Whole Foods I love the best, and what a treasure trove it is for unusual and classy stocking stuffers!

One unusual item I saw was Reed's Peanut Butter Ginger Chews. I don't know exactly what they would taste like, but as I've gotten older, I've becoming a lot more willing to try unusual flavors. And they would certainly be a departure from the usual Hershey's Kisses!

Another fun item I saw was the Truffle Pig line of chocolate bars from a company in Vancouver called Hagensborg. Each flavor has a different little pig character adorning the wrapper. (I have a friend who collects pig figurines and such, so I always have my "pig radar" on when I'm shopping!)

For the little ones, and for a slightly healthier option, there's the Barbara's Bakery brand Snackimals animal crackers. They're made with organic grains, and there's even a wheat-free oatmeal version for those with wheat allergies. The other flavors include chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, and vanilla.

What else can you find at Whole Foods that might work for a stocking stuffer? The store I visit always has an interesting selection of handmade and hand-cut marshmallows, exotic teas and coffees, eco-friendly baby items such as little booties, the Burt's Bees line, and unusual sauces and toppings, such as the Fischer-Wieser Raspberry Chipotle sauce that I featured in one of my earliest posts on this blog.

I also know that Whole Foods has a reputation for being pricey, and as such has been given the nickname Whole Paycheck. I tend to think this is unfounded. A lot of their products do cost a bit more because they are organic or free-trade or otherwise environmentally conscious. However, I've noticed that the prices for the same organic products (Horizon Organic Milk, the Muir Glen line, etc.) are often higher at Randall's and Kroger's than they are at Whole Foods. If you do have a Whole Foods nearby, I urge you to check it out.