Last-Chance Apocalypse Shopping: Whole Foods

Can you imagine walking out your front door, realizing the apocalypse has happened, and the only store that is open and not overrun with zombies is Whole Foods??

Whole Foods is a snooty, over-priced grocery store, right? Who shops there besides yoga instructors and hipsters? Or, at least that’s the stereotype.

Well, when an emergency or disaster occurs, the typical grocery stores will be out of food in less than 3 days. Probably sooner, but if you happen to be near a Whole Foods when the need for apocalyptic shopping happens, you might be in luck since it typically isn’t the first grocery store name that comes to mind for most people.

You won’t find hardcore survival gear and preps at Whole Foods, but what you will find are products that will help you stay healthy, build your immunity, and maintain cleanliness. These are factors often overlooked by preppers in their rush to buy bullets, beans, and band-aids.

1. Coconut oil

Not only is coconut oil great for making homemade popcorn, which could be tricky if you’re trying to lay low and not attract unwanted attention, but it’s also one of the most versatile products you can stock up on.

Coconut oil is a high-calorie energy source, perfect for making homemade energy bars or adding a few tablespoons to a recipe in order to give it a calorie and energy boost. It’s an ingredient in DIY sunscreen, dental care, natural lip balm, relief of skin irritations, rashes, and rashes are a coconut oil can help keep your hair healthy.

Typically, DIY recipes also call for ingredients like these, so you might want to grab a few containers or bottles as well:

• Jojoba oil
• Shea butter
• Cocoa butter
• Vitamin E oil

Virgin coconut oil has strong antibacterial properties that can help treat infections, so think about adding a small container to your medical bag. Next on this list are essential oils, and many require a carrier oil. Coconut oil is perfect for that.

2. Essential oils

If you ever thought that essential oils were a fad, I hope you’ve reconsidered. My own husband is a convert and swears he sleeps about 100% better when we have lavender oil in the diffuser. So, during your last-chance apocalypse shopping trip, grab as many different oils as you can. Some I recommend are:

• Peppermint
• Lavender
• Clove
• Thieves
• Lemon
• Tea tree
• Eucalyptus

However, if zombies are hammering their fists on the store windows, just grab whatever you can. With a book filled with essential oil remedies and recipes, you’ll eventually use every single oil.

3. Bar soap

With so many options that are pure and free from fragrances, you can’t go wrong. Good Soap is the brand that faithful Whole Food shoppers love! you’ll also find dozens of different scents of handmade soap. I purchased a bar of clove-scented soap for my husband and was astonished by how long the scent lasted — down to the final little sliver. Never underestimate how important it is to always have clean hands in a disaster. It is not the time to be spreading germs.

4. Any available medicine and medical supplies

At Whole Foods, you’ll find an aisle full of nutritional supplements and naturopathic remedies. Bottom line, grab as many of these as you can. Vitamins C, D, E, K, and B12, Folic acid, calcium, garlic, iodine, potassium, and all-purpose multi-vitamins — these are the bottles you should grab first. Not only will they supplement your own diet, which could quickly become famine-level if you aren’t prepared with food storage, but you can use these to help others stay healthy, either by selling them or for barter.

Other over-the-counter meds are also high value, and if there are remedies you already use and trust, such as elderberry syrup, then add those to your cart.

5. Bulk herbs and spices

You must check out the bulk herbs and spices section at Whole Foods! You can buy large quantities to use for both cooking and medicinal purposes. Now, prior to your last-chance apocalypse shopping trip, learn about herbal remedies so if you ever have to rely on them, you’ll know which are most effective and how to prepare them. I recommend this beginner’s guide to medicinal herbs.

Herbs and spices can be used in teas, poultices, tinctures, and healing creams and lotions.

7. Seeds (pumpkin, sesame, flax)

Really, any seeds you can get your hands on would be a big plus and you’ll find these in individual packages as well as in the bulk bin aisle. Each seed has its own unique set of nutrients, but in general, they are full of anti-inflammatory fats and protein. Some seeds can replace eggs, thicken soups and stews while adding a rich nuttiness to the flavor. Mixing them in with your other grains will allow you some variety in your diet.

Depending on the seed, you may be able to sprout them to have a source of highly nutritious food.

Hopefully, you have some of your family members with you in this mad-dash shopping trip, so give each person 1 or 2 plastic bags and tell them, “Fill them up!”

8. Bronner’s Peppermint Castile Soap

I love all Bronner’s Castile soaps and recommend you buy them in every scent, in bars, and in liquid form. The peppermint soap, though, is a must-haves with those who camp and hike. It is friendly for the environment and for your skin and is a multi-use soap. People have used it for removing makeup, washing veggies and cleaning jewelry.

Honestly? Buy every bottle of this soap. It is so versatile that it may become your go-to when it comes to sanitation. Plus, the scented soaps smell great.

9. 365 Everyday Value Magnesium Cherry Fizz

Have you never heard of this?

It’s a pretty amazing over-the-counter remedy used as a laxative for constipation, for muscle and nerve function, energy production, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation. With one mineral doing so much for our bodies, this would be helpful. Especially if you are dealing with apocalyptic-type situations! Hard to forget a name like 365 Everyday Value Magnesium Cherry Fizz!

10. Anything and everything in the bulk bin aisle

Again, get every single family member in action by having them load bags with most anything and everything in this one aisle. You could stock up on various types of rice, all types of beans, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and granola. Go ahead. Empty out the bins if you like. Zombies don’t eat this kind of stuff anyway!

If nothing else, load up on different varieties of beans. Beans, like magnesium, do so much for our bodies. Not only are they a good source of protein, but they also have an anti-oxidant too! Beans help with insulin production and help stabilize or lower blood glucose levels. Dry beans are inexpensive, easy to store and add to any meal.

We can’t always predict when a disaster may show up, but we can prepare now. When you are out shopping, look at the store through your “prepper” eyes. Who knew that Whole Foods could be so prepper friendly?

Coming next: Hobby Lobby

Don’t miss the other stores in my series:

• Walgreens
• Tractor Supply
• Sally Beauty
• Harbor Freight
• National Parks & Historic Sites
• Dollar Store
• Hobby Lobby
• JoAnn Fabrics