Doing something different today, guys! Today we are talking food products, grocery shopping, healthier eating, and Target.
I love where this is going already.
A few disclaimers:
- This is a total nerd superfan (not sponsored or affiliated) post.
- In my little story in the text below where I talk a lil bit about going sugar free and how to grocery shop for that lifestyle, we have affiliate links to the program we participated in.
- While I bought all of these groceries at my SuperTarget (which just happens to literally be the first Target store of all time – I feel extra Target-Cool), keep in mind that the products that you find from store to store will probably vary depending on your location.
So I know it might sound a little weird, but friends, I adore grocery shopping at Target. And let me specify that to SuperTarget.
I grew up in a small Minnesota town that got a regular Target when I was, like, twelve, and it was the best day of my life. Eventually, I moved into the BIG CITY (ahem, suburb of Minneapolis) and I had at least 900 Targets within driving distance of my home. But even more importantly, I discovered this magic place called SuperTarget where you can buy everything you’d ever need in your whole life because it’s a regular Target with a Target grocery store inside of it. And usually a Starbucks. ♡♡♡ I am such a cliche right now.
After several years of grocery shopping at various stores throughout the Twin Cities, I’ve realized that, against all odds (or maybe after succumbing to the power that only Target can have?), SuperTarget is currently my go-to for groceries. In addition to having a soothing aesthetic and a huge selection of awesome products that are NEW and health-conscious and beautifully packaged because these are the things that make me smile, it’s often the place where I can get the best prices. Cartwheel app? REDcard? Yeah. You get it.
The thing about grocery shopping while trying to eat better is that IT IS HARD. I recently finished a 60-day refined sugar free challenge that a) was really awesome and feel-good, and b) made grocery shopping extremely challenging. We all know it, but the reality of practical grocery shopping when trying to eat better is rough — there is refined sugar in almost EVERYTHING on the shelves of the grocery store.
But there is still light! Over the last few months, I have found 24 healthy groceries at SuperTarget that fit with my 60-day refined sugar free challenge and that were totally delicious and awesome.
To see the groceries I love, scroll on! And to see the refined sugar free program we participated in, check out Go Sugar Free. Jacqueline is a great mentor and there is a spring session starting soon. Check it out or read about how Bjork and I took on the sugar free challenge and made it work for us in this post.
Onwards to food!
1. MaraNatha Almond Butter
Why I like it: If you’ve ever looked at the labels on peanut butters and beyond, you know how many nut butters in the world have added sugar. Enter MaraNatha and a handful of other brands which you can buy at SuperTarget – I’ve been buying MaraNatha for almost a year now because their both their Raw and Natural varieties of almond butter have no added sugar.
2. Simply Balanced Quinoa
Why I like it: My regular SuperTarget has many varieties of quinoa, but this one is usually the most affordable and the most “regular” – no pre-added flavors or quinoa-blend type things in the mix. Just straight up, uncooked, unflavored quinoa.
How I use it: Crockpot Quinoa Chicken Primavera, Herbed Quinoa Garden Veggie Salad, or Creamy Chicken and Quinoa Broccoli Casserole
3. Seeds Of Change Quinoa and Brown Rice
Why I like it: Okay, now that I’ve sung the praises of the plain, uncooked quinoa, let’s move to the quickie quinoa and brown rice packet that is pre-cooked and garlic-loaded and secretly awesome. Seeds of Change: making weeknight home cooking realistic. Thumbs up for that!
How I use it: 10-Minute Veggie Fried Rice
4. Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste
Why I like it: Lots of pre-made sauces are loaded with sugar and other unmentionables — which is why red curry paste is always always ALWAYS on my list of pantry staples. When you make your own curry halfway from scratch using a paste like this, you can control what actually ends up in your curry sauce (think ginger, garlic, and coconut milk).
How I use it: Red Curry Lentils AND the best ever Red Thai Curry Sauce. Get on it.
5. Curt’s Special Recipe Medium Salsa
Why I like it: Anyone else seen this around lately? Seems like I’m seeing it everywhere, which is awesome because it’s REALLY yummy with chips, veggies, enchiladas and tacos, just… everything. In the last year or so, I’ve just gone ahead and permanently added salsa to my grocery list because, I mean, SALSA. And out of all the brands I’ve sampled over the years, this one is the current winner.
6. Lundberg Organic Brown Basmati Rice
Why I like it: With the whole less-sugar-and-fewer-refined-grains thing, I’m trying to eat brown rice when I can, but the one rice that always gets me is Basmati rice. How do you even eat Indian food without that steaming pile of white Basmati rice? You don’t. Unlesssss you have THIS brown rice version of Basmati that they sell at my beloved SuperTarget which is delicious without sacrificing any of that perfectly fragrant Basmati essence. Annnnd I just said essence.
7. Simply Balanced Organic Whole Wheat Spaghetti
Why I like it: Okay, truth be told, my very first preference for whole wheat pasta would be DeLallo brand. But I’m still waiting for SuperTarget to stock DeLallo products (are you listening, Target?) so when I’m making a Target grocery run, I always pick up some of their Simply Balanced brand whole wheat pasta.
How I use it: Garlic Butter Spaghetti with Herbs and I feel happy about life.
8. San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes
Why I like it: How to even express the love for these tomatoes? For some reason, I can’t find them at all grocery stores, but they are always at my ST. They work beautifully in just about any recipe that calls for canned tomatoes and their taste is the riches, juiciest, and most delicious of all the canned tomatoes.
How I use it: Simple San Marzano Pasta e Fagioli
9. Terra Medi Olive Oil
Why I like it: I’m not necessarily super picky when it comes to olive oil (I’m still developing my ultra food snob palate, okay?) but this is the brand of olive oil I’ve been buying lately. I use it in all my homemade dressings because IT JUST TASTES BEAUTIFUL. Like, really beautiful. Drizzled over everything. You’re welcome.
10. Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery Squirrelly Bread
Why I like it: With that whole fewer refined grains thing going on, I thought I’d see how this health nut bread performed as morning toast. And I’m happy to report it was my almond butter and banana’s perfect pair. This bread is two thumbs up, both in taste and in ingredients.
How I use it: Poached Egg and Avocado Toast magic.
11. Seven Sundays Muesli
Why I like it: No, for real, though – how much do I love this stuff?! It’s so seriously delicious AND it’s made by a Minnesota company! Represent. I’ve been eating the Ginger Pear Macadamia Nut muesli soaked in hot water and topped with sea salt, a spoonful of flax meal, and a tiny bit of maple syrup as my breakfast for a few months straight now and I’m still not sick of it. No refined sugar and full of wholesome things. It’s a happy breakfast!
12. Tazo Refresh Mint Tea
Why I like it: So I’ve been serving this as our post-dinner treat at my Dinner Club with all my friends, which is a little random, but you guys – it’s always a hit. It’s like people forget about how awesome peppermint tea is until they have it again and then – BOOM. We all sit around sipping our peppermint tea in a state of lovely zen. It’s the perfect cozy, calming, good-for-you, end-of-day treat.
13. Organic Coconut Oil
Why I like it: I’ve been buying and trying lots of brands and types of coconut oil over the last six months and still haven’t settled on one particular brand, so this isn’t necessarily the one I would recommend as the ultimate, but I just wanted to point out that you can buy coconut oil at Super Target.
How I use it: Favorite Coconut Oil Granola is in your future.
14. Bob’s Red Mill Whole Ground Flaxseed Meal
Why I like it: To add to smoothies, oatmeal, baked goods, sauces, and everything in between. I keep a bag of this in the fridge at all times and put a scoop in our green smoothies every morning because I really like the texture and also: all the nutrients.
How I use it: Oatmeal Flax Blueberry Muffins, anyone?
15. Kind Bars
Why I like it: I first got turned on to Kind bars when we did our 60-day sugar free experiment. Technically they have some sweeteners in them (think honey or maple syrup) – and since we started buying them, I’ve seen more varieties crop up that don’t necessarily hold to the original Kind 5 grams of sugar or less rule, but nevertheless, these have significantly less sugar and more good things going on than your average granola bar. These are a MUST in our house. My favorite is the Maple Glazed Pecan and Sea Salt.
If and when you want to find these in your SuperTarget — I don’t know why, but these are only stocked in the health foods section near the weight loss shakes and all of that, so don’t get sad if you don’t see them in your granola bar aisle. They are probably there, just hiding in amongst the health foods.
16. Lara Bars
Why I like it: Made with dates, nuts, and sea salt. So, so, so, so, so good for an on-the-go real food treat. For me, it’s usually second breakfast or dessert. I’m going to get bossy for a second here, but both Bjork and I agree that the Peanut Butter Cookie is by far the best – don’t even mess around with the other flavors.
Same health aisle location tip applies to these!
17. Bai5 Antioxidant Infusions
Why I like it: You already know how much I am loving this new line of drinks, right? What makes me love it even more is that they now sell this at my SuperTarget. I mean, come on. As if that isn’t the best news everrrr. I like the Molokai Coconut the best and it makes for the perfect addition to a green smoothie.
How I use it: Simple green smoothie. Also – I stocked up on the lemon lime a few weeks ago when I was sick and I was looking for a liquid diet that involved good things (antioxidants! hi) instead of refined sugar. Perfect!
18. Somersaults Pacific Sea Salt
Why I like it: This is a really random snack that I tried on a whim on one of my grocery trips scouring the store for healthier munchies – and guess what? Delicious. They’re made with all natural, good and wholesome ingredients and they are SALTY and ultra-crunchy. ♡
19. Wonderful Roasted and Salted Pistachios
Why I like it: I’ve been having a moment with pistachios lately. They are really, really good and I think I sort of just forgot about them for a few years. I wanted to mention them because unlike most of the other grocery stores I frequent, SuperTarget sells these big bags of pistachios that are shelled. Meaning you can use them in recipes or for snacks without needing to break all those shells off first. Thank you, SuperTaret, for making the good things in life (pistachios!) more simple!
20. Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt Popcorn
Why I like it: On the one hand, this is totally ridiculous. Why would you buy pre-popped popcorn when you can make it in your own microwave? Mostly because it’s really good and it makes for the best lil’ Friday night snack when sipping on Grapefruit Mojitos and watching The Vow with your sisters and mom. Just saying.
21. Dreaming Cow Honey Pear Yogurt
Why I like it: This yogurt! This yogurt. This yogurt is so super good. It’s creamy and rich but much smoother and a lot less gloppy than most of our other usual yogurts. The flavors are delicious and unique. My favorites are the Honey Pear and the Blueberry Cardamom. Grass-Fed Cream Top Yogurt at SuperTarget?! What is this world coming to.
22. Horizon Organic Half and Half
Why I like it: As a more whole, refined sugar free swap for flavored coffee creamer, which I have been known to drink straight from the bottle, we’ve been buying organic full fat dairy for coffee in the morning. It’s the perfect match for my super strong Starbucks Espresso blend and it’s also really good in recipes. So long, Candy Bar Coffee Creamer in a bottle! I can and do love my coffee without you.
23. Amy’s Organic Mexican Casserole Bowls
Why I like it: We don’t do a lot of frozen meals, but we do a lot of Amy’s. So maybe we do do a lot of frozen meals. Amy’s is a lifesaver. As a food blogger, you’d think that I would love cooking all the time 24/7 forever, but that would be wrong. Sometimes all I want to do is pop something in the oven or microwave that will give me a yummy real food meal super fast without any work on my end. This is that! And this variety – the Mexican casserole bowl – is THE BEST. Perfect with chips and salsa (see #5).
24. Simply Balanced Frozen Organic Fruit
Why I like it: Confession: I’ve been a frozen fruit hog lately, which miiight be why all the Simply Balanced organic frozen fruit shelves at my SuperTarget are empty? I dunno anything about that tho. We use frozen fruit for green smoothies every morning – my favorites are peaches and mangoes, and Bjork’s all about the berries. And I just love that the in-store brand at SuperTarget (Simply Balanced, formerly known as Archer Farms) packages ORGANIC frozen fruit. Thank you thank you thank you!
How I use it: Simple Coconut Green Smoothie – I’m telling you, it’s a must for healthier, fruit-and-veggie-loaded mornings.
So that’s it! Those are the 24 healthy groceries that I buy at SuperTarget and that I really think you will love.
If you’re looking for more interesting and helpful information about grocery shopping at some of the hot spots, check out these fun posts from my sweet food blogging friends around the blogosphere.
What to Buy at Aldi from Gimme Some Oven
8 Ways to Save Money at Whole Foods from 100 Days of Real Food
29 Healthy Things to Buy at Trader Joe’s from Ambitious Kitchen
In a perfect turn of events, I’m literally off to Target this morning to refill on groceries after traveling for ten days. AND I CAN’T WAIT.
I would love to hear from you all around the US and beyond – where do you grocery shop? any tips?
Love this post!! Love all the options you found, and all the simply balanced. I will have to try that Almond Butter soon- i hate when they separate so no-stir sounds fab! 🙂
Lindsay, I gotta be honest. When the family heads to the super Target, wife heads over to see what new stuff they have in the “Frozen” section and I’m just checking out the hunting and fishing stuff. And then because I’m the dad to two little girls, I head over to the little girls dept. to see if they have any cute clothes. Ok, I’m glad I got that off my chest.
Have I ever checked out food there before? Nope. Am I going to now. Yep.
That is the sweetest thing ever!
I don’t have a SuperTarget (sad face), but I often grocery shop at my Target, too – kombucha, cashew/almond milk, and more!
Hey Lindsay! What a fun post! I’m a bit of Target nerd too. My Super Target is the one in Shoreview, oh so conveniently located across the parking lot from Trader Joe’s! I’ve bought many of the products you listed (Amy’s Mexican Casserole is a favorite of mine to take to work), and I’m excited to try out some of the others. For example, I’ve yet to find a packaged bread that I truly enjoy and feel good about eating so I’m looking forward to buying a loaf of Squirrelly! Thanks for “keeping it real” with suggestions for those of us who love to cook, but maybe don’t want to do it ALL the time 😉
Ahhh I was just there today! I might have bopped into TJs as well. 🙂
The Fact that TJ and Super Target are right next to each other is pure genius! I love those two places and they are so easy to access for me! Thanks for this post, Lindsay!
Target has really stepped their game up in terms of getting more healthy food choices out there. I get a lot of the same things you illustrated but from different places. I used to have a super target by me until I moved to Chicago, so sadly it as not as easily at my disposal. That garlic brown rice/quinoa is at Costco as well so I stock up there.
I am obsessed with almond butter but always make mine at home so all I have to add is salt and maple syrup. BAM. Thanks for sharing!
I should really try to make my own. It’s on my list of foods to try making before age 30. 🙂
I have been put on a very strict low sodium diet and my roommate has been put on a no iodine in her diet so I’m trying to find some good healthy recipes that we both can have and I’ve tried the ketchup salt-free it’s delicious in fact I’ve been eating a lot of things that have no salt or very little salt been doing very well on it the problem I’m having my problem I’m having now is fighting seems it have no iodine salt in it
This was a fun post! I wonder what people where thinking while shopping at Target and saw you taking photos of all those items. Funny!
They thought I was weird. I promise you. Oh, the looks… 😀
Lindsay what a great idea for a post! I love shopping at my Target too! I get some of the best grocery items there. I will definitely be looking into some of the goodies you mentioned!
Love Kind bars! They have some of the Strong & Kind bars in the nut aisle at ST. They are higher in protein and more savory flavors like roasted jalapeño and honey mustard. Delish!
Yes, I’ve seen those! I have yet to try them – it’s too hard for me to branch out from my faves. 🙂 haha.
I loved this post! I wish we had Super Targets in California but alas… sigh. And yet, I can find so many groceries there, sometimes it blows my mind. And like your Pistachios joy, I find random things that really just MUST be purchased at Target (like Puff Pastry! It’s cheapest there!). Thanks for sharing your nuggets of wisdom. I definitely learned about some new products I can’t wait to try!
I laughed at your comment about the Amy’s freezer meals too. As a fellow food blogger, when you cook all day for “work,” sometimes you just want to EAT for dinner!
Super Target is my happy place. I love wandering the aisles!
That yogurt looks and sounds so good, I’ll have to see if it’s at my local Super Target. And I love your snackies! Totally what I would buy as well.
I LOVE this post! Targets around me have greatly expanded their grocery sections, but not quite to the SuperTarget level. I’m hoping that I can still find a few of these though – like the pistachios and the yogurt! I’m also thrilled to see that Target carries Seeds of Change. I love that brand, but never thought to look for it there.
I love Target. There wasn’t (and still isn’t) one where I grew up. Now I live within 15 minutes from 3 of them. They’re sorta super, but not really. There isn’t a lot of produce, some, but not enough for me to do my complete grocery shopping there. Luckily it is next door to Trader Joe’s, so I simply hop over to Target once a month to pick up additional grocery items and browse the entire store haha.
Nice! I’m also a huge fan of TJs. 🙂 It’s a good combo you’ve got!
Love this post – grocery shopping is my favourite and I look snooping at what other people buy hehe!
I love the Delallo pasta too – and its so hard to find around here 🙁 The original Delallo store is AMAZING and highly recommended if you’re ever in the Western PA area. I’m glad to know a good sub exists at Target!
I would die of happiness in a straight up DeLallo store! 😀
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!!
I don’t have a Super Target anywhere near me. When I lived in the south, they were on every street corner. Up here in MI they are closing them down left and right. 🙁 Even so, the closest one was about 30-45min away.
But that is ok. Just seeing your shopping cart made me 1. feel good about some of my picks and 2. gave me plenty of new ideas. A lot of the Target branded items have Kroger and Meijer equivalents.
I do go to Aldi when I am in the city. So, thank’s for sharing that link.
But most of all, just thanks for sharing what’s in your cart. As a food writer and blogger myself it is easy to create recipe after recipe and not really show people what you really throw in to your cart.
I find my inspiration from various sources but it’s really easy to think that ingredients are hard to find or that I ‘wouldn’t eat something like that’ when the truth is, they aren’t and I would.
Enjoyed the peak!
Yep! Glad you liked the peek into my real cart. 🙂 Thanks for the comment Chrystal!
Lindsay, get out of my head! I was just thinking recently if I could do most of my grocery shopping at Target. I’ve never seen Curt’s salsa, the bread, that yogurt, or the somersaults before a my Target. I’ll definitely be on the lookout now. If only Target carried better quality fresh veggies, then I’d be set!
So funny! 🙂 I’m in your head now. mwhahahaa. I actually always find GREAT produce at my local Super Target, but I feel like I shop at the Rolls Royce of Targets being that it’s the flagship store. 🙂
My ST has awesome fresh produce too. I love this post–my problem with Target is that it’s like Costco–I always come out with way too much and spend way too much $$. But I can’t stop myself. I already buy several of the things on your list but am adding some of the others. Thanks so much!
Target is closing up shop here in Canada. We only had it for a very short while and it totally flopped because of crappy inventory, high prices and just overall not being the Target we know is in the US 🙁
Ugh, sad. Come on Target! Maybe they will get their act together and give it another go? …maybe?
yes, healthy eating made affordable! Love this post! A lot of these products I buy already, but some are new to me. Going to try those somersaults!
I also made the switch recently from sugar-free flavored creamers to Horizon half-and-half for my morning coffee. High fives! When I’m feeling extra fancy, I add a couple drops of pure vanilla extract and a sprinkle of cinnamon. 🙂
beautiful! love that idea Jaenell!
I love this post! So practical, helpful, inspiring…!!! Makes me want to make my list and run to ST :). I went to Whole Foods for the first time on Saturday and was blown away by all the options and also blown away by the prices. So glad to have your suggestions for a store I can afford!
I love Whole Foods in theory but I think in reality I am a Target girl at heart. The WF we have in Saint Paul is a teeny tiny thing of a store…
I love Curt’s salsa as well! You can find him at the Nicollet Mall Farmers Market in the summer. He also has some really great and spicy Bloody Mary mixes!
Wait, him, like Curt himself? Mind blown.
I love this!!!! I am a big Target fan! Huge! I really like the Simply Balanced brand. Oh and I am totally a Target stereotype with my Starbuck’s on the way out every single time!!!
Ugh. It’s like they know us.
I never really shopped for groceries at Target cuz I wasn’t always sure what to get. And of course, now that I know, Target Canada is closing down…LOL
Pretty sure I wouldn’t have found most of these in the Target in Canada anyway, cuz their inventory kinda sucked :/
Ohhh, I know, seriously so sad for you guys. 🙁
I already use seveal of these brands. I LOVE TARGET and enjoy shopping there. I always have a geat experience. I think I might start getting my organic frozen fruit there.
Very Important: big big recall on Amy’s prepared meals right now. Many of them are unsafe, so they may not be on your Target shelves right now, and you should check what you have at home against this list:
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm439397.htm
Also, I’m surprised that Maranatha is back on the shelves. All of their almond butters were recalled a while back. Again, check what you have at home against this list:
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm410533.htm
Yep – you’re right. I had heard about both recalls. I was so sad when MaraNatha was off the shelves for so long. Thanks for the info Nanda!
Lindsay I love this post!! So much fun to read this!!