Lunch: The Whole Foods Strategy Session (Gameplan no. 1)

I can get in-and-out of Whole Foods‘ expansive by-the-pound buffets, prepared-food offerings and packaged to-go food section for less than $7 several ways. Here’s gameplan no. 1:

Part One: Ever noticed these petite little sandwiches hanging out in a couple of baskets underneath the triangle-cut, sandwich-bread, to-go sandwiches? So long as you select thoughtfully (e.g. avoid the tuna salad, which guarantees a soggy roll), these guys are a score at $2.99 ea.

My ham and Emmenthaler pick today included a thick piece of cheese (you can see it hanging over) and three large, round slices of ham folded in half to fit the bread, which was a sweet, fluffy roll that reminds me of a King’s Hawaiian Roll more than anything else.

I have to note that the sandwiches are assembled just right so as to best preserve the goods: The cheese is next to a dry bun, followed by the meat, and a few slices of tomato, which are protected from the bottom bun by lettuce leaves, which are, by comparison, much dryer. I appreciate that.

Part Two: A salad. Start with the smallest salad bar container available; fill about halfway with greens, drizzle with dressing.

Now, the fun part. Toppings. I generally go for a cheese, a protein, one of the grain-salad mixes and maybe something a little extra, but always opting for the small bits, the small grains, the thin-shaved vegetables.

Case-in-point: Mixed greens; lemony vinaigrette dressing; sliced red onion; cooked edamame; a quinoa salad; feta cheese; slivered almonds. Hell yeah.

Here’s what my bill looked like:

Sandwich … $2.99
Cold food bar (0.38 @ $7.99/lb) … $3.04
Lrg. bag 365 brand potato chips … $0.99

Total, pre-tax … $7.02