I know this sounds sort of silly. I am going to Whole Foods for lunch tomorrow for the first time. How does it work? Is it by weight? What do you like to get there?
Thanks!
It depends what you get. They do have a prepared food section, and a salad bar, and those are by weight…a price per pound. I haven’t eaten there in a while, but ours also had great pizza…And that was by the slice.
The food is good, but it’s not cheap!
If you do by the pound, it is all the same price. I go for the good stuff like mushroom and chicken dishes. No pasta or mashed potatoes at WF are worth $10/pound. 
Whole Paycheck
I like Whole Foods hot food! Seconded - pizza is great! Mostly, it’s by weight. I have gotten their mac and cheese - worth it for me
I like Whole Foods and find it worth it.
Thanks. Is the salad by weight as well?
You can get pre-packaged salads, too.
There are prepackaged salads, and salads by weight…at least that is what is at our Whole Foods!
We’ve been there for lunch a few times. We always get food items I don’t cook at home, like Mediterranean and Greek items. With a drink it’s about $15 each.
At the Whole Foods around here, they will provide small tastes of the prepared salads on request. They have tons of different options, lots of kale and quinoa, but many other choices as well. You can get individual serving sizes. The stores by me usually have a lunch special of some sort going on. Many of the prepared dishes are pretty good. Probably because I’m not big on cooking, they seem like a better deal than the salad bar to me.
Ours also makes sandwiches to order. Better than average with your choice of very good bread. Watch the per pound items as the price sneaks up quickly. I don’t shop there because it is pricey, but it’s fun to eat lunch there because of the great selection.
The hot soups are nice–you can ask to sample before you choose what you want (some are quite peppery).
My mom likes to get a piece of fresh salmon or a lobster. The seafood dept will cook it for you at no charge. She then shares it with a friend. She’s very frugal and finds that a reasonable way to get freshly prepared seafood without doing it herself.
I’ve gotten a plate lunch there a few times. It’s one or two hot entrees and a starch for $10. It’s not a bargain but OK.
I agree that I find the prices high and tend to avoid wasting money on prepared starches.
I’d save some $ and calories for dessert. I am a sucker for those assorted tea cookies you buy by the pound.
Our whole foods also has a sorbet/gelato bar that is pretty good.
Thanks everyone