Eco Monday: Check Out Bulk Section

I'm always looking for ways to make my shopping a more green experience. Now when I go to the grocery or pretty much any other store, I bring my own bags, look for items with minimum packaging, products made with sustainable materials, etc.

Something I have recently become a HUGE fan of is the BULK SECTION at the grocery. There are tons of items to choose from. Grains like rice, quinoa and wheat berries are available in several different varieties.

Since the only packaging is the plastic bag (which is totally recyclable) and the twist tie (also recyclable) there is less guilt associated with shopping this way. You can buy exactly the amount you need and the bulk price is usually a bit less than the prepackaged equivalent item.

You can buy enough pink rice for the dinner you'll make this evening with that new recipe. Recipes with pink rice aren't super popular, so you won't end up with a bunch of extra pink rice and no way to use it. If you decide pink rice is your new favorite, you know exactly where to get more.

The spice section is full of wonderful yummies. There's a wide variety available that are fresh and you don't have to buy a set amount. They are much more fresh and flavorful than what's been in your cabinet for WAY too long. Many stores offer tours of their bulk section and a printed resource with all the information about ingredients, country of origin etc.

I started with things that are common like rice, salt and sugar. Then I became little more adventurous at a time. Next I tried buying a small amount of cardamon and other spices to make my own chai. It came out great. I have been really happy with my bulk purchases.

There are also whole stores dedicated to buying in bulk -- like 10 pounds of rice at a time. It would most likely take my household several years to finish off such a supply, so I'm buying just what I need.

What's your fave thing about buying in bulk?

ice cream and bellyaching

Here in Texas we have a yummy brand of ice cream called Blue Bell. It's incredibly delicious and if you didn't know better you'd think someone's grandma mixed it up and got her grandkids to crank it in the old-fashioned maker with ice and salt. Ok, so with that said, I was waiting in an incredibly long line at the grocery. There was a little girl (I'm guessing about 2 years old) in the cart in front of me and we were making faces at each other to pass the time.

Then I overheard this conversation coming from over my shoulder and I had to smile. Their was a very deep voice carrying on about the price of half-gallon containers of Blue Bell. Asking how he was supposed to get through the Texas summer with out his Blue Bell. His female companion let out a big sigh and asked, "How long are you going to go on about this?". To which he replied, "Ask anyone in this line what they think. Babe, last week they were selling it for $2.69 and this week it is back up to $5.69! How can they possibly look themselves in the mirror without seeing a thief? I mean, it costs more per gallon than gas! " By this time, everyone in line is listening sort of non-chalantly and waiting to see what will happen next.

By this time, it's my turn to pay and I'm wondering if the deep-voiced ice cream lover will hold his tongue when it's his turn to pay or what. As I pick up my bags and head toward the door, I can hear him ask the cashier why Blue Bell ice cream went up $3 in one week. Oh boy...