It wasn’t until about a couple of years back that I started to buy in bulk. It wasn’t until I moved in together with my bf (no husband) that I started shopping at the bulk section. Aside from granola and “yogurt” covered almonds that is. Maybe because I had more time to cook and I was really looking to start cooking healthier food. One of the things that come to mind about healthier food, is that more often than not, it is unprocessed. And a lot of the food offered in the bulk section is unprocessed. That is not to say that all of it is. I’ve seen cereals (like froot loops), powder gravy mixes and candy in there. So you still need to be careful and read ingredient lists.
At the beginning I would only buy a few things like oatmeal and quinoa from the bulk section. But nowadays I get everything from legumes, spices, spaghetti, honey, rice, seeds and flours and many other things. There are two very good reasons to start buying in bulk. One, it is usually cheaper, and two, it helps reduce the amount of trash you produce. Think all of the packaging that you won’t be buying and throwing in the trash later. I have some plastic bags that I wash and reuse to take with me every time. Ideally I would bring my glass jars to the store and have the cashier deduct the weight of the jar. But you have to check with the store first, because not all of them allow that.
Buying in bulk is a great way to reduce waste, and if you are looking to do more of that you can check other posts I have written here and here.
WHERE TO START?
It depends how crazy you want to go, but I would suggest not stressing about matchy matchy containers. At least not from the beginning, you can start with reusing container you already have. I kept it simple and repurposed spaghetti sauce glass jars. And for items I use more often, I bought bigger containers to keep on the counter top. They also serve for decoration.
Then, as I bought more and more stuff in bulk, I started repurposing other glass containers in different shapes and sizes. Now, when I have to buy something not bulk, I try to avoid plastic and buy glass. This has been the easiest and cheapest way to do it. It has also made this whole buying in bulk thing way more fun.
As for tags, You could buy a label maker… or you could use tape and a marker. I find this more convenient and I keep the roll of tape and a marker in the pantry. That way as I’m putting stuff away I make whatever labels I need. It is also easier to remove the tape if you want to change labels and move on with your life. Ain’t nobody got time for making labels (I made enough labels in school already, I’m over it).
WHERE CAN YOU BUY IN BULK?
Luckily, a lot of grocery stores have a bulk section nowadays so it is pretty convenient. Some stores only carry the basics, but I’m sure you’ll find one near you that carries a bigger variety. Here I’m sharing some of the most common stores with a bulk section that you can find around the U.S.
WINCO
This is the store I usually go to. They have the biggest bulk section I’ve seen in a supermarket. They also have honey, all the spices you could think of, as well as olive and avocado oil. The downside is that they don’t have a lot of organic items. But I still prefer to buy here rather than anywhere else. I mean I can get nutritional yeast and tapioca starch, coconut and almond flour, so its a major win.
FRED MEYER/KROGER
This used to be my go to store and it does have a good variety at the bulk aisle. Including some items I haven’t found anywhere else, like spirulina and a wide variety of teas. They do have some organic options in here which is good.
CENTRAL MARKET
This has to be my favorite grocery store ever. Back when I lived in Dallas, there was one really close to my apartment. I would visit quite frequently when I wanted to indulge in some extra healthy stuff. Even though I didn’t buy all of my food here I they have a great selection in their bulk section. The baked goods here are to die for, but this is not a topic for this post.
WHOLE FOODS
The one near me is very limited, so idk if it varies pero store. It has a variety of organic rice, beans, dried fruits, granolas, and some seeds. Don’t quote me on this but I think other stores located in bigger areas have a better selection.
SPROUTS
They have a good selection in their bulk section. I still think it is quite limited but they have lots of legumes, nuts and sweets. I can’t remember if it is all organic or not though.
NEW SEASONS MARKET
I have found amaranth, which apparently is very difficult to find up here. They also carry a good selection of loose leaf tea and coffee. I’m not sure if all of it is organic or not. I will go back to take a closer look and see what other seeds and nuts they have.
