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BULK BIN HOW-TOS

Step One
Get to know the bulk aisle. What grocery items that you normally buy packaged can you replace with bulk?

Step Two
Prepare before shopping. Plastic bags are provided in the bulk aisle, but collecting and reusing bags from other trips gives you the satisfaction of further reducing packaging waste. Try keeping a stash of reusable plastic bags inside your cloth grocery sacks so they’re always on hand. It’s also helpful to keep a running list of items you’re out of. If you’re shopping for a specific recipe, be sure to jot down the amounts you need before you get to the store.

Step Three
Before you start filling your empty containers, write down their tare (empty) weight on a piece of tape or label. That way, when you return to the register with filled containers, you pay only for the weight of the product itself.

If you are using a dispenser be sure that your bag is in the right place to catch the product. Then, pull the lever gently for a slow release. Finally, use a pen to write the product number of the item you have chosen so the checkout clerk will know what item to charge.

THE BENEFITS OF BUYING BULK

Savings
Perhaps the biggest advantage to shopping bulk is a lower grocery bill. It’s much more cost effective to buy in bulk. Most bulk items are cheaper per ounce than their prepackaged counterparts. Spices are particularly good buys. You can purchase just about any spice at a fraction of the price it would cost bottled. If you need just one tablespoon of a spice you’ll use only once, you can buy just the right amount rather than purchasing a whole bottle.

Variety
You’ll find a wide variety of items such as granolas and grains in bulk. Alternative grains are available in bulk for people who desire a wheatfree diet. You will also find specialty items in the bulk bin section such as whole-wheat pastry flour, masa harina flour, and currants.

Quality
The majority of bulk products are identical to their packaged counterparts. Bulk products are sold so quickly that freshness is the same if not better than in the package. Bins that use scoops aren’t refilled until empty so there’s never any old product sitting on the bottom. Other bins fill from the top and dispense through the bottom, so that older product is sold before newer product.

Earth Friendly
For many environmentally conscious shoppers, the most important benefit of shopping bulk is the reduction in packaging waste. Despite the dramatic increase in the amount of recyclable food packages during the last few decades, packaging is still a significant contributor to the planet’s landfills. Think about all the boxes and cartons in the grocery aisles that are thrown away once they are used. Also, recycled or not, the manufacturing of packaging uses a lot of resources and energy.

Source: www.healthwell.com /delicious-online

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