Reuse Your Plastic Bags

I often refer to the cost-saving benefits of buying dry goods in bulk rather than pre-packaged.

You'll always pay extra for packaging, but when you buy in bulk you can control the weight and thus the price of what you're buying.

Choosing to buy bulk isn't only about saving money; it's also an opportunity to reuse your plastic bags. And when you reuse bags to buy bulk food, and fresh produce for that matter, you reduce the amount of garbage going into landfills.

Did you know that the average American creates four pounds of garbage every day? And most of this is food packaging!

So the next time you reach for a packet of cereal, think "bulk corn flakes!" Or the next time you reach for a plastic container of salad, think "lose lettuce!"

A couple of weeks ago, I went shopping with two single girls; they wanted to learn how to grocery shop on a budget. Lisa and Julie bought their own plastic bags and purchased a number of things in the bulk aisle.

Lisa had large plastic bags, though I suggested she reuse her Ziploc bags next time -- I'd noticed the girls had a stash in one of their kitchen draws.

Ziploc has come out with an eco-friendly version of their original bag. If you're a fan of Ziploc, you might consider trying Ziploc Evolve. For more information read this review.

I don't buy plastic bags, ever, but if I want a small plastic bag while shopping at Whole Foods, I help myself to WF's supply of Ziploc in the bulk herb and spice section. And I reuse those small bags again and again, in fact until they're falling apart.

FYI: It might be wise to get used to reusing your plastic bags, particularly if you are on a budget. The Plastic Bag Reduction Act will apply a 5 cent tax on single-use plastic bags as of January 1, 2010.

I'm not fan of keeping my food in plastic bags once home. I usually decant my bulk items into recycled glass jars. There's a small online article in Mother Earth News about the hazardous chemicals that leach from plastic into food -- the healthy alternative: store bulk and leftovers in glass!

Earth day was April 22nd, almost a couple of weeks ago now, but it's worth taking all that you were made aware of on that day into your Everyday.

And if you're struggling to figure out how you might do that, consider something as simple as creating less garbage by buying bulk, and reusing your plastic bags.

Stocking your Condiment Pantry

One of the tricks to creating delish and interesting meals on a budget is to keep quality condiments on hand.

And one of the best ways to build your pantry of condiments is to buy these items when you see them on sale.

At Whole Foods you can also purchase bottled and packaged goods in bulk at a discount. For example, if your family consumes large amounts of pasta sauce, you'd be better off buying a discounted case versus one bottle on sale. Check your local store for details.

Because I'm a proponent of the economy of one-stop-shopping, I won't drive from store-to-store looking for the best deal on items, I'll simply stay alert when doing my weekly shop and buy my favorite tinned & bottled sauces, jams, mustard, oil etc. when they're on sale.

And because I collect condiments over time (when I see them on sale), I don't spend a lot on these items regularly. Obviously if I were to add six condiments to my grocery list every-other week, purchasing them at full price, my grocery bill would go over budget.

So the key is to add one or two of your favorite condiments to your shopping cart periodically. Following this simple rule means I generally have on hand:

1) 365 Olive Oil

2) 365 Pasta Sauce
3) 365 bottled Salsa
4) 365 Fruit Spread
5) Patak's curry paste, and or sauce
6) Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste, Pad Thai Sauce, Premium Fish Sauce
7) 365 Coconut Milk
8) 365 Mustard: seeded & Dijon
9) 365 Organic Brown Rice Vinegar & Red Wine Vinegar
10) Braggs Liquid Aminos (like Soy Sauce only free of wheat)
11) And maybe ketchup, mayonnaise, pickled ginger, olives, capers etc.

And with these condiments in my pantry and fridge, I can jazz up just about any dish that might otherwise be quite ordinary.