With Earth Month (April) just around the corner, we figured
we dig up some really great tips that you can use to incorporate into your
lifestyle. Bulk is Green Council (BIG), a non-profit advocacy group that
spreads awareness about the environmental and economical benefits of shopping
in the bulk foods section, provided the below techniques that can be used while
at the grocery store. Every little bit helps, so do your part!
1. Reduce waste! Buy just the amount you
need – Whether it’s a pound or a pinch, put a stomp on food waste by buying
just the amount you’ll use. Pay attention to the amount you select (or scoop,
in the bulk foods section) when experimenting with a new spice in your favorite
spaghetti sauce recipe or stocking up on trail mix for the kid’s lunches.
Overdoing it only means you’ll pay, literally, the next time you rid your
cupboard of outdated food.
2. Reuse it and get rewarded! Bring your
own bags and containers – Whole Foods and top supermarket chains praise Sometimes shoppers who use
their own bags. Invest in glass Tupperware or give that empty cottage cheese
container a second use by filling it with brown rice from the bulk foods
section or a quinoa salad from the deli counter. Just ask the cashier to weigh
your container ahead of time. While you’re at it, BYOB (bring your own bag). If
you must go with single-use, opt for paper!
possible — Not only are the pesticides and synthetic chemicals used in
non-natural and non-organic foods often toxic to our health – they’ve been
linked to cancer and other diseases – they’re bad for the environment. Tainted
runoff from conventional farms washes into rivers and lakes, which contaminates
waterways and threatens wildlife. Plus, the added benefits of buying natural
and organic don’t have to mean added costs. By buying natural and organic in
the bulk foods section of the grocery store, shoppers can pay 30 to 96 percent less
on their grocery bill.
