Be that weird person at the checkout.
Groceries & Bulk
Not Costco bulk. The package free bulk bins.
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I started becoming aware of food packaging waste in June 2017. I did some price checking, and found that sometimes the package free bulk option is cheaper... but not all the time. It really depends on where you're shopping.
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BUT WAIT!
Before you walk out the door, don't forget...
Reusable Bags
Plastic grocery bags have been mostly banned around the Bay Area, but I still see a lot of stores offering thicker reusable plastic bags... how are they different? They pollute the same as the other (non-reusable?) plastic bags. I know you have a canvas or fabric bag at home that will work perfectly fine. Keep it in your car, or by the front door.
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Plastic bags in the produce section have somehow gone untouched too. I use these; there's tons of options.
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Food baggies. Stop buying them. Rinse and reuse your current stash, then use tupperware, mason jars, or Stasher bags.
Steve got me some for Christmas, and they're great.
Produce / Bulk bags
Somehow, produce & bulk bags have escaped the plastic bag ban. Check out these or make your own!
Thrifted pillow cases and sheets work great for diy bulk bags.
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Got mason jars? Probably.
If not, Savers always has a (few shelves of) jars. I like that Ball jars have measurements on the side. Le Parfait are Bea Johnson's fav because they have natural rubber seals.
Mason jars & containers
Tare before you fill!
Rainbow Grocery in SF is the bulk Mecca. Message from Sprouts: "Guests are welcome to use a personal container for the purchase of products in our Bulk Department. Please let a Sprouts team member know that you have your container and they will be happy to assist you in getting the weight of the container prior to filling it."
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Got a gram scale at home? Weigh your jars with the lids, and use a sharpie or washi tape to write down the weight so the cashier can subtract it out.
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A Safeway cashier refused to tare my container, because she "doesn't do math". The manager said I have to use the plastic bags..... I now bring cloth bags, and go through self checkout to avoid confrontation.
Dishwasher & Laundry Detergent
Planet is my favorite
I stopped buying plastic jugs (full of water) in August 2017.
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Pick the powder in a cardboard box. I have an he washer, and shop at Grocery Outlet, and have never had a problem finding it.
Organic Peanut Butter
DIY and you'll never go back.
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Safeway bulk organic peanuts $4.99/ lb
1 jar is usually 1 lb. If you find a glass jar of organic peanut butter for under $4.99, it's a better deal.
Watch how to make your own here.
Organic Flour
Paper bags prevail
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Bulk Organic flour $2.99/ lb at SafewayO Organics flour $1.00/ lb in a paper bag
Rice
Bulk Lundberg organic California sushi rice $2.99/ lb at SafewayO organics long grain thai jasmine rice $2.50/ lb
Organic Peanut Butter
DIY and you'll never go back.
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Bulk Organic peanuts $4.99/ lb at Safeway
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Bulk Organic peanuts $6.99/ lb at Mollie Stones
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1 jar is usually 1 lb. If you find a glass jar of organic peanut butter for under $4.99, it's a better deal.
Watch how to make your own here.
Organic Flour
Paper bags prevail
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Paper bag O Organics flour $1.00/ lb
Bulk Organic unbleached flour $1.59/ lb at Oliver's Market
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Bulk Organic flour $2.99/ lb at Safeway
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Bulk Guisto's organic 00 Flour $1.59/ lb at Oliver's Market
Organic Cane Sugar
Bulk Organic cane sugar $2.39/ lb at Oliver's Market
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Light brown sugar $1.79/ lb at Oliver's Market
Organic Rolled Oats
Bulk for the win!
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Bulk organic rolled oats $1.29/ lb at Sprouts
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Bulk organic rolled oats $1.29/ lb at Oliver's Market
Organic Bob's Red Mill rolled oats $4.00/ lb
Rice
O organics long grain thai jasmine rice $2.50/ lb
Bulk Lundberg Organic California sushi rice $2.99/ lb at Safeway
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Bulk Lundberg Organic white sushi rice $2.79/ lb at Oliver's Market
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Bulk Lundberg Organic brown rice $2.99/ lb at Mollie Stones
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Bulk Brown rice $1.49/ lb at Sprouts (6663)
Arborio Rice
It's a tie, so I go for the bulk bin.
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Bulk Lundberg organic arborio rice $4.99/ lb at Safeway
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Bulk Lundberg organic arborio rice $4.59/ lb (went on sale for $2.49/ lb) at Oliver's Market
Lundberg Arborio rice (plastic bag) $4.99/ lb
Beans
Bulk Pinto beans $.99/ lb at Sprouts (6074)
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Organic Pinto Beans $2.08/ lb at Rainbow Grocery (2290)
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Organic instant pinto refried beans $9.65/ lb at Rainbow Grocery (2288)
Pasta
I really need to stock up whenever I find bulk pasta.
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Bulk Gardentime Organic whole wheat penne $4.69/ lb at Oliver's Market
Chocolate Chips
Organic dark chocolate chips $9.99/ lb at Safeway
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Organic dark chocolate chips $/ lb at Oliver's Market
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Organic dark chocolate chips $7.19/ lb at Rainbow Grocery (2765)
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Organic White Chocolate Chunks $11.25/ lb at Rainbow Grocery (2853)
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Organic Fair Trade cocoa liquor drops $8.99/ lb at Rainbow Grocery (2788)
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Organic Dutch Cocoa $.6.99/ lb at Rainbow Grocery (6556)
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Organic Natural Cocoa Powder $4.79/ lb at Rainbow Grocery (6160)
Nutritional Yeast
Bulk Nutritional yeast $8.49/ lb at Oliver's Market
(went on sale for $7.49/ lb)
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Bulk Nutritional yeast $13.99/ lb at Mollie Stones
Coconut Oil
For everything.
Organic Coconut oil isn't hard to find in a glass jar.
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Organic Dr. Bronner's coconut oil is $9.99/ 14 oz jar ($.72/ounce)
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Rainbow Grocery bulk Organic coconut oil is $
Dried Fruit
Bulk Dried Cherries $12.99/ lb at Sprouts (6170)
Sweets
Bulk Licorice $5.99/ lb at Sprouts (6653)
Salt
Bulk Fine & Coarse Sea Salt $1.19/ lb at Oliver's Market
Bulk
I haven't price compared everything
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If the paper, or glass packaged alternative is cheaper, I'll buy packaged.
Check out the bulk bins first, then finish your grocery list.
Max is vegan and zero waste.
Check out his blog for recipes using real foods, and no waste.
Voting with your dollar
Brands I Love
I was not paid by any brand to write these posts/ reviews, nor was I sent free products to review.
(But that's the blogger dream, right?!)
Rosa Brothers Milk Co.
A family owned, glass bottle milk company, that makes plain milk, awesome flavored milk, half & half, and ice cream!
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Why glass is better: better insulator (temperature), reusable, and fully recyclable (unlike plastic or cardboard).
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It's pasturized, homogenized, rBST free cows milk. (Because these days, when you say "it's milk", you have no idea what that could mean).
If you're not familiar, you pay a $2 bottle deposit when you buy the milk, and get $2 cash or credit when you bring it back.
No they don't do home delivery here, so you have to go to Lucky's or Krispy Kreme (in San Jose) or another store, but in Fresno County, you can hire their ice cream truck.
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DYK: Jim Harbaugh drinks their chocolate milk!
Whole Foods Bulk
Whole Foods offers Maven's macaroon ice cream sandwiches (with a paper sleeve) individually, mochi ice cream (tons of flavors), cookies, and donuts.BYO tupperware or cloth produce bag.