Urban Eden

Print this out and circle or highlight what you need – DO NOT FORGET YOUR LIST.

All right you found a local grocery store that has a good bulk bin section. There nothing in your cupboards so the first thing we need to do is get some food staples.

This is where the bulk section is going to be so helpful and save you a ton of money. Let’s say you need to get some flour. Now you only need approximately 1-2 cups to get started. In the bulk bin section you meaure out 1-2 cups in a bag for less than $1.00. There is no sense in buying a one pound bag of flour for a couple bucks that will end of going bad before you  use it. Get as much as you can in this section.

Bulk Food items to consider: Cereal, granola, spices, flour, pancake mix, candy, oatmeal, taco mix, brownie mix, nuts, sugar, pasta, chicken/beef base for broth, rice, beans, dried fruit, cococut flakes, chips, and popcorn. Remember you only need a small anount. Make sure to wrote down what the item is  along with number code on the twist tie so when you get home you don’t have to guess what is in each bag.  Start saving your plastic containers so you can transfer your bulk items into them. Ziplock bags are also good and you can write on them so you know what the item is and put date bought on it for freshness. At a later date you can get glass containers at thrift stores or discount stores for storage. No one has to know that you didn’t buy the name brand of an item.

Below are lists of various items to consider when at the store. Start out with the items you cannot live without and on the next shopping trip add one or two more.

Condiments: Ketchup, mustard, mayonaise, horseradish,  vinegar, tabasco, salsa, peanut butter, salad dressing, soy sauce, lemon juice, cooking oil, and butter.

Protein: Hamburger,eggs, tuna fish, peanut butter, nuts, cheese, chicken, hot dogs, fish.

Prepackaged items: Soup, canned vegetables, canned beans, hamburger/tuna helper, rice mix, frozen vegetables, frozen stir fry meals, frozen dinners/breakfasts, frozen pizza, and frozen juice

Kitchen items: Sandwich bags, plastic wrap, wax paper, foil, quart size freezer bags, paper towels, garbage liners, napkins, and kleenex spatula, mixing spoon, bowl, pot, pan, baking sheeting, casserole dish, pot holder/oven mitts.

Carbs: Bread, muffins, rice, couscous, pasta, flour/corn tortillas, cereal,  and granola.

Beverages: Milk, fruit/vegetable juice, pop/soda, and water.

Okay, work on figuring out what you need and what your budget is because tomorrow  I am going to get in a LOT more detail on how to save in the other areas beside the bulk bin section. Then I will give you some simple meals to put together that are fast and HEALTHY.

My mantra is eat healthy, cheaply, and ecofriendly all at the same time. I would rather you eat healthy instead of blowing your whole food budget for a doctor visit along with a smaller paycheck due to missed work.