Rediscover the Bulk Barn!

Bulk Foods are superb for sending less trash to the landfill while at the same time saving you money for other things! Purchasing foods in bulk quantities saves you money because you get to buy what you want without paying for expensive advertising and packaging that drives up costs. I can't guarantee it is always cheaper, I haven't checked everything but the things I buy are.

In Canada the obvious thought for bulk foods is the The Bulk Barn. They are Canada's largest bulk food retailer with stores across the country. They focus on freshness and selection of quality product at competitive prices. You can buy as much or as little as you like in bio-degradable plastic bags. The Bulk Barn carries over 4,000 products including mixes, soups, nuts, candy, snacks, baking and candy-making ingredients, cereals, grains, spices, tea, dried fruits, health and natural food products, pet treats and chocolate.

Besides the chocolate aisle that rocks, here are some other things to love:

• Boxed Cereal is Overpriced - Bulk cereal is cheaper, no boxes to throw out, no questionable marketing peddling sugary cereal to kids. There are less options at the Bulk Barn but they have good ones. The selba omega granola cereal is my favorite. 

          On the kid's Shreddies I save 30%:

             Bulk Barn: 0.55kg = $3.38
             Sobey's: 0.55kg = $4.79

·    My kids love Special K with strawberries. At the Bulk Barn you can buy freeze dried strawberries in bulk and throw them in any cereal, yogurt or make smoothies. It is cheaper and they stay good for years if stored well and you will always have strawberries handy and not rotting in your fridge.

·    Bulk food stores usually have a great selection of mixes. The muffin mixes are 1/3 the price of grocery stores.

·    If you like to cook, the soup bases and spices are less expensive.

·    Many affordable organic products such as organic flours, grains, peanut butter, teas, fruits. Some hard to find items I can't find anywhere else like almond flour they sell.

·    You can try small amounts and make sure you like it before you commit to buy more. We do that with new healthier items like quinoa that we just wanted to try.

·    They also have a good selection of food for people with allergies. Also many gluten free and soy based products as well as vegetarian products. 

So what can you store all of your goodies in? I bought the canisters with the silver lids pictured at The Dollar Store for $1 -$2 each and store them in my pantry.

Anyone else have a bulk food tip or know of any other places to shop?