Last week, I wrote about having to buy a half-pound bag of bean sprouts when I just needed a handful. This week, in making an encore entree out of cold sesame noodles, I went to the Asian grocer nearby and bought just the right amount.
Not only did I preclude any extra sprouts, which I never end up using in their short lifespan, it was about 1/5 the price. When was the last time you got anything for 35 cents?!
No wasted food, no wasted money, no guilt.
But I’m not writing to give myself a pat on the back–I did, after all, toss about half of the old bag of sprouts. Instead, I just wanted to point out that you don’t have to buy in bulk from the “bulk” aisle. I like to think of it as the “custom” aisle. With a little planning, you can buy just the amount needed and avoid having to measure at home.
In addition, I learned that there’s another reason to shop at a specialty grocer (in addition the old timey charm most people don’t have the time to value): logic. Save money and avoid waste in exchange for an added shopping stop.
This whole affair reminded me of how many supermarkets have eliminated customers’ choice. One grocery store I go to lacks a butcher or a seafood counter. If I want shrimp, I can get a frozen, one-pound bag. What if you only want a half-pound? Tough.
Are there packaged food items you usually buy that a portion of which often ends up in the trash? Maybe there’s a “custom” way of purchasing one or more of those items.
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