Whole Foods Tip #1 | Bulk Bins

Whole Foods, more and more commonly known as Whole Paycheck, isn't always financial death.

There are many secrets to successful frugal grocery shopping at this store. My very first secret that I am proud to share with you, is the mighty bulk bin.

Bulk what?

The bulk bin is a storage device that holds product, in this case of the food sort, and sits amongst a variety of choices in the bulk section of Whole Foods. Often times this section becomes overlooked, perceived to be time consuming and possibly confusing. It does take a little bit of time to take a paper bag, fill it with desired product, and write the associated SKU number on the bag; but trust me it's worth every penny.

Whole Grains

Grains are an excellent and healthy alternative to rice. They have a similar texture and flavor and are often really cheap, sometimes around a dollar per pound. My go to grains include red and white quinoa, millet, and barley. You can combine any of these grains with a vegetable bullion or broth to increase their flavor as apposed to water which creates a particularly bland batch of grains. Also, grains are an excellent source for protein. (as if we need any more)

Dried Beans

It's cheap, filling, and if you throw it in your brand new crock-pot, it's absolutely painless to cook with! As you would expect with the quinoa, they are also a product that is low in a cost per pound ratio.