You always leave the grocery store with something, but do you ever take something with you…
something reusable?
Other than coupons, think of the savings- in terms of plastic and waste.
Imagine not taking home all of those plastic grocery bags, produce bags, and endless food containers that you need to dispose of, every single time.
So… let’s get started.
1. Reusable Grocery Bags
The 1st reusable must-have is reusable grocery bags.
Say good-bye to way too many plastic bags!
These reusable grocery bags make life easier and are seriously worth the switch to use. (Even if you forget to take them sometimes!)
They are heavy-duty, meaning you need only a few of these bags to heave your loads.
(4-6 bags total for your largest grocery load!)
You can get them from many different stores, as their demand grows.
They are also available online and at most chain grocery stores.
Trader Joe’s has a large selection of reusable bags that come in various styles, sizes, and materials.
Cooler bags are also available for your cold products, they are amazing!
2. Reusable Produce Bags
The 2nd reusable must-have is reusable produces bags.
They are life-changing.
You never have to fool with single-use plastic produce bags at the grocery store.
For starters, having to find the plastic bags stand can be annoying and time-consuming.
Having your bags already ready to go for whatever produce you desire is amazing.
Imagine the time you could save if you had lightweight, washable produce bags that were yours for all of your fruits and vegetables.
Any of these reusable bags dramatically reduce single-use plastic waste.
They come in different sizes and materials- mesh, burlap, and other cloths.
They are also machine washable! I throw them in the laundry every now and then.
3. Reusable Jars
Glass jars are the 3rd reusable must-have you want to take with you to the grocery store.
Jars are surprisingly an amazing tool to carry dried goods home in and store for a longer shelf-life at home.
Next time you’re at the store, look for the bulk section to see what items they have that you would like.
Bulked goods range from dried legumes, rice, granola, and nuts to pastas, coffee beans, spices, dried fruits, and more.
The bulk section varies at every store.
Many stores have multiple bulk sections to choose from and get your goods, zero-waste!
For example, MOM’s Organic Market, is a popular grocery chain in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the U.S. that has multiple, incredible bulk sections.
Here is just one:
Once you tare your jar weight initially (scales provided), load your jars with any desired dried goods!
The cashier will then weigh your jars and subtract the tare weight, so you will have your true price of dried goods.
Helpful Hint
If you would rather use reusable cloth bags to obtain your dried goods, it is just as easy as using jars!
(Many of these bags have a tag with the tare weight already on it.)
Once home, you can transport these dried goods into a container or glass jar!
It truly is mind-blowing once you start to see the amount of single-use plastic bags and containers that all of these dried goods come in that you could rid yourself of.
So please, try out these reusable must-haves and spread the word!