Snack Pack Attack!

Moms don't like ants in the house, but they might reconsider at snack time! Some ideas: Ants on a Log (raisins on celery with nut butter), Ants in a Garden (sprinkled over a salad), Ants in a Bog (stirred into oatmeal), Ants in a Hidey-Hole (in a baked apple--yum!), Ants in a Blizzard (in yogurt), or a Handful of Ants. Dried fruit adds fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants to any snack or meal. It also adds sweet and tangy flavor without adding sodium.

Andronico's carries a variety of organic dried fruit in the bulk aisle with no preservatives or sulfites. They offer apricots, prunes, cranberries, apples, and of course, raisins. And, you have the added benefit of bulk-buying.

Buying bulk in the grocery store doesn't mean buying a lot--it means buying ingredients from large bins--the bulk bins. Each bin has a scoop. Scoop the desired amount into a biodegradable plastic bag provided by Andronico's, and write the PLU number (from the bin) onto the provided tag. Tie your bag with the PLU tag. The cashier will weigh your bags at checkout, and you only pay for exactly the amount you want to buy! When you get home, store your items in airtight containers to ensure they stay dry and clean. Save and reuse your plastic bag for when you're ready to buy more!

Why buy in bulk?

1. It is an easy way to green your life--no wasteful packaging!

2. Variety! There are so many more types of rice, oats, quinoas, and other grains available in the bulk bins. Because there is no packaging, you can buy a small amount of something new to try, like millet or bulgur. If you like it, come back for more. If you don't, you haven't wasted any money, and there isn't a whole package of it slowly spoiling in your cupboards.

3. Freshness--Ingredients in bins are usually replenished often. Raw almonds stay crunchy, and dried fruit stays moist!