Shopping on the VNF Bulk Trail promises to:

Save you money: Buying natural, organic and many locally-produced foods in our bulk section offers an average savings of 30 to 50 percent over pre-packaged products. Stop by my BULK TRAIL DEMO at Valley Natural Foods on Tuesday, January 10, from 11 am to 2 pm to find out just how much you can save. Pick up a “Packaged or Bulk?” cost comparisons handout and my monthly recipe, try a few samples and receive free coaching to create an FRESH & LOCAL inspiring kitchen for yourself and your family this year.

Introduce you to new foods while improving your health: There are infinite possibilities for creating easy delicious healthy meals from “mix and matching” the beans, lentils, peas and other legumes, whole grain pastas and rices, soups, seeds, seasonings and more found on our bulk trail. Bulk bins are an excellent way to expand your food repertoire. Purchase a small portion of something new, and return for more if you like it. Buying in bulk also offers hearty doses of plant-based vitamins, minerals and fiber, essential to heart health, building muscles, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and keeping waistlines trim.

Offer convenient flexibility to buy a pinch or a pound: Buying in bulk offers you a broad selection that can be purchased in the exact quantity you desire. If you need a large bag of nuts for a party or just a pinch of chili powder for a new recipe, our bulk foods, herbs and spices provide many options. When your winter soup calls for 1 cup of dried beans, you can purchase exactly 1 cup from our bulk foods bins and put that amount in one of our convenient bags or jars or use one of your own reusable bags or containers. (Just remember to weigh your container first to subtract that amount from your final product weight.)

Ensure FRESH & LOCAL: Buying “as you need” on our bulk trail is always fresh, as opposed to purchasing a pre-determined packaged amount that may sit on your shelf for months (or years) and may not get used before its expiration date. The purity and quality of our bulk products are always visible prior to purchase plus we clean, fill and rotate our bulk foods regularly, rotating the scoop bins daily. Come to my January demo and class to learn more about the LOCAL companies who help keep our bulk trail FRESH.

Reduce waste and improve our environment: Buying in bulk radically reduces the amount and costs of packaging and transportation required from farm to table, as well as the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills. Nearly 80 million tons of waste is generated from packaging and containers annually, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and adds up to a third of our annual municipal solid waste. Bulk “fill-er-up” stations are the best way to cut back on food packaging, especially if you tote along your own reusable bags and containers.

Ready to reap all these benefits in your life? Sign up for my FRESH & LOCAL CLASS “FROM SOUP TO NUTS ON THE BULK TRAIL,” Tuesday January 17 (6:30 to 8:30) to learn more about the basics, the unique and the surprises of our 300+ bulk trail choices; including trail tips and etiquette; cost comparisons of your favorite packaged brands also in bulk; nutritional and allergy information and our local bulk producers and partners. Take home plenty of inspiring healthy ideas for “rise and shine” breakfasts, healthy super suppers and sustaining snacks. Bring your questions for what you would like to know about our bulk trail.

Please sign up classes at least  32 hours in advance  by registering online or by calling Customer Service at 952.891.1212, Ext. 221. Only $17 for members and $20 for non-members per class.

FRESH & LOCAL health coach Loris Sofia Gregory is based in Apple Valley. Explore more at www.lorissofiagregory.com. Contact her directly at 952.431.5586 or lorissofia@frontiernet.net. Loris would love to hear your ideas and needs for eating FRESH & LOCAL, and request her healthy recipes if you miss her monthly demos and classes.