Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Write out a grocery list before your trip, or plan on strolling the aisles for ideas. Natural and organic grocery stores stock many interesting and exotic items.
Step2
Take your own reusable grocery bags. Many natural foods stores offer slight discounts or bonuses when you bring your own bag.
Step3
Start with fresh produce and vegetables. Check produce stickers and labels for local growers. Natural grocery stores use local farms as often as possible. Check with store employees for the best choices.
Step4
Bring any containers for bulk items, such as flour, pastas, rice, oils, maple syrup, etc. Have a clerk weigh them ahead of time to avoid the cost for the weight of the container with your purchase.
Step5
After shopping from the bulk bins, go to the packaged foods area for additional pantry items and staples. Understand that packaged foods have a greater impact on the environment than bulk items in reusable containers, and are usually more expensive.
Step6
After purchasing your staples, produce and bulk ingredients, allow yourself to take in the rare food items, spices, household products and flavors the natural grocery store offers.
Step7
Ask store employees about any unusual ingredient, how to select fruit, and how to substitute vegan ingredients into your recipes, for example. Natural food store employees are usually activists and willing to spread the word about organic food and special diets.
