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Last stop on our grocery store tour is the bakery. Bread is a staple in most households. But usually you find it wrapped in a plastic bag. Sometimes even wrapped in plastic inside a plastic bag! Not to mention the little plastic tab that is used to close the bag. An easy way around this is to go directly to the bakery section of the grocery store or a stand-alone bakery and get fresh baked bread put right into your own bag. Buns, baked treats, baguettes, sandwich bread. You can get it all completely naked!
Today’s challenge: Find naked bread and put it in your own wrapper. You can reuse a plastic bread bag over and over if you wish, or go for a cloth bag. Bee’s Wrap also makes a bread wrap. You don’t have to purchase anything, even an old pillowcase will do. The bakery that I go to will even slice the bread for me and then put it in my own bag. If naked bread is not an option for you, then look for bread in a paper wrapping.
**Note: covid-19 has changed grocery shopping in many communities. Some stores are not currently allowing patrons to bring their own bags. I am confident that once the pandemic has subsided that we will once again be allowed to bring our own bags. Look for bread that is in a paper sleeve, like baguettes.
That completes our tour of the grocery store. Is this difficult or easy for you? Have you found anything to add to your guilty pleasure list? Do you have reusable bags? What low or no-plastic packaging is available in your area? Have you committed to make some changes to the items you purchase? Every small step helps.
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What bakery do you go to that you can use your own bags. I have not been able to find one. Thanks.
Clausen’s in Middleton is very accommodating. Look for the “naked” loaves of bread in the back of the store. They also have rolls and other baked treats. You can put it right into your own bag or basket and show them what it is when you get to the front. When I bring my loaves up to the register they will use the slicing machine and put it right in my own bag. They also make their own chocolates. Many of them are packaged up, but they have a section for bulk chocolates sold by the pound or per truffle. You can put them in your own container, take it to the front and have them weigh the chocolate on tissue paper, then back into your container. This is great for Valentine’s! If this bakery isn’t accessible to you, you can also look for bread that is in a paper bag. Sourdough and baguettes often come this way. But keep asking to use your own bags because that helps normalize the process – a process that was already normal until recently!!