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Want health and value? Shop in our bulk department! Bulk bins at Whole Foods Market offer a great variety of pantry basics and staples to support your healthy-eating plan at substantial cost savings. By buying only the amounts you need, additional savings come from less waste. Plus, it’s a great way to help the environment.
For value, bulk buying simply can’t be beat. And there are additional benefits to taking advantage of the variety of ingredients in bulk bins:
- Bins are replenished often so ingredients are super fresh.
- Because you can buy as much or as little as you need, you can experiment with new products without getting stuck with a lot of something that doesn’t suit you.
- Many of the bulk offerings are organically grown.
- You save money by not paying for fancy labels.
- All bulk items are required to meet Whole Foods Market’s strict Quality Standards, so you’re still getting the highest-quality of products.
The bulk department can be a healthy eater’s best friend! The January/February issue of The Whole Deal value guide, is bulging with ways to eat healthier on a budget including the $99* Health Starts Here™ Pantry, which includes a list of basics to have on hand for healthier eating. A lot of these pantry basics are readily available in bulk, including:
- Dried beans (pinto, white, black, lentils)
- Whole grains (quinoa, pearled barley, long-grain brown rice)
- Whole-wheat pasta (spaghetti, couscous)
- Oats (rolled, steel-cut)
- Organic raw nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds)
- Organic dried fruit (apricots, dates, raisins)
- Fresh-ground nut butters (peanut, almond)
In addition, the bulk department features great selections of spices and seasonings at a fraction of the cost of their bottled or packaged counterparts. When cooking with your health in mind, it’s always good to add seasonings and spices to enhance flavor without a lot of additional calories.
Check out these budget-friendly recipes featuring ingredients that can be found in most bulk departments in our stores:
- Ancient Grain Stuffed Red Bell Peppers (Bulk: quinoa, amaranth)
- Creamy Curried Cauliflower Soup (Bulk: sunflower kernels, curry powder)
- Linguine with Spinach, Artichokes & Red Lentil Sauce (Bulk: mustard seeds, dried red lentils)
- Apple-Cinnamon Oat Squares (Bulk: steel-cut oats, pecans, raisins, flax seeds, cinnamon)
Ready to bulk up for healthy eating and budget savings? Tell us your favorite ideas on using bulk for health and value.
February 16th, 2011 at 6:22 am
SENT TO CUSTOMER QUESTIONS
Why did the blend in Pleasant Morning Buzz Coffee change? The new formulation is not anywhere near as tasty. I am now spending a lot of money to try to find a coffee i can drink after years of 100% Arabica Pleasant Morning Buzz.
February 16th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
I like to buy raisins, steel-cut oatmeal and dates from the bulk bins. I’m going to try some other items too.
February 16th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Is this charged “per pound?” Can we bring our own containers to fill? If so, is the weight of the container considered?
February 16th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
nuts, trail mix, rice
February 16th, 2011 at 6:58 pm
After last night’s Cooking with Whole Grains class, i picked up a bunch of grains from the Bulk Foods containers. This morning I made bulgur wheat in my “grain cooker,” formerly known as my rice cooker.
February 16th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Can I buy bulk items in my own containers (rather than bagging them)? If so, what is the best way to do this? I shop at other (smaller) stores that will weigh my container & label it accordingly so that the tare can be adjusted at checkout. Would this work the same way for bulk purchases at WF? I appreciate not needing to use the extra bag.
February 16th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
I love to buy whole beans.My dollar goes much further this way.
February 17th, 2011 at 9:52 am
@Christine Customers do bring their own containers for bulk products, but I believe there are some stores that are governed by food safety laws that affect this. It’s best to check with your local store directly so they can let you know their exact process. Thanks!
February 18th, 2011 at 8:31 am
I would like to know where your dried beans and lentils are sourced from. Are they from China?
February 20th, 2011 at 11:40 am
The advice that it is a great way to try grains you might not otherwise try, is terrific. I learned that buckwheat is really good. I actually like mixing half oatmeal/half buckwheat for my morning bowl of hot cereal.
February 23rd, 2011 at 4:55 am
Will WF ever consider expanding it’s bulk section? I just moved to a new part of the country and WF is the only place to buy bulk out here. Sadly, compared to Sprouts, Henry’s, and the even the WFs in California, the bulk selection on the East Coast is pretty sad.
February 27th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
I love shopping the bulk section! I never buy bottled/ packaged spices & seasonings anymore (except for really special things like saffron or lemongrass) because they are INSANELY cheaper from the bins! Ditto on things like brown rice, cornmeal, and beans (haven’t had a stale batch yet!).
Oddly though, the sugar and flour are cheaper per pound in the private label organics— unless of course you only want one lb of sugar or flour, but I still find that odd when the bulk cornmeal is less than half the cost per lb of the packaged kind?
June 3rd, 2011 at 5:32 pm
I can’t find nutrition information on your BULK products (like the calories, fat, calcium, etc). You do have this info in the store, but it’s very hard to jot it all down at the store. Wish you’d put it online.
June 3rd, 2011 at 5:45 pm
I can’t find nutrition information about your BULK products (like the calories, fat, calcium, etc). You do have this info in the store, but it’s very hard to jot it all down at the store. Wish you’d put it online.
June 3rd, 2011 at 5:32 pm