Trying another bulk frozen food options: Salmon ravioli and red thai curry

We ran out of Olive oil, so I had a trip to PCC on my mind all week, the only place I know to refill out olive oil container. I brought a big box of mason jars and snack bags - and husband.

Husband refilled olive oil, which required some patience for a big jug. I refilled a small glass bottle of maple syrup which funnily had still a label matching exactly the brand, type and grade of the maple syrup on tap. I also filled a jar with honey.

Kids picked a granola and fig bars for snack. I filled up a reusable ziplock with semisweet chocolate chips, which I love as treats (so versatile). I also got some quick oats to refill our paper container at home.

I was very excited to find strawberries in paper packaging instead of the usual single use plastic container. I saw chocolate dipped strawberries at Fred Meyers and didn't want to get them in plastic, but now I could just make them myself for our BBQ with friends in the evening.

Husband refilled our egg carton. Kids picked each a lemon for their free fruit.

My plan was to let husband handle the check out (always sparks a bit of anxiety not knowing if someone in line isn't happy it will take a bit, or the cashier rolling eyes having to weight everything, but he did not want to let me go. He hates situations like this just as much as I do. ;-) At least this time I learnt from my mistake from my last visit and had the weight in lb on each container and a sheet with all PLU codes in my hand. Check out went fairly quick and efficient that way and the cashier wished my a happy Mother's Day and raved about how well organized we were with our containers and PLUs. :-)

Husband, kids and I all left with a huge smile.

Total was also less than expected. Receipt had an error as potatos were charged as something else, but we didn't want to fix it. Organic olive oil is always expensive and we refilled a huge jug ($25), which will last for a couple months. And we got a big bag of granola and honey and croissants (in paper bags) for the kids.

Heard some good things about Fred Meyers bulk section, so husband and I went to check it out. I did not find anything exciting as it's pretty much the same selection as most other stores and definitely less as PCC. Quick oats were out. It looked a bit dirty and some of the containers did not have any shovels or tongs.

We got a couple gummy bears for the kids, a snack bag full of pepita seeds, a bag full of plantain chips. Husband had to bang hard against the tube, so the chips would come out on the bottom. Another shopper came around the aisle to tell him things would fall of the shelf on the other side from his banging. Oops. I left a bit disappointed not finding any long missed food items. They do have peanut butter and almond grinders, too but nothing special besides.

The seafood/meat department wrapped our shrimp and trout in paper, also chicken breast. She said she would not even pack these in plastic. Default. Great.

One surprise was Mochi icecream in bulk. There is a freezer with 12 different flavors and 4 pieces are $5. We love Mochis, but usually they come in a plastic tray. I filled a Mason jar with 8 Mochis.

Self check out was fine. All items were in fabric bags, so we didn't have to figure out how to take of the container weight. Mochi prize was by piece.

We got some rolls in bulk - put them in a paper bag.

I am not sure I would just come back for just the Mochi, definitely not for the bulk. However, the trout was fantastic and cheap, so if we want to BBQ fish again, we will consider it.

Son needed a quick lunch after a sports match and we stopped at McD. It was a very hot day and all our water bottles were empty, so I ordered a soda. At the pick up window I quickly asked if I could get the soda in my cup - after checking with the supervisor - we learnt we would need to pour it in our cup ourselves. Aehm. What is the point then?

Maybe that works if you just want to use your cup, but this is not helping when you try to avoid any single use cups with plastic lids. McD, you should overthink this. Starbucks can do it.

Weather is very warm for May this week. I worry for my plants I planted in the park next to our house. It's already too dry.

Went to pick up son from soccer practice to meet up at daughters soccer practice with husband for dinner. The challenge, finding a picnic for the park, feeding the entire family without any plastic packaging.

We went to Metropolitan Market as they have a great open food bar with lots of options. We got some chicken pieces, a baguette in paper, cookies in paper, cauliflower and tomatoes, and a glass bottle of tea and sparkling water. I was not happy I forgot to bring water from home, but we were really really thirsty.

I brought my paper box to fit our dinner in. Cashier scanned everything and we even thought of bringing their coupon for a pound of free asparagus. Total was expensive ($43) for a picnic, but as expected from Met Market. All tasted well and other folks commented on the great smell.

Highlight were the cookies with the melted chocolate.

Live changing. Today I discovered and joined the Zero Waste group on Facebook. It's a big group with tons of resources how to find or make almost about everything I tried to figure out the last couple weeks.

I am so so so happy. This is so awesome. I see posts about flashmobs at QFC learning how to work their bulk scales to take off the container weight. Learning about how to make things, and where to find things and how other folks do it.

Sunflower butter is out. New one would come in plastic jar. Don't do plastic jars any longer.
Got some sunflower seeds in bulk and grinded them. Handmixer got really hot as it took some time. Googled a bit and found a post about roasting seeds before, but it was too late for that.
Found another one about not having to add anything else, like oil or water or flavors. Cool.

After about 5 minutes I had very small parts but still no butter. I added a bit of maple syrup and it started to clump a bit, but wasn't right yet. I added some water and this did the trick. I finally got a butter and it was the best sunflower butter I ever tasted.

I have a mason jar in my fridge and crave half a spoon of sunflower butter as a treat. Homemade for the win.

It's my Birthday week and husband didn't have time for lunch, so I decided to visit son at school lunch. I was very tempted to just grab something from McD around the corner from school, but kept my discipline. 

I went to Safeway which isn't my favorite for plastic free shopping after the rude deli guy and knowing they don't offer much bulk. I got some chicken tenders in a paper bag. 

I filled a container from home with caesar salad from the salad bar and found a yogurt with fruit in a container I will reuse for this purpose. Safeway has yogurt and cut fruit in their salad bar, which I will try to keep in mind as breakfast on the go option.

Son requested I bring some chips like treats to share with his friends and I looked and looked, but could not find anything qualified as a cool shareable chips-like treat without plastic packaging. Somewhat defeated I grabbed a bag of organic cheese puffs.

He was very happy about his salad and chicken for lunch. Cheese puffs made their round and everyone seemed to like them (even the gluten free friend could partake). I definitely scored - and he had a semi-healthy lunch and it was almost all plastic free.

Called my mom in Germany to tell her about our life and mentioned our decision to go plastic free. She laughed and said that is what she always did. If she goes grocery shopping with her woven shopping basket, she goes to the bakery, the butcher and the produce stand. If needed, food gets packaged in paper. There is no plastic packaging.

I do have to put in quite some effort to make this happen. For her, it's a no-brainer.