Photo by Stevie, using instagr.am
First let me just say that food from bulk bins is awesome for most people. I don’t advise people with food allergies to use bulk bins though, it just isn’t possible to guarantee that everything is 100% allergen free. Other then those stipulations bulk bin shopping is awesome and allows for creativity.
I managed to make an awesome nut and fruit trail mix for about $20. It seems like a lot, but similar mixes go for at least 4.99 or more per bag, and I was able to make four bags from it and get the exact mix I wanted. I also used raw and unsalted nuts when I could, and was able to include many of the more ‘expensive’ kinds of nuts. Look for halves and pieces options, as they’re cheaper and don’t matter much
The Nuts
Pecan halves
Cashew halves and pieces
Walnuts
Hazelnuts
Raw Blanched peanuts
The Fruit
Raisins
Cranberries
Bing Cherries.
I did not include almonds in this mix, almonds are a harder nut and while still tasty would have made me sad to accidentally bite into while happily munching through the other kinds.
Some things I might do differently next time would be to forgo the hazelnuts, they were raw and not the flavor I usually associate with them. I also might look to see if there is a roasted peanut option. They taste very ‘green’, and while this works pretty well in the mix as a whole sometimes I pick bits out and eat them one by one, and that taste is kind of a surprise.
