In my view, grocery shopping is one of life’s simple pleasures. I love getting lost in the bulk food aisle among the rices, flours, grains, beans, spices, cereals, dried fruit, and nuts. At the local co-op, they also offer coconut oil, varietal honeys, maple syrup, tahini, and nut butters in bulk. It’s fantastic. Buying in bulk reduces unnecessary packaging and provides the perfect platform for trying new things. Don’t want to commit to whole bag of chickpea flour? Buy one cup. Not sure you are going to like kasha? Buy one cup. Need one vanilla bean? Buy it. Once at home, I store my bulk items in airtight containers or resealable plastic freezer bags.
I always buy nuts in bulk because I use them all the time. Nuts are high in essential oils, so they have a tendency to go rancid if you hang onto them for too long. To avoid this, I keep them in the freezer where they last up to 4 months. Just yesterday, I dipped into my freezer stash of almonds to make these No-Bake Nut Bars.
I was inspired by something I read in Runner’s World on energy boosting foods…“Just one ounce of almonds (roughly 20) contains more than 40 percent of your Daily Value of vitamin E, an antioxidant that supports the immune system by neutralizing free radicals.”
These healthy little bars are quick, easy, and versatile. Substitute your favorite nuts and dried fruit for a variety of combinations – and enjoy!
