• Do you have the room? Single people can live in small places and don’t always have the room to store themselves let alone bulk purchases. Choose your bulk wisely.
• Are you moving anytime soon? Are you moving in 3 months while stocking up on supplies for a year? You will have to move your bulk goods and you will have to store them.
• Once you open the bulk container can you use all the servings before they go bad without getting sick of the stuff?

Take a look at what you use on a regular basis and see if you could possibly buy it bulk. To get my bulk items I shop at Big Lots, Sam’s Club and the Dollar Store. I go to Sam’s and the Dollar Store once every 6 to 8 weeks and Big Lots every 3 to 4 weeks. Buying bulk saves me time, money and the annoyance of running out of stuff.

Bulk Up Around The House

Bathroom
The only thing I am super particular about in the bathroom is my shampoo, deodorant and face sun block. I like Burt’s Bees, Lady Speed Stick and Neutrogena Age Shield Face. Other than that I don’t have much brand loyalty and will buy what is on sale with grapefruit being the preferred aroma for body products.

• Body Wash – buy large sizes and 2 for 1’s at Big Lots or Sam’s Club
• Shampoo – use Burt’s Bees so buy when/where I find on sale
• Face Wash – buy at Big Lot’s they usually have some St. Ives Facial Scrub
• Suntan Lotion – buy large sizes at Big Lot’s or Sam’s Club. Use as moisturizer in summer
• Deodorant – buy multiples at the Dollar Store when they have Lady Speed Stick
• Toothpaste – buy large sizes and 2 for 1’s at Big Lots or Sam’s Club
• Mouthwash – buy large sizes and 2 for 1’s at Big Lots or Sam’s Club
• Toilet Paper – buy large packages at Big Lots
• Disposable Razors – buy large packages at the Dollar Store
• Hand Soup – buy large sizes and 2 for 1’s at Big Lots or Sam’s Club

Kitchen
Being single and having a small kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy saving money and time with bulk purchasing. I find I do best in the freezer and the cupboards. Other than condiments what I put in the fridge needs to be used up quickly so as not to spoil.

Freezer

• Frozen Strawberries – 5 pound bag from Sam’s Club for smoothies
• Frozen Blueberries – 48 ounce bag from Sam’s Club for smoothies
• Shelled Pecans – 2 pound bag from Sam’s Club
• Mahi Mahi – 32 ounces from Sam’s Club which is 7 – 8 servings

Cupboard

• Canned Tuna – buy multiple cans when they are on sale at Big Lots
• Canned Salmon – buy multiple cans when they are on sale at Big Lots
• Canned Chicken – buy multiple cans when they are on sale at Big Lots
• Chicken Stock – buy multiple cans when they are on sale at Big Lots

Pantry

• Paper Towels – buy 8 roll packages at Big Lots
• Garbage Bags – buy 30 plus bag rolls at Big Lots
• Light Bulbs – buy on sale packages at Big Lots
• Dish Detergent – buy large sizes at Big Lots

One Caveat: if you can’t control yourself with munchies don’t buy them in bulk. I ate a month’s worth of chocolate-covered almonds in a few days.

Because I lived in Austin, Texas and near Lebanon-Hanover, New Hampshire I was used to shopping in Central Market, Whole Foods and the Co-op. I purchased excellent quality foods that were good value for the dollar for the most part. And I splurged as needed.

I started commuting to Shreveport, Louisiana and had to find a local grocery store to feed me. I began my reconnaissance of the local grocery stores.

Store A is a smallish grocery store conveniently located ¾ mile from my house and serves a mixed socio-economic neighborhood of historic homes. No matter what I would go in there for all I ever come out with was a can of Folger’s and a bag of dog food.

This store specializes in fat, starch, sugar, alcohol and over-priced fresh orange. I was going to starve to death shopping here.

Next I test drove Store B which is 4 miles from my house. This is a grocery store for what was the Shreveport everyman. I began my exploration of the store and was immediately disappointed. There was no variety, no organic foods, no bulk, no nothing. I was so damn depressed. I consulted some locals and they directed me to Store C.

Store C is located 3 miles from my house and serves a higher end socio-economic group. In this neighborhood the houses are beautifully massive and the squadrons of giant flying cockroaches are called water bugs.

I made my trek to Store C to see if this grocery store was going to meet my needs. It has fruits and vegetables, some imported items, organic meat and vegetables and my staples. There is produce that I would consider a staple in Austin that is 3 times the price in Store C so I do without. But still out of the three, Store C was the best suited to my needs.

So you would think the post would stop there:

• Explore your grocery store options
• Pick the grocery store best suited to you
• The End

I thought that was the end too. But a friend, who lives 4 blocks from Store C, told me she was shopping in Store B. I was floored as I had seen what was in her fridge and it looked nothing like what I had seen at Store B.

So BACK I went to Store B. It was fabulous. They had been undergoing renovations for months. I walked into a beautiful produce section immediately hitting a wall of organics that were only pennies more expensive than the regular produce.

Green peppers were $0.99 each at Stores A and C, ORGANIC green peppers were $0.99 each at Store B. I try to stay away from the bakery but they had fresh baked cheese biscuits 3 for $1.00.

The prices are cheaper than Store C, the quality and selection are better than Store A. I was so happy I damn near burst into tears.

I now firmly believe that the choice of grocery store should be revisited annually.

The grocery chain marketing departments are constantly reassessing: what should be sold at each store, improvements and renovations, the pricing strategies, specials, etc. You never know when something is turning to your advantage in a different store.

Watermelon Calories and Nutrition

Watermelon is naturally low in calories but high in Vitamin A and C. It is an all-around healthy food. Serve it frequently as both a thirst-quencher and a tasty snack.

Watermelon is high in lycopene, and is second only to tomatoes in its percentage of this important antioxidant. Consuming foods which are rich in lycopene is thought to help prevent heart disease and cancer.

You can find detailed nutrition and calorie information in our USDA food database for dried Watermelon seeds and raw watermelon.

Save When Buying Watermelon

You will pay more for pre-sliced and pre-packaged watermelon but buy only what you can eat within a week. Melons last quite a while if uncut (and when uncut don’t necessarily need to be refrigerated.) Once cut, however, they are only at their best for a few days.

You also will often have the choice between seedless and seed-bearing varieties. Seedless varieties may be more convenient but may cost more.

See our Seasonal Food Calendar — You will find plentiful watermelon choices in June through September, although in many markets you will find imported watermelons year round.

Growing Watermelon

Growing watermelon is easy if you follow a few basic rules. First, always plant the seeds on mounds of dirt. This may sound unnecessary but it encourages deep rooting, and, well, it just works. I have had great luck growing melons even here in New Hampshire where the summers are short and not always hot. I like to plant the seeds directly into piles of manure, or a rich mix of manure and soil. Water the seeds a bit to get them started, but once they get going, just let the plants do their thing. You might want to put a good layer of grass clippings as mulch around the plants to help retain soil moisture. You can also use black plastic which will also combat weeds and help heat the soil.

Watermelon Seeds

Save your seeds! If you grow heirloom varieties, you can keep the seeds, however, do not try to do this with commercial varieties. (Seedless varieties are hybrids that do not produce a viable seed) Keep a few dozen dark colored, fully-formed seeds when eating your watermelon. Dry them completely then toss them in an envelope for use next spring. You will save money and you will find that seeds keep well for one or two years.

Watermelon Varieties

According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board web site, there are 200-300 varieties of watermelon grown in the US and Mexico, but perhaps 50 varieties are the most common. We looked at three seed companies and their watermelon seeds

If you are going to grow your own, consider 3 categories:

Heirloom varieties – These are old varieties that have been kept alive by seed saving. They are often unusual in some respect; growers keep growing them because they find them well adapted to certain climates and they have traits worth preserving. Look to Fedco Seeds, Johnny’s Seeds and High Mowing Seeds for a selection of heirloom watermelon varieties. I love the Moon and Stars heirloom – the unusual markings on the outside of the melon are unique!

Organic Seeds – Chances are that you will find organic seeds where you find heirloom varieties. Look also to Fedco, Johnny’s and High Mowing for organic choices.

Hybrid varieties – Don’t confuse hybrid varieties with genetically modified – hybrid seeds are the result of natural cross pollination of plants to emphasize and accentuate certain traits. The only downside to hybrids is that you cannot save the seeds. We found a selection of 6 hybrid varieties at Park’s Seed.

Watermelon Recipes

There is no better collection of watermelon recipes than at the National Watermelon Promotion Board web site.

Our two favorites are: Watermelon Popsicles and Watermelon Banana Split. So easy to make.

We also love the Watermelon Granita and Watermelon Smoothie recipes at the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Website.

Consider also a Melon Salsa – easy to prepare and perfect for a summer appetizer served with chips.

Watermelon Facts

It would be hard to beat the collection of fun facts on watermelon assembled by the National Watermelon Promotion Board.

Concerned about Pesticides in Watermelon?

On the Environmental Working Group’s chart of contamination load of common produce items, watermelon ranks toward the bottom of the list, meaning it is relatively low in its tendency to contain pesticides and chemicals.

The Fate of a Watermelon

Ever wondered what happens to a watermelon left out at room temperature? Watch this video on You Tube which tracks its slow decomposition over 9 days.

Amazing Carved Watermelons

Somebody forwarded us an email that apparently has been floating around the Internet lately – it contains photos of carved watermelons made by someone with incredible talent.

Amazing table display of carved watermelons

Watermelon carved to show a baseball player at bat

A beautifully carved turtle and crane in a watermelon

A couple dancing the Tango are carved into a watermelon

Intricate flowers carved into a watermelon

Running Horse in Watermelon

A bicycle racer depicted in watermelon - could it be Lance?

Vincent Van Watermelon

Paying the real price
One of Food, Inc.’s most frustrating scenes follows a family of four to the produce section of the supermarket. Says the mother: “Sometimes you look at a vegetable and say, ‘Okay, well, we can get two hamburgers for the same amount of price.’ ”

As Pollan points out in the film, that’s no accident. “Bad calories” are cheaper because “those are the ones we’re heavily subsidizing” via farm policies that favor crops like corn and soy. It’s no accident either that the biggest predictor of obesity is income level. Or that diabetes is an epidemic.

“You’re not seeing the real price tag when you go to the supermarket,” says Kenner, who points out that an uninsured person with diabetes “could be paying $1000 a month for medicine. Is that ‘cheaper’ food?…”

One of the many reasons I eat as healthily as possible and stay fit is the high cost of getting sick. I just can’t afford to get sick in this country.

Have you ever wondered how much each additional pound of weight you carry over your ideal weight costs you? There must be figures somewhere but…

It cost you time and money to accumulate that extra pound. Now you have to lug it around and that costs you extra physical effort. That pound will eventually get sick and you will have to take it to the doctor, which costs money. The doctor is going to send that pound to the pharmacy to get some medicine that costs you more money. Then your health insurance company either drops you or raises your premiums.

I think it would be interesting if food companies had to also put on their labels what their food was additionally going to cost you in ill-health and medical costs down the road. I think a lot more vegetables would be sold.