I rushed through the bulk department during the Holidays and picked up some cranberries and was amazed at the amount of products we had in stock. Things that I have never tried before, like some of our grains, nuts, dried fruits, trail mixes and granola, seasonings, sweets and more.

Not being the typical bulk buyer, I have decided to spice up my life in 2012 by introducing new foods into my diet. Lately, I have been finding myself getting bored by eating the same foods over and over. So this will definitely encourage me to try something new and exciting, can't wait to get started. Also, it will be great to be able to purchase small amounts of product by the ounce, ensuring freshness and reducing waste. I tend to have a pantry full of packaging and find myself throwing out lots of product.

Each week I will try something new from healthy snacks, to fresh ingredients for recipes, breakfast cereals to sweet pleasures. Join me in my new adventure!

Week 1 - Dried Apricots

I thought it would be best to try a healthy snack since I am lacking a little energy after the holidays. So I ventured over to the dry apricots, I was attracted to them because of their vibrant color. I scooped up a few and proceeded to snack. Apricots are typically not my favorite fruit but I did find the dried apricots sweet and tasty. I must say that they can make a great addition to salads or you can dice them and add them to pancake batter for a sweet surprise. My friend Erika uses them in stir fry, which sounds delicious.

I did a little research on apricots and was happy to find out that this little gem is loaded with vitamin A that promotes good vision and are a good source of potassium and magnesium, two minerals that give the body endurance, energy and stamina. I will definitely spice up my life and vision by adding apricots to my new diet. I am going to eat one a day!