Baby Boomer Reuse Idea: Psyllium Bottles in the Pantry
Psyllium Fiber Bottles
Dot’s Thot: “Can implementing the three R’s – reduce, recycle, reuse, save you money? If you only implemented the three R’s in your kitchen, you would save money.” — Catherine Pulsifer, 10 Tips for Saving Money in Your Kitchen, While Implementing the Three R’s
Baby Boomer Reuse Idea: Psyllium Bottles in the Pantry
by Dot
OK, here is one for reuse for the baby boomer generation. First, many in this age category are consuming fiber, often in that orange bottle, for control over cholesterol levels. In our household, we use the sugar free, 1.5 lb. size bottles. While recycling is always an option, here is a rather serendipitous use for this size, food-grade plastic bottle.
- Since the bottles are food-grade, they can hold pantry supplies.
- The plastic sleeve around the bottle comes off pretty easily. Slit the plastic and peel it off and clean the bottle.
- This size holds the standard 1 lb. bags of oat bran easily.
- Often you can reuse a scoop from one of the powdered nutritional supplements and keep it in the bottle.
- Many of us buy bulk in around the amount the bottle holds so as not to have our supplies go stale.
- Many boomer babies are also eating hot oat bran cereal to boost cholesterol control even more.
- One of the more common brands has a plastic sleeve that fits perfectly around the girth of that fiber bottle. If you buy that, you can tell by looking at the photo.
- So, empty the bag into the clean reused bottle.
- Cut the top and bottom off the bag and slide it on the bottle — no need to write on the bottle– no guessing what is in it. Tip: slide it on from the top, open end — wiggle it on like a tight girdle.
- You can cut the label off a bag and tape it on; like the dried lentils label on the right.
Your Own Quick Label
- You can also label the bottle yourself. A quick, easy, changeable way is to use a post-it note, write what you want on it, adjust one side with the post-it stick-em and then secure top and bottom with reused rubber-bands from produce — those bands from asparagus bundles are perfect.
- These bottles tend to fit nicely on pantry shelves. Another plus is that if you accumulate and use a number of them on the same shelf, you can stack shorter containers on top.
- Suggested pantry items that fit into these bottles nicely: oat bran cereal, flaxseeds, flaxseed meal, raw walnuts, raw almonds, cashew nuts, specialty flours, trail mix, bulk spice ingredients, your own muesli concoction, loose leaf tea, coffee grounds, etc.
- Because these are opaque, the bottles help keep the light out and delay aging, for example, preserving the tea vitamins and antioxidants longer.
- The screw-top lids help to keep moisture at bay.
- Finally, if you buy bulk items, you don’t need to buy containers for the pantry — reuse those psyllium fiber bottles.
This is one reuse idea I have been using for quite a while and I find it very convenient. Hope you can use the idea as well. Go green, save money, reuse, and organize.
Aloha, Dot
P.S. The “crafty” among us can make those containers more attractive, I am sure. I was just happy to not add as many bottles to the landfills as well as finding containers that fit the pantry handily.
Buy & Preserve Loose Leaf Tea Vitamins in Reused Bottles
Buy Spice Ingredients in Bulk and Store Them in the Reused Bottles
