How can I get vitamins that are not individually wrapped in plastic wrapping but are cost effective to me and contain all the vitamins I need to take?

Location:  Fairfield, CA, United States

Name: Monique C.

Week: 1

Personal Info:

I am a 29 year old wife and mother to 2 children. I work part time as an EMT, go to college full time and I try to eat meals that I’ve brought from home only. In this challenge, I only included anything that I personally used.

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
Refused using straws at restaurants.

Total items collected: 51

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
I’m not entirely sure. I think the plastic bags and the bottles can be recycled.

Items: Nonrecyclable
1 soda bottle
1 milk carton
1 yogurt container
1 take and bake pan
1 cracker jack bag
1 carrot bag
2 microwaveable bags
2 produce bags
3 GNC vitamin packets
4 straws
1 straw bag
3 skinny cow ice cream wrappers
1 zip lock bag
1 frozen fruit bag
1 turkey bacon wrapper
1 jar of peanut butter
1 container of sliced deli meat
1 mondo juice
1 chocolate milk jug
1 veggie slaw bag
1 almond bag
1 dvd wrapper
1 green bean wrapper
1 bottle of dressing
1 fiber one wrapper
1 battery container
17 Walmart bags

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Definitely use re-useable shopping bags
Shop at farmers markets

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
My drinking straws, those are my biggest addiction.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Nothing in my list was absolutely essential. I could have found these items elsewhere without plastic wrapping then where I purchased them.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Try to think about the items I am purchasing, and seeing if there is another way of getting it, perhaps more organically.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
I am willing to give up my ziplock bags. I didn’t use many this week because most things I could put into containers, but I will try to put everything into containers to take with me on the go.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
I conclude that I am not as bad as some people I know. I use re-useable water bottles and don’t drink many sodas. However, there is always room for improvement. If I open my eyes a little wider, I will be able to see the bigger picture before me.