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Grocery Market Snob

August 31st, 2018 at 03:03 pm

I've concluded I'm a grocery market snob.

I'm not saying that I only shop fancy stores. Hardly. Aldi is my number one store and Kroger is number 2 with Dollar General and an Amish bulk food store filling in for different things. Plus DH raises tomatoes, lettuce, onions, bell peppers, and herbs.

Actually, I think I'm just a food snob.

A couple of years ago DH and I went to Dollar General to buy some cleaning supplies and we are standing in line with my fistful of coupons behind two women who each have a cart full of 2 liter soda pop. They pull out their SNAP cards to pay for them. All I could think was what a waste of money and nutrition.

Don't get me wrong. I am not totally against drinking soda. My dad worked as a warehouseman for Coca-Cola for 22 years. Of course, when I was growing up, having a bottle of pop was a luxury, not something you did all the time. Back then you had either a 6 ounce real glass bottle or a 6 1/2 ounce bottle and you paid a deposit on the bottle. It was made with real sugar. Granted, it still wasn't the healthiest, but one wasn't slurping down 32 ounces at a sitting. I've noticed in the store that there are small cans coming about and I wonder if it is because people are realizing that huge bottles and glasses aren't the best. At our local gas stations they have something called "Polar Pop" and I asked someone what the draw was and they said it was because it was cheap and you got a lot. I guess it is a huge styrofoam cup with your choice of soft drink. I can admit I've never bought one. I drink mostly three things: coffee, tea, and water.

As for the snob part, there are certain teas I really like. We found a cinnamon tea with citrus added that makes a wonderful iced tea that tastes a bit sweetened without sugar. Yesterday I brewed 5 quarts of it to have in the fridge to enjoy with our lunches.

I also look at what people buy in their carts at the grocery store. One person I know brags about only shopping once a month. I was wondering how that could be until I saw her cart. Cases of beef stew, pork and beans, and bags, and bags of chips and cases of soda pop. Not a canned or frozen or fresh vegetable in the mix. I guess it is more reasonable to buy all this, but I just can't imagine it is very healthy.

I've been reading more and more about eating a mostly vegetable diet and all the benefits it can provide. I'm not sure DH and I are ready to fully embrace that, but we do have a few meals (besides breakfast) that are meat free. Although I cringe when I have to buy fresh produce at the store, but think it is cheaper in the long run if it helps us keep healthy.

So sadly, I have to admit that I do sort of think I'm a snob when I see someone who only has junk in their basket. I'm not talking about the one or two item folks who just run in to get something to fill in. I'm talking about the basket full folks who have all processed foods and very few nutritious choices. I'm not talking the poor who fill up on starches. I get that. I'm seeing people who make a good wage. I just wonder if they are doing the best for themselves when do buy the cheap stuff.

So, I'm a grocery market snob. Hopefully a healthy one!

Posted in Food / Groceries | 5 Comments »

5 Responses to “Grocery Market Snob”

  1. Carol Says:
    August 31st, 2018 at 03:36 pm 1535729800
    1535729800

    I think it's easier to be a food or grocery store snob if you like to cook-- you get used to food having a real taste. It's like your husband's home grown tomatoes-- they've got to be tastier than tomatoes bred to withstand miles of being shipped in a truck. Anyhow, count me in.

  2. Butterscotch Says:
    August 31st, 2018 at 06:31 pm 1535740296
    1535740296

    I have no clue what SNAP cards looks like. I don’t know that I’ve ever noticed someone’s method of payment unless it was a check being written out. Are they glaringly obvious? Like fluorescent colors or with huge SNAP letters on them? I don’t know how close I would have to be standing to notice what kind of cards people ahead of me are using. This makes me wonder if people notice when I am using a debit card or my Chase card. Do they care? Are they watching me enter my pin #? I guess this is something to think about. Perhaps I need to be more aware of people watching me when I’m just minding my business buying what I need. Thanks for the heads up!

  3. Buendia Says:
    August 31st, 2018 at 11:52 pm 1535759525
    1535759525

    I like to look in people's carts, too... I'm just super interested in what other people eat! But I have to admit, I do judge also when I see soda and lots of processed food. I ask F all the time what the other kids bring for lunch, too!

  4. LuckyRobin Says:
    September 1st, 2018 at 06:32 am 1535783550
    1535783550

    I don't generally look in people's carts, but I do look at what is on the conveyor belt and you really notice when it is all boxes, frozen boxes, soda pop, and tin cans. When I see cases or liters of soda, I just think what a waste of money that is. I buy a six pack of root beer once a month or so so we can make floats, but it is rare and if I were on food stamps it would be never. I have had people comment on what I put on the belt as well. Usually along the lines of I must like to cook if all I am buying are ingredients or that my food looks way better than what they are buying. Both of which are often true. Or I get asked what I am making with all of that. There are days when my cart is a little odd, though, like when I stocked up on all the condiments that were on sale and that was it from that store. I do occasionally buy some boxed foods, like granola bars, frozen fruit bars, or once in a while a frozen pizza, but it is pretty rare these days. Convenience costs a lot of money and so does junk food. I can get 5 lbs of organic potatoes or a 5 lb bag of French fires for about the same price as one bag of potato chips, so you can guess what I am getting. I think it is okay to be a food snob in this manner. In fact, I think it is vital when you are keeping to a budget.

  5. Wink Says:
    September 1st, 2018 at 02:20 pm 1535811658
    1535811658

    I sometimes take notice of what people are purchasing, but I don't look to see how they pay. I'm usually so focused on just getting in and out of the store that I don't pay too much attention to other people!

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