Today I went to Bi-Lo with my three boys. This was the first time I have stepped foot in a chain grocery store since the beginning of August. I have been putting off going, but there are a few things that I am unable to purchase at the IGA, produce stand, or discount foods, so I finally bit the bullet. I quickly remembered why I don't go to big grocery stores anymore. It was kind of comical though. It was like country mouse visiting the city. We were all wide-eyed. I felt like such a dork...I was simply in awe of all the choices!! How did I forget about that in the last four months? I steered clear of the produce completely. I am committed to shopping seasonally (we are eating lots of apples, potatoes, butternut squash, and greens right now, as well as items I have canned, and beans) and locally, so I get all of my fruit and veggies at the produce stand.
I was only there for five things but I kid you not, I was there for the same length of time that it takes me to get a week's worth of groceries at all three places I shop COMBINED. My children were throwing cookies and chips and candy bars into the cart like little mad men. They were insane!! But I couldn't really blame them, I was fighting the same feelings. I felt totally out of my element and a little panicked. It was very strange. The sheer magnitude of products was overwhelming. Over and over again, I would find myself getting sidetracked by all the items I suddenly "needed". Numerous times, I would pull myself away from a display, chiding myself to stay on task.
I escaped an hour later, with eggs, diapers for Landing, whipping cream, block parmesan, yogurt, butter, and sugar...and $40 poorer. While I would love to come back without children, when I have time to peruse and enjoy all the choices, for my regular shopping, I am definitely sticking with the mom and pop places!
*image from ineedahermida on flickr.com
Hey Laurel! [...]http://christyhulsey.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/chicken-dinner-fundraiser/#comments [...] Krisha sent it to me as Craig Hunter (with the Hunter Group - Century 21) had sent out a mass mailing. He has tickets at his office. I think you can also call the Brooklet Police Department or just stop by the event on Friday. If I find out any thing tomorrow I will let you know. Do you know Clay? He is one of the nicest people that I know. And, I am not just saying that. He truely is genuinely a good person. He's Brian and I's age, which is scary. Anyway, thanks for having the heart to help out.
ReplyDeleteright?! I try to eat seasonal/sustainable/local/etc. too and going to the big chain stores is always bizarre. I live near a lot of big crowded stores with seasonal/organic/good things, so for me the culture shock tends to come from seeing the sheer number of things that I will never ever buy and am not really sure count as food. And how much more expensive a lot of things are there compared to the more "natural" stores, in direct contradiction to my assumptions.
ReplyDeleteOh and this is pretty much the opposite of a 100 mile diet for you, but you might be interested in the business I'm starting; I send people weekly boxes with all the groceries, recipes, and meal planning information they need, and I focus on organic, sustainable, and independently produced ingredients. I'm still struggling with the local aspect of it; it's mostly local buying and eating for me, but not so much for customers farther away! Still, I don't have any customers farther away yet so I guess it's academic. I can at least look into carbon offsets for starters.... I would love to hear what you think about it!
ReplyDeleteYour description is priceless and probably what I have in store for me when we return to the US in 2 weeks after having been gone nearly a year and a half. Wide-eyed and overwhelmed are what come to mind.
ReplyDeleteBecky
I'm not in the same league with you on this, but I was DISGUSTED when I walked down the cleaning aisle at Walmart yesterday! There were about 5 min flat screen TVs playing commercials about their products and why I should choose them. Not only did I feel like I was in a shopping nightmare from the future, I was just appalled by the whole consumerism aspect. We have commercials in our stores! Agh! I didn't stop, I didn't listen, I just pushed my buggy (mostly loaded with boys) onward.
ReplyDeleteI wish our farmer's market was open, but it is closed from Nov through March. And now with all the dairy free stuff I have to look for I'm finding myself more at a larger grocery store than at Walmart (which is good, because I hate walmart, too). I'm in unchartered territory with the whole dairy free thing and just looking for the easiest way to make a straight line.
I love that you can walk to all your destinations. What great memories you and the boys will have. I'm a bit jealous, I must say! :)
I hope this comment makes sense, I don't have time to reread... baby's ready for a nap. :)