Grocery Shopping Habits - Does this make me weird?

[LightscapeMedia]

I shop for the week every Sunday.. Here's my itinerary:

I go to Wal Mart for non-perishables like canned goods, crackers, chips, soda.. Basically anything a $7/hr employee doesn't need to know anything about in order to keep it safe to eat.. Read below to see what I'm talking about.

I go to the regular grocery store if they are having a sale on something non-perishable such as the same as above, but not for the same reasons.

Then I hit Costco for bulk things.. I must be one of the only people in the world who goes into Cosco for one or two items. Love the huge jar of marinated artichoke hearts for the same price as the tiny ones at the store.

I go to Sprouts for produce, then an actual butcher for meat, and a real bakery for bread.

About the only thing I can't find nearby is a dairy.. So for that sort of stuff it's either the grocery store or Sprouts.

I gotta tell you.. since I started going to specialty shops for things like bread and meat, food just tastes better..

* Wal Mart... I decided to stop buying perishables when I witnessed an employee take meat that was behind a checkout magazine rack for who knows how long and put it back in the case.

Why did I just tell you all this? I don't know.. I just felt like typing something.

[Phoenix]

we do the same..although i have banned my wife from buying any food items from a walmart.
Specialty grocery stores have better quality produce, and usually its for a better price.

[L-Pink]

I go to "Fresh Market" 2-3 times a week for almost everything but liquor. Liquor I buy from a small store owned by a crazy Lebanese guy that also has great cigars.

.

[papill0n]

always the smaller local stores for me

[EddyTheDog]

I keep promising to go to the farmers markets more often but its so easy to go to the supermarket.

Its bloody expensive to eat fresh and healthy here as well.

I get a box of organic fruit and veg delivered every week - Thats good as it changes every week.....

[BIGTYMER]

As long as my cherry poptarts are fresh I'm happy.

[The_Photographer]

You do realize that a lot of specialty stores like Trader Joes are just rebranding the exact same stuff that Walmart sells? The same factory just puts it in a different bottle, different label, and charges different price.

As far as food safety, you are most definitely paranoid. Try selling any sort of food and you will be shocked at the regulations and inspections. Plus, it's a PR disaster if anyone gets sick at your place.

Also, I've traveled around quite a bit around Africa and Asia and in most of those places meat lingers around all day in 100 degree heat in open air markets. I'm sure that has at least a small hit on those people's well being, but it's amazing what our stomachs can deal with. That meat that has been out of the fridge for 15 minutes - especially since it's still in airconditioned store - ain't gonna hurt you unless you win the bad luck lottery.

[Abbie]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

we do the same..although i have banned my wife from buying any food items from a walmart.
Specialty grocery stores have better quality produce, and usually its for a better price.

Same, never ever buy food products at Walmart. I prefer the local farmer's markets for produce, however, they aren't open year round here

[v4 media]

For veggies and fruit I eat my own or get it from neigbours.
Eggs and chickens are mine, beef/lamb comes from the farm nextdoor.
Cider I get for free from the village stash, same as orujo (like grapa)

Dairy and pork is all local from the shop in the village.
Boar and venison come out of the local forest.

I only hit the big supermaket once a month for pasta/rice, dogfood, bogroll.
stuff like that.

[DamianJ]

Originally Posted by The_Photographer

You do realize that a lot of specialty stores like Trader Joes

When did trader joes become a speciality store? It's just a supermarket with cheap shit isn't it?

[seeme]

I don't have time to be so fussy with my food, my routine is to run into the supermarket on the way home from work and grab a bag of fries and something to go with it

[~Ray]

what is "bogroll"?

[EddyTheDog]

Originally Posted by ~Ray

what is "bogroll"?

Toilet Paper...

'papel higiénico'

[CurrentlySober]

Originally Posted by ~Ray

what is "bogroll"?

A waste of money...
I refuse to use it!!!

[Jman]

I live right in front of Jean-Talon Market (farmers market) in Montréal... I get everything Fresh daily. From speciality meats like bison to exotic fruits. They have a dairy section, bakery, natural heatlh food store. Since I moved here I am eating way more healthy and for much cheaper as well.

[PR_Glen]

can't be any weirder than what i do.. there is a small handful of grocery stores in my area of town so i normally hit 4 or 5 of them to pick out deals, some have better seafood selection, some have fresher produce, others have better meats. I love cooking so whatever is on sale i'll make a feast of it.

safe to say i don't believe in the whole organic thing, but avoiding processed foods as much as you can is probably something we can all agree on being a healthy, not to mention flavourful choice. ;)

[alextokyo]

Originally Posted by The_Photographer

You do realize that a lot of specialty stores like Trader Joes are just rebranding the exact same stuff that Walmart sells? The same factory just puts it in a different bottle, different label, and charges different price.

I will NEVER buy anything at Wal-Mart, I absolutely refuse. Big companies are evil.



(posted from Starbucks on my Apple laptop)

[Elli]

That sounds pretty similar to what I do, except thank GOD there is no Walmart nearby.

Couple times a week: Safeway on the corner for canned goods, eggs, milk, chicken, pork.
Once a week: go to the States for cheese! So good and so cheap! Go to the farmer's market for fruit and veg.
Once every other month: go to Costco for staples (rice, flour, canned goods, cereal, toilet paper and paper towel, dish soap, vitamins). Go to Surrey Meat Packers for dog food.
Twice a year: get a freezer pack from a local beef farmer (http://www.stevesfarm.com/back-valley/)

[k0nr4d]

I go shopping every day or two to this gourmet market near my house and pick up eveyrthing there...they have alot of fancy imported food and drink, and alot of organic stuff. For sandwich type meats i go to this store in my village which has better quality meat

[EddyTheDog]

Originally Posted by CurrentlySober

A waste of money...
I refuse to use it!!!

God would not have given your partner a tongue if he wanted you to use paper....










Fuck - I just grossed myself out

[shimmy2]

i have a fishing net and some cooking oil and theres free bananas everywhere

[Rochard]

My wife shops at a store called Big Lots. She finds some great stuff there dirt cheap - like these huge cans of Progresso soup, four for a dollar. Then she shops at Wal Mart.

[Antonio]

I shop everyday, sometimes I would go to the stores 2-3 times in a single day; walking = good for you and pretty much everything I need is within 5 minutes walking distance from my place.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Rochard

My wife shops at a store called Big Lots. She finds some great stuff there dirt cheap - like these huge cans of Progresso soup, four for a dollar. Then she shops at Wal Mart.

yo dude...have you checked how much sodium is in processed soup?

[Tom_PM]

Sounds like you've done a good job finding the right places for the right items to me. Niche marketing.

[arock10]

Originally Posted by Crak_JMan

I live right in front of Jean-Talon Market (farmers market) in Montréal... I get everything Fresh daily. From speciality meats like bison to exotic fruits. They have a dairy section, bakery, natural heatlh food store. Since I moved here I am eating way more healthy and for much cheaper as well.

think I just saw this on anthony bordain's new show. looked pretty cool

I just go to the grocery store periodically for $200-300 worth in food and then do smaller runs for fresh stuff as needed. Go to costco once every few months for bulk items like TP and dog food