Grocery Shopping For Your Life
Stocking your fridge can be a arduous task. When I first started to grocery shop for myself freshman year in college I was totally out of my depth. As a young child shopping with my mother, I can remember all the times I was told to put something back or that the generic brand was just as good. I could not understand why my mom would buy loads of fruits and veggies, but neglected my Fruity Pebbles. I am sure all children wish they could just grab whatever their heart’s desired when traveling down the many aisles of the supermarket. However, it is never too early to learn how to shop for the life you have at the moment. My mom had to feed four hungry kids and a husband, so it made sense to buy items that go a long way and last a long time.
Now career oriented, busy and on the go, my grocery list had to be altered to fit the situation. I actually think that my methods can be applied to any housing situation. Whether you have a big or small family you can use some simple rules when shopping on or off a budget. But shouldn’t we always be shopping on a budget.
Fresh vs. Frozen
I discovered immediately after living alone that buying fresh “anything” depends on your dedication. I would want everything that goes into my body as fresh as possible, but do I have enough time to eat and cook everything straight from the raw. When it comes to fresh produce, I try to rotate out the things I buy to have a well rounded diet. For example, if peaches are in season and on sale, I am more likely to buy them. In the process of buying any fruits or vegetables that week, I would assess what I could make with several of the items for any meal of the day. Once you have two good meals in your head you’re all set! You can also just grab most fresh fruits and vegetables to eat right away, making them high on the grab and go scale. For those who worry about spoiling, don’t buy any fresh items you can’t see yourself eating within a week or two (assuming the item will last that long). This rule works for all produce and meats. Don’t feel uncomfortable about heading over to the frozen food section and getting those fresh frozen items that you like. It helps knowing your strawberries aren’t going bad when you leave for an unexpected trip to Monaco.
Monaco here I come! (in my dreams that is)
Does organic really matter?
After living in Los Angeles for over a year I can honestly say that the organic trend is alive and thriving. However, I am not going to waste my time (typing) trying to sell you on one way or the other. I don’t actually use organic as indicator on “whether not to buy something,” but more as a “can I buy something?” Eating organic has yet to be proven as more beneficial than eating otherwise. I do understand that some products are heavily sprayed with pesticides and may be a leading cause in some common diseases. Anyone with common sense can understand that if it can be grown naturally then why not eat the product of that process. No chemicals, no additives. I doubt the American culture would enjoy their supermarket experience if they had to abide by nature’s guidelines for obtaining a particular food item. Some people are surprised to learn certain fruits and veggies don’t grow year round. Most of the agricultural techniques used today help yield a high volume of growth, so that we can feed the masses. Those methods sometimes include pesticides so that your apples make it to your apple pie. The real question is whether you should or shouldn’t buy organic foods based on your lifestyle? The answer is “Why not if it is the same price as the non-organic item.” I couldn’t understand on a recent trip to the grocery store why people were reaching for the regular eggs when this week all organic free range, cage free, antibiotics free and no hormones added eggs were the exact same price! If you have a choice of getting the exact same product for the same price or cheaper then I recommend you go with the organic choice. A good place to start is to visit your local farmer’s market. Usually prices are cheaper and it helps keep our local farmers in business. Yes, that last bit was my selfless tip of the post. You are welcomed.
Be Aware of Trends and Changes
I think one of the most important things to remember while shopping for food is to keep track of trends and changes in the food landscape. Most of the foods in the grocery store are sourced using a variety of different producers meaning your cucumber on Monday may not have been grown at the same farm of the one you decide to buy and eat on Wednesday. I know this seems like common knowledge, but there are people who generally think there food is coming from the same place every time. And that answer is False! With so many people providing the world with so many options there are bound to be individuals who take short cuts on the quality of the product. I try to keep an eye on what is happening in the news like changes in regulations and items that may have high contamination risks. I am not saying take it as far as the Portlandia sketch where they go to the actual farm, where their chicken was raised and killed to verify the authenticity, but you should know something about the products you often buy. I stopped eating foods that contain a lot of ingredients that don’t occur in nature.
No to your Poli-soy-mono-sodium-fructose corn syrup big business!
Treat your shopping experience as way to learn more about yourself. You can assess your diet (and I do hate the word diet) to see how your shopping habits can improve it. I once thought of a trip to the grocer as a chore, now I see it as an opportunity to learn something new and to pass it on to others. Before you walk out the door heading to the store make a list of what you want to accomplish. Do you want to get foods to prep meals for the week? Do you want to make a fancy dinner for your lover? Hey, maybe you want to cook a grand feast for the family. All you need to know is your budget, the time you have, the items you want to get and the impact you want to make. Whatever the occasion just follow these simple rules to shop for your life.
For more tips, tricks, recipes, and tutorials come back to the site every Wednesday under the Foodie Stuff section. If you have an amazing recipe or tip that you want to share send it to verbaldangerofficial@gmail.com and it may be featured in a future post.
