(Hate the word gripe but love alliteration…)
One of my most dreaded tasks is going to the grocery store to procure nourishment for the family. (See me a-gathering.) It costs too much, it’s bad for my diet, it makes me hungry…the list goes on but I know a lot of women feel the same way about grocery shopping.
But to add to the pain…WHY is there never ONE STORE that has everything I need?
It’s taken me a few months to explore the grocery stores in my new city (and I still haven’t made it to all of them but I’m okay with that. There’s such thing as grocery store overload.) I’ve narrowed it down to three stores, and of course, not a single one of them has all the different types of food my family needs.
Granted, we are difficult. We don’t eat gluten or dairy so we need special (ie overpriced…why is it that foods that lack certain ingredients cost MORE?) products. And yet, I have children who take their lunch to school everyday so we still need convenience foods.
Store A is the healthy store. They have all the specialty foods we need and excellent produce. But they are overpriced, so I try to only buy the things we can’t get other places at Store A.
Store B is the huge we-have-everything store. And they do have a ton, but no soy cheese (not that we eat a lot of this nasty stuff, but sometimes, there is a need for it), none of the good brand of nuts, and a few other items. I do most of my shopping at Store B because it’s CHEAP.
Store C is from the devil but of course is closest. They have some of the things we need some of the time and their prices are between A and B. But of course since it’s about 5 miles closer to home, we hop over there for quick trips.
I’ve been tempted to try grocery shopping online at Peapod but don’t know anyone who’s tried it. I suspect they have high prices too. (I have bought groceries from Amazon many times…their gluten-free products are actually lower than the local store…but you have to buy in bulk.)
So…am I alone or does anyone else make a ridiculous Tour De Grocery Stores? Anyone have Peapod experience to share, good or bad? I’m on a quest to decrease my grocery pain…
I hate grocery shopping too. I also find myself going between 2-4 stores every week just like what you stated you are doing. I wish that there was a solution but so far I haven’t discovered one.
umm….don’t kill me but no. I hit whereever. My family eats what I buy or they don’t eat. Thankfully we don’t have anyone who has to eat anything special or can’t eat anything.
I’m sorry you have to do all that. Did you know there are aps for smart phones where you can comparison shop from your phone just by scanning the barcode or typing in an item?
And there are stores where you can actually go online shop and just drive up to pick up your stuff?
I’m too picky though so I’ve never used those, I have to see where an item is located and how it looks before I buy it.ROFL.
sigh, I tend to do most of my grocery shopping lately at a small grocery store in a little town, they’ll order things and carry things most other stores don’t carry. Heck they carry Brains!
hugs,
WendyK
I can understand, everytime we PCS(we’re military) I go through the same issues. Our oldest twin daughter is allergic to soy, garlic and tomatoes..
I got tired of looking from store to store for things with out soy. I hit the health food store for some things but I now make our bread and have even created salad dressings for her using canola and olive oil mayo’s.
Sometimes you got to work hard to feed them. I haven’t got it down to a science yet but lists and planning is my best friend..lol. I went grocery shopping yesterday and I hit 5 different stores before my shopping for the week was done. Like I said lists and menu planning is my very best friend. I keep a tiny notebook for ideas (you’re a writer you know what I mean) don’t forget stuff..lol Good luck sweetheart and keep your chin up you’ll figure out a system that works for you before you know it.