Come shop with me

I am used to people asking questions about what I eat.

I don’t mind answering because like everyone else – I can be obsessed with food.

Yes it’s 2015 but there are well-meaning folks out there that are either confused or unsure/suspicious of those who do not fill their plates with meat. As a recreational athlete, I field even more questions about my training and how I meet my nutritional needs. Plus I am exploring raw foodism which opens a whole other can of beans.

So what the hell do I shove into my body? Since my fridge is nearly empty, I thought I would take you along on my today’s trip to the grocery stores.

First things first … I go to the supermarket at least once a week for small items. I try (unsuccessfully) to write a list so I am prepared and I don’t forget anything. This week I am out of everything so no list was required. No doubt I will be back milling the grocery aisles at some point in the next week or two.

I have about 20 cloth bags in the trunk of my car. I refuse to use plastic bags even if it means, I have to buy more cloth bags after forgetting my bags in the truck. This works out because I forget to wash my bags. Did you know you could wash them? Do it.

Grocery shopping can take up to two hours. I have to go to a regular grocery store, Bulk Barn and Nutters in order to fulfil all my shopping needs. Thankfully the two speciality stores are within a 50 metre walking distance. Nuts and seeds are a big part of my diet so I buy in bulk. I would love to buy 100 per cent organic but my meagre reporter’s salary simply won’t allow it.

Dry Staples:
Flaxseeds
Sesame seeds
Peanuts 
Raisins
Sunflower seeds
Cashews
Chia
Pumpkin Seeds
Almonds
Hemp seed
Lentils
I usually buy enough for about two to three weeks. When available I buy unsalted and raw seeds and nuts. Buying in bulk can add up in cost if you don’t pay attention. Pine nuts are crazy expensive so I like to buy when they are on sale. 
I would love to grow my own food and shop only at Farmers’ Markets. But the reality is I live in Alberta and there is only so much I can control. I try to buy local (which I define as grown in Canada). I love fruits and vegetables so much that I will buy those avocados from Mexico and those grapes from Florida. Go ahead judge me. We all can’t be perfect. 
I judge supermarkets on their produce displays. Who wants to buy from a place that displays wilted lettuce or rotten tomatoes? I have one favourite place in my city but I often dip into another one to price check. 
Produce Staples:
Greens (Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard etc)
Apples (Favourites are Macintosh and Spartan)
Bananas
Celery
Tomatoes
Potatoes (Usually baby or yams)
Citrus fruit (oranges or grapefruit)
Tomatoes 
Green Peppers
Carrots
Almond Milk (Too messy & $$ to make my own)
Plain Greek Yogurt
Tofu

Canned food like chickpeas, lentils, tomatoes and blackbeans definitely has space in my pantry. Back in my Ottawa days, I only cooked with beans that I soaked. I really need to get back into buying dried beans so I can save money and reduce my waste. My freezer is filled with carrots from last summer’s garden, coffee and some frozen veggies and fruit.

Today I spent $80. I usually try to keep my spending below $50 on each trip. Because I was out of a lot of nuts and seeds, the tally was a little higher than usual.

Right so that’s a glimpse into my shopping cart. In another post, I will tell you what I actually do with all this food. For example, I make my own peanut/nut butter and grow my own sprouts. 
What are the must haves in your pantry? Do you love grocery shopping, like me? How much do you spend on groceries? 

4 Comments

    1. Love it! If you ever come to Red Deer, I will have some homemade peanut butter waiting for you!

  1. Okay, I need to show you a picture of my car trunk for the mere reason that I also have about 20 cloth bags in there…lol. Your list looks very similar to mine except that I have chicken breasts and salmon. What's in the tiny little brown bottle?

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