How To Survive Grocery Shopping In The Suburbs

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom ambassador. As part of my affiliation with this group I have been compensated to test the Loblaws Click & Collect service. The opinions on this blog are my own.

I’m 44…cough…okay, almost 45.  I’ve been married for close to 20 years, and I’m living it up in the suburbs with a diva kitty, a 170 pound great dane pup and two teenage girls.  Life is constantly changing, always interesting and keeps me on my toes.  One thing that doesn’t change?  The need to go grocery shopping.  Blerg.  Routine.  And full confession?  It’s not my favourite thing to do.

One word that would most closely describe my usual grocery shopping routine? Chaos?  For me, grocery shopping is a time consuming, scattered, disorganized, fly by the seat of my pants affair.  My routine?  Sunday night I realize we are OUT OF FOOD.  I dig into the bottom of the freezer and praise the freezer gods for the gift of the last  four chicken breasts in the house.  I scrounge around for the last box of stuffing, throw some cream of chicken something on top, and hope against hope there is a canned veggie of corn that will elevate Sunday nights dinner to semi-nutrious status.  Once dinner’s over, I can breathe.  We can all survive until Monday.

Monday is when the dreaded grocery shopping can begin.  I load the car up with my big old green bins, head into the beautiful store and simply go for it!  I wander through the grocery store, meander up the aisles and begin to fill my cart.  I’m sure to load up on lunchtime essentials for the school week.  Well fed kids, are happy kids.  I throw in extra fruits and veggies.  Can’t pass by the cheeses without trying something new.  Then we must add crackers to go with the cheese.  Cheese makes me think of pasta.  Pasta needs sauce.  Sauce equals spagahetti.  Did I get all the veggies I need to make a ceasear salad?  Eventually I make it though the dairy aisle where my helter skelter style of shopping continues.  By the time I reach the coffee, jam, and frozen desserts I know I’ve wasted too much time in the store.  It’s time to get back to the outside world.  At this point a quick perrusal of my cart reminds me I need at least one more protein to call this grocery shop a success, so head back to the meat department.  I then make a dash for the cashier and pick the shortest line I can find.  I’m a Mama on the move, I’ve lost almost an hour in the store? Gah.  As I check out I already know I will be back shopping again on Thursday.  No way is this enough food to last the entire week.

The sad part?  This little shopping “routine” of mine?  It’s the same every single time.  For a women who prides herself on her shopping skills, my grocery shopping skills need some polishing.  For 20 plus years my mantra has been, get in, get out, then have to do it again?  I think it’s time to change up this grocery routine!  Suggestions welcome!