My fear with this post is that I may come across as a food snob. Please note: that is not my intention. But maybe I just am one.
This past Sunday after church, we made the grueling trudge to the grocery store. Not the local butcher, not the local market, but the full-fledged, gigantic grocery store. I don't think I've been to one since the growing season began and as I walked in, I felt a blanket of dread come over me. As thankful as I am to have access to such large amounts of food, it comes at a price. But because I needed Thanksgiving ingredients, castile soap, razor heads, and wood stain, to the enormous grocery store we went.
Allow me to take you on my grocery store journey.
First, I landed in the produce section. Holy cow. I couldn't believe how many choices there were! Cucumbers? Blueberries? Raspberries? Where did this food come from this time of year! It's been months since I've seen their beautiful faces. Although, I must say, their faces weren't all that beautiful, having been packaged and processed. And though I didn't taste them, I can imagine they don't taste nearly as sweet as they had picked straight from the vine.
After picking up from celery, carrots (ours home-grown stored supply are dwindling quickly!), pomegranates (guilty pleasure), garlic, salad greens, lemons, and sweet potatoes, I got lost in about seventeen aisles before I found my other needed items. In the meantime, I was run over by approximately four carts, driven by crazed women who were sour-faced and rushed. Why so glum, chum? Having grown accustomed to walking into our teeny local food market and hearing a friendly hello from Mike the butcher and Scott the baker as we talk about the produce they have for the week, it was quit lonely to be lost amoungst the giant crowd of pushy shoppers.
Talk about over stimulation.
By the time I got into line, my eyes were burning from the flouresent lighting. I was ready to be done after approximately 16 minutes of shopping. I waited patiently as my checker slowly checked out the lady in front of me. Now, I'm one of those people that likes to stand back a few feet from the customer ahead of me. I don't push my cart into their back. I don't breath down their necks. I don't reach for the divider and push their stuff forward so I can get my goods loaded. I simply stand back, allow them their breathing room, and load up my items when they have finished. After all, I surely don't want to make someone feel rushed or that they are annoying.
The lady behind me, however, did not agree with my tactic. Before the woman in front of me had finished, this pushy lady behind me began moving my items around, pushing my cart into my back, and huffed and puffed when she ran out of space to put her items. At which point I turned around to her and yelled “BACK OFF! CAN'T YOU SEE I'M TRYING TO BE PATIENT AND CONSIDERATE TO THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME!”
I didn't really say that.
But dear reader, I beg of you, please don't be that person. Don't shove peoples carts out of the way and act all annoyed when you have to wait. It just ain't nice.
Now, back to this pushy lady.
Because I had ample access to view her items (as mine were shoved into a pile), I began judging her selections. It's true, I admit it. Total food snob. She had 9 cartons of Cool-Whip, some prepackaged graham cracker crusts, Chicken-N-Biscuit crackers, white bread, sugary cereal….you get the idea: processed, nutrient-absent calories. Not a fruit or vegetable to be found.
But what caught my eye was her last item: a giant bottle of Prilosec OTC heartburn medicine. Oh, the sweet, sweet irony.
It seems, at times, we fail to connect our health and our food.
Now, please note, I realize that some people suffer from health issues that are inevitable. However, there just seems to be this giant void in our minds about how what we eat affects our bodies.
Maybe it's because we don't see our food grow. We don't see it harvested. We don't understand the natural changing of the seasons in the food world. We don't see our food processed & preserved. It's almost as if food is seen as simple a means to satisfy hunger, rather than seen as nourishment and a way to fuel and heal our bodies.
I've said it once and I'll preach it again – what you eat matters. What you put into your body affects it.
I didn't say this to the pushy lady though. Social boundaries can sometimes be a good thing.
Which is why I recommend not pushing your cart into the back of the person standing in front of you.
And that's all.
Jaclyn Hicks
Oh how I can’t agree with you more….I still wince when I see people buy eggs at the market….I want to ask them, “Did you know that those eggs have been bleached white, and came from chickens in hatcheries who don’t see the light of day? And also, they are probably about six weeks old.” Instead, I make that horrid trip to the market once a month, dreading it the entire time. Happy Thanksgiving…I wish there were more of you at the check out counter!
Kendra at New Life On A Homestead
Oh. My. GOODNESS!!! What a pushy lady! I can’t believe… well, I can, but, dang! The nerve of some people.
I’m so grateful to have come to learn the pleasures of the slow life. No wonder she has heartburn, lol.
Oh, and I find myself judging what others are buying too, lol. So don’t feel too snobby ๐
Anonymous
Sometimes I go to the super-store around 10 or 11PM when the crowds have died down. Though, you might have to navigate around some stockers. It’s worth it going late.
And what’s with those lights? I want out of that place so bad, have been known to skip items on my list.
brenda from arkansas
Anonymous
I love your blog and have read it often. However, I was disappointed when I read this post as it was based more in frustration and pride and less about educating people. I understand there are a lot of evil people who shop at grocery stores (me, but not all the time) who read your blog. It just seems your blog is becoming more and more about grudging pride and less about gracious education and fun. It just doesn’t seem like your earlier posts, but I could be wrong. I any case, I feel less inclined in reading your blog, not because of what you said (cuz your right) but because you do it with such pride and judging mentality. Sorry to be a downer! God Bless!
Jenny from Wisconsin
Kendra at New Life On A Homestead
Wow, Jenny from Wisconsin. I totally didn’t get that from Shaye’s post. Guess you have to know how to read her lighthearted sarcasm, and appreciate her humor ๐ She wasn’t judging people for shopping at the grocery store, she was just saying how much *she* hates to do so.
Shaye, girl, you totally didn’t come across as prideful or judgmental to me. FYI. I thought this was quite humorous, actually ๐
Shaye @ The Elliott Homestead
Jenny,
First off, I’m sorry if this post upset you. Making my readers uncomfortable is never my intention. I also certainly never meant for it to come across prideful. I never said that people who shop in grocery stores are “evil” – obviously, I myself shop at grocery stores…all through the winter, in fact! So does my Mom. My sisters. My friends. I don’t think less of anyone for shopping there, and as I noted, I’m thankful we have the option and availability. That being said, just because we have 4 million badjillion products to choose from doesn’t mean they’re all good. As Americans, we spend less of our income on food and more on medication than any other nation in the world and the fact that we fail to see the connection between the two astonishes me. If you want to buy 50 containers of Cool Whip, by all means you have that freedom and right. And I am not judging you for that choice. But I, too, have the liberty of choice. Of which I have written.
And four people did run into me with their carts. So that was pure fact.
Cheers,
Shaye
Anonymous
Jenny,
before you publicly slander someone and accuse them of being prideful and judgmental you should go to them in private and address the issue (I know this easily gets lost in the blogging world but it is still the Christian and Biblical way to handle disagreement). Also, if you are going to make these very serious allegations about someones character include something more than “it just seems to me that…”. Such accusations are completely subjective and should not be the basis for a public rebuke.
– Overprotective husband
Anonymous
Shaye,
I am very sorry if I upset you! I guess I just took offense, like I was being judged. I’m so sorry for accusing you of anything. Please forgive me! You are right, it was neither biblical or gracious. I need to watch what I say on the internet! I did not mean to make serious allegations to your character, it has always been impeccable. I hope I haven’t caused your family any pain or ill-will! Have a happy holiday, and I hope you can forgive me!
Apologetic Jenny from Wisconsin
PaulaB52
Ever notice that people who accuse others of judging are actually judging? Huge pet peeve of mine.
Shae, I totally agree w/you about the grocery store. I avoid Walmart as much as possible and have found joy shopping at a locally owned grocery store that goes out of it’s way to pay their employees a living wage, buy produce from local farms as well as their amusing displays in the fresh seafood counter.
happy thanksgiving!
Megan
Hi Shaye,
Though I am new to your site, I love, love, love your blog and posts on Facebook. Your homestead looks to be pretty darn organic and natural. As a marketing person for an organic and natural food co-op I have to caution you (and you can caution your readers) about the Horizon organic butter I see in your picture. I don’t know if it is a stock photo so this all may be moot.
Because I am involved with the co-op, I have to do a lot of research and unfortunately many organics are not really all that great, while there are some non-organic organizations that are wonderful (small, local farmers that follow organic practices that can’t afford the USDA label) . It’s such a travesty that we have to research the source of everything we put in our mouths because of corrupt corporations and government.
About Horizon, they are owned by Dean Foods. Horizon, when inspected by the USDA (which is amazing because the USDA usually looks away), were found to be in violation of many organic practices. The cows were not being pastured. Horizon had stated that they had access to pasture land, however, until cows learn to unlock and open doors, they would never really see the light of day. Also, the acreage was inadequate for the number of cows on the dairy, even if they had actually let them go out and eat grass. Horizon and all organic milk from the grocery is expensive dead water due the “ultra” pasteurization. Heated at high temps for a short time. That is why it lasts so long in the store.
Until your cow (Kula or her replacement) starts producing milk and you can make your own butter, I would suggest Organic Valley butter if you can find it. So far, they seem to be okay.
I too am a food snob…mostly. By the way, I eat mostly organically and still have to take acid pills. I tried everything from ACV to food elimination to get rid of it. I do have some known and unknown intolerances to even healthy foods (apples, pears, onions, tomatoes) but couldn’t pinpoint the source of the heartburn. An endoscopy showed that if I didn’t start controlling it and fast, that I was headed toward esophageal cancer. So I bit the bullet and started taking OTC acid pills. It has been helpful but I have this voice in the back of my head berating me at the same time.
Have an awesome day lady and keep the great posts coming.
Shaye Elliott
Thanks for the info! We gave up on Horizon a long time ago and have been using Organic Valley Pasture Butter until last week when we were FINALLY able to start making our own cultured butter form our sweet ‘ol Sally Bells milk! ๐