My fears have been confirmed . . I am officially a food snob. Recently while grocery shopping, I noticed myself looking at the items in other shoppers’ carts. I found myself feeling sad for those folks whose carts were full of frozen-pop-in-the-microwave foods, cake mixes, sugary cereals, processed meats and the like.
Today I was in the grocery store and I found myself wanting to stop and tell the shoppers .. don’t buy that stuff! But I refrained.
A friend and I were chatting the other day about how we’ve turned into food snobs and she said “People were probably looking at our carts a few months ago and thinking the same thing!” and I know that’s true.
At Kroger, the checkout lady did notice that I only had meat and veggies and she said “Someone’s on a diet!” and I told her that I hope it’s a life change and not just a “diet”.
Kroger Receipt
Then I went to Wal-Mart and that’s where the carts are really full of junk food. Just seeing what some people have in their carts and seeing how badly some people need to lose weight encourages me to work harder to eat more healthy.
Wal-Mart Receipt
What’s funny is that almost all the things I buy now come from the produce or meat aisles and almost everything I buy goes into the fridge. I may not even need a pantry soon.
Fruit
This is the fruit we’ll eat through the weekend. We’re not following the diet exactly because we are eating a lot of fruit but since we’ve cut out flour, potatoes, refined sugar and all soda, we’re doing fine and we’re still losing weight. I eat probably 2 servings of fruit each day and Vince is eating 3 servings but that’s working for us for now.
Fruits & Veggies
Lots of lettuce, snow peas, blackberries, spaghetti squash, one little sweet potato and carrots. It’s so much better than than the things I used to bring in from the grocery store and we didn’t eat really bad stuff before.
Both of us are amazed at how much better we feel and how much more energy we have. That’s what I would like people to understand .. it’s basically true — garbage in/garbage out. I’m spending less time in the kitchen now than I’ve ever spent. Meals are quick and easy. We usually have meat, a veggie and a salad. The veggies are things like zucchini, spaghetti squash, broccoli, any kind of greens, carrots — those kinds of things.
It feels good to be feeling good about what we’re eating!
Julie in WA says
You are an inspiration, Judy! I started my own paleo journey on the 13th, so it has been 10 days. I am still waiting for the ‘feel great/more energy’–mostly I am feeling really tired. Not sure why, but I am encouraged by your posts about your journey. (On the up side, I have lost six pounds!) Thank you.
SarahB says
Julie, I started the Paleo/whole foods change at the beginning of the year and it took a full 2 weeks for the feelings of “chronic fatigue” to go away. I also have always been “sickly” and that didn’t completely go away but I do look and feel much better, according to my husband! Keep going strong and remember a step backwards doesn’t mean an end but it will mean a setback.. Good luck!
Sherrill says
They do say those with lower incomes eat more junk/fast food because it’s more expensive to eat healthy. I found that to be true when I was on WW. Probably those who have to buy with food stamps can probably stretch their $$ much farther with junk food.
JudyL says
I used to think that too but I now believe people just don’t take the time to invest in their own health. Today I bought small oranges and honey satsumas for 48 cents each. You can’t buy a candy bar for that. Now, instead of grilling a chicken breast for each of us, I make a big salad and grill one chicken breast, slice it up on top of the salad and half a chicken breast is plenty for both of us. A bunch of celery is about $1.25 and celery sticks are very nutritious and tasty snacks. One bunch would provide probably 20 or more snacks .. much less than grabbing a bag of chips or a candy bar. Some fruits and veggies are outrageously expensive but many are not. People make the choices for quick and easy .. not healthy. We did the same thing for too many years.
Donna Williams says
I too am a food snob. I really just want to climb on top of the shelves and holler at people. But I don’t. It’s just sad. My friends that eat that stuff say they don’t have time to cook, and I often retort that’s an excuse not a reason and untrue. In the time it takes to microwave a cruddy meal you can have a healthy one. Just a bit of prep and there you go – healthy. Or at least healthier.
Good for you and congratulations on being a food snob! In my opinion you are in good company. 😀
JudyL says
I’m amazed at how little time I spend in the kitchen these days. Making the salads ahead of time helps so much.
Debbie B says
Good for you, Judy, and Vince, too! I’m so glad your are having such success and feeling so well. I need to get back on the wagon soon. I appreciate your input and encouragement.
Vicky says
Well, you busted me. Last night I bought some low calorie microwave meals, a box of cake mix which I rarely buy, and corn flakes. I did buy lettuce. Does that count? LOL.
Karen says
I tell you if I could just get my husband to go along with this – I don’t need to lose more than 5 pounds as I have always been naturally thin but middle age has a few extra pounds creeping in around the waist line – DH on the other hand could loose 100 easily to be in the right category for his height – no matter what I cook or don’t cook if it isn’t enough for him he well look for more and if I don’t have it I can tell by the garbage in the truck that he is stopping at convenience stores to get what he feels he needs.
Linda in NE says
My daughter always says that’s why she makes sure her husband’s life insurance is paid up…..if he won’t take care of himself she & the kids at least won’t be left destitute. I know how hard it is to stay away from the wrong foods and unless someone wants to change you can’t make them. And trust me, it’s even harder when you’re married to someone who eats all the wrong things, and lots of them, and stays so thin people wonder if you ever give him anything to eat.
Sharon in Michigan says
I find myself checking out others carts as well. I see things in their carts that used to be in mine..ho ho, twickies, chips, pop, ice cream.
Ranch Wife says
That makes 2 of us. I spend so much less time in the kitchen that I used to and it seems I skip 90% of the aisles in the grocery store these days. We have a whole freezer filled with meat so when I go to the grocery store, it looks like we’re vegetarians. LOL. I am having a hard time giving up potatoes though. Keep up the good work!
Marie Gilkey says
With health issues, eating fruit is a big problem for me because of all the “natural” sugars in them and the same with salads. Can eat one or two at the most during a week, but more than that and my stomach is in upheaval. Stupid health issues, but I still limit junk food for me. I like to cook from scratch, so making a batch of cookies when company is coming isn’t a problem and I send as much home with them as I can. Sure wish I could eat the things you do. So Lucky!!!
Judy D in WA says
I am proud to finally be a food snob. I still don’t enjoy going grocery shopping but it is sure a lot faster now that I only have to go to the produce section-can’t wait for garden season. Most of our meat is farm/wild slaughter and eggs are fresh from my hens.
Such a huge change for us and it is finally showing. But I still miss cheese and ice cream! I’m so proud of us!
AmyM says
we, too, are eating more healthfully… nothing pre-packaged, trying to get our meats at the farmers market ( pasture raised beef, pork and chicken)… etc. lots of veggies… and also somewhat gluten free.
I look at the supermarket fliers, and the coupons, but other than for paper goods, there is really nothing in there we use any more.
Keep up the good work all of you! You will feel different.
( my daughter started first, and got rid of her daily hives that multiple doctors could not figure out. Told her she was just “one of those people who get hives”
Becky Ball says
The nice part is you just have to shop the outside aisle all the way around the store. Meat, produce and, for us, dairy. The rest are just fillers. We do still have to do the diet soda aisle and the salad dressing one- can’t cut out everything at once.
Linda Smith says
I didn’t see any Kroger brand products on your receipt, but did you know that Kroger has a 10% discount off their name brands for people who are not as young as they used to be? I think it starts at age 55 or so. I’m much older than you, and don’t know how old you are, but you can qualify if you have a person of this age group living in your house even if you are not in the age group.
Donna F says
I am so happy you have found eating healthy enjoyable. My husband and I eat the same way you & Vince do now. Lots of fresh veggies, no bread, etc and we can sure tell when we cheat. He took me to the steakhouse last night and the only thing I ate that I shouldn’t have was breaded & fried zucchini but it was a small portion and I can’t pass it up. Maybe I should start blogging so I don’t cheat as often and have to tell on myself.
Alycia says
You can use your pantry for more fabric/yarn storage !!
CJ says
Ah… I have that problem at the store too. But I have a bad attitude about it! When I see a cart full of processed food, I first think about how they are destroying their health, and that though is immediately followed by how my tax dollars are probably paying for all the health care they will need due to their poor choices. Ahem!
I used to be very poor. We still ate healthy. Rice and beans, soups, veggies from our garden, homemade everything, and yes I was working a full-time job with 2 small boys.
I have a thought for you though. IF…. food became scarce, would you be able to sustain this way of eating? Don’t let go of that pantry!
Dawn in East Texas says
In the last two years I have totally changed my diet, and lost about 55 lbs. It started when my 68 year old mother had a stroke and I started reading everything I could about how our food affects our health. I did not do paleo or anything in particular – just one general rule – my food must have some redeeming quality (vitamins, fiber, protein .. I don’t worry if I am getting enough carbs) That pretty much removes most processed foods. Anyway now I cringe at other peoples diets, because I truly believe it is affecting their health in a negative way. When I look at a cart with chips, candy, ice cream, I see heart attacks, strokes, diabetes…I worry about my friends, and my husband, who doesn’t follow my rules (ha ha) and have to remind myself that each of us is the captain of our own ship, then keep my mouth shut.
Viki says
Meet another food snob. I have always eaten mostly healthy, but since I’ve been having a cholesterol problem, I had to look even harder for better eating habits. First, meat left my table, but since I’ve never really been a fan of meat, that was no buggy. Still too high, I tried giving up cheese, milk and butter. Wow, cholesterol dropped 38 points. I now make creative pizzas and don’t miss the cheese, discovered nutritional yeast as a substitute on spaghetti and salads, though I still miss butter and occasionally indulge. Still, it feels so good to be able to control my health and still enjoy good taste and love what I eat. Buffalo cauliflower is now one of my very favorite foods. I’ll take it over cake or candy any day.
Bon says
I ate Paleo for a year. My weight went down 30 lbs. and my cholesterol went down to a safe range. Then I pretty much went off that way of eating. Yup, the pounds have started coming back on. Yesterday, I decided I was back on it. Last night I found an almost new pair of jeans that I would be able to get into if I shed about 10 pounds. I’m hoping by March 3 I can do fit into them.