CONFESSION: I hate grocery shopping with a passion. And if I do have to grocery shop, I am a grocery shopping snob. We used to be Whole Foods peeps, because even with my grocery shopping hate, who doesn't love a place that's workers treat you like a pampered queen. Taking you to every aisle, answering your ever question, and even opening a box of new flaxseed pumpkin granola just so you can taste it and "make" sure it's good enough to buy...totally suckered them on that one. And then there is the FLOWER department, I get enticed there for many, many minutes, (cough) ok, hours. Literally I could spend HOURS there; picking out flowers, putting them back, grabbing different types of wild flowers from the local farm down the road, where I feel like I am truly supporting Farmer John and his 8 kids by buying his overpriced sunflowers and cutely arranged weeds. And who doesn't love getting a cup of organic, Ethiopian coffee while you shop? I gladly reminisce about these days, because this AIN'T happening anymore. I would gladly pay an extra $100 for the experience and it might be more than that. I would buy 3 things and would end up spending all my budge for the week on Farmer John's weeds, fresh fish, and my cup of organic coffee. But to me it was worth it, for my sanity, for Farmer John.
These days life is a bit different. We have started our own companies, we are busting our hump and the days of cushy shopping at Whole Foods is no longer. When people ask me, "how can you shop healthy on the cheap?" instead of saying, "oh, it can be done," with a tinge of (so sad for them in my heart, knowing I have never done it), now I am the one saying, "HOW CAN YOU SHOP HEALTHY ON THE CHEAP?" I am sure coupons are great. But I just can't seem to get myself to stop throwing away the excessive coupons that come to my door. One day I may go HGTV coupon hoarder, but thinking that day may never come.
So what we have done is found Aldi's.
- Is it the most organic place in the world? NOPE.
- Do I have the money to do all organic, NOPE. (There are a million youtube videos of how you can wash your produce to make sure the harsh chemicals are off...Do I do this, nope...I have a friend who just puts her produce in her sink with warm water and essential oil lemon and rinses her veggies there.)
- Does Aldi's have great customer service? Not so much. I mean they are nice, but there might only be two employees working at one time. Pretty sure that's how they keep things on the cheap. Only hire one cashier at a time.
- Do you have to bring your own bags because they just load your stuff in your cart? Yep...do I forget to bring my bags each time? Yup. Do sissy and I have to steal boxes from the banana aisle and run them up to the front? Yup.
- Are the flowers as pretty as whole foods? Nope...there are none or they are dead carnations. Makes me tear up a bit to write that. Sacrifices people.
- DID I SPEND $200 LESS THAN A HIGH PRICE GROCERY? YUP...and right now that is what is keeping us eating the way we do.
- If you look at the picture above that is $110 worth of food. Complete with detergent, toilet paper, and downy softener. I got blueberries for $1.29. I got my cute little bell peppers for less than $2. And they even have a decent variety of gluten free section. So eating healthy and on the cheap is doable. You just have to be ok with renting your grocery cart for $.25 each time. (I know... what in the world, you'll get used to it.)