Grocery Store Snob??

I do look at what is in other peoples carts, I don't think bad thoughts, I do wonder what people think about my cart when half the stuff I buy isn't healthy....I don't want to starve my kids they are already skin and bones and I have to get things they will eat, chicken nuggets, fries, chips, so its really hard for me to eat healthy in a house full of un-healthy food But I manage!

This makes no sense. What makes you think your children will starve if you feed them healthy food?

agreed, buy healthy food, and they'll eventually eat it. even if it is chicken nuggets have then eat veggies/fruit with it. i don't know why people think that kids can pick what crap they want to eat and make their own decisions. if they're hungry enough, they'll eat it

When I see a cart full of junk food, I am reminded how closely poor nutrition is linked with poverty. Picture a single-mom struggling to make ends meet- she doesn't have a lot of time to cook, and doesn't have a lot of knowledge about nutrition. Heck yeah she's going to buy that box of frosted puffs for $0.99 because it's quick and easy and cheap, as opposed to turkey sausage links and scrambled eggs, or Greek yogurt and fresh berries.

A study done by Adam Drenowski and SE Specter, titled Povery and Obesity: The Role of Energy Density and Energy Costs, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, ( http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/1/6.full ) found four things: "First, the highest rates of obesity occur among population groups with the highest poverty rates and the least education. Second, there is an inverse relation between energy density (MJ/kg) and energy cost ($/MJ), such that energy-dense foods composed of refined grains, added sugars, or fats may represent the lowest-cost option to the consumer. Third, the high energy density and palatability of sweets and fats are associated with higher energy intakes, at least in clinical and laboratory studies. Fourth, poverty and food insecurity are associated with lower food expenditures, low fruit and vegetable consumption, and lower-quality diets."

Thank you. People don’t understand……and I LOVE the fact people are so quick to judge.

Take me for example: Single mom of three kids. I need to go a whole entire week on $20 and Im already out of milk, bread, peanut butter and no dinners waiting to be cooked. What do you think im going to do? Make my dollar stretch and buy what needs to be bought “processed” or not. I could give a *kitten* whos judging me…they don’t know me OR my situation.

This type of bullsh*t really makes me hate society. Bunch of people judging other peoples lives as if theirs are so perfect.

You have the right to start judging when you are absolutely perfect with nothing to change…then we can talk. Until then mind your own fkn business and worry about your own life.

Has this happened to anyone esle? I fear I am becoming a grocery store snob. I look in other people's carts at the checkout and mentally gloat at my healthier choices or I am just totally shocked that the cart half full (maybe 3 bags worth) of junk cost more than my weeks worth of nutiritous food. I try to stop myself because we have all been there but it seems to happen every time.

I think your mindset of "we have all been there" means you're not necessarily a snob, but you're proud of what changes you've made. There's nothing wrong with looking around you and saying "I made the right choice for myself."

Myself, I may look, but I usually don't think much about it because I always need to remember I'm buying for one, so my cart's usually only about 1/3 full, anyway, because I'm really only buying the ingredients for three meals that I'm going to spread over the week. Besides, even I have a few "junk" items, such as the 6-pack of Hersheys Dark Chocolate bars I buy so that my 1-a-day ration keeps me from wanting to visit the office vending machine, the 8-oz cans of soda that let me satisfy a craving without getting a 20-ouncer out of the snack room, or the freezer meals that, while not terribly healthy, do prevent me from feeling I need to go to Burger King after my day at the office goes late.

Another thing I noticed is that we don't always know WHY they're buying what they're buying. I was shocked to see one shopper with almost an entire cart devoted to 12-packs of soda. Normally, you might think "look at all that junk!", but after chatting with them in line, I found out that they were about to go off on a long RV trip and were expecting those sodas to last them for a number of months.

So feel free to look around and be proud of the choices you've made, because it simply means you've done something that fits your life and, in your opinion, improves the quality of your life. Just remember that other people are also making their decisions based on their situation and what, in their opinion, improves their quality of life.

I do look at what is in other peoples carts, I don't think bad thoughts, I do wonder what people think about my cart when half the stuff I buy isn't healthy....I don't want to starve my kids they are already skin and bones and I have to get things they will eat, chicken nuggets, fries, chips, so its really hard for me to eat healthy in a house full of un-healthy food But I manage!

This makes no sense. What makes you think your children will starve if you feed them healthy food?

they will not eat it. they don't eat, they starve. I make them taste things and sometimes they eat healthier food sometimes not. My 8 year old has a major texture issue and will actually vomit if food texture isn't right. but they are all very active and not even close to being overweight.

I do look at what is in other peoples carts, I don't think bad thoughts, I do wonder what people think about my cart when half the stuff I buy isn't healthy....I don't want to starve my kids they are already skin and bones and I have to get things they will eat, chicken nuggets, fries, chips, so its really hard for me to eat healthy in a house full of un-healthy food But I manage!

This makes no sense. What makes you think your children will starve if you feed them healthy food?

Exactly :explode: this is just teaching them how to make horrible food choices when they grow up!

I do look at what is in other peoples carts, I don't think bad thoughts, I do wonder what people think about my cart when half the stuff I buy isn't healthy....I don't want to starve my kids they are already skin and bones and I have to get things they will eat, chicken nuggets, fries, chips, so its really hard for me to eat healthy in a house full of un-healthy food But I manage!

This makes no sense. What makes you think your children will starve if you feed them healthy food?

they will not eat it. they don't eat, they starve. I make them taste things and sometimes they eat healthier food sometimes not. My 8 year old has a major texture issue and will actually vomit if food texture isn't right. but they are all very active and not even close to being overweight.

Children do not have the mental capacity to starve themselves. They may complain, but when hungry enough, they will eat whatever is available. Weight is not the only thing that affects health. Most diet related ailments other than weight take years to develop.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with your children having these foods occasionally, or even as staples depending on how they are prepared. But saying your children will starve if you feed them healthy food is ridiculous.

I do look at what is in other peoples carts, I don't think bad thoughts, I do wonder what people think about my cart when half the stuff I buy isn't healthy....I don't want to starve my kids they are already skin and bones and I have to get things they will eat, chicken nuggets, fries, chips, so its really hard for me to eat healthy in a house full of un-healthy food But I manage!

This makes no sense. What makes you think your children will starve if you feed them healthy food?

Huh, they'll starve. Highly doubtful, kids can go a long time before they starve. It's all about parenting, you are the one that sets the rules and whats to eat, not the kids. But i'm sure this will fall on deaf ears as it usually does on over-indulgent parents.

I look at other carts and only think about what would happen to me, physically, if I ate some of that stuff. I'll have a fleeting thought of "oooh I wouldn't be able to go to the bathroom for a week if I ate that way!" Sometimes I'll look at all the "naughty" foods and think yummmmmm too.

I have plenty of crap so I don't judge. I do cringe when I hear wrong information though. Someone saying a medium size bag of chips had 180 calories (or whatever) in the whole thing- she didn't understand there were multiple servings in it. It just angers me the lack of education we have in food. I don't judge carts though. it is like having a toddler- easy to judge a public tantrum until your kid is in the ground freaking out!

This would be different than having a cart full of nothing but Cocoa Pebbles, ice cream and pop tarts.

Hmmm, good idea, maybe I'll get all 3 - the trifecta.

If I ever saw anyone with a cart like that, I would assume that they were going to have an awesome sleep over, & be hurt that I wasn't invited.

Point is, get over yourselves. It's not like a person's cart is a window into their soul or a measure of their value.

Says the woman who likes to feel superior to everyone NOT buying treats because obviously they all think they can never have them.

I think you are confused about my point. I don't care if people buy treats or not. Seriously, I don't. But, I do think that it's silly to look at another person's cart, see poptarts and Cocoa Pebbles, and assume that they can't be healthy while eating it. Or that they know anything about that person's situation or reason for filling their cart with whatever it is that you find unacceptable.

I agree that thinking treats can't fit into a healthy diet is wrong, but that's also not what the OP or most of the replies have said.

And MY point was that you giggling at people who look at you buying only treats is no different than those who are looking when you don't know their situation either. Maybe they are just thinking "Hmm, those look tasty".

Same for me. I have never had someone comment on my cart though.

Hahahahaha, yep I also do this.

oh, i forgot last week ,
i went to the store for 2 things
greek yogurt and frozen veggies
(please keep in mind i have a family of 9)
so i go up to the register with 30 some yogurts and about 30 bags frozen veg,
and some fresh lettuce and everyones fave at my house carrots and spinach

and i was told it "looked weird" by the lady who was standing behind me kid- and my Darling 7 year old looked at this kid and straight to her face said I LOVE my brussels sprouts, you should try them..

yep smart kids,

(oh yes , 9 people eat about 3-4lbs of veggies for dinner every night)

Nope. I'm usually way too busy trying to figure out 1) what to make my family for dinner all week 2) how to keep my 10 year old son in check while shopping and 3) how to satisfy everyone while also making food choices that satisfy my own dietary goals. Plus, there's the whole weighing price options while shopping, and if I do happen to peek into someone else's cart, I usually just take in mentally what they have and wonder what is for what and / or analyze what I would or would not use / eat out of it.

Lots of people, like myself, shop for more than just themselves. I buy strawberries for my husband, but I hate them. I buy skim milk for myself, husband hates it. Twinkies for him and my son, I don't touch them. So yeah, judging someone by their grocery cart is kind of pointless.

Thank you!

This absolutely!

I couldn't care less what someone else has in their grocery cart and I find it extremely pretentious and judgmental of those who do! That is just a snapshot of one hour of someone's life and is absolutely no indicator of how they live their life. Besides that, who makes me judge and jury of what someone else chooses to buy? I certainly don't appreciate someone else judging my purchases, so why should I judge theirs? I usually have a mixed bag of healthy and not so healthy - some of it mine, some my husband and son's. Sometimes, my cart is full of junk only - also some of it mine and some my husband and son's. I'm sure some people (like some in this thread) are judging me for it since I still have a ways to go to get to my goal weight, but as I said - it's NONE of their business and they should just absolutely get over themselves and find something better to do with their time.