How many stores do you shop at for your food?
Today was my grocery shopping day. I usually plan at least 4 dinners and head out to shop. I go to the grocery store, Costco, a farmers' market and sometimes a butcher and Trader Joe's. How many different stores do you usually hit to get everything you need/want?
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34 Comments:
It usually depends for me - on what I'm making, what mood I'm in, and how willing I am to brave traffic in Los Angeles. These are just some of the stores I frequent:
Whole Foods - Although I avoid this place as much as possible, due to outrageous prices even for the things that aren't organic or free-range, sometimes I want really good dry-aged beef.
Trader Joe's - For most of my staples and basics, although I find their selection to be pretty meager.
Super King - Arab (?) ethnic market with fresh produce and absurdly cheap prices. 3 pounds of oranges for 99 cents? 5 bunches of green onions for a dollar? I'm so there.
Fish King - A fishmonger in Glendale. I've only been here once, but the fish is fantastic, if not cheap.
After that, any market in Monterey Park will work.
toastykitten at 8:35PM on 05/20/08
I normally only go to the supermarket about 10 minutes from my house, and will be adding the farmer's market as the season progresses. I used to shop around more often, but with the price of gas I find myself stopping at the stores that are on my route home from work, doing my grocery shopping on Thurs or Fri night. I rarely go out to shop on the week-ends anymore, taking gas into consideration.
mepolo at 9:09PM on 05/20/08
the bodega on my corner is surprisingly well-stocked, with "fancier" and often organic versions of the staples and a decent amount of produce - nothing fancy, but good enough for every night dinner. also hit up the union square farmer's market usually at least once a week, every now and then brave the crowds at the trader joe's, sometimes splurge at whole foods. there's also a pretty good store a few blocks away, sunac - lots of natural foods. but for stuff like bagels, baked goods, cheese, seafood, i like to go to stores that just stock that stuff - luckily for me, there are some good ones within walking distance of my apartment :)
billyburgwife at 9:20PM on 05/20/08
Three or four, usually.
The farmer's market for the lion's share of meat, produce, and dairy.
The co-op for spices, bulk goods, canned/boxed goods, supplements, and the occasional this-or-that.
Earth Fare (the local version of a Whole Foods), rarely, for things that the co-op doesn't have.
Conventional grocery for things like paper products, non-organic goods, and quickie trips when we run out of things.
Occasionally, we'll hit the larger farmer's market, which has a really lousy selection of everything but produce, but has a small organic market in the permanent building that's fantastic.
jenilowrance at 10:17PM on 05/20/08
we do most of our bulk grocery shopping at SuperTarget.....Next is Lund's (a local finer grocery store in the Twin Cities), then the local market/convenience store for daily impulse needs.....
In the summer....Farmer's market is about1/3 of the shopping....
As needed Mexican Mercado (once a month) & some middle east markets for specific items.
2qrs at 11:20PM on 05/20/08
at least 3.
Grocery Store/ Costco for all the package stuff (flour, milk, sugar etc)
Farmers market/vegetable store for ALL produce
Butcher shop / Local meat shop for all meats and eggs
stickychewygooeyjen at 11:26PM on 05/20/08
Various Asian markets in the area for produce, dry goods, spices, canned goods, fresh fish and seafood, meat, poultry, frozen prepared goods, etc.
The Korean market a half an hour away for cheaper but high quality produce (fruit in particular), meat, seafood.
The Japanese market in Edgewater for very high quality seafood and meat/prepared foods/condiments, but this is only an ocassional treat.
The supermarket five minutes away for staples like eggs and milk, flour, sugar, salt, etc.
fuuchan at 11:32PM on 05/20/08
I live in the NYC area. My shopping routine is as follows:
Monday:Shoprite for basics organic canned goods, some organic produce, organic dairy, pasta
Tuesdays: Murrays West Village for cheese and other gourmet tidbits. Life Thyme Naturals for a few odds and ends
Wednesdays: Union Square Greenmarket, Whole Foods and sometimes Trader Joe's
Fridays: Every other for delivery from real milk co-op
Summer thru Fall: CSA at my home
I guess that makes 8 sources for food. Interesting to see what others do.
izzy's mama at 11:43PM on 05/20/08
I go to in a month to Trader Joe's, Costco, Walmart, Shop Rite, Wegman's, the local yocal produce stand, an amish grocery store and a local super market. At least one trip to each a month.
During the summer I can be found at very many local produce spots.
JerzeeTomato at 11:53PM on 05/20/08
Regular supermarket weekly.
Farmers market almost weekly in season.
Fish market every 3-4 weeks.
Butcher about 4 times a year.
Marvellous immense multiethnic grocery monthly.
Odd source found when traveling maybe 6x/yr.
lemons at 11:59PM on 05/20/08
Four, usually:
BJ's for bulk purchases (stuff like kitchen rolls, toilet paper, laundry detergent, plastic wrap, freezer bags, etc.), as well as eggs, organic salad greens, some cheeses, coffee, grapefruits, ketchup, mustard, and sometimes, large bags of onions and potatoes.
Asian supermarket for fresh seafood, some meats, mirin, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown rice, mixed grains, rice vinegar, spices, some produce and tons of other stuff (plus, their bakery is to die for)
Farmer's market for produce
The supermarket 10 minutes away for odds and ends like milk, tinned tomatoes, frozen spinach, etc
brooke29 at 12:02AM on 05/21/08
I primarily go to one regional chain grocery store for everything but Asian supplies. It's a quick 20 minute drive. I don't go to the ones in the neighborhood and the farmer's market (3-7 minute drive) because I don't care for them, mostly because I hate dealing with people, being bumped by them, etc. I still manage to go to the nearby farmer's market several times a year, oddly during the winter.
For Japanese products, I go to one of several large Chinese grocery stores that is the closest to me when I remember I need something, so anywhere between 10 to 35 minutes away from home. :P
Cassaendra at 12:02AM on 05/21/08
I forgot to add...in summer - as much produce as possible from little farm/garden stands!
fuuchan at 1:38AM on 05/21/08
Here in Madison the cheapest place for pantry items and staples is Woodman's - I go at least twice a week, usually more.
Now that the Farmer's Markets are getting cranked up, I'll get some produce there, especially later in the season. Otherwise I'm always crusin' the discount bins for exceptional produce at the co-op just a few blocks away, or the Asian market.
A couple times a month I go to a combined Hmong-Indian-Mexican market for specialty items.(It's a little weird I know, but the neighborhood has changed.)
For a lark I'll stop about once a month at a regional or national chain to look at the beautiful but tasteless imports. I plan to go to an Italian deli to get some special treats if that stimulus check ever gets here..
alljack at 1:44AM on 05/21/08
9 in a month's time
bessfour at 8:20AM on 05/21/08
izzy's mama - I have been meaning to check out Union Square Greenmarket. How is the selection so far this year?
http://www.dinnersforayear.blogspot.com
eatmyfood at 9:15AM on 05/21/08
Weekly visits:
Regular supermarket (Giant or Safeway)
Whole Foods
Farmer's market when in season)
Asian grocery store
Less frequent visits:
Trader Joe's every two or three weeks (I love it, but they don't open until 9am and I like to have all my grocery shopping done early Saturday mornings)
Costco (maybe once every two months - we don't have one nearby so we have to drive pretty far for one)
mrsbao at 10:17AM on 05/21/08
Three - Whole Foods for meat, odwalla bars, nuts, cheese, and other obscure things. Roche brothers for most everything else, excluding produce, which I get from my dad. I am DYING for them to make a Whole Foods/regular grocery store combo though, or at least put them both in the same complex - there are some things (windex, toothpaste, etc.) I couldn't get at WF if I tried, and vice versa. Sigh. Life is hard.
embolini9 at 10:53AM on 05/21/08
About seven places depending on the season. Trader Joe's and Whole Foods about once a month (they are a 2-3 hour round trip from us).
Wal-mart and Sam's Club for staples every couple weeks, 2 grocery stores weekly-- 1 local that charges too much but is local, and 1 about an hour out of town because of their gas program and better value.
And starting this weekend, finally, farmer's markets.
bobcatsteph3 at 11:34AM on 05/21/08
I used to do the cheap shopping, several stores a week thing (with a load of coupons too) then cycled through the Costco and Trader Joe's phases but now I just can't be bothered. In fact, I'm so burned out on it I moved where I did specifically so I could be a few blocks from my favorite store (a local independent that's better than Whole Foods in many, many ways) and I walk there. It's great exercise and it keeps me from over buying. But even then I only go about once a week and that usually because I have to replace food we eat (haven't figured a way around that yet). Making the daughter go turns it into (forced but relaxed) social time for us which is good (plus she can carry stuff home too).
During the farmers market season though I will go there instead getting pretty much all my food needs taken care of with great produce. I walk there too (about a mile each way and I've been known to go twice in a day because those veggies can get heavy on the way back... and more exercise is not a bad thing).
I have started dropping in on the co-op more because the produce is really great and the people and concept is good plus so much local and it can be bought bulk (bulk doesn't mean mass amounts but the amount I want in my own container I bring). It's pretty close but not something I can realistically walk to (and back, really it's the back thing that gets me...) so I usually only go when I'm in that area for another reason and I love combining trips.
I so loathe the shopping experience I have figured ways to pretty much eliminate the non-food consumables in my home (for instance reusable containers rather than foil, plastic wrap and baggies) not just because I hate the waste but because it so bugs me to buy them at all.
And, I can't believe the money I've saved and yet how much better I eat now all with a lot less stress.
Sieseye at 12:44PM on 05/21/08
For staples like tea, cereal or nuts, I visit TJs or WFs (I can walk if I have enough time, so I usually go there on weekends). If I end up back home in Frederick, MD, I visit the Common Market, a local co-op, for bulk nuts, beans, spices, grains, dried fruit, etc. For produce, I visit two Korean groceries, Grande Mart and H-mart. At H-mart, I found cherries for $1.99 a pound - they were $7.99-8.99 everywhere else! I can walk to both during my lunch breaks. I try to avoid special trips.
KarynMC at 12:46PM on 05/21/08
6-9 per month
Kerosena at 12:52PM on 05/21/08
The local Vons for paper products and "kid stuff" for the daughter...things like peanut butter and jelly, lunch-fixins, and baking staples.
The local Farmer's Market for produce.
The Trader Joe's for shelf staples and frozen items (they make the only "convenience" foods that I'll feed my daughter--sometimes a little pricey, but when one is in a huge hurry and a single mom...well, shite happens.) I also buy most alcohol at the TJ's.
The local wine store for wine. Honestly, we're so lucky in Carpinteria. The wine store has an amazing selection, and the prices are unbeatable...they're online, too...shameless plug for Carpinteria Wine Company.
rosezilla at 1:23PM on 05/21/08
Trader Joe's weekly, and Ralph's every three weeks or so for the basics that I can't get there. (brand names, essentially. Have to get my Coke Zero!) Whole Foods for odds and ends every couple of weeks as well. Gelson's when I need one thing, like a stick of butter or milk, because it's the closest to me geographically.
megannesta at 1:47PM on 05/21/08
Oooh good question. I usually wind up going to Dominick's or Jewel because they're closer to my house. But when I'm there, I realize how much I actually prefer Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or Sunset Foods and wind up driving to one of them anyways. Same situation every time!
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 2:30PM on 05/21/08
Welllllll. Monday nights I go to Publix (my local grocery store) to stock up on staples and organic/local produce.
Saturdays I usually go to Whole Foods to stock up on meat, grains and any weird or ethnic ingredients that Publix doesn't carry.
Saturdays and/or Sundays I'll usually be forced to go to the Winn-Dixie (which I hate) across the street from my place for something I've forgotten or am missing that I really, really need. Usually, this is either milk for coffee or Haagen Daz.
When I lived in NYC, I worked near Union Square and would go to the grocery store(s) almost every day. Usually in this order: farmer's market, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's. I miss both the farmer's market and TJ's :(
bitchincamero at 3:52PM on 05/21/08
Twice a week at two different suppermarkets.....I love to go to Union Square Nyc when I get the chance I just love it there!!!!
rabbitriddle at 4:01PM on 05/21/08
Two: Raleys and Trader Joes-both once/week. And of course, the farmer's market every Sunday.
rosielucchesini at 5:14PM on 05/21/08
1. Trader Joe's - every week
2. Health Food Store - every few weeks
3.Asian Market - every few weeks
4. Farmer's Market - every few weeks
5. Big Grocery Store - every few months
ricedream24 at 6:05PM on 05/21/08
It made me so happy to read this post, nice to know my shopping habits aren't as bizarre or obsessive as I previously thought. (Well, either that or there are as many bizarre obsessive people out there as me.)
My stores -
1. In season - weekly visits to local farmer's market for produce, eggs, a little of meat and to pick up CSA box
2. Harris Teeter - weekly visits for the rest of the food
3. Kroger around the corner - about every other week for all the stuff I didn't realize I was out of when I went to Harris Teeter
4. TJ's - monthly for vital staples like frozen pizza and Chocolate Joe Joes and mini-peanut butter cups and wine :-)
5. Whole Foods - monthly or so you just need a Whole Foods fix because you need to eat a half pound of cheese samples as you shop. And you're out of something random like quinoa that you can only seem to find at Whole Foods. But somehow half of the wine and cheese and bakery section makes it out of the store with you too. Darn you, Whole Foods.
6. Costco. The husband goes through a box of 90 Nature Valley Granola bars, and we must replenish.
QueenHerm at 6:24PM on 05/21/08
Every week I get my eggs and meat from my local butcher, the I stop by Vitamin Cottage for organic produce, grains, beans and dairy. Then its off to the supermarkert chain to get the rest of what I need. Its farmers market season now, so that'll add one more stop. My husband and I spend 1/2 a day shopping!
rockymountainmarta at 7:38PM on 05/21/08
whole foods, because its right there in my building and it has nice veggies and really overpriced beer and milk. i love getting stuck for my whole paycheck for a few items. golly gee its great.
greenmarket. often expensive, often overrated, but can't be beat when the local farms are booming. for the next four to five months.
c.s.a. (farm share) starts soon.
backyard. hopefully more there soon.
chinatown, ny. whichever vendor's food looks good. Hong Kong supermarket on allen is good. and any vendor not selling a meat the size of lamb that looks suspiciously like a smooth puppy.
can i just say i miss H.E.B. ?
angrywayne at 10:16PM on 05/21/08
eatmyfood: The selection at Union Square is fabulous. Wednesdays are the best because there is an ample selection of vendors and it is not as crowded as on Saturdays (although if you go in the early morning on Saturday it isn't so bad). The spring harvest is in full force, with strawberries and asparagus in abundance. Spring garlic and ramps are popping up everywhere too. This is definitely a great time of year to come and check it out!
izzy's mama at 11:23AM on 05/22/08
In the course of the week, I usually go to the Union Square Greenmarket in New York, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and my neighborhood grocery store.
If I'm in the mood for something I can't get at the other places, then I add to my list Kalustyan's, Chinatown, and grocery stores in Koreatown.
butterface at 9:04PM on 05/23/08