An ode to food shopping in store
In a world where everything is quickly and depressingly becoming digitalised and we’re losing any sort of connection to the real world, there’s something satisfying and therapeutic about doing a supermarket shop. Who’d have thought the grip of a trolley would be oddly comforting? Not me. Especially because they’re actually wildly difficult to direct with the wheels constantly trying to go in opposite directions, all while making that horrible rattling sound as you try to navigate your way back to the car without scraping against someone else’s.
Going to the supermarket seems to have a bit of a bad reputation at the moment (undeservedly in my opinion) for the hassle. The hassle of driving there, getting things back without them defrosting, the busyness of the shop and car park and of course, getting suckered in to buying far too many things you don’t actually need as you’re bombarded with brightly displayed new-in products and offers. All of that’s still true for me, but as long as I have my headphones on with a good podcast playing, I love the comforting mindlessness of perusing the aisles and momentarily forgetting my worries.
The alternative is being stuck on my phone or laptop after a day of work consisting of more being stuck to my phone and laptop and running the risk of several things being substituted at my doorstep. Weetabix minis as a substitute for Cookie Crisp? Ginger powder as a substitute for fresh? Ready salted as a substitute for smoked bacon Walkers? I’d be fizzing.
On the topic of substitutions, there simply isn’t one for being able to pick your own produce. I’m all about ‘wonky’ vegetables and against the idea that they should be discarded for not looking the part, but at least when I’m in store, I can stick to my habit of only buying green bananas and firm-but-not-too-firm avocados. Is that unreasonable?
The other key thing of course that’s missing with an online shop, is being able to take a look in other people’s baskets and trolleys. I’ll never know why that bloke had over 20 cans of tuna in his basket, but I can take a guess as to why the woman wearing trousers, a lanyard and blazer had a family sized pie, bottle of wine and a share bag of Dairy Milk mega buttons in hers at 6pm on a Wednesday.
I’ll leave you with my supermarket experience today that actually prompted me to write this weirdly specific article. My dog, Roo, has ordinary dog kibble. Every other day, I like to give him wet food with a lot of good stuff packed in there. Unfortunately, as you’ll know if you have dogs, good quality wet dog food is pricy stuff and so, to save a few (a lot) of pennies (pounds), I’ve started making my own for him. It’s all grim stuff: ox or lambs livers with stewing meat, root veg and some kind of oily fish component. Today, I’d planned on getting a tin of salmon to add to the food. On my way to the tinned aisle, I passed the fish counter and for the first time ever, I saw a tray there, stacked with salmon heads. For 40p per head. Obviously, I stocked up. They’re nutrient dense and much cheaper than tinned salmon fillets - why not? You cannot tell me you would ever come across such a thing doing an online food shop. Nor would you get the funny looks from the fishmonger or people peering into your trolley lined with decapitated salmon.
Are you team in store or online supermarket shopping? Let me know below! Maybe you can convince me haha!