Not to be misconstrued, I don’t have an addiction to food. I do however get a natural high of excitement and feel good endorphins anytime I find new food, find food on sale, or walk around a (health food) grocery store. It is my Disneyland away from Disneyland.
Shopping for food is something I find therapeutic. I can always count on a grocery store full of fresh produce, breads, and treats to brighten my day. This is a food blog after all, what else would you expect from me? I buy 90% of my groceries from TJ’s, which has set prices and items never go on sale. The other 10% comes from various local grocers. Each time I shop at these other stores I have two main goals:
- Find whats on sale
- Find something new
Simple game plan that always delivers. Buying items on sale is rewarding in a few ways..saving money is the main “duh” about this. I also enjoy stepping away of my normal purchases and trying different products. When I need a last minute option for bread, I will find whatever is on sale (and falls within vegan friendly/good nutrition stats) for the week. Same goes for crackers, cookies, candies, anything. I can’t help it, frugality is in my blood.
This week, the cheapest bread happened to be whole wheat burger buns. I didn’t anticipate having any burgers, but I made them work for sandwiches. LOTS of PB&J’s and a delicious sweet potato sandwich.
Those blue chips were 50% off original price. I get a high from saving money. I also get a high from using food out of my garden. Under that tomato is some of my Swiss chard and one of my onions!! I have started to thin out the onions, and have used the ones I pulled! They’re still on the smaller side, but the ones that stay in the garden will get nice and plump!
I’ve used these onions for the sandwich above, for vegan potato salad, (I also used the green stalks with this one) and with an asparagus/elephant garlic mixture. This elephant garlic was my new find of the week.
This odd looking veggie has a wonderful garlic flavor, and paired perfectly sauteed with asparagus and onions.
Finding a new item that is ALSO on sale is a goldmine. You should never let that opportunity pass. Next time you go to the store, check out the highlighted tags that show off the sale items. You never know, you could find your new favorite item!
Q(s):
- Do you ever use sale items as an excuse to try new things? I DO I DO!
- Where does your natural high come from? FOOD shopping, running, completing races, Manfriend, snuggling with my kittehs, gardening, eating clean and soooo on!
We are so alike, I totally get my high from finding new food items! I could browse a grocery store any day, there is always something exciting and new! I definitely use sale items as an excuse to try new things
YESSSS I get so stoked with new food finds!! And when they’re on sale?? Well that’s just a double whammy of awesomeness
Whoa, never seen that vegetable. Sadly, I have to shop at Safeway just to save money but I tend to buy what is on sale meaning my vegetables and fruit vary each week. I want to start making more creative dishes and trying out new things that maybe I would never think of.
I get that happy when I’m in a stationery store, lol. But as you know, food stores are the close second. I’ll have to remember to try something new.. I tend to get stuck in food “ruts” sometimes! xo Smidge
I love finding new food, too. And I pretty much only buy cereal when it’s on sale, which is very exciting for me.
I could spend hoooours in a grocery store. And I’m obsessed with Trader Joe’s. For some reason they make these multigrain crackers that are so addictive and delicious. Get them the next time you’re there!!
Ohh yes, I know which ones you speak of. They are very tasty..I actually work at Trader Joe’s..so I am there quite often =).
Haha well there ya go!! WHY are they sooo good?! Officially jealous of your job!
I love grocery shopping too! That’s why my mom calls me a foodie. Haha
I’m so jealous. I would love to have my own garden. I have a sort of make-shift herb garden thingy going on on the roof, btu it’s not the same.
I’m so jealous, I would love to have my own garden. I have a sort of make-shift herb garden thingy going on on the roof, but it’s not the same.
I’m so jealous, I would love to have my own garden. I have a sort of make-shift herb garden thingy going on on the roof, but it’s not the same.
I am beyond jealous of your garden. I so wish I had one! And that sweet potato sandwich sounds SO good.
I love trying new things, especially when they are on sale! One of my “highs” comes from getting out of the house alone. It only happens maybe once a week. Yesterday I got a sitter then went for a massage, pedicure, Starbucks, and to Target. It was a great morning!
Oh girl, I am with you! I absolutely love finding things on sale and new foods too and ESPECIALLY when I find new foods on sale! Good stuff!
Is it wrong to get excited when the grocery store flyer comes out? Because if it is, I dont want to be right
Dude I love when I need to go GROCERY SHOPPING and I love when one store doesn’t have what I need because then I can go roam around another store! LOL!!!
I adore the grocery store! I just wish I had a TJs near me!
I think we may be long lost twins separated at birth.
Would you like to know the secret to my CRACK-ADDICT LIKE ENERGY???
- Sleep
- Salmon
- Cardio
- Pilates
- Vitamins (BRING ON THE HUGE HORSE PILLS BABY!)
- My Loving Family
- THE LA SUNSHINE!!! (Although that bastard can rain every so often, that’d be nice)
- Sparkling H2O
- Butternut & Spaghetti Squash
- Spinach & Ketchup!!!!!
WAHOOOOOO-GA! LMFAO.
I am the same way with grocery shopping, I get excited to get and stock up on healthy foods and just meander around the health food section while taking my sweet sweet time
, other things that give me a natural high include exercise, being with people I love, steamed kale, fresh fruit, and coffee 
eating chocolate after running
andddd fruit! lots of it
Sale items are the perfect excuse and opportunity to try out new things- if it’s not a hit, at least you didn’t waste too much money on it! That sweet potato sandwich sounds so delicious…I’m imagining what it would be like with some almond butter thrown in the mix
! My natural high comes from…surprise surprise…running! And good conversation/time with friends & family!
Omg, we are both frugal women. I love a good bargain and shopping smart. Mr. Speedy is like a human calculator and will quickly formulate whether it is better to buy tiny packages or big bulk sizes. I love it.
I get high from running, running some more, Mr. Speedy mauling sessions, smoothies, wine, and shopping. NOT KITTENS. That is our one main difference, you affection towards the little furballs. And I eat meat. 2 differences. That is it. Barely anything. We even have the same hair color and need to shave our legs. And men with chest pubes.
I’ll use anything as an excuse to try something new.
LOVE asparagus. And your blog.
totally agree! i don’t do retail therapy, i go to my local natural food store! i’d so much rather waste $ on new food products i don’t need than new clothes!
I seriously have the same idea as you. I always loo for sales, then treat myself to a new item Ive been wanting to try
I definitely get a high from going food shopping! Especially finding very cool new things. Also hiking for sure.
I sooo love to try new things and of course find them as well! I go out of my way to explore a new Whole Foods or Trader Joes… I could seriously spend hours in those stores and get excited each time I go to one! Even the ones that are right near me, you never know what you could find
I have to say that I love the sound of a sweet potato sandwich! Yum!!
I Defintely love trying new foods and always try and hunt out good deals! I could probably do a lot better though. My mom is the best when it comes to reading ads and getting deals.
I like food shopping as well. I think also exercising and completing a new yoga move especially.
Food (dinner especially) and jogging are my natural highs.
My highs comes from everything that I love!!!
My dog, my business, my friends, wine, food, bicycling, and Kate Spade.
I have never been a huge food experimenter until I became vegetarian! I have completely fallen in love with curry, hummus, and avocado! It’s so fun trying new things and spicing up life. PLUS you end up feeling like a total rock star when you cook up a bad ass recipe
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