Grocery Shopping

Art by Pedro

If you're anything like me (and chances are you are seeing as you're reading this post), you FULLY understand my frustration when it comes to shopping at the grocery store. Being that I live in a city, I can't quite find everything that I'm looking for at local farmers markets and pop up farm shares (though I definitely got some amazing veggies at one this weekend) so I'm left with the only other option...the grocery store.

I bring my own shopping bags, produce bags, refillable soap containers, etc., but I never seem to have enough. EVERYTHING is covered in plastic. From veggies to fruits to crackers to yogurt to protein bars and bars of soap, it's. all. freaking. PLASTIC. The artwork above couldn't feel more appropriate and I find it absolutely heartbreaking.

I'm writing this blog post simply asking HOW DO YOU DO IT, FRIEND?! I want your tips, I want your tricks. I want the ins and the outs. I want the upside downs (I went there. I know. It's July and I haven't finished the new Strangers Things season yet, cut me some slack!), and the good, the bad, the ugly. Tell me how much your arms hurt carrying all your glass or steel refillable containers. Tell me how many eye rolls you get when you need to have the cashier weigh your empties before you fill them up. But I also REALLY want to hear about your WINS! I'll leave you with this one right now.

I was at Whole Foods with my sister a few weeks ago. I had left my reusable cup in the car and was getting reaaaal grouchy without a caffeine fix. It felt like it was 800 degrees in Philly that day and I couldn't bring myself to ordering a hot latte, but I also didn't want to waste plastic. So I ordered an iced latte in a paper cup with no lid and no straw, nothing to stir it with and no fancy way to not look like a mess drinking it. I explained to the cashier that I've been actively trying to reduce my plastic use and he was all for it. The person that was making the drink...not so much. She looked at me like I had ten heads, (to be honest, I could've been acting that way, after all, I was in SERIOUS need of that caffeine pick-me-up), but weird looks and all, I felt like I made the right choice. My sister was happy that I was no longer grumpy, I was happy that I didn't waste another single-use plastic cup, lid, AND straw, and Whole Foods was probably happy to finally see me leaving their store. 

Dramatic, not-really-necessary story aside, I really do want to know your advice. Give this anti-plastic city living gal the inside scoop on where to go, what to do, and how to do it a little less awkwardly. Jump in on our Facebook page and let me know now!

- jamie

(Note: I know this story is a super privileged problem. I know it's a luxury to get to order drinks like these and I am SO very grateful every time that I get the privilege to have one. I also know that ordering drinks in paper cups isn't great [many are lined with some sort of plastic inside], but I personally feel like reducing the plastic problem in baby steps is a win in my book!)