Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,883 
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Post by Just T on Nov 12, 2024 21:08:30 GMT
I thought this might be an interesting thread based on the discussion that has come up on the Where are the Republicans thread.
I am privileged where live to have so many choices of places to shop for food. My office is three miles from my home, and in that three miles, without going out of my way on the way home from work, I can stop at Walmart, Aldi, 2 different Schnucks (local grocery chain) and a Fresh Thyme. If I go a few miles out of my way, I have a Super Target, another Schnucks, and a different local chain. From my house, all of those stores are less than 5 miles away. Walmart and Aldi I can walk to if I had to for some reason.
Where my mom lives on the other hand, the only real store in her little rural MO town is a Dollar General. She does have a couple of towns within 20 miles either direction with grocery stores and Walmart, but that is it
I always try to be conscious of knowing that not everyone has that. I see people on TikTok who show the food they make for their family, and OMG, the shaming that sometimes goes on is mind boggling to me. My feeling is if you are feeding your kids, you're doing great.
I eat mostly healthy. I am 61 and have itchy skin issues that have no real cause, and I try to eat mostly healthy. I don't buy much at all in the way of processed food. I live alone and only have to worry about feeding myself, but healthy food is so expensive compared to processed stuff, and I feel bad for people trying to feed their families a 100% healthy diet because that is not easy to do. I hate the amount of chemicals and crap that is in our food, but I also feel bad for those who have no choice but to buy this stuff.
What food choices do you have? Do you have to travel far to grocery shop?
Oh, I live in a suburb of St. Louis, but about 35 miles or more from the actual city.
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Post by leannec on Nov 12, 2024 21:16:01 GMT
I live in the suburbs of a major Canadian city (Calgary) ... many shopping options close by if you have a vehicle ... we are not a walking city at all ... I have everything from regular grocery stores to Costco to natural food stores within a 15 minute drive ... I am single and live alone and also try to eat well but I'll admit that now that I don't cook everyday for a family of four like I used to I have gotten lazy ... some days are a lot more nutritious than others! My 77 year old Mum eats with me about twice per week so that makes me cook something nice  I'm lucky that I can afford whatever I need ... |
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Tearisci
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Nov 6, 2018 16:34:30 GMT
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Post by Tearisci on Nov 12, 2024 21:17:49 GMT
I live within a mile of 3 grocery stores; Tom Thumb, Trader Joes and Sprouts. Within two miles is a Kroger and Market Street. I feel very privileged to have so many stores close to me.
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Post by gar on Nov 12, 2024 21:22:33 GMT
I’m in the UK…A 10 min walk away I have a market town with a weekly outdoor food market, a ‘posh’ supermarket as well as a couple of independents such as a cheese/deli shop.
Then if I drive 15 mins I have a choice of several major supermarkets.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 12, 2024 21:25:21 GMT
Pretty lucky here too. We have two major grocery store chains with several reasonably close locations, another couple smaller regional grocery store chains, Aldi, Target/SuperTarget, Walmart (although I never shop there), and of course my go-to Costco and Sam’s Club (which I also don’t go to). We cook at home a lot from scratch, buy fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, but I also eat cereal, pasta, some canned stuff too. ETA: We also have Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.
At our lake place, there is no longer a local grocery store in town. It closed up several years ago. There is a Family Dollar, a gas station / convenience store that sells a very limited selection of bread and packaged stuff and a very upscale and expensive brewery with a little market inside that sells some fresh vegetables, bread/buns, fancy condiments, etc. The closest place with an actual grocery store is a 30 minute drive away by car, you couldn’t get there really any other way. There’s a Walmart and another more expensive grocery store about 30 minutes away in another direction, also only accessible by car.
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breetheflea
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Post by breetheflea on Nov 12, 2024 21:25:54 GMT
Within 3 miles I have: 3 Safeways, 2 Fred Meyers, Winco, Grocery Outlet, Trader Joes, a local (but expensive) produce/organic grocery store, and Costco. There is also Target but it's not one of the one's with a full grocery store in it. And Walmart I guess (I don't shop there, I don't think they sell groceries.)
I think there is also a can't think of the name because I never go in there, and had to look it up... Natural Grocers.
We are pretty lucky I guess.
My eating habits are to cook from scratch as much as possible, with the occasional take and bake pizza.
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Post by bc2ca on Nov 12, 2024 21:25:57 GMT
I have always had plenty of choices where to buy groceries and have leaned hard into a fresh produce heavy, clean diet. I have some skin and inflammation issues that flare if I veer into too much sugar/carbs.
We have been growing more vegetables each year although I really don't know how much that impacts our food budget. I tend to shop every few days to get fresh produce and limit what gets lost in the back of the fridge and/or tossed.
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pilcas
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Post by pilcas on Nov 12, 2024 21:32:15 GMT
I have plenty of options, I can walk to a moderately sized supermarket and my husband does the groceries once a week from a larger one. Walmart or Costco or any of the other places about 20 min away by car but I neither need them nor use them. I cook most days but we do eat at a restaurant once a week and there maybe one other day we may order a pizza. We do buy deli meat for sandwiches once in a while which I know is not great. My husband and I are both retired so we eat lunch and dinner at home. Our problem is not so much the meals but the snacks in between
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2024 21:33:12 GMT
Houston, TX - we have the country's best grocery store, HEB! Haha. And some other, inferior grocery chains as well. TJ and Aldi, Kroger, Randall's, Food Town, Foodarama, Whole Foods, Sprouts, multiple farmers' markets each weekend plus the giant one on the north side that's open 7 days a week. Target and Walmart, Costco and Sam's. That’s not even counting all the ethnic grocery stores.
And as of yesterday we now have six restaurants with shiny, new Michelin stars.
BUT there are also large areas of my city that qualify as food deserts. Various groups have worked to at least bring in a produce truck a couple of times a week. There was a tiny grocery store called Little Red Box whose mission was to bring in healthy food at reasonable prices, but they seem to have closed.
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lesley
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Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
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Post by lesley on Nov 12, 2024 21:36:41 GMT
I live in a pretty depressed town of about 30,000 people in Central Scotland. But I can walk (within 20 minutes) to a very large Tesco, an Asda, a Morrisons (these are three of the four main supermarket chains in the UK), as well as a smaller Tesco, Iceland, Aldi and Lidl. There are also quite a few other smaller food retailers I use occasionally. I am very fortunate in the choice I have. The closest is Lidl which is about a 6-7 walk away, but I tend to use Tesco, partly because of the greater choice and quality, but also because my DD works for them, so I get 10-20% discount on everything. 😉 I’m also within a 20 minute drive of Costco and Sainsbury's.
I don’t eat nearly as healthily as I should, but I’m a work in progress…
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Post by littlemama on Nov 12, 2024 22:06:07 GMT
I live in an area where I have many choices of grocery stores, fruit/veg/meat/deli stores, little markets, Costco, Sams, Aldi, etc.
I would have a hard time living where Id have to travel a long distance to get groceries
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Post by ~summer~ on Nov 12, 2024 22:06:54 GMT
I’m in SF and walk to buy most of my food - only issue is that it is over priced ($11 for organic eggs, $2 for an apple) but my kids are out of the house so it’s not a huge deal.
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Post by Zee on Nov 12, 2024 22:15:43 GMT
Healthy food can be perfectly affordable...the trouble is getting to it if you live in a food desert.
If you can get to an Aldi you can feed your family in a very reasonably healthy manner using fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables and fruit, meat, pasta, dairy, vegan/vegetarian/organic options, whole grain cereals and breads, etc. and it's so much cheaper than Kroger, Publix, a corner store, etc.
The privilege definitely lies in being able to get there, bring the food home, and store the food. And especially in having the time to devote to shopping and cooking it all. It's just not doable for some even with a reasonable income.
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Post by ntsf on Nov 12, 2024 22:23:28 GMT
I'm also in SF.. within a mile, I have two whole foods, a target, a trader joes, specialty grocery, produce stores, and so on. pricey food but widely available.
our town has had a program for years to have corner stores (in every neighborhood) carry a small variety of fresh fruit and veggies.. so even the corner 7-11 one block away has bananas and so on.
we don't have walmart but many choices over all. I could walk to the store if I wanted to or take a bus.
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Post by quinlove on Nov 12, 2024 22:43:50 GMT
I’m another lucky one who has a HEB close by. It’s a new one and pretty big. I love everything about it. Even their store brand name stuff, HEB, is excellent.
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Post by Linda on Nov 12, 2024 22:43:58 GMT
I live rural - it's probably about 5+ miles to Walmart and about the same to Aldi and Publix. There's a Winn Dixie and Harveys a bit further. The only place that's reasonably walkable is Dollar General which is about a mile. There's no public transportation or taxis here (there's one person who sporadically drives for Uber/Lyft) here so I do rely on either DH or DD18 driving me otherwise, yes, I'm shopping at Dollar General.
I also subscribe to a weekly farm box from a local-ish (about 30 minutes away) farmer that is delivered every Friday morning with about 8 varieties of fruit and veg. Because of that - if I was willing to forgo meat and variety - I could eat a relatively healthy diet just shopping at the Dollar General cooking from scratch.
I do generally cook from scratch and we eat vegetarian about 2-3 dinners a week (and most breakfasts and lunches). I primarily shop at Aldi and supplement with Publix
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Post by epeanymous on Nov 12, 2024 22:50:40 GMT
I have everything! I can walk to a QFC (Kroger) in under ten minutes, and have a Trader Joe’s and a (just-reopened) Safeway in the neighborhood. We also have a small local chain (Metropolitan Market) that I would describe as more of a treat grocery store (I love it and get things there on occasion but it is too upscale to be your regular grocery) and a butcher. Right next to my neighborhood, we have a Whole Foods, and I am about a 10-15 minute drive from a Costco and from the main branch of Uwajimaya, which is a local pan-Asian grocery chain similar to H-Mart
I am really lucky. Except for the part where I am currently feeding three teen boys, two of whom are atheletes (and the “unathletic” one still plays two sports). I am dying here, people.
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Post by AussieMeg on Nov 12, 2024 23:01:15 GMT
I'm in an outer eastern suburb of Melbourne, and I have many choices nearby. The major supermarket where I prefer to shop as three stores near me, ranging from 3km - 4km which is a 5 min - 7 min drive. I do most of my shopping at the Coles that is 7 min away. In the same complex there is also an Aldi, a huge green grocer, a huge butcher, a bakery, and a great Asian supermarket.
There is a fabulous independent supermarket in my suburb, only 1.5km from home. As well as the normal stuff, they stock the most divine foods from local producers. But it is quite expensive. In the same local square, we also have a bakery, a butcher, a health food store, a couple of cafes and several takeaway food shops. Then all the normal things like pharmacy, post office, travel agent, dry cleaner etc.
There is also a Costco about 7km / 12 minute drive from us.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Nov 12, 2024 23:01:28 GMT
we live rural, even farther out from StL than you do, Just T . We are about 6-7 miles in between two small towns. One town has a Country Mart (small / expensive chain) and a Sav A Lot (generic-type ? local chain), along with a Dollar Tree and a Dollar General. Going to the town in the other direction on the interstate, there is an Aldi, a Walmart Supercenter, and a small, small Schnucks (local area chain). I would have to drive at least 30 miles closer into the StL suburbs to get to a Trader Joes, a Fresh Thyme (sort of like Sprouts, but not as good... I miss Sprouts), or anything nicer. I dislike buying groceries at Walmart, but unless I want to make my workday take even LONGER, then I shop at Walmart so I can shop on the weekend instead of on my way home from work. There's a LOT of small towns a ways out from StL but the only stores you can count on are Dollar General, small mom-and-pop / expensive grocery stores, Aldi, and Walmart. |
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Post by hopemax on Nov 12, 2024 23:05:32 GMT
You never know what can happen, so I wanted to buy a house that was within walking distance, in case of emergencies. One time back home we had such a huge snowstorm we had to walk 2.5 miles and back to do grocery shopping. Denver is better with snow, but you never know. So we are a little over a mile away from Walmart, Ace Hardware, Advance Auto Parts. In the other direction we are about a mile and a half away from a major shopping intersection. Target, King Soopers, Safeway, Walgreens, Sprouts and other stuff. At 3 miles we have the main shopping area for my city.
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Post by melanell on Nov 12, 2024 23:06:25 GMT
What food choices do you have? I have a lot of choice. I really do. That being said, there are 2 things I wish I had locally that I do not. I would love to have some specialty food stores like you might find in larger cities. I'll see a recipe that suggests looking at "your local Asian Market" or "your local Indian Market", and I cry inside a little because I don't have that kind of store nearby. Also, I don't have a Trader Joe's.  Do you have to travel far to grocery shop? There is a full grocery store 3 blocks from my house. There are sidewalks on those 3 blocks, and a crosswalk with a signal when we reach the only road we need to cross if on foot.
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Post by Laurie on Nov 12, 2024 23:10:13 GMT
In town we have a very small grocery store. Limited selection and prices close to double of normal prices. If we drive about 45 minutes to an hour we have a Hy-Vee, Costco, Walmart, Sams Club and Aldi. I would love to have a Trader Joe's or a Whole Foods. Closest ones to us is Omaha which is about 2 hours away.
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Just T
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Posts: 5,883
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Post by Just T on Nov 12, 2024 23:12:01 GMT
I am really lucky. Except for the part where I am currently feeding three teen boys, two of whom are atheletes (and the “unathletic” one still plays two sports). I am dying here, people. Haha I remember those days! Don't miss trying to feed everyone who literally seemed to inhale massive quantities of food. LOL |
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Just T
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Posts: 5,883
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Post by Just T on Nov 12, 2024 23:12:48 GMT
If we drive about 45 minutes to an hour we have a Hyvee, I lived in Iowa for 4 years right after I got married, many years ago, and I still miss HyVee. |
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Just T
Drama Llama
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Post by Just T on Nov 12, 2024 23:15:23 GMT
we live rural, even farther out from StL than you do, Just T . We are about 6-7 miles in between two small towns. One town has a Country Mart (small / expensive chain) and a Sav A Lot (generic-type ? local chain), along with a Dollar Tree and a Dollar General. Going to the town in the other direction on the interstate, there is an Aldi, a Walmart Supercenter, and a small, small Schnucks (local area chain). I would have to drive at least 30 miles closer into the StL suburbs to get to a Trader Joes, a Fresh Thyme (sort of like Sprouts, but not as good... I miss Sprouts), or anything nicer. I dislike buying groceries at Walmart, but unless I want to make my workday take even LONGER, then I shop at Walmart so I can shop on the weekend instead of on my way home from work. There's a LOT of small towns a ways out from StL but the only stores you can count on are Dollar General, small mom-and-pop / expensive grocery stores, Aldi, and Walmart. I keep forgetting you live in the STL area. I've never heard of Country Mart. Where I live (St. Charles) the only chain grocery stores are Schnucks, Dierbergs, Aldi and Fresh Thyme. |
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Post by lisae on Nov 12, 2024 23:19:22 GMT
In our county of over 35,000 residents, we have 3 grocery stores - 1 each of 2 regional chains and Walmart. That's it for major food sellers. However, we do have an excellent local butcher shop and several local product markets. In summer it is easy to find produce. A lot of people have their own gardens. We just grow tomatoes. I was one of the lucky ones during the pandemic as we never had a shortage of meat thanks to the butcher shop. Those people nearly worked themselves to death keeping up with demand.
The adjacent counties - 25 -30 minute drives - have Aldi stores, Publix and more of the same regional chains. There's one Target about 30 minutes away and Sam's club but I don't have a membership. I put up a lot of fresh fruit in my freezer from local sources.
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Post by quinlove on Nov 12, 2024 23:20:37 GMT
I am really lucky. Except for the part where I am currently feeding three teen boys, two of whom are atheletes (and the “unathletic” one still plays two sports). I am dying here, people. When my son was a teen, we were on our way home from hockey practice. I remember this time well, he wanted to get Taco Bell on the way home. I pull up to the window and asked him what he wanted - 12 regular tacos !!!!! |
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Post by Laurie on Nov 12, 2024 23:22:36 GMT
In our county of over 35,000 residents, we have 3 grocery stores - 1 each of 2 regional chains and Walmart. That's it for major food sellers. However, we do have an excellent local butcher shop and several local product markets. In summer it is easy to find produce. A lot of people have their own gardens. We just grow tomatoes. I was one of the lucky ones during the pandemic as we never had a shortage of meat thanks to the butcher shop. Those people nearly worked themselves to death keeping up with demand. The adjacent counties - 25 -30 minute drives - have Aldi stores, Publix and more of the same regional chains. There's one Target about 30 minutes away and Sam's club but I don't have a membership. I put up a lot of fresh fruit in my freezer from local sources. I need to learn how to freeze produce. Our local FFA is selling fruit and potato boxes. I want to buy the 90ct potato box because we are a meat and potato type of family but no clue how to preserve them. |
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Post by lisae on Nov 12, 2024 23:28:21 GMT
I need to learn how to freeze produce. I do mine for smoothies - strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and sometimes mango. I just cap or peel as needed and spread them out on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Then freeze until firm and put into zip loc bags. That way you can just take out what you need without them being all smooshed together. |
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kelly8875
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Post by kelly8875 on Nov 12, 2024 23:32:56 GMT
I’m too far to walk to anything, but within 5 minutes of driving I have 3 Hy-Vee grocery stores. A few more minutes and there’s Fairway, Target, Walmart, 2 Aldi, 2 Dollar General, a local Co-op, and several mini stores. I used to live 30 minutes from groceries, so this is heaven for me.
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