Me? I've had a life long love/hate relationship with the grocery store.
{Okay, maybe only since high school. Which practically seems like a lifetime ago.}
You see, I was one of those helpful smiles in every isle at our local Hy-Vee food chain.
{Warms my heart just thinking about it!}
Ever since then, I have been slightly obsessed with the proper way to bag groceries. I've had thorough training sessions in the fine art of bagging, I'll have you know.
Now, some days, to be sure, I dread the supermarket. Especially the big, crowded, dirty ones when I don't have a list or a plan or the desire to even cook dinner.
But other days, grocery shopping is like cheap therapy for me. A home away from home, you might say, where I wander and wonder and dream and plan and discover and compare and create. It's lovely.
Currently, I am going through some severe TJWS symptoms. That's "Trader Joe's Withdrawal Syndrome" to be exact. I'm missing the joe-joes, the sea salt almonds, the lime flo bars...oh, the lime flo bars... {I digress.}
Some days, I just want to scream:
"Who would have thought with all the granola people that live in Denver, Colorado there would be no Trader Joes???"
I still don't understand.
So this week, I explored two local markets to help ease my pain and give me the inspiration to live healthy.
The first was called Vitamin Cottage, and while it was small and homey and somewhat inspiring, it was just a little too granola-y for me, and quite frankly, I missed the colorful tropical shirts, yummy samples, and free balloons. {sniff, sniff}
Still, it might grow on me, I just need a pair of Birkenstocks and more dreadlocks for the next time I return.
My next stop was more hopeful. The local Trader-Joes-like chain out in these next of the woods is called "Sprouts Farmers Markets"
{believe it or not, there's mountains behind this here store}
I found myself wandering around with a little smile on my face as I explored. To me, there's something inspiring about being in a grocery store that sells healthier options. Sure, there's still choices to make and some choices are better than others, but I find it comforting that some of the best choices are all surrounding me. And then it's really fun when I challenge myself to discover a new product.
My latest inspiration? Besides the beets, kale, zucchini, spaghetti squash, and flax seed that I came home with when all was said and done, I found this soup mix by Bob's Red Mill. It has dried peas, lentils, barley and cute little alphabet shaped pasta. Not sure if my kids will eat it, but I'm hoping for the best. If nothing else, it looks like a good fall soup mix to experiment with while I wait for the first Trader Joes to come to Denver...and it's my inspiration for healthy living!
So, what inspires you to eat healthy?
I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.
2 comments:
I visited my first Sprouts store out in SanDiego a little over a year ago and I agree. It has the feel of a TJ. I am so shocked as you are about there not being a TJ in Dever. Craziness! Maybe you should write them about that. :)
I doubt you knew this but Matt is the primary cook in our home. I do simple breakfast & lunch for us but he is behind the masterpieces that are served in this home. He loves cooking so I let him go at it. He gets inspiration from tv food channels a lot. Even if we end up tweaking recipes & ideas with healthy alternatives, he starts there often. For me, I'm inspired by friends usually. I love surrounding us around other people who love to eat healthy.
I LOVE the grocery store Kara! I knew we were kindred spirits....
I'm inspired by Pinterest...and cooking shows on tv. And I'm sad because my family thinks I'm crazy and doesn't want to play my zany food games most of the time. :( It's a challenge! (But I'm learning how to make it work slowly)
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