A Different Trader Joe's Experience

Yesterday, I went grocery shopping for KLC, the kids, and myself. This is the first time I've done this solo and thankfully I had a list. I realize shopping for four people rather than just one should be a simple multiplication exercise. The truth is for the past few years, I've struggled to do much cooking for myself and many meals involved take-out or 'cooking' by raiding the prepared foods section at Whole Foods. So gathering up enough food to cover meals for all of us over the course of one week was different. Let's just say it was the full push cart vs. the little basket I used to use.

Not that there is anything monumentally wrong with my eating habits in Boston, except I felt like it was wasteful (money-wise) and didn't always involve the healthiest choices. For some reason, it was really difficult for me to break out of that cycle. (OK, one reason might be that I lived in a neighborhood that had fab restaurants and other things within walking distance of my condo.) I had a hundred false starts in cooking and eating in more, but it was just really hard to motivate for putting in the effort just for myself.

While I still enjoy going out to eat, I also really like being at home and cooking for myself in addition to KLC and the kids. And when I do get something outside of the house, I appreciate it that much more. Again, I knew this would be the case, but it has taken a shake-up of my life to really force a change for me. This is a relatively minor improvement in life since moving to Seattle, but I think an important one nonetheless. Besides, maybe one day I'll learn how to make sushi at home, but until then I will reserve the right to occasionally fall into my old ways ...