Clean up on Aisle 11? Wasn't me!

Since I didn't have to be at my internship this afternoon, I took a much-needed trip to the grocery store.

The stuff on my list was no fun: toilet paper, toothpaste, cat food, eggs etc. But I decided to pick up a few more things while I was there. As I was walking up and down the aisles looking at all of the options for jalapenos and such, a thought struck me.

I shop differently now.

Usually when I go to the grocery store it's with a fairly short list. I have routine foods that I eat everyday for breakfast and lunch and only a few different things for dinner. But rest assured, there isn't any boredom in my palate. I mix it up a lot!

My usual grocery list:
Milk
Egg substitute
Sliced ham
Oatmeal
Mini rice cakes (a great snack between meals - they are like cookies only healthy!)
Salsa (great on everything from meats to salad!)
Baby Carrots
Celery (I alternate between the carrots and celery in my lunches)
Apples
String cheese (great for my post-workout snack!)
Yogurt (just a few - it really isn't "worth it" to me because I don't find it filling)
Peppers
Fresh veggies (That's all I write - then I decide in the store)
Fresh fruit
Meat
Beans

Sometimes I add a few things to it - like toiletries or maybe pasta and sauce, but to be honest, I rarely enter the middle of the grocery store anymore! Mostly, I cook fresh vegetables. I might buy frozen corn, but it's rare for me to buy anything in a can anymore. It's not intentional, it just happened naturally as I became interested in cooking things from scratch.

I bought some processed stuff today - things I wish I had on hand while creating new dishes (like lite soy sauce, fat free mayo and cake mixes), but those were just bonus buys to me. Things I use rarely, but like to have on hand, you know?

I usually keep a couple cans of soup on hand (for those sick days when you just need it) and there are a few cans of "cream of ..." in the pantry, but there are just so many extra calories in processed foods! Not to mention sodium and such that I've found myself gravitating to the fresh alternatives.

It makes grocery shopping a heck of a lot faster, let me tell you! Sticking to the edges of the store means less traffic. I'm in and out much quicker these days! And with my schedule so busy all of a sudden, that the way I like it! Healthy AND fast? I'll take it!