seven.

This past weekend, upon heading to the grocery store (after already having been to another grocery store earlier that day...) it hit me: We shop at seven different grocery stores on a regular basis.

I know, I know -- you're wondering why on earth we do this. Well, um, we really love to shop for groceries. It's never a burdensome chore. We love food - healthy food - and we love a variety! We simply could not limit ourselves to one store.

Kroger: The trusty grocery just minutes from home. This store has all the goods that I need to cook - and, often, other stores won't have them. In all actuality, we've only been here once since moving to Virginia. But it's the store I trust most, truthfully!

Wal-Mart: Clearly, the lowest prices in town. We get our (rare) cokes there, bottled waters, and frozen dinners from here. The long lines really stink. And, in our town, there are usually only four lines open - despite there being about 30 lanes. Argh.

The Fresh Market: Probably our favorite store. We especially like the spices that come in little pouches, not bottles. The meat is fresh and a deli dude has to scoop it out for you. It's quite an experience. They also have a HUGE thing of freshly made desserts that look more amazing than what Martha Stewart could whip up. I'm not sure who is behind the counter making these desserts (totally fresh), but the person is a genius.

Trader Joe's: We love this place because they offer gobs of food frozen, and you just have to cook it at home! The entire store is organic, which makes organic prices more affordable. They also always have free samples.. of fancy things. Last week was wine, but it's too bad that we don't drink. They also have an entire aisle of nuts. Good grief, I've never seen so many nuts in my life!

Farm Fresh: Another cutesy healthy organic-ish store. We go here for, yet again, more variety of health foods.

Food Lion: Right next to our subdivision. So, if we go to the other 5 stores and somehow forget something (yes, it happens), we head there.

Commissary: Our last choice. We might be the only military couple who avoids shopping there. But, um, it isn't our favorite. At all. Plus, it's always always busy on the weekends - and that's when we like to shop. But... if we're on base, and we need food.. we're headed there!



Yep, there you go -- 7 grocery stores. I really never knew that such a wide variety of foods existed. This morning, I had some Flax Seed cereal with raisins and organic fat-free milk. Last night I snacked on baby organic green grapes. Tonight we're having orange-glazed chicken stir fry on a bed of rice with egg rolls. Oh gosh, yummo.

The Fresh Market. So quaint!