Grocery shopping is self care

Broken leg, late night, dead of winter. I'd have to be really out of commission to use a grocery delivery service. I mean no disrespect to anyone routinely using the Instacarts of the world — grocery delivery is a utility, sure. So is Soylent.

Most of the grocers in my neighborhood offer delivery, app or not. That's a good thing. But consider this: there are few better ways to spend a small chunk of your day than casual grocery shopping. It’s self-care.

I like rummaging in my fridge and cabinets and writing a list. I like the walk to the store — I go to the third closest to my apartment, relishing the distance. Tote bag pressed into the bottom of my basket, I start with the fruit and vegetables near the entrance: carrots. On to the drygoods: muesli. Dairy: sour cream.

My list is always short a few entries to make the experience more fun, and I generally allow myself an impulse buy or two. A jar of chili oil, a pack of cookies. There's always a pass through the cleaning goods aisle, grabbing hand soap or sponges just in case we're running low.

At this particular store, the checkout line is next to an open cooler unit holding olives and other primarily Mediterranean goods. I've been liking this brand of hummus with caramelized onions on the bottom. They got me.

I usually stop on my way home to finish up at the smaller, Asian grocery. They have better and cheaper green onions than anyone else nearby, ditto their spinach. Then, home to unpack — the whole experience takes about 45 minutes, with the week’s bill generally landing between $40 and $70.

A critical appeal of the grocery store is the sheer bounty and volume of items you can come away with — it's the most quotidian shopping experience, but pound for pound, the most satisfying.

I like shopping for clothes, but there's always this regret or doubt that’s not present after grocery shopping. That would surely change if I was wealthy enough to buy twelve new outfits at once with the financial consequence roughly equalling the purchase of a dozen eggs. 

On Monday, I went to the closest grocery, compromising for the winter weather. Their produce selection is less expansive than my preferred shop. My lunch for the week became avocado toast, something I hadn't made in months (years?), just because they had a special (five for $3). Two other specials make the highlight reel: three containers of tofu for $5 and two blocks of Cabot cheese for $6.

Lunch this week has been two slices of sourdough (loaf acquired from a local bakery on a busy Sunday morning) toasted in a cast iron, topped with a touch of mayonnaise, half a sliced avocado each, thin-cut red onion, Maldon salt, a squeeze of lime, and hot sauce.

Reader — what were the highlights of your most recent grocery run? Reply or add a comment below.