Shopping Cart Snobbery
 

Not a new concept, I've seen it mentioned several times on 3FC before. But I thought I'd devote a whole thread to my shopping cart snobbery.

I never used to care what was in my shopping cart. I never used to care what was in other peoples' shopping carts. However, now that I'm actually being selective about what I eat, and choosing to eat healthy foods as opposed to junk, I care very much about what is in my shopping cart. I take pride in the fact that there are several bags of produce, packages of lean cuts of meat, eggs, whole grains, various spices, organic products, etc in my cart. I walk around pushing my cart, displaying to the other shoppers its contents. My groceries are a reflection of what I eat, and if "we are what we eat," then my groceries are a reflection of my own self. A healthy person who takes time to prepare nutritious whole food and cares about what is feuling my body......As if anybody cares what the **** is in my shopping cart, haha.

My husband was shopping with me the other day, and as much as I love him, he always throws off my grocery shopping routine. I make a list, stick to the list, and have a specific order in which I go through the aisles. He likes to stroll through the aisles tossing whatever looks good in the cart. Well I was going down my list and he was strolling and he tossed a bag of Goldfish crackers in my cart. My healthy wholesome cart full of groceries was completely tarnished because of that bag of Goldfish. I actually ran into a friend and felt legitimately embarrassed that there was a bag of Goldfish in my cart. I don't think she had even glanced at the contents of my cart, but I mentioned two or three times that those weren't MY Goldfish, they were Sean's. I certainly didn't want them, nor was I going to eat them. Again...as if she had even noticed or cared that there were Goldfish in my cart.

So now, in addition to having a pride complex about what's in my own shopping cart, I scan around to the other shoppers to see what they're buying. And as much as I hate that I do it, I make shameless judgements about them based on what they're buying. Today I saw a very overweight woman who had an overflowing cart filled with every kind of junk food one might find in Walmart, but tucked under all the chips, cookies, candy, etc etc there was a 12-pack of Diet Coke and a few boxes of Lean Cuisine. And yes, I judged.

So I confess that I'm a shopping cart snob. I'm not proud of it, especially making out of context judgements about people based on what groceries they happen to be buying that day. So who else is guilty? ;)

I don't judge what others buy, I'm too busy corralling my children to care! That said, I worry about people judging my cart! We buy almost all our food at Costco, and it is all ingredients and very healthy. The few things we buy at the regular store are specialty items that I cannot find in large quantities. So my cart has a special brand of pumpkin, organic yogurt, condensed milk, my husband's ice-cream, green onions, popcorn kernels, peanut sauce, etc etc. Nothing particularly bad, but not a representation of my normal diet, either.

I also tend to run out for specialty ingredients for desserts I make for social gatherings, so my cart will be filled with pie ingredients and custard additives, which also makes me self-conscious.

It makes me so sad that people are more likely to see the fifty pounds I have yetnto lose, rather than the weight I've lost, just because they see me buying coconut shavings and pudding. I hate judgments on others like that :(

When we have guests over, we do what we can do make them comfortable. And as we all know, all too often we love with food. Therefore, I buy more comfort foods, soda, tea, desserts, etc. to entertain.

In addition, I have children in my house. My son eats well... really well. There are times he'll ask for a salad, and he loves green beans, natural peanut butter, apples, lean meats, whole wheat bread, etc and he needs the 2% or whole milk. But because I have a problem with my weight doesn't mean he should be deprived of a treat such as a cookie, cinnamon roll, or even gold fish here and there. We even keep a can of Spaghetti-O's in the pantry for rare emergencies.

The only time I've ever been out right embarrassed was when my mom and stepdad were out of town and his favorite ice cream was on sale and he sent me to the store to buy six, yes SIX half gallons to stock up. I was so mortified as it was the only thing in my cart.

All in all I'd say it's fine to be happy with the selections you've made but don't let it manifest itself into something negative. Try to keep in mind others are at different stages and situations in their lives and may be struggling or shopping for others.

:lol: I have to admit, I get pretty judgmental when I see someone with a cart full of pure junk... and diet soda. Also, I can get a little judgey when I see an overweight person zooming around on those grocery-cart-mobile thingies. There are times I have to stop and remind myself that I don't know these people and so it's unfair to make assumptions. On the other though, if my assumptions are right, then I hurt for them because... I dunno, I just want to see them successful or learn some of the lessons I have, you know?

I also feel a little insecure, and judged, sometimes when I'm checking out my grocery items. As if the cashier is deciding who or what I am based on what I'm buying. :dizzy:

There's nothing I like better than confounding anyone who's nebby enough to look in my grocery cart, or worse, make assumptions about what they see in it. My cart has Kashi cereal nestled next to chocolate ice cream, broccoli snuggled up to Starbursts, and potato chips holding hands with butternut squash. I couldn't care less what other people buy and certainly hope that the things that I buy totally perplex anyone who bothers to look. :lol:

One of the true gifts of weight loss has been learning not to care at all about what other people think of me, especially strangers who know nothing about me or my family or my life situation. :)

I have to admit, that I do the same thing! Total shopping cart snob.

I take it one step further though, I look and notice what is in other peoples carts, and then look at the people. Usually if they have a ton of cr@p in their cart, they are obviously out of shape, and have kids out of shape and running around crazy. Then I think "WOW this is why you are fat." then I step back and realize that it was not THAT long ago that my cart looked fairly similar.

:lol: , Meg. Your cart sounds a lot like mine. My cart is very interesting beween my paleo purchases, my distance running DD's carbs, my growing DS who eats everything that is not nailed down, my gourmet-sushi-eating 10 yo, and my little guy who is in a turkey/pepperjack/white bread phase. And that doesn't even account for DH's dietary preferences.

And then when I'm shopping for a class party or for Cub Scout snacks (or cross country team snacks, etc.) I must have a very confusing cart!

ETA: The one thing 5 out of 6 of us enjoy and eat on a regular basis is Fage greek yogurt with honey.

Originally Posted by Meg:
There's nothing I like better than confounding anyone who's nebby enough to look in my grocery cart, or worse, make assumptions about what they see in it. My cart has Kashi cereal nestled next to chocolate ice cream, broccoli snuggled up to Starbursts, and potato chips holding hands with butternut squash. I couldn't care less what other people buy and certainly hope that the things that I buy totally perplex anyone who bothers to look. :lol:

One of the true gifts of weight loss has been learning not to care at all about what other people think of me, especially strangers who know nothing about me or my family or my life situation. :)

This is where I wanna be

Meg, yes, ditto here. You never know what's going to be in my cart! Fresh produce, almost always but like midwife says there are foodie occasions to shop for too. We entertain often. There are many reasons for buying not-so-healthy fair.

Megan, you make me laugh. :rofl: That was well written even though I've never experienced quite the same shopping experience. ;)

I've also cultivated a "Not my business, not their business" attitude.

It's not always easy, so I deliberately don't look in other people's carts, so there's no temptation or opportunity to feel superior or guilty.

My husband and I both have had to use the motorized carts, and because we're fat, people are going to assume negative and untrue things about us. They're all going to be untrue, but of course that never matters. No one is going to know or care that we've both lost 80+ pounds, or that hubby has a degenerative joint disease, or that we've only ever used the cart as a last resort. We almost never use them when pain is the only issue. We use them when our canes or grocery cart don't provide enough stability.

With my fibro, my physical limitations can and do vary tremendously from day to day, so I've even gotten the "I've seen you walking, so I know you can," looks and even (once) actual commentary.

I'd love to explain it all to the busybodies, but it's not possible and would do no good. It has made me a lot more hesitant to judge others, even when their behavior fits the sterotype.

As I said, I avoid looking into carts, so last night I didn't see the (not at all overweight) family in front of us in the grocery store line with a cart full of junk and allowing each of three small children to select a HUGE candybar, all paying with a foodstamp card.

I didn't notice, but hubby did and asked me in the car, if I had noticed. I felt a twinge of disapproval and reminded myself that for all I knew this could have been a once a year Christmas event.

We don't do our shopping at one store, we shop several stores to save the most money. Our diets are very balanced, but are carts usually aren't, because we don't buy everything in one place. In the oriental market I buy produce, condiments, and occasionally snack foods.

At one store, I never buy produce (so you'd think we didn't eat any).

At one store, I only buy their canned goods (so you'd think that's all we eat).


I hate seeing that condescending judgement in people's eyes, because even though I know I shouldn't care, it always makes me feel like I'm supposed to explain.

"Frankly, Scarlett, I don't give damn" is my attitude. When I'm waiting in line, I'm usually planning the rest of my day and ignoring other people.

I'm chronically nosy, but not judgmental. I really just like seeing what other folks have in there; it's the same impulse that makes me look into someone's open windows and check out their home decor as I'm waking around the neighborhood. (Christmas is especially awesome because people open their blinds to show off their trees. :D)

Yeah, I'm pleased at what's in my own cart. I'm all, "BEHOLD my cornucopia of fresh vegetables and fruit!" whereas I used to feel a little ashamed of my cheetos and lucky charms. I like that when I have uncommon stuff in there, people will ask me about it and I can tell them how awesomely delicious persimmons are.

But I can't judge someone else's stuff; I don't know where they are in life or where they've come from. Maybe that guy with the five bags of Doritos has an eating disorder, or maybe he's doing the shopping for a whole Boy Scout troop's Christmas party, or maybe he's shopping for his neighbor the marathon runner who broke both his legs in a freak bouncy-house accident.

I just feel that if I were to judge others' carts, it'd be an admission that I was somehow "better" when I weighed 128 pounds and ate crap versus weighing 232 pounds eating crap--and I'm not at all willing to say that.

As for judging people in carts, to me that's like assuming that someone with burned skin got that way from a meth lab accident. Why would anyone assume that a physical disability was obviously a result of that individual's bad judgement? I've known folks who were athletic and trim at one point who gained a lot of weight after illness or chronic injury or from medications to treat health issues.

I was raised that it is emphatically not okay to stare at or judge people who get around on wheels instead of feet; for me, that doesn't change if the person is large or small.

Originally Posted by Nola Celeste:
Maybe that guy with the five bags of Doritos has an eating disorder, or maybe he's doing the shopping for a whole Boy Scout troop's Christmas party, or maybe he's shopping for his neighbor the marathon runner who broke both his legs in a freak bouncy-house accident.

I fully agree and imagining the bounce-house scenario made me snort diet coke out my nose. Ow.

I'm very nosy about other people's carts. Just because it's interesting to see what other people buy. I'm rarely judgmental about it, except when people have children. When you have obese children and a cart full of junk food without a single shred of produce, yes, I judge you. I wish I could say that I don't... but I do. As an adult, I don't care what you feed yourself, but I get cranky about people feeding their kids crap. I don't judge the presence of some treats or junk food. I'm talking about the family I saw this week with three obese children under the age of ten, one was so large he had difficulty walking and cellulite on his arms, and mom had a cart full of HiC punch, chips, cookies, frozen chicken wings, corn dogs, icecream, cheezwhiz, etc.

I don't know that I necessarily feel proud of my cart because it defines me- but I get excited when it looks healthy and has lots of colors of produce, just because it makes me excited to cook and eat great ingredients.

I got a kick out of you explaining your shopping habits and your husband's, welcome to married life!!! However I do sometimes buy junk but feel better about it when my cart has other healthy food too! Sometimes I pull to the checkout with $$60 worth of chicken fish and meat and feel strange then but it just so happens I wait for those items to be on sale before I buy them and might not need anything else.
I did also enjoy the discussion here of people judging other people, it can be hard not to judge but has already been said we have no idea where someone is in their life, or what is going on, I heard it best said 'if a man was in an airport with three young kids and the kids were just running around being noisy and being bratty and the man did nothing about it how would you feel' If you then learned his wife had just died and they just come from the funeral would that change your opinion of the man?
If my family was wiped out in a car accident and I turned to food how is that different from drinking, or overspending and charging up credit cards to the wazoo then declaring bankruptcy because of it or cheating on our spouse or partner? We all make mistakes and bad choices unfortunately for the foodaholic the results can be seen by all and I do know just cause someone is overweight there could be many reasons for it, not just shoving in goodies like me to help deal with stress in general and get over the pain of a horribly abusive marriage.

When I quit smoking in July, I inhaled food for the next couple of weeks. I'm sure other people saw a fat chick with a cart full of Cheez-its, but I saw someone who had the strength of will to stop a thirty-year, three-pack-a-day habit cold.

I didn't notice anyone judging my cart then. It's probably a good thing I didn't, because I was one cranky broad at the time and would have flown down the throat of anyone who crooked an eyebrow wrong at me. :D

<---- (Is thinking that a lot of 3FC members are going mental...)

;)

Don't worry. Someday when you are all grown up you'll look back at these years and realize that what you wore to the prom and how your shopping cart compared to others' is just not important in the greater scheme of things...

Jay

I just buy healthy stuff, and send DH out to the store alone when we're out of chips. Oh, and I ask him buy tampons, too. Any man can buy diamonds, but it takes a truly-in-love husband to suffer the indignity of standing in line with a box of tampons.

(Yes, I'm kidding. Well, except for about the tampons.)

b. strong,
Kim

Originally Posted by kaw:
Oh, and I ask him buy tampons, too. Any man can buy diamonds, but it takes a truly-in-love husband to suffer the indignity of standing in line with a box of tampons.

(Yes, I'm kidding. Well, except for about the tampons.)

b. strong,
Kim

Yes. Now veering OT, but when I had my first kiddo, I had no clue about anything. And my milk came in. And my bras didn't fit. And I was crying and hurting and DH (bless his heart) went to Wal-Mart and bought me a bra. Of course his selection missed the mark, but it was very sweet. We were pretty clueless back then. :lol: He tried.

Haha, I hope I didn't vilify myself too badly :) I wrote this thread with the sole purpose of confessing something that I'm not proud of.

And no, I won't judge somebody if they have a bag of Doritos or something. But like Ashley777 said, it's the extreme, and frankly obvious, situations where I catch myself judging. Obese children and parents with a cart load of garbage. The obese woman I saw today with a ridiculously full cart of junk and the case of Diet Coke. It's just the way the human mind works...I see a situation that stands out from the norm in the environment (a cart towering with candy, cookies, chips, Little Debbie cakes, etc...above and beyond the normal amount of junky snacks) and I see the other half of the situation, an obese person or family. The human mind will make connections, I see a result (obese person) and connect it with a cause (cart full of junk). It's my unfortunate human nature to fill in the blanks with judgements and assumptions. Because logically, I KNOW that I have neither the right nor sufficient information to make any kind of assessment about these people that I see. What they're like, what they eat, their health, why they're buying what they buy...nor is it any of my concern. I know this, and whenever a judgement unconcsciously pops into my head, the conscious side of my brain sends a reminder that it's none of my beeswax, hehe.

I'm guilty of it too. If I see a skinny woman buying nothing but junk food I think she must be one of the lucky ones who can eat whatever and stay thin, if I see an obese person buying junk food I just think "why??" and then when I see people with kids just buying junk food and sugary juices you can tell is for the kids I feel kinda bad and wonder why the parents are buying so much junk food for the kids and no fruits, vegetables or healthier stuff.

I never look and I don't see anybody looking in my cart. I have a question, why would you keep telling somebody the "junk" food was your husband's? I know it was to deflect anybody thinking you were eating it but why point out his so- called "bad" habits?

:D Sometimes I go to our local Ralphs/Krogers on Wednesday when the sales start. I will load my cart with 10 mac and cheese boxes ~ 10 spaghetti-o varieties ~ 10 peanut butter and such....none of it for me....all for the pantry for the hungry at our church.

It :D cracks me up...and at the same time :o embarrasses me on what people may be thinking.....that's life :)

Looks even worse if I throw a 30 pack of Budweiser in there too!

Now, THAT, is mine ;)

You know, it wasn't until I read this thread that I realised that I don't really pay much attention to other people's carts at all. Sure, I'll notice the fact that they have lots of stuff in their cart, so it'll be a while, or not so much, so it's almost my turn, but I just don't pay it much attention, much less judge it.

It's different than other times I lost weight, though. Before, I really seemed to care about what was in my cart, what other people would think about it, and I looked at other people's carts, and was sometimes judgmental about it.

But now, it's different, probably for 2 reasons. One, I'm thin, and I know I'm thin, and when I went to the doctor the week before last, all my labs were in order, so my body is doing just fine. Whether I have all organic produce in my cart, or all junk food, I'm healthy, thin, and attractive, and I know that I represent where some people are trying to get, and I have nothing to be ashamed of. I can afford calorically to eat anything I desire, pretty much, within reason, and I'm willing to do extra exercise for it, if necessary... so at the store, I'ma get what I want, and I ain't gonna worry about it.

Two, I've been married to a wonderful man for a little over a year, and right now my main focus is on being a good person and the best wife to him as I possibly can be. As long as he's happy and content and feeling like he can go out and face the world everyday with confidence, knowing he's got a supportive, loving woman back home... I really don't give a good you-know-what about what anybody else is thinking, at least when it comes to my eating habits. :)

Hmm- I've never even thought to look in others carts. Also, I have to feed a husband who eats every meal like it is his last and a VERY picky 6 year old and a 3 year old that just wants spaghettios. My cart is full of junk along with my salad fixins and lean protein.

But, I had a guy I know from the Gym ask what I was doing with frozen pizza in my cart>> I was VERY surprised by this. He really isn't someone I knew too well and it really took me back. But, I told him I have a whole family to feed and they won't all eat salad!

I didn't need to do a big shopping today but I needed milk and also wanted to buy a roll of quarters.
If you had looked into my cart you would have seen 1/2 gallon of nonfat milk, one loaf of Dill Rye Bread, one package of Puperoni (treats for the dog)
one package of Sargento sliced Jarlsberg cheese,2 cans of condensed milk( to make fudge for gifts) , one can of zucchini in tomato sauce. If anybody was looking they would have wondered how do you make a meal out of that ?

I judged... Big time when I was in Walmart with my then infant. A mother was walking throught he aisles pushing her child in the cart when the child said she was hungry. Instead of bringing a snack for her child or opening a bag of pretzels or another decent snack (on a side note I also hate when people eat produce in the store since they don't actually pay for it). Anyway this insane mother proceeded to open a package of hot dogs from the refrigerator section and hand a cold, uncooked hot dog to her child.... Yes I judge!!

:)

Originally Posted by JillyM:
I judged... Big time when I was in Walmart with my then infant. A mother was walking throught he aisles pushing her child in the cart when the child said she was hungry. Instead of bringing a snack for her child or opening a bag of pretzels or another decent snack (on a side note I also hate when people eat produce in the store since they don't actually pay for it). Anyway this insane mother proceeded to open a package of hot dogs from the refrigerator section and hand a cold, uncooked hot dog to her child.... Yes I judge!!

:)

...okay, that story makes me realize that yes, there ARE times when I judge. That would definitely be one of them! :dizzy:

I never notice shopping carts but I sometimes notice those who are in line near me. It is more a curiosity but I don't try to judge people due to their shopping habits, who knows or really cares how they eat?

It is funny in that lately I've been ordering my produce from a farm aggregate type place so they bring my groceries to my house. Since that happens, I buy very little produce in the store. Also, I've gotten pickier in that I rarely buy produce that isn't organic. So if I go to a regular store, I'll hardly ever get any produce since it is so much more expensive there.

The other day I went to Trader Joe's and bought some special treats for some friends, one especially wanted some stuff from Trader Joe's and she doesn't have one near her. So I bought her quite a few items and yes you could consider the items to be junk. I know what I bought will be eaten over many months. Someone looking at my basket would think I eat no veggies and just eat cookies and chocolate when it was for a few people and none for me.

Originally Posted by JillyM:
I judged... Big time when I was in Walmart with my then infant. A mother was walking throught he aisles pushing her child in the cart when the child said she was hungry. Instead of bringing a snack for her child or opening a bag of pretzels or another decent snack (on a side note I also hate when people eat produce in the store since they don't actually pay for it). Anyway this insane mother proceeded to open a package of hot dogs from the refrigerator section and hand a cold, uncooked hot dog to her child.... Yes I judge!!

:)

I don't know, why would a hot dog be worse than pretzels? I don't know but I remember eating cold hot dogs when I was younger. We didn't have them often in the house and they always had to be the turkey ones or low fat but still. If the child likes hotdogs, I wouldn't see the big deal. Its precooked so its not like giving the kid raw chicken.

I find it very annoying when parents give their kids food to eat in the store.I have seen banana peels in a cart, how do they pay for that ? I have also seen moms giving their kids donuts or other pastries, do they tell the checker of the food that was eaten ? I always wonder about that. to me food that is eaten before being paid for is stealing.

I'm sure everyone around me at the grocery store was wondering what I was up to the last time I was there......all I bought was 2 packages of melting chocolate and 3 containers of sea salt! Odd combo, but that's all I needed :D

It gets hard NOT to notice when you're at the conveyor belt by the register. You have to look at something, and the natural thing is the food unloaded in front of or behind you...

I understand a mix of things, some treats and some proper food. I can even understand a stack of boxed microwave dinners (that would have been me in the past :rolleyes: ).

But I have to grimace inside when I see a pile of Cheetos, Hostess Cupcakes, frozen pizza, soda pop and hot dog buns. Egads! How can people do that to themselves...

First of all, I myself have been known to eat a cold hot dog right out of the package, and I'm not ashamed of it. They are precooked, for heavens sake. It's better than giving a child some sugary thing.

Second of all, I have been known to eat food in the store. I just take the wrapper or package with me and have them ring it up at the checkout. If it's fruit, I could weigh it on the scale in the produce dept. and keep the little label that identifies it for the checkout. It's only stealing if you don't pay for it.

Jay

Originally Posted by :
First of all, I myself have been known to eat a cold hot dog right out of the package, and I'm not ashamed of it. They are precooked, for heavens sake. It's better than giving a child some sugary thing.

Maybe I'm really dumb, but I had no idea hot dogs were precooked! That makes me feel better about the lady giving her kid the hot dog in-store.

Originally Posted by :
Second of all, I have been known to eat food in the store. I just take the wrapper or package with me and have them ring it up at the checkout. If it's fruit, I could weigh it on the scale in the produce dept. and keep the little label that identifies it for the checkout. It's only stealing if you don't pay for it.

This. Where I live, you weigh stuff on the scale and it prints out a sticker for you to put on the bag yourself. Then the cashier just cans the sticker, assuming that if she's scanning an empty bag, that you already ate whatever it was.

Originally Posted by :
But I have to grimace inside when I see a pile of Cheetos, Hostess Cupcakes, frozen pizza, soda pop and hot dog buns. Egads! How can people do that to themselves...

Quite easily, if that's what I'm in the mood for. We don't have Hostess Cupcakes here, but I like them and will substitute whatever other cupcakes I like. The soda pop would be diet pop for me, and the hot dog buns... well, I'm not huge on the buns, but I like hot dogs. I prefer fresh pizza but frozen can be tasty, and Cheetos are pretty tasty, too.

For me, junk food definitely has its place, and as long as I stay active and also eat healthy foods, I'm not giving it up for anyone. More power to anyone that eats clean 24/7 and has no place in their life for junk food, but allowing room for it in my life works for me.

Although I don't think I'd ever eat food prior to paying for it at a store, I think if I was a parent of a child, child was hungry, I might find something and give it to them and buy it. I've seen quite a few parents buy opened boxes of things at the store.

Nutritionally, I also think the hot dog is at least as good a choice as pretzels. If it were an all-meat dog, I'd say it's actually a better choice. They're both high in salt, and the pretzels aren't usually whole-grain.

There's also almost no difference between packaged hot dogs and bologna. You don't want to live on deli meats, because they're way too salty, but as a safe and convenient food, they're fine.

In fact, for something fun for summer picnics, I've picked up bologna from the deli (asking for 1/2" slices). Then I buy only hamburger buns for both the burgers and the grilled bologna. It tastes exactly like a hot dog, but fits on a hamburger bun.

I don't look at what other people have in their grocery carts. I don't really care what people are buying. The only time I find myself curious is if they're buying a lot of something and I'm wondering if I'm missing some great sale!

But I have wondered if people are judging my cart and I guess that some people do...oh well! I guess people also wonder why I order Diet Coke at restaurants when I'm ordering some really fattening meal (on my weekly splurge) to go along with it. Regular Coke is just too sweet to me.

Yeah, upon further reflection, a cold hot dog out of the package isn't an abysmal choice. It's just instinctual to think, "Oh--hot dogs aren't wholesome" because it's been so drilled into my head that fat, sodium, and nitrates are "bad food." I should be more aware of that whole bad food/good food thing since I know it's a false dichotomy and that food choices are contextual.

I also freely admit that I don't have kids and was the baby of the family, so for all I know children live on Play-Doh, juice boxes, and sand. It'd be easy to say, "geez, you should feed your kid before you take him into the store," but then we go back to the whole judging thing that I shouldn't do.

Funny how I wouldn't dream of judging a person's cart contents, but would be ready to raise an eyebrow at a harried parent feeding her kid cold hot dogs in the store. It's a good lesson; I could always stand to be kinder and more compassionate. :)

I never even considered that people look at each others' carts at all, let along judge them (dunno why - seems like a normal enough thing to do), until a couple things happened.

1) A cashier commented on my healthy items and talked about how she wanted to get healtier.

2) I had a spaghetti squash in my cart and I heard two people that I passed by go, "That's what we should have for dinner! Spaghetti squash!"

In general, I try very hard not to judge people I don't know. Most times when I do judge, I am dead wrong, especially with appearances. I sometimes glance at the contents of others' carts now, but usually it's unconscious and I barely realize I'm doing it until the contents give me ideas for dinner. ;)

There is no way I can definitely ascertain anything about the person's life from the contents of their grocery cart - No Way. Other than, of course, that they are considering purchasing those items. Lol!

I honestly don't care what others think of my cart. It's my food, and I'm buying it, so unless they want to chip in, they don't get a say. But it is usually healthy foods, and that makes me happy because I know I'm eating better. Whatever others think is up to them.

Interesting topic, though - I never even heard of judging others by their carts until I came to this site. I wonder if it's really prevalent? Now I'll go around watching for people watching me watching them. Haha! :D

Originally Posted by stacygee:
had a guy I know from the Gym ask what I was doing with frozen pizza in my cart.

Uh, weird. I'd probably mention to him that it's for my family, which likes pizza, and while I'm not taking unsolicited diet advice at the moment, I would accept donations toward my grocery bill. :)