Besides other factors, I've found that how one shops for food is one of those things that depends completely on where and how you were raised.
Being from the midwest means dairy, beef, and corn are readily available.
Pineapple? Not so much.
Fish? Nothing fresh unless it's from Lake Michigan.
Tofu? who? what?
My family went to the local chain grocery, Walmart (for the cheap tolietries), as well as the be all and end all of cheap groceries: ALDI!
Aldi only has private brands and there is only one brand to choose from. It's a whole store of generics.
And barely anything costs more than $1.50.
The meat is frozen, the veggies are frozen, and boxes and cans line the aisles.
This is midwest shopping at it's finest.
Luckily, there are plenty in Chicago and I've found that no matter where I live, I'm within a mile or two of one.
But friends and the news have me thinking that perhaps I should think more about what I eat.
Buying more locally and more organic and (most importantly) more expensive.
As I've grown a bit and gotten used to the fact that YES, I WILL SPEND THE MONEY I MAKE, I CAN'T SAVE IT ALL, and I moved and realized that the Aldi was a bit further away, I have branched out.
I went to the organic section at the local store.
But most importantly, I went to Trader Joes.
Now quickly, here is basically the difference between the two stores.
Aldi:
Look at the cute old people and the large, empty and yet easy to navigate aisles. Sure the food is full of sodium and may give you cancer but dammit if the layout is not distinctly German.
Now here's Trader Joes:
Cramped, crowded, the aisles get smaller as you go down them, and half of the shoppers feel better than you because they are shopping there.
The checkout system alone confused the shit out of me. There is no belt to put my food on so I couldn't just put the food back into the cart and bag my own at the bagging table (LIKE ALDI). Instead I had to stand there and try to shove the food into my bike panniers as fast as he scanned them since there is no room ANYWHERE while the yupsters in line behind me stare at me like I'm one of the old ladies at Aldi (let me tell you, they move when it's time to move.)
Also, why are there more people working at Trader Joes than shopping there? It's already bad enough trying to cram the food, carts, and shoppers in. Then throw in about 25 employees walking around the floor asking me if I need help.
Yeah, I need you to get the fuck outta my way and tell the assholes at the cheese counter that NO I DO NOT WANT A SAMPLE.
At Aldi, nobody bothers you. You shop, you leave, it's perfect. I have to pump myself up for Trader Joes. I have to mentally prepare myself for the confusing layout (why are the crackers above the frozen food?), the crowds, and especially the tight, rushed space that is the checkout counter (because it's not a line, it's a god damned counter like I'm checking into a hotel and there is no concierge to take my bags.)
But dammit.
The food tastes better.
I got the thin frozen green beans from both Aldi and Trader Joes and guess what?
Trader Joes was better.
While I sacrifice money, atmosphere, and my own sanity, I am gaining HOPEFULLY a healthier meal and, eventually, a healthier body.
but wait a second.
QUICK HISTORY LESSON.
Aldi was started by two brothers from Germany. Karl Albrecht and Theo Albrecht. They had a disagreement sometime 45 years ago or something and Theo was all PEACE OUT and then in the late 70's, he BOUGHT Trader Joes.
Yes.
Aldi and Trader Joes are just brothers.
It all makes sense now.
Aldi was all "well I'm cheap and all but dammit if I don't give the customer a superior shopping experience as well as lower prices."
And Trader Joes laughed in Aldi's face and was like, "HAHA, American's think you are for poor people, they will do anything to eat my organic food, even if it means getting their toes run over by carts."
I'd like to think I can keep going to both. Hit up Aldi for bulk items and Trader Joes for specialty foods.
Who says I can't date two brothers at once?
I want to have my organic cake and eat it too.
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