The Three Faces of Eating

Just as we must eat from a variety of food groups to achieve a healthy diet, so must we shop at a wide variety of grocers in order to get the right food at the right price. For those of us with limited free time, it may seem a bit extreme to make three stops while stocking up on weekly supplies, but your pocket book and your tummy will thank you. My three stops are Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and Dominick’s Finer Foods.

My three pronged approach to shopping begins with Dominick’s. It’s a nice big store with a complete selection of all the basics in food, beverage and household supplies. Coupons and in store specials are plentiful every week and prices are generally very competitive. In recent years, Dominick’s has expanded its produce department to include a salad bar and now offers great homemade prepared meals like pizzas and roast chickens. At Dominick’s I do my foundational shopping, bread, milk, eggs, flower, cleaning supplies, toilet paper etc. This is where the bulk of my groceries come from because $50 really goes a long way.

My next stop is California’s gift to grocery shopping, Trader Joe’s. Specializing in specialty foods at special prices it’s a must for stocking up the freezer or preparing for a party. I love their frozen haricot verts and the frozen seafood aisle is stocked with beautifully prepared salmon filets. Party planning is easy with Trader Joe’s where tasty cheeses and savory crackers are abundant. You’ll find the famous “Two Buck Chuck” or Charles Shaw wine for $1.99 a bottle in the extensive wine area along side other great wines at great prices. If you’re in the mood for fresh flowers, Trader Joe’s has an excellent seasonal variety of fresh cut flowers as well as some nice potted plants.

My final stop, is Whole Foods. This delightful food emporium specializes in organic foods, bulk grains and beautifully prepared foods. I make it my final stop because it’s my chance to indulge in something special for dinner after I’ve gotten all the basics for the week. Truth be told, if I went to Whole Foods first I’d have one gourmet dinner instead of a weeks worth of groceries. Usually when I go I have a special recipe in mind or a new cuisine I’d like to try. No matter what you have in mind, Whole Foods satisfies your wildest culinary dreams. Last week I made a giant seafood paella and found everything I needed from the briny mussels to the fine threads of saffron.

Do yourself a favor, take the time to cut corners where you should and indulge your taste buds where you can.

Good Luck and Good Shopping!