I like grocery shopping. I should add to this by saying if I can do it on a weekday morning or late evening. I enjoy browsing the aisles and letting a sale item or new product spark an idea for a recipe.
I’m a list shopper and yes; I usually come home with something that wasn’t on the list. It often falls into the category of dark chocolate. I’m thinking I should just start putting it on the list and then I wouldn’t be guilty of straying.
As I read through food blogs I notice many people mention receiving deliveries of fresh produce at their doorstep. It got me thinking – how many people out there take advantage of online food shopping and delivery?
I’ve seen opportunities, but I’ve never taken advantage.
Then I came across an article published in the Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity that evaluated the use of grocery delivery service by overweight participants. I first saw it mentioned in Shape magazine, but I found the actual article online here if you’d like to check it out.
Each group was given a diet plan, exercise recommendations and therapy in the areas of nutritional/behavioral psychology. One group was encouraged to purchase their groceries online (the study reimbursed shipping costs only) and they also got an extra nutritional counseling session.
When all was said and done online shopping decreased the number of high fat foods purchased. Participants reported this type of shopping improved their healthy choices and helped them to avoid impulse purchases.
Hmmm…impulse purchases like, say, unnecessary chocolate.
Have you tried online grocery shopping? What do you think? And the big question for me is – is it more cost effective?
On another note, I wanted to mention that I tried the Baked Potato and Broccoli Soup Erica posted about Saturday on her blog, Itzy’s Kitchen. Very tasty! I followed the recipe, but cut the milk to 1 cup and the cheese to ½ cup, mixing shredded parmesan and smoked provolone. Then I used an immersion blender to mix it all making it more of a cream soup. It was so good!
Top photo by Clara Natoli, morguefile.com
“I’m a list shopper and yes; I usually come home with something that wasn’t on the list.”
ME TOO!!! :0)
When I was AWAY at college (now I’m at a college near home – hooray!!), I used an online grocery service called Peapod, to deliver groceries to my dorm (since Freshmen weren’t allowed to bring their cars on campus – boo!!). I highly recommend their services!!!
Lori-
I would NEVER. I adore grocery shopping, WF is my mothership and I’M SO PICKY ABOUT MY PRODUCE, it’s insane! Plus, I adore the entire process <333 Quality Control is HUGE for me 🙂
GR8 QUESTION THOUGH… HAPPY HUMPDAY! 🙂 I hope it’s fabulous 🙂
Yummy recipe! I love to walk down all the aisles and browse at stores. It depends on the day. Sometimes I am an impulse shopper and sometimes I am not!
I like going to the grocery store too much to give it up, too. 🙂 I think we’re a biased audience. hehe.
We have a grocery service here, but it is mega-expensive. I can definitely see grocery services contributing to eating better. You miss seeing all of the unhealthy and tempting alternatives. I probably wouldn’t use a grocery service even if it was reasonable, though. I’m so particular about the brands I use and my produce. Plus, I would miss being introduced to some really good products if I didn’t do my shopping myself!
In Boston we have a home delivery service for organic produc,e which I used over the winter when it was so cold I didn’t want to walk to the grocery store!
It was cool to sometimes get vegetables that I’d never prepared before–a learning experience! Still, nothing beats choosing your own produce.
simple and divine – Welcome and thanks for stopping by!
I agree with everyone. I like to shop to much too. For me, its part shopping, cost and moving. At least walking the store is a bit more pa for my day! Beats sitting at a computer.
veggiegirl – I do see how that would be great for college students. My husband had the same car issue at Purdue. The delivery would have been perfect.
michelle – I do have to say that the idea of delivered, fresh produce in the middle of winter is certainly appealing.
Owww I feel honored that you tried something I made 🙂 Thanks! I like the alterations you made! Very nice. I wish I had my immersion blender! About 3/4 of our stuff is in storage right now so I am cooking with like 3 pots and pans and 5 utensils….its quite an interesting experience ;).
I have never grocery shopped online. My biggest issue would be that I buy produce based on what looks the most fresh and I couldn’t do this online!
I like grocery shopping and I’ve tried grocery delivery service. The service was great, especially in the winter with 2 young children. Really convenient, the produce was always fresh and looked good. If there was ever a problem, they refunded your money. But the service was expensive and the company went out of business! Back to the store for us.
I like to have a list when grocery shopping as well. I do sometimes some home with things that are not on the list though…
erica – Oh, I so know how you feel. I didn’t bring very many things to Brazil with me and they don’t have many things here that I was used to cooking with at home. I’m often in the middle of cooking missing one of those things!
striving green – Thanks for letting us know your experiences. That was such a great deal that they had a refund policy. A lot of people seem to like to shop, but I think the companies have a place for helping those that might be too busy. If it gets healthy foods into their over the drive thru I say it is a positive.
kevin – I find that I feel so lost without list. It’s that whole “now what did I come in here for” feeling. Ha, ha!
I used to get a food delivery in San Francisco when it was free. I loved it because they carried it up to my apartment for me & I got beautiful produce & meat. Once they started charging for the delivery I stopped though as it was too expensive.
Now shopping is a weekly trip for my husband & I. I am a list shopper since I make a weekly menu but he likes to wonder down all the aisles looking for interesting additions.
Wow, how great to get the delivery free. That would have convinced me to give it a try. That is great that you all use your shopping as time together. We do that often as well.