Shopping Cart Judge

I'm not talking about some new fangled adult version of a Grocery sponsored Soap Box Derby. I'm talking about standing in line and judging people by what's in their carts. I do it. I know people have judged me too. You can see it in their faces.

I've been embarrassed by my purchases before. Ramen noodles, cookies, Lance Crackers, and three cases of Mountain Dew and a carton of Marlboro. You can not get much worse than that (or more redneck). I felt like I needed a big sign that said "This is for my husband who has the metabolism of a Roadrunner on ACME espresso and the taste buds of a 10 year old boy."

My poor husband suffers without a lot of his processed goodies because I'm too embarrassed to buy them. People don't see "woman married to an iron stomach." They see "fat woman who eats and feeds her family like shit." And I don't. So I refuse to buy that kind of stuff. Oh I'll sprinkle one or two items in a cart full of healthy foods, but lets get real, I never have a CART FULL. I shop for my fresh produce, herbs, specialty cheeses and some of my meats at the Farmer's market. I get basic items like spaghetti noodles, canned tomatoes, and condiments at Aldi's. I shop in a regular grocery store for very few things: Hubbies sodas, hot chocolate, frozen veggies, Pet Brand Milk products (fewer hormones but cheaper than organic) and cleaning supplies, so its hard to hide the bad for you things in there.

Here's why I'm concious of being judged on my shopping cart: BECAUSE I DO IT! I stand in line and look at what people are purchasing and I judge them for it. A mom with three screaming kids and cart full of processed box crap, luncheables and Little Debbies and soda. I judge you and side-eye you. I don't think "AW, she's on a budget and buying cheap stuff." No. I think "if you didn't feed your kids that shit, they would be misbehaved and spazzing out all the time." (Horrible I know, and I'll probably have the screaming kid in the grocery store and it won't be because of food. Karma's a bitch).

Single dude with Ramen and Hungryman. I feel sorry for you and want to feed you.

Lady with the well behaved child and a cart full of fruits, veggies and raw meat and bottled water: I commend you and smile.

I just can't stop myself from looking at the shopping cart and what's in it and then judging the imperfections of the adult and/or their children because of it. I think I have watched way too much BBC America with that show "You are what you Eat." Once you become concious of what you put into your body and what that food does to you, you look at the world differently...and everyone's shopping carts.

If you think I'm joking, next time you are standing in line, watch what people are buying and see if you can keep yourself from judging them. I bet you can't, but will you admit it? Never judge a book by its cover and all that crap. My name is Krista, and I'm a shopping cart judge.