The methods my parents used were very mysterious to me, and usually built a collection of edibles that were either filling or tasty or both. I don’t understand how they were choosing, but I know it wasn’t following any sort of plan other than their own tastes or simplicity of preparation, or cheapness. I’m not too into my food, so I was useless when asked what I would like. I also extremely dislike being in grocery stores or meandering in any store at all, so if I was sent out for groceries I would request a list that I could blindly follow. I would also be back in record time.
Are there certain groceries that it’s okay for me to buy online and have shipped to me? Can I at least research online to cross-compare, to avoid having to sit around and make up my mind in-store, or should I expect certain in-store details that are unmentioned on any website? For research, should I use whatever chain (Walmart, Target, Kroger’s, Sam’s Club, Food City, Big Lots, Dollar General) websites there are, or is there a website that compares across chains for me? I suppose it doesn’t have to be as wide of a search as the list of stores I just mentioned.
I do obviously have an interest in cheapness. But I also have an interest in doing as well as I can. I eat nearly no deserts, unless they are offered to me. Edit: Also, desserts. I’ve never eaten an entire desert before!
There’s only about one privately owned grocery store in this town, so I was wanting to visit it after I could compare from the chain stores. It’s especially easy to do so because it’s usually completely empty of other customers.
Also, the overwhelming number of brands. …I don’t like that. But I don’t know how to break it down. I look up “Plain unsweetened yogurt” and I get… that. Confuses the floop out of me.
I don’t know what else to ask about, save for serving sizes, food pyramids or whatever, coupons (wasn’t there a big post about coupons on Less Wrong?), and volume of purchases, that is, how much I can buy and therefore expand the time between having to shop anew. Edit: In the same vein, preservation. Canned foods, dried, whatever.
This problem sounds like it could be most effectively addressed by having someone go shopping with you and narrate what they’re doing. Where do you live?
Edit: Um… or did you mean, the type of area in which I live? Suburbs, mostly chain stores, except for the one privately-owned one. Near a college / city. There are some “organic” stores, and also a few farmer’s markets.
No, I did mean specifically; if you were around here I was considering accompanying you to a supermarket and talking about brand-selection algorithms and stuff.
Some supermarket chains offer home delivery services. You most likely still have to know what you want to buy, but at least you won’t have to enter the store itself.
Do you pay attention to what kinds of food you like more than others? Also, how much effort do you typically put into your meals/food preparation?
Uuuuuummm… admittedly, I often don’t pay attention, unless it’s at a restaurant, but even then I’ll probably just get the standard burger, because I don’t like to spend much time going over a menu. I tend to eat the same meals over and over, usually never for pleasure. Some style of eggs in the morning, maybe a bit of this granola / peanut butter mix the parents buy. and I just sort of stare into the fridge for lunch, or give up and go for fast food. I think I’ve been eating too much fast food. Eventually the three of us will come to some sort of agreement about dinner, usually throwing something into the oven until it’s done.
It doesn’t feel too healthy or well considered, but I apparently don’t gain weight. I don’t know what other health benefits to expect from improving my diet. More energy? Less… bad, ill considered diet consequences?
I think the two parents follow different purchasing plans. One buys for bulk, potential for leftovers, and taste, however they do query me for healthy-looking things, like fruit and yogurt. The other buys for cheapness and taste, how filling it may be, and simplicity. The only fruit they buy seems to be bananas, and maybe apples?
So, very little effort is put into the meals. I don’t know how to cook and often have little time or patience for it, and the one who does know how to cook has no time for it. The third buys the very simple meals that can be popped into the oven or microwave and require little intervention, but also has me prepare them. The simplicity is enough for my lack of cooking skills.
It’s nutritional value that seems to be falling to the wayside, and I was wanting to do better. I have grown used to the large meals that are only eaten thrice a day, but it’ll also definitely be easier for me to switch than for the other two to do so. If anything, I could buy groceries for myself.
I feel like I’ve completely failed to answer your question. Should I get a cookbook?
I’d recommend against getting (buying) a cookbook, as you can find recipes and food ideas for free on the internet. It sounds like you don’t mind eating more or less the same things every day (more power to you!), but want to pay more attention to diet and health? Other than eating a variety of food groups, it’s hard to give specific advice through the internet. This does sound like an issue best solved by finding someone knowledgable about food and learning from them, as Alicorn points out. It’s also a good way to familiarize yourself with the basics of cooking, which is something that recipes tend to assume you have already.
How does one buy groceries?
The methods my parents used were very mysterious to me, and usually built a collection of edibles that were either filling or tasty or both. I don’t understand how they were choosing, but I know it wasn’t following any sort of plan other than their own tastes or simplicity of preparation, or cheapness. I’m not too into my food, so I was useless when asked what I would like. I also extremely dislike being in grocery stores or meandering in any store at all, so if I was sent out for groceries I would request a list that I could blindly follow. I would also be back in record time.
Are there certain groceries that it’s okay for me to buy online and have shipped to me? Can I at least research online to cross-compare, to avoid having to sit around and make up my mind in-store, or should I expect certain in-store details that are unmentioned on any website? For research, should I use whatever chain (Walmart, Target, Kroger’s, Sam’s Club, Food City, Big Lots, Dollar General) websites there are, or is there a website that compares across chains for me? I suppose it doesn’t have to be as wide of a search as the list of stores I just mentioned.
I do obviously have an interest in cheapness. But I also have an interest in doing as well as I can. I eat nearly no deserts, unless they are offered to me. Edit: Also, desserts. I’ve never eaten an entire desert before!
There’s only about one privately owned grocery store in this town, so I was wanting to visit it after I could compare from the chain stores. It’s especially easy to do so because it’s usually completely empty of other customers.
Also, the overwhelming number of brands. …I don’t like that. But I don’t know how to break it down. I look up “Plain unsweetened yogurt” and I get… that. Confuses the floop out of me.
I don’t know what else to ask about, save for serving sizes, food pyramids or whatever, coupons (wasn’t there a big post about coupons on Less Wrong?), and volume of purchases, that is, how much I can buy and therefore expand the time between having to shop anew. Edit: In the same vein, preservation. Canned foods, dried, whatever.
This problem sounds like it could be most effectively addressed by having someone go shopping with you and narrate what they’re doing. Where do you live?
Knoxville, Tennessee.
Edit: Um… or did you mean, the type of area in which I live? Suburbs, mostly chain stores, except for the one privately-owned one. Near a college / city. There are some “organic” stores, and also a few farmer’s markets.
No, I did mean specifically; if you were around here I was considering accompanying you to a supermarket and talking about brand-selection algorithms and stuff.
Aaaaahhhh. In that case, I should have asked sooner: I was in California for about nine days back in May. :)
Some supermarket chains offer home delivery services. You most likely still have to know what you want to buy, but at least you won’t have to enter the store itself.
Do you pay attention to what kinds of food you like more than others? Also, how much effort do you typically put into your meals/food preparation?
Yeah, I’m still figuring out what I want....
Uuuuuummm… admittedly, I often don’t pay attention, unless it’s at a restaurant, but even then I’ll probably just get the standard burger, because I don’t like to spend much time going over a menu. I tend to eat the same meals over and over, usually never for pleasure. Some style of eggs in the morning, maybe a bit of this granola / peanut butter mix the parents buy. and I just sort of stare into the fridge for lunch, or give up and go for fast food. I think I’ve been eating too much fast food. Eventually the three of us will come to some sort of agreement about dinner, usually throwing something into the oven until it’s done.
It doesn’t feel too healthy or well considered, but I apparently don’t gain weight. I don’t know what other health benefits to expect from improving my diet. More energy? Less… bad, ill considered diet consequences?
I think the two parents follow different purchasing plans. One buys for bulk, potential for leftovers, and taste, however they do query me for healthy-looking things, like fruit and yogurt. The other buys for cheapness and taste, how filling it may be, and simplicity. The only fruit they buy seems to be bananas, and maybe apples?
So, very little effort is put into the meals. I don’t know how to cook and often have little time or patience for it, and the one who does know how to cook has no time for it. The third buys the very simple meals that can be popped into the oven or microwave and require little intervention, but also has me prepare them. The simplicity is enough for my lack of cooking skills.
It’s nutritional value that seems to be falling to the wayside, and I was wanting to do better. I have grown used to the large meals that are only eaten thrice a day, but it’ll also definitely be easier for me to switch than for the other two to do so. If anything, I could buy groceries for myself.
I feel like I’ve completely failed to answer your question. Should I get a cookbook?
I’d recommend against getting (buying) a cookbook, as you can find recipes and food ideas for free on the internet. It sounds like you don’t mind eating more or less the same things every day (more power to you!), but want to pay more attention to diet and health? Other than eating a variety of food groups, it’s hard to give specific advice through the internet. This does sound like an issue best solved by finding someone knowledgable about food and learning from them, as Alicorn points out. It’s also a good way to familiarize yourself with the basics of cooking, which is something that recipes tend to assume you have already.