August 3 - Shopping for Groceries

I have never really liked shopping but now with my limited eyesight, shopping has become even more of a chore. Whether it is shopping for clothes or shopping for groceries, the idea of wandering around a store and not being able to see the items on sale has no appeal for me whatsoever. Shopping is one activity that I’m not able to accomplish independently. I’m fortunate that Lyle is willing to help out.

Over the years I have made a few adjustments to the way I shop. Some of the changes have come about after much frustration associated with my initial vision loss. I remember that at first I tried doing the weekly grocery shopping from memory. At our local store, I would wander down the aisles looking for familiar items. When the store changed the location of items or when the packaging was altered in some way, I was left up the creek. The only paddle in sight was to flag down a passing store clerk for assistance. Although staff were helpful when called upon, they weren’t always readily available.

I used to be a fairly budget wise shopper, and in the beginning I tried peering at price tags. This didn’t work worth a darn!  In many stores, the print on these tags is almost microscopic. Most times, I had no idea of what I was paying until I reached the cashier’s till.

I have developed a moderate solution for some of this. Apart from things like bread, milk, fruit and vegetables, I try to shop only once a month and I make a list. I make the list on my computer and print it out for Lyle or whomever I have asked to help me. Sometimes this is the staff at the store. If this is the case, I choose a day of the week when they are likely to be less busy. I also tell myself that I must learn not to quibble too much about prices, although I do ask if I am purchasing an item that isn’t part of my usual list. It is certainly helpful to shop with someone who knows me. My friend, Peter, who is completely without sight, lives by himself but also likes to cook for himself. Every ten days or so, his mother accompanies him for his shopping trek. After many years of familiarity, the task has become reasonably easy and has turned into a social occasion instead of a difficult chore.

For someone who is responsible for cooking as well as purchasing food items, the shopping trip doesn’t end at the cashier’s till. Once at home, the groceries need to be sorted and put away. For me, this is just as important. I have arranged my pantry shelves so that I know where everything is. I line cans and tins in an order that I understand and remember. Some cans of food come in different shapes and sizes but I still line them up in order. A can of soup has a different shape than a tin of sardines so the sardines become a separation point on the shelf between the soup and, for me, the can of creamed corn. Packages of food also come in different shapes and sizes, so when we come home from the store Lyle hands me the items out of the grocery bag identifying each one as he does so that I can place it on the shelf. I tend to buy meat in family size packages and then separate the pieces into zip lock bags so that I can place the bags separately on the freezer shelves.

I hope that these few hints are helpful for anyone who is struggling with shopping for groceries. I think that one of my favourite compliments came a few years ago when Lyle and I had another couple over for supper. It was their first time in our house but they both knew that I had vision issues. As I was preparing the meal, Jim looked at his wife and said, “Look at that, Sue knows exactly where everything is!”  Little did he know the behind the scenes preparation which had prompted him to give this positive feedback.