May 22nd, 2025 Thursday Cloudy
What is one of the most underrated “survival skills” of an adult?
I believe it is grocery shopping (some may say cooking, and I admit that the two are related). It is not something ever taught in schools, yet is essential to ensure food security of yourself and your family.
For a beginner shopper, the options in a typical grocery store can be overwhelming. With no salesperson to provide guidance, one can easily fall prey to “choice paralysis”. How can we compare so many kinds that differ in numerous dimensions (e.g. ingredients, price, packaging, special features) AND know that we have made the best decision?
Fortunately, some cookbook writers take the perspective of their novice readers, and specify the exact type and packaging of the item used in the recipe. Although it seems unnecessary for experienced home cooks, such details were of a great help for someone moving to a new country or starting grocery shopping for the first time. At this stage, my shopping list was extremely detailed, and read more like a catalog.
Once I became more comfortable with the offerings in supermarkets here, I also gained more knowledge through reading and researching about well-established recommendations in nutrition (in various languages – you would be shocked to see how much cultural differences there are). Considering the needs and budget of my family, I could pick the “winner” with more confidence. At this point, I ventured out to try as many new products as I could, and I began to ignore the suggestions of recipe authors. My shopping list no longer contained brand names.
Then, leveling up the game again, I discovered another degree of freedom – real deal hunting.
I am not talking about clipping all the coupons and rushing to collect them all from the shelves. Rather, I walk into the shop with only a general idea of either dishes I want to cook, or dishes I could cook. I stroll my cart around to spot potential candidates that could help me achieve my goals, giving particular attention to sales or produce that look fresh and attractive. I may still have a shopping list, but it is a guideline, a synopsis, not an order.
This approach allows the maximum flexibility to scoop up bargains, as many things with low price tags and high quality may not be advertised at all (e.g. the majority of the produce section). It does require some self-discipline so as not to fill our storage space completely 😛
For example, yesterday I stopped by an Asian market to grab some leeks. As I wandered by the vegetables, I noticed that small napa cabbages were in decent shape. Given how often we eat leafy veggies (in noodles, soups, or just a side dish), it is always nice to hold some in stock, so I selected a bag.
Next, a pack of chicken mid-wings caught my eyes. There was no immediate plan to use them, yet I remember quite a few chicken wing-based entrees. Since meats can be safely kept in the freezer for as long as a year, buying them now to save for later seems like a no-brainer.
Just like that, I concluded my quick trip with satisfaction. While nothing fancy, being able to master the skill of grocery shopping makes me feel like a well-qualified adult 🙂