tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38366278.post5510879693580570887..comments2007-04-16T12:22:40.483-07:00StudentAffairs.comnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38366278.post-16080518125031959982007-04-16T07:57:00.000-07:002007-04-16T07:57:00.000-07:00Dear Pick Me,<BR/><BR/>Millenial? Wow. Okay, so I was born on the cusp of Gen X and Y, roughly 1980, so I'm a bit older than you, but really, if you can buy gas, you can surely buy groceries. It's the same concept: diesel or gas or E85 biofuel...Here's a hint: stay to the outside of the store for healthy foods, shop your produce first to make sure your cart is full of the good for you stuff first, and venture into the cookie aisle at your own risk. Or, if you live in a big enough city, buy your groceries online. :-) Don't shop when you're hungry, and shop when the stores are the least full (get up early on Saturday morning and then take a nap in the afternoon) and power through. If you can, shop for several weeks of dry goods and you'll only have milk, bread, fresh fruit etc to buy weekly. If you have dried pasta on hand, you'll never starve. Take a cooking class or look to a relative with expertise for the basic lessons. Offer to buy the ingredients if they'll teach you how to make something REALLY good. It can't hurt to know how to make a good lasagna or your own pizza sauce. Look for advice on pantry staples online. Spices are your friend and so are discount grocery stores for most produce and canned food. Good luck and take the plunge, or run through a grocery store to check out the layout. Get a big cart and push it. If you're living alone, you'll only need a big cart once in a while, otherwise a little basket will do. :-) Don't wait until you're starved and living on your own to check it out. Even if you walk the store's aisles for hours and only buy bananas or chips, no one will notice. Do it now while you are still where you feel comfortable--all stores are basically the same. Find your favorite foods as a kid or gourmet indulgences--looking for them you will find the basic items you need (sometimes in surprising places) as you go. Oh yes, and TAKE A LIST!!Lil Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com