*894 - fresh vs. processed

Russo's: my favorite grocery store, almost like a farmer's market (think little cardboard containers of baby tomatoes; little wooden baskets of apples), with the freshest produce and the hugest variety (e.g. six species of eggplant to choose from)--well worth the 15 minute drive.

Today, I spent a happy hour prancing up and down every single aisle, contemplating different varieties of the same vegetable or fruit, choosing the shiniest, brightest, firmest. A handful of sugar snap peas, a duo of vine-ripened tomatoes, a loaf of fresh baked bread. I buckled under the weight of my purchases and filled my fridge up to the brim, as always.

Total cost of more than a week's worth of fresh fruit, veggies, meat, and eggs: $25.

Other Generic Supermarket: because Russo's sells none of that processed stuff (or if it does, it's an organic and very expensive version that's out of my budget), I had to pop by a more "typical" supermarket on the way home.

Total cost of two boxes of cereal and a bottle of pasta sauce: almost $15.

Just thought that was interesting. And maybe a sign that I should move towards eating more of the fresh stuff vs. the processed stuff.

But how can I give up my cocoa puffs for breakfast!! :(