Store Reactions

[JennaLynne]

So I just got back from City Market. It is my third trip going there for my raw food shopping trips. Every single time I have gone- when I get to the cash register, the cashier, without fail, will go "Wow... looks like someone is eating healthy." Then they'll look at my kids and say something along the lines of "no junk food for you huh?" The bagger will usually comment as well. These aren't rude comments, just conversation. But I find it both amusing and sad that it would be so unsual that when people go to the store and buy only produce it becomes a conversation.

Anyone else experience this on their shopping trips?

[Stina]

I go around volunteering all the time to strangers that I'm Raw. (okay, except when I slip up and eat junk:rolleyes: ). I think it's part of how a movement is spread. Peoples' eyes tend to glaze over in noncomprehension. But I think I get your point: it's socially acceptable to take your kids to McDonalds, feed 'em Raw food-you're a weirdo!:confused:

[Beckla]

I tell people, too! Often I get a "what are you gonna do with all those nuts???"

Best responses are things like "Make lasagna" or "Figured I'd make some tacos tonight."

I've had some terrific reactions and conversations. Last time I was checking out at Trader Joes, the clerk said, as she rang up the bag of frozen chicken breasts I got for my husband (gag), "Oh, I need to get me some of those!" I smiled and said, "Yeah... they're for my husband. I'm a raw vegan." Stopped her in her tracks. With wide eyes, she said, "YOU ARE??" Then she regrouped and, while ringing up my fruit, veggies, nuts, etc, etc., next said, "Well, ok. So WHAT do you EAT?"

I paused and then said, "Um - you're looking at it."

LOL

[nzgirl]

I get odd reactions all the time. It's kind of embarrasing. When I was eating cooked my main groceries were veggies, brown rice and tofu and the bagger always had a comment about how healthy I am. Stina, you're right. Junk food is normal, buy just produce and you're weird.:(

[Ariannah]

I had once been asked if I'm doing shopping for my restaurant or catering ;)

Not many people leave a store with 6 bags of oranges and 8 bags of grapes. Not to mention 5 cantaloupes.

[littleangelbear]

I get it all the time too :) Hee hee! People will say, "Oh, you eat really healthy." I'll agree and say that I feel great :) I don't go into the whole bit about my diet 'cause I don't want people to think that raw vegan is the only healthy way to eat ;)

[RawVee]

I tell people, too! Often I get a "what are you gonna do with all those nuts???"

Best responses are things like "Make lasagna" or "Figured I'd make some tacos tonight."

I've had some terrific reactions and conversations. Last time I was checking out at Trader Joes, the clerk said, as she rang up the bag of frozen chicken breasts I got for my husband (gag), "Oh, I need to get me some of those!" I smiled and said, "Yeah... they're for my husband. I'm a raw vegan." Stopped her in her tracks. With wide eyes, she said, "YOU ARE??" Then she regrouped and, while ringing up my fruit, veggies, nuts, etc, etc., next said, "Well, ok. So WHAT do you EAT?"

I paused and then said, "Um - you're looking at it."

LOL

Beckla, girl, this made me snort water. :) Not only did it make me laugh, but made me miss TJs in Brookline. Ahhhhhh.

[RawVee]

I was in Trader Joes a couple of weeks ago. I buy Smart Water by the case there. So I had 2 cases of water, a bunch of organic bananas and some portabellas in my cart. The lady behind me had a grocery cart FULL of junk food (Amazing that someone would willingly shop at TJs and still come out with all crap)--chips, cheesey foods, etc. She kept *staring* at my cart, then at me.

I finally said to her "I'm reallllly thirsty." And she said "You're making me feel guilty." So I smiled at her and said "No, you're making you feel guilty. I'm just drinking a lot of water."

Amazing how defensive people get when they see you eating healthy, even though you're not trying to preach. :)

[Lay-Lay]

I love helping people come to know about raw foods and I know everyone must start somewhere. But I no longer go out of my way to explain it. It may get mentioned and if they want more information, then I give them my number or email and tell them if you are really interested call or email me and I will explain it all. Once in a balloon someone does.

[JennaLynne]

Exactly what I was trying to get at stina... like Alissa says in her book, people think she's crazy or unhealthy for eating 6 bananas at breakfast, but when people eat hash browns, bacon, pancackes, eggs, etc... no one says anything and it's normal!

and rawvee... it is amazing how defensive people get even when you don't say anything at all!!:cool:

[hypnocmt]

Here in chicago it's no big thing to eat raw cause alot of fitness trainers do it before competitions, and we have a pretty big veggie community. Awareness of raw is pretty ubiquitious, even if at very low levels.

I actually find myself more incredulous of people who spend $400-500 at whole foods to feed their families pasta, organic fried snacks, and feta cheese stuffed steaks. I know these folks probably have to spend another few hundred on heart meds, insulin, caffeine, and personal trainers to counteract the after effects of their expensive, organic, but funky, processed food habits. Seems like the old snake eating its tail.


Oh well...this year they're doing more organic

Next year maybe organic veggie

next year maybe organic raw vegan

[JennaLynne]

Oh well...this year they're doing more organic

Next year maybe organic veggie

next year maybe organic raw vegan

Yeah, Organic food is becoming a really big and well-known thing. Hopefully with a little more time, Raw will too!

[tweety]

this one fella i know at work is always drinking protein shakes.. GAG!
and before i went raw i would ask him about it and i started doing them to try and lose weight... um really failed at that!! LOL...

so today he saw me in the hallway and asked me if i was still doing protein shakes and i said "no" and he said "yeah they get pretty old after a while"

and i told him that i switched to raw. he actually just stood there and listened to me while i babbled on. it was pretty funny.

next thing i know im telling him to go read up on Vegan Body Builders and Im the one telling him about the difference of muscle mass and longevity that comes with a vegan diet. LOL!

[juliebove]

I don't usually get any weird comments. Although I did get one the week my husband decided to go on a diet and said he would eat only salads, hummus and baby carrots. I bought a ton of that stuff and nothing else because I'd already done my shopping for the week. The checker asked if I was throwing a party.

[KindnessToAllCreatures]

Cute thread!

As I was leaving Sam's Club this evening (similar to Costco) with a cart full of fruit, the checker on the way out teasingly commented, "Oh, I see you're only eating junk food" with a smile on his face. (He was being sweet.)

I like to believe that we all have some sort of subtle influence on others. People we see in passing at the store are unlikely to adapt to our lifestyle. However, I think seeing us with our carts full of healthy foods helps them to realize that there is more to a dietary lifestyle than overly processed, meat and potatoes fare. (How could it not, when living foods are so naturally beautiful?)

In turn, perhaps they'll be more inclined to buy more produce the next time they're at the store, and a little less of the unhealthy stuff!

[Pennypower]

Yeah, i have to admit, I felt pretty cool last week on my first raw shopping trip to Whole Foods. It's amazing, even at Whole Foods (grocery store), our diet is the HEALTHIEST way to eat.
For years while I tried EVERY combination of food to be healthy, and failed miserably at obtaining optimal health, my mother in law would try to encourage me by saying "Penny, there is no one right way to eat."
Now I believe that she was wrong.
So when people say to me, "that's a little extreme" I say, "Yeah it's extreme, extremely HEALTHY".:D :D :D :D