a trip to the store
In college I used to stock the shelves at the cool natural foods store called Squash Blossom. It had been around since the 70s and was started by a local couple--Jimmy and Linda. All the cool kids worked there. To get hired I lied and said I was a vegetarian. In reality I was the typical Junior--subsisting on beer and late night taco bell runs. The thing I liked best about working in the grocery department was stocking the freezer on Saturday mornings. Best hangover cure ever. Working there had other perks--getting to hang out with all of the cute hippie guys, getting to take home the banged up groceries, and actually developing a taste for natural foods. Squash Blossom had an incredible deli/restaurant with daily specials and a great hot bar. Growing up I was the world's pickiest eater, but after working at Squahs Blossom for a few years I learned to love salads, beans, smoothies, oatburgers and even pizza with carrots and broccoli on top. My family was amazed.
Squash Blossom was eventually bought by Wild Oats. It moved into a bigger space, lost its charm, and soon all of its customers.
Square Foods, a new, smaller natural foods store opened across the street from my house just before I gave birth to Satchel. The first day they opened, I went in and was thrilled to see oatburgers and smoothies on the menu. I also saw plenty of familiar faces from when I worked at Squash Blossom. One of the old managers decided to try and recreate the old store--she had all of the recipes, the plastic totes, and even the delivery truck. I was psyched.
After Satchel was born, I spent a good amount of my maternity leave at Square Foods. I would often meet a friend and her daughter there for lunch. At the time I was president of the neighborhood association and decided to hold all of our board meetings there too. I liked to go in, chat with some old coworkers, and eat soft serve soy cream while Satchel hung out in the Baby Bjorn.
Square Foods is fairly small so we don't do all of our shopping there, but I definitely go on a regular basis to get our must haves--organic milk, luna bars, veggie booty, rice cakes, morningstar veggie burgers, naked juice, organic yogurt, produce, bulk cashews, walnuts, dried cranberries, pistachios, flax oil, organic sweet potatoes and avocadoes, fruit leather, vegan chocolate chip cookies, beans, applesauce, edamame, Amy's burritos, organic juice boxes, and nutritional yeast. Satchel calls it the "Milk Stort." He likes to sample the items in the bulk bins, run up and down the aisles, color in the kiddie area, and pick out a popsicle to share with Jiro. Jiro just enjoys the ride and likes nibbling on whatever Satchel passes along from the bins. I usually load them up in the wagon and wheel them through the store--there are nice, wide aisles, and not too much traffic.
Squash Blossom was eventually bought by Wild Oats. It moved into a bigger space, lost its charm, and soon all of its customers.
Square Foods, a new, smaller natural foods store opened across the street from my house just before I gave birth to Satchel. The first day they opened, I went in and was thrilled to see oatburgers and smoothies on the menu. I also saw plenty of familiar faces from when I worked at Squash Blossom. One of the old managers decided to try and recreate the old store--she had all of the recipes, the plastic totes, and even the delivery truck. I was psyched.
After Satchel was born, I spent a good amount of my maternity leave at Square Foods. I would often meet a friend and her daughter there for lunch. At the time I was president of the neighborhood association and decided to hold all of our board meetings there too. I liked to go in, chat with some old coworkers, and eat soft serve soy cream while Satchel hung out in the Baby Bjorn.
Square Foods is fairly small so we don't do all of our shopping there, but I definitely go on a regular basis to get our must haves--organic milk, luna bars, veggie booty, rice cakes, morningstar veggie burgers, naked juice, organic yogurt, produce, bulk cashews, walnuts, dried cranberries, pistachios, flax oil, organic sweet potatoes and avocadoes, fruit leather, vegan chocolate chip cookies, beans, applesauce, edamame, Amy's burritos, organic juice boxes, and nutritional yeast. Satchel calls it the "Milk Stort." He likes to sample the items in the bulk bins, run up and down the aisles, color in the kiddie area, and pick out a popsicle to share with Jiro. Jiro just enjoys the ride and likes nibbling on whatever Satchel passes along from the bins. I usually load them up in the wagon and wheel them through the store--there are nice, wide aisles, and not too much traffic.