Grocery carts and unnecessary explanations

It has been a very busy couple of weeks including a family trip (with grand-kids--yippee!) to Colorado for a nephew's wedding and the hosting of a small dinner party last night. Entertaining is not my forté and so to alleviate the stress it can evoke, I chose a menu that allowed for advance prep. Thus I have spent large portions of the last three days in the kitchen. The evening was a success with rave reviews from all--whew!

I had an interesting experience, though, while shopping for the groceries. As I waited at the deli counter of a local market (to order the thinly sliced prosciutto to accompany other adornments to the Roasted Garlic Crostini appetizers) I heard my name called. I turned to see a friend who as she greeted me allowed her eyes to quickly glance down to the contents in my cart. We exchanged pleasantries and after she walked away I found myself checking my basket's contents. I was surprised at the teeny bit of relief (satisfaction??) I felt to see that it was mostly filled with bags of fresh produce.

As I continued to await my turn at the deli, I reflected on how silly it was for me to even care what my friend might think of my food choices (if indeed she DID care--her glance may have been a nervous twitch that carried no meaning whatsoever). I have heard tales, though, of people who not only "inspect" others grocery cart contents but proceed to admonish the purchaser if it is felt that "healthier" choices could be made--no surprise that these stories often come from culturally-sanctioned-scapegoated fat people.

Today, via one of the list-serves to which I'm a member, came a similar story except this one was of a thin woman justifying her purchases with no precipitating criticism involved (copied with permission from the author, a California woman):

...[In] the supermarket yesterday, I ran into a neighbor.  It’s sad how so many women, even someone her size [thin] feel compelled to justify their food.   She had twelve Fiber One bars, which she hurriedly explained will go into the freezer and last her for months!   Good grief.  I was not about to explain my food purchases.  

Nor should any of us feel the need to "explain" our food purchases. This is the first time that I experienced someone (possibly) checking out my grocery choices. Maybe its happened before and I only noticed this time due to my heightened awareness. I don't know, but It truly seems a bizarre state of affairs--an affront to personal freedom that is completely unnecessary. And yet my human bit of relief was real. I am continually surprised at how cultural norms/memes, even the ones we do not agree with, can seep into us--a reminder for the need to stay conscious and awake...and patient with our perfectly imperfect selves.

Sending blessings until next time,

Doris