maybe you wonder a little how some things are in other countries… well… for me, whenever I visit another country I love the food culture… markets, grocery stores, butchers, my life is really surrounded by family, friends, and food…
so I thought I would take you into our favorite grocery store…
the experience starts with buckling your bike and grabbing a cart… or if you’re driving parking and getting a cart…. you have to put a coin in the cart lock so that you are certain to return the cart to it’s appropriate cart spot… they don’t need baggers here because for one thing .. you bag your own groceries.. and another.. you always put the cart back… good idea I think… no carts dinging up your car… flying around the lot… etc.
this particular store has a cool new thing.. you take these scanners and scan each item you put in your cart and at the end of the shopping you self checkout and weigh your produce and pay and go… cool huh!
next is the produce department… so many gorgeous things… it’s nice though to go to the market square to meet the farmers and get some nice dirt on your veggies.. but if you insist… go the the grocery just like home.. like most of the world, Sweden is on the metric system… so my many years coming here I have learned it well.. I think it’s the only way to learn is to just live it… don’t think how many pounds is 2 kilos… just lift 2 kilos and think ok… this is 2 kilos perfect!
what do you think of the potato section… wow do these Swedes ever love their potatoes…! just now it’s still new potato season… yumm… you hardly have to peel.. so sweet and creamy these cuties are! so you take this cool shovel type scoop and plop a bunch of potatoes in a baggie… I’m pretty sure every dinner is served with potatoes!
oh my the cheese… an aisle filled with large chunks of yummy yummy cheese! no bright orange color added varieties just fresh natural aged goodness! for everyday cheese you buy a big chunk and everyone has a few cheese slicers… so you slice cheese… but it’s coming here too… the presliced versions… I’m staying stern and keeping my slicer!
the checkout time! there are always two dividers.. you bag your own groceries… and and AND… most people bring their OWN bags BECAUSE you have to PAY FOR YOUR PLASTIC or PAPER BAGS!!! what a concept don’t you think!!! They cost like 10 cents maybe… so it makes sense to bring your own! so the cashier rings you up and you pay and start bagging… then she slides the divider and the next customer has a go… no dilly daddling aloud!
if you need a rest you can sit here… hahaha.. funny huh!.. it’s only for 110 kilos though
and of course….
and then the bottle return room!!! I wish our state would offer this! you can get so much money for this! so… you return your bottles and can proceed to shop with the money you just got… pick up some more recycled glass bottles…
it’s a very smart grocery store for sure…
I have noticed time and time again that over here in Sweden… and in most places in Europe there is no waste! people don’t buy stuff unless they WILL use it! no buying cheepo things and throwing them out next month… people will spend $80 on a shirt and will wear it for 5 years… because it lasts! it’s the same in the shopping… no buying 5 different sippy cups and having them float all over the house… the spaces are a little smaller and they USE every INCH or METER!! 🙂 and their fridges are not as large as ours are… even in the larger homes… this means at the market milks are smaller, boxes of cookies are smaller, all of the packaging is smaller… and they have A LOT of refillable cheaper options… like jams… you buy once a glass container… then you refill it! SMART!!!!! very very very PRACTICAL!!!