Just Look In Their Grocery Carts

I debated highly whether or not to take the job I currently have. And for no other reason then the fact that I honestly would not eat just about any of the stuff I push upon the poor souls that walk by demonstration cart.

And when unemployment sent me to fill out applications I applied to most places that were geographically close to home. I was unsure as to whether or not I should even apply at some places I cringe at when I drive by them on the road, but we are borrowing vast amounts of money every single month from my in-laws just to stay float. We had bills to pay.

So each and every day I kept hoping that some of these less reputable places that pass themselves off as 'food joints' would call upon me to work for them. And the my next dilemma was, "What do I do if they 'do' call?" I know I don't want to be in debt for the rest of my life, but does how does a wanna be vegan even work in a place like that. Well that answer was...you don't.

It's like an atheist working for a church. I mean it just doesn't mesh. It would go against the very grain of what I believed in. Luckily for me that did not happen.

I did however, get a call from a demonstration company. In essence, I do not work for the companies of the foods/products I push on the poor suspecting public, nor do I work for...wait for it, here it comes...Walmart. Yes, I reside four days a week within the confines of the biggest conglomerate known in the free world. And man, all I can say is WOW!

It is good to be and how I live my life. Please do not take that in the wrong light. Many people are on a mission and on thier way to better themselves. But oh so many are not and you want to know how I know? I see what they put in thier shopping carts every day I am there.

I do not have to say to these people that my product is great, for I am not one to lie to sell soemthing. I just go by what others say about it and quote them. Have of this that graces my table should not even fall into the category of food, and yet people buy into it...all-the-time. And it shows up in the waistlines. I see it all folks. The good the bad and the ugly. I knew we had a nation of obese people. But I had no idea the scale of the morbidly obese. And yes, they come shopping. I don't know whether to be mad at them, pity them or cringe. And truth be told I feel all of the above.

My heart aches that they feel the need to fill some void through food. I am the first one to openly admit to loving food. I mean come on I have a cooking blog for crying out loud. But I make choices, and tough ones I might add. Tell me what family of four can go anywhere and spend that on groceries a week with an extra thirty to forty on produce (remember there are two vegetarian in the house). So roughly $140-150 a week on groceries. Not many families I know can do that. And thee only way I can do that is by shopping at Walmart...for now that is.

When you don't know where your next dollar is coming form and you are constantly borrowing form your in-laws, you have to take what you have and get the most for your buck. And for me and my family rihgt now, that is Walmart. Do I uphold what they stand for? No. But I have no choice at this point in my life. I can however make the best choices inside Walmart once I am there. So I look at what I spend with my $100 and what others would and do spend with thier $100. I get so much less, but only in quantity. My cart is filled $100 of quality foods.

We all make choices, but some folks are stuck in a rut that they have been fed by the food industry, and for that I feel for them. When I do get a chance to strike up a conversation with passer-by's I tell them I am a vegetarian and we talk a wee bit. I get these people for all of about 30 seconds to 1 minute. If I can infuse just a bit of information into them, then my job is done.

So I stand there pushing my wears like a drug dealer on a street corner, but I go home and know I have made some better choices in my life.