Sin at the Grocery Store

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I confess to sinful behaviour at the supermarket.

I peek into people’s grocery carts to see what they are buying.

I shouldn’t be so nosey.

The Bible tells us to lead quiet lives, and mind our own business.( 1 Thessalonians 4:11)

Nevertheless, all humans have a tendency to compare themselves to others. In Sociology, this is part of Social Comparison Theory.

What others choose to eat is not my business, or is it?

Perhaps, indirectly, it is.

Here in Canada, health care is ‘free’ for everyone, whether you need an antibiotic, or heart surgery, but we pay for medical care through our taxes, and health care costs continue to soar.

Obviously there are some health conditions which are not at all related to what one eats, but there are some that are.

Newfoundland has Canada’s highest rates of obesity, Diabetes and Heart Disease.

Recently, the Government proposed a tax on sugary drinks like Coke and Pepsi, to help moderate people’s dietary choices, but this was met with overwhelming public outcry, as people claimed that this was a ‘tax on the poor.’

Choosing to nourish ourselves and our families well, is an act of love . Choosing healthy foods is not necessarly more expensive, but it does require knowledge of nutrition, careful planning, and creativity.

I try, with God’s help, to look after myself, and others, with careful nutrition.

And so, I may do my small part to try not to bankrupt our health care system, which, in this part of Canada, is getting dangerously close.

May the Lord help us to care wisely for ourselves and others.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

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Published by Sally

I am a retired Sociologist/Educator from Ontario. I now live at the very edge of the North American Continent. I spend my time in contemplation, spiritual reading , intercessory prayer, and maintaining a spiritual garden grotto as a place of prayer in my backyard by the Atlantic.

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41 thoughts on “Sin at the Grocery Store”

  1. Being nosy might be a sin, but being curious is not – in my opinion anyways. That’s how kids (and adults) learn. I don’t usually look into someone else’ cart, but sometimes something in there catches my eye. That’s curiosity. I think we all do it. They say we should always be aware of our surroundings and what’s going on. (I hear that in a self-defense course I’m taking). I’m becoming more alert of things around me and yes, sometimes even what’s in others’ carts!

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    1. Hi Mary !
      Thanks for this comment.
      You are wise to remind us about always being aware of our surroundings and what’s going on.
      The self-defense course you’re taking sounds really interesting. 🌷🤗

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      1. You can find that course on line. It’s Tim Larkin. That’s what I did, but I think he’s having in person training again. He had to stop for a while because of covid. https://targetfocustraining.com/ Timlarkin.com
        The reason that course helped me is because we’re taught our whole lives to be nice and not hurt anybody. I never had confidence that I would have what it takes to defend myself. He teaches you to look at self-defense differently. Now, I have confidence that I could and would fight back, and I have the knowledge how to do it. That ups my survival chances to 50% (in my opinion) where before I felt like I had a zero percent chance of survival if I were attacked. I highly recommend his on-line classes. A guy I work with told me about him. Him and his wife took the in-person training and he felt it was worth it.

        Liked by 2 people

  2. It’s easy to peek into other people’s carts. I see people doing the same thing with me. I was uncomfortable at my old home because I’d always run into friends at the grocery store and I’d watch them stare into my cart. Now I’m among strangers so it isn’t so odd.

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    1. Haha….I see that I am not alone in my peeking habit. 🤗
      Perhaps in your case it was because you are so fit and trim, so they wondered what your nutritional secrets were.

      I wanted to let you know that I am enjoying reading your posts very much, but lately there have been some changes on Wordress and I’m unable to leave comments on your site.

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  3. Here in Scotland some of my best conversations with strangers are in the checkout queue/supermarket aisles. These usually begin with asking about something in their trolley which is new to me or helping someone find/reach something. I don’t really know whether it’s a Scottish thing or just me being a nosey parker?😁

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  4. Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back!

    I’m nosy too – I peek into people’s carts too. The amount of junk food that some people buy is astonishing. There was one gentleman at Costco who was super fit and trim. He looked like a runner and must have been around 50 I’m guessing. Anyways, his cat was FULL of junk food. I’m guessing it was for his kids or family…. I’m assuming he has kids. Just from my observations alone I have created a narrative of this guy 😂

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    1. Hi Hilary ! That is a funny expression about the cat ! I do the same thing, assess the amount of junk food that is being purchased.
      I know too, that probably people are peeking into my cart too. And I hope they like my food choices…🤗 Nice to hear from you. 🌷

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      1. “Please don’t judge me for stuffing 9 frozen pizzas into my shopping bag.” This happened a couple weeks ago when my husband saw frozen pizzas on sale…. So he bought 9! The cashier was very puzzled 😂

        Liked by 1 person

  5. In Mongolia in 2013, we learned you had to stay WITH your cart at all times. We left ours in an aisle and picked up something from another, and several items from our cart were GONE! Apparently, if people wanted something they saw, rather than try to find it on the shelf, they just took it where ever it was available. 😄
    Some Canucks told me that the only thing that was holding up the Canadian socialized medical system was that many wealthier people would just come across the border to the US and pay. Now with borders closed so long, maybe that has added to the strain.
    As for body care, “Your body IS the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God[!] You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Take good care of Father’s temple. 😉
    ❤️&🙏, c.a.

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    1. That must have been fascinating to visit Mongolia. And the shoppers were very ‘creative’… Definitely I have known some people who have crossed unto the US for medical care.
      I believe it’s because our system has been abused for a long time, and now, wait times are so long… and predictions are that the system is unsustainable.
      Hippocrates said : ‘Let food be thy medicine…’.
      Yes, exactly, we were bought at a price, and thus, caring for ourselves, and our loved ones is so important.
      Thanks for your comment, c.a. 🤗

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  6. With grocery delivery, I no longer do that. But I used to glance at fellow shoppers carts and a large majority eat crap food. Processed and otherwise. If there was a public outcry that taxing sugary drinks was classist I would say it’s far worse for healthier options. Or if you buy organic…those prices are through the roof. I do my best to shop cheap yet healthy.

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    1. Wow, Matt, you are fortunate to have grocery delivery. For sure, healthy options can be pricey sometimes.
      I like to shop healthy but cheap too.
      I have admired the food you have shown on some of your blog posts. 🤗

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  7. I’ve worked with many children living in poverty whose families are on public assistance. Healthy eating is often not a priority or cost effective option. A bag of grapes costs three times as much as a box of sugary 🍩 donuts. Also, many families in poverty are not able to easily travel to large supermarkets with aisles full of healthy food options. Their neighborhood convenience store ends up being where they stock up on fried foods and sugary junk—because this is what is readily available.

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    1. Thanks, David, for sharing this perspective. Ideally everyone should have access to healthy, but affordable food, especially growing children.
      Traditionally, Newfoundlanders ate the foods they could readily grow, like root vegetables, and they ate fish, and wild berries. It was a simple but healthy diet.
      But those days are gone. Any fish caught is shipped immediately to foreign markets, and so much of the diets here are now fried foods and sugary, or salty junk. 🤗🌷

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  8. I get “curious” about others’ food choices, too. The problem is the attitude I get. I start feeling righteous, especially when I’ve ridden my bike to the store to get apples, lettuce, and yogurt, and that breeds a sin worse than gluttony.

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    1. Annie, that is exactly how I feel. I feel a sense of ‘pride’ about making wise food choices, and I recognize that as sin.
      We know how God feels about pride…
      Great that you ride your bike to the store.
      Thanks for your insightful comment. 🤗

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    1. Thanks, Deano. May you also enjoy a blessed day today.
      Today is Yom Kippur, a holy day of observance for our Jewish friends, our elder ‘brothers and sisters’ in the faith. It is the Day of Atonement.
      Jesus would have observed these holy days while he was on earth, and so I also remember these days when they occur throughout the year. 🌷🤗

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      1. Very true, today is a big celebration! Celebrations will continue during the feast of trumpets, some say until early October. This seasonal time is when we need to keep watch, one of these times Jesus will be coming back. God bless 🥰

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I think it will fail here as well.
      Someone suggested that it would be more helpful to tax the manufacturers of the sugary drinks. 🤗🌷

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  11. I think it is a real challenge not to become self-righteous and judge others. I think it is made more challenging in instances like this when, because of the nature of tax dollars to support food assistance programs (or whatever the equivalent in your country), people feel like they have more right to be self-righteous and judgmental of others’ choices if they feel they are contributing financially. Rather, we need to treat others with respect and human dignity, regardless of circumstance.

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  12. I wish our healthcare were free. A friend of mine from Canada said maternity leave is long too. We usually get 6-12 weeks for maternity leave depending on what the person wants.

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    1. Hi Dawn !
      It is nice to have a longer maternity leave, for mom and baby.
      We have a Federal election today, and one of the parties is proposing a $10 a day childcare plan.
      Children are precious, and, as we know, their care, and support for their parents, is so important.
      Great to hear from you. 🤗🌼

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Oh wow! I hope it goes through. I had to pay almost $200 a week when my daughter went to childcare. That was years ago its probably worse now. Yes they are very precious 🤗❤️

        Liked by 1 person

  14. This post made me laugh at myself! I am so UNobservant. I could never be a detective, that’s for sure. But, Michigan Mary reminds us that it is wise to be aware of your surroundings. I think I’ll check out Tim Larkin. I have enjoyed reading several of your posts this morning. I love your blog! Many blessings, Sally!

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