SHOPPING ALTERNATIVES

In the U. S. and most developed countries, we've become spoiled by the brightly lit wide aisles and the almost limitless bounty of the neigborhood supermarket.

But there are some other choices.

In an awful lot of cities and rural areas, there are daily or weekend farmers' markets where really fresh produce and some other commodities are sold right out of the trucks (or from tables behind them) driven directly from the farmers' own fields that morning.

In a growing number of cities around the world, warehouse clubs like Sam's and Costco offer super deals on "giant economy size" products. (See STORING for some help in making this work for you.

One friend of mine - not a bodybuilder, but someone with a wide variety of tastes - buys a 3 pound package of bacon at warehouse prices about 50% less than the supermarket's typical total for 3 one pound packages. He then uses plastic food wrap to layer a single serving of three bacon strips; (lay one strip down on the plastic, wrap once, lay another, wrap again, lay the third, wrap once more, then fold down and wrap a few more times to seal ). He places these individual servings in a Ziploc bag, stores the whole bag in his freezer, and then removes one or two when needed. He tells me he buys bacon just once or twice a year and never has to throw away smelly, spoiled refrigerator bacon that just sat in the reefer too long.

There are also gourmet markets, natural foods stores, convenience stores and roadside produce stands - some of which can be expected to be "on the expensive side," But, hey, sometimes it's conveience or selection that counts!

Finally, there is the internet - the great shopping center in the bedroom (or office) that seems stocked with unlimited quantities and varieties of anything and everything. Yet, caveat emptor ("let the buyer beware"). Ya cain't squeeze a virtual tomato; but the internet may be the only way for some people to get their hands on a bag or box of Vidalia Onions.