My Most Recent Grocery Shopping

I mentioned in my political blog I had checked to see if Safeway had resurrected (from bankruptcy) Hostess Brand Twinkies; my last trip the racks had been picked clean. Yesterday I saw a couple of packages still available in a freestanding display. No, I did not buy any; I probably haven't eaten any since I was a kid. As a bachelor and graduate student/professor, I would occasionally buy those little sugar-crusted fruit turnover pies; I preferred the blueberry variety; I am my father's son. (There is an inside family anecdote behind that. In the blog, I've discussed the government's restriction on raw milk. My Dad during his teenage years used to work as time permitted on a relative's farm in Massachusetts. One day his aunt had put out a string of blueberry pies to cool; my Dad and the other guys pilfered a couple of the pies, washing it down from fresh raw milk (with cream haven risen to the top of the bottle). My grand-aunt noticed that pies were missing and rounded up the suspects. The guys, of course, played innocent. She then ordered them to stick out their tongues....)

Some recent purchases in my post-Nutrisystems phase: (SW=Safeway, SC=Sam's Club):

• nutrient-enhanced specialty eggs at half-off (SW). These boast of higher levels of Omega 3's, lutein, and Vitamin E. "Different feeds, such as flaxseed (linseed), safflower oil, perilla oils, chia, marine algae, fish, fish oil, and vegetable oil have been added to chicken feeds to increase the omega-3 fatty acid content in the egg yolk."

Sam's Club often offers good prices on specialty and multi-dozen packs of regular eggs. Recently one of my nephews and his wife moved into their first apartment, and my niece-in-law posted a picture of the top shelf of their refrigerator largely taken up by an egg pack from Sam's Club, mildly protesting that she doesn't eat that many eggs. I kidded that I was jealous (I think they had a bigger bundle than I have purchased locally). I love to make omelettes with the works, like onions, mushrooms, jalapeno peppers, ... I may throw in some broccoli or chopped leftover ham, and I top it with whatever shredded cheese I have on hand (as I write, sharp cheddar). I'll usually heat a whole grain tortilla in the microwave for about 10 seconds, layer the omelette in it and top it with whatever salsa or picante sauce I have on hand--the hotter, the better.

Sam's Club usually has large jars of jalapeno pepper slices, which I add to my omelettes and salads, for just over $3. And I'm actually one of those people whom buy those gallon jugs of hot sauce; I'll often buy picante sauce or salsa from Sam's Club but it's too mild for me; I'll sometimes stock up on hot varieties on sale at Safeway.

As for tortillas or flatbreads, one familiar brand for low-carbers is La Tortilla Factory. Safeway also has carried Flatout flatbreads, which I like. I additionally like Joseph's Middle East Bakery's Lavash breads, which include a blend of whole wheat, oat bran and flax. I have been able to order these products from vendors like Netrition. Food for Life, one of my favorite brands (see below), specializing in sprouted whole grain products, has introduced a tortilla line which intrigues me but I haven't tried yet. My local Sam's Club usually has a mix-or-match two-package bundle for under $5, including a whole-wheat variety.

My preference for a Mexican-style breakfast goes back to my undergraduate days of work/study employment. I've always had a stellar work ethic and was quickly promoted to assistant cook with the dining service contractor. I worked with a Latino cook (Rudy?), and he used to make am amazing version of huevos rancheros: he didn't fry the eggs; he scrambled them, but the (tomato-chili?) sauce was incredible, very flavorful.

The egg is probably my favorite food (roast turkey rates a close second). (I've been known to order eggs for dinner as a business road warrior, especially if I've gone without eggs for 2-3 days. ) I know the conventional dietary/fitness preference is to focus on egg whites, but yolks are spectacularly nutritious.and flavorful: it's what the chicken embryo feeds before breaking out of the shell.

• Romaine Hearts / Baby Spinach / Most Fresh Veggies (SC). I occasionally find a good price on kale at Safeway, but you can't beat a pound or more of salad for $3-5. As for veggies, I'm partial to packages of brussels sprouts and broccoli. I usually grab a package of mushrooms, a cucumber bundle, and tray of roma tomatoes.
• Sardines (SW). Perfect snack that hits the spot. Occasionally Safeway has these on sale for as low as $1 a tin; I especially like the hot sauce or mustard varieties. I used to order from Blue Galleon directly until they reorganized. I think one can order them from Vitacost and other vendors. Sam's Club has a good price on canned Alaskan salmon, and I have a couple of frozen salmon packages in my freezer. I have also liked Wild Planet brand tuna and other products.
• Grass-Fed Ground Beef $1/lb off (SW). I didn't even know Safeway carried grass-fed meat products until recently. I know a brother-in-law's father raised a few head on his Texas ranch; I remember visiting them when my sister was first married and she cooked a roast from "Blue Eyes". There's definitely a taste difference from conventionally finished beef, but the Omega-3 proportion is more balanced and healthier. I still have some reservations about processed meats (see my earlier post on the Harvard meat study).
• Ezekiel Sprouted Grain Breads (SW). In the past Safeway carried maybe a half dozen to a dozen loaves in its frozen foods section; then it seemed to disappear. I recently went to Food for Life's website, and they weren't listing Safeway as one of the local vendors. Then over the weekend I found a  few loaves in a different aisle in the frozen /refrigerated section. (One of my pet peeves is stores constantly reorganizing their sections in idiosyncratic ways.) I bought 3 loaves; it may sound unusual for a lower-carber to talk so much about tortillas and bread when I have maybe one serving a day at most; it's because the good stuff is so hard to find.
• Organ Meats (SW). I'll often find packages of chicken giblets and hearts for under $2 a package. I'll often purchase chicken or beef/calf livers.
• Pork Cuts (SW). I can often find pork shoulders or cuts at around $2/lb.
• Chicken Breasts. Usually I can find a good buy on boneless/skinless chicken breasts at about $2/lb either place; the sizes tend to be larger at Sam's Club.
• Almond Milk (SW). It's excellent as a coffee "creamer" or a base for nutrition mixes. The unsweetened variety is roughly 30 calories a serving. I know Atkins had a thing about soy milk, but I have a thyroid issue and try to avoid soy products. Almonds are a superfood familiar to any low-carber.
• Fresh Berries (SC). For an occasional treat, I like to indulge in a serving of fresh strawberries or blueberries, which have a moderate amount of carbs. In the summer one can buy a couple of pounds of berries at a good price. Off-season, Sam's Club offers good prices on large sacks of these and/or a medley of  frozen berries.
• Flavored Green Tea (SW) I also sometimes purchase flavored regular or decaf. Sam's Club often related bundles of 20-bag boxes. I drink a lot of iced tea sweetened with stevia  (which I purchase in multi-pound units from vendors like iHerb). I'll often mix 6 tea bags (regular, def, green), one of which is flavored, to make 2 quarts. 
• Nutrition Products (SC). I picked up 3 BPA-free nutrition blender bottles with whisk balls for about $20. Sam's Club offers reasonable prices on EAS and other brand whey protein packages.

This is a good summary of recent purchases. I have no financial relationship from any specified vendor, and this post is not ended to be an endorsement of Safeway or Sam's Club; they just happen to be the markets I mostly frequently do personal purchases. The reader may find better prices or alternatives elsewhere, but hopefully this discussion of my experience and products has been useful or at least interesting.