Most of my purchasing is at farmers markets where the produce lasts at least a week. At the grocery store, I never have a full cart since it's non-local items like bananas and lemons. Also meat as the butcher will customize the cut for me.

I remember a great uncle of mine 40+ years ago saying that you don't see full carts of groceries any more.

I think you'll see whatever you want to see.

For me it depends on the particular trip -- sometimes a full cart, sometimes not. Depends on what I have at home, what I need. I shop at 3 different stores, so it depends on the store too (more likely to have full cart at Trader Joe's or Kroger and less likely at small fancy independent).

Anonymous wrote:We no longer buy full carts because we have the bulk of our groceries delivered and just use occasional in person trips to supplement with perishables and impulse buys.

This is true for me too.
One big Costco run (full cart) or online order per month.

Then little trips for fresh meat, bread, eggs, fruit.

We no longer buy full carts because we have the bulk of our groceries delivered and just use occasional in person trips to supplement with perishables and impulse buys.

Yes, but I've never bought full carts. Small family. Shop at several places. Too much food goes bad, so many times, and small quantities.

Anonymous wrote:I’m usually buying a few items for the next day or two because I don’t meal plan very far ahead.

Same

I've seen full carts at Aldi only

*btw I’m not saying a single bell pepper costs 6.99. I’m saying, if I buy 1 or 2 of the packaged tri-color pepper packs

Hm, my cart is never full. Never has been. In part because I hit multiple stores, but also because I don't impulse buy (always shop with a list tied to a meal plan) and because I don't buy the kinds of things that take up a ton of space. No super size bags of chips, no 8-packs of 20-oz sodas, no cases of bottled water. Healthy food is generally pretty compact.

Here’s my take. I can no longer afford for food to go bad.

So I buy 1-3 dinners at a time.

I used to be able to buy 5-7, had a little more time freedom, and able to manage it. And it wasn’t a big deal if my bell peppers ‘died’ and went mushy before I ate them. Now, they cost like 4.99-6.99, depending. Multiply that by 6x per month.. I can’t do it anymore.

So I plan for 3 days or less.

I can but I don’t. The fruit and veg only lasts a few days so a half cart 2x per week is easier.

I never bought a full cart. Every time my husband does, it's because he found a deal and bought too many (we have a very small house and I don't want to accumulate too much food).

I shop from more than one store so never have a full cart unless I go to Costco.

I’m usually buying a few items for the next day or two because I don’t meal plan very far ahead.

I went food shopping and noticed very few people had “full” carts. Like they were checking out with just a handful of items. I asked the grocery clerk if she noticed that too and she said she had and that their per person cart value had gone down. Are you still buying a weeks worth of groceries or just buying a few days at a time?