Last week I was on a kick about take-out food. But long before that became my weird fascination, I was (and continue to be) preoccupied with new products that I see at the grocery store.
When I lived at home, my mom used to try interesting food products on a fairly regular basis. “I had a coupon,” became her mantra and we enjoyed teasing her whenever something unfamiliar showed up in the cupboard, or on the table. It must have been more than just our mom. My sister once sent me a birthday card that said, “For your birthday, I made you a sour cream and onion birthday cake.” On the inside of the card it said, “I had a coupon.”
Everyday I am given any number of reminders that everybody is different and has different taste, but even if you have a coupon, I’m wondering who is buying IPA Craft Beer flavored cotton candy and Sour Boogers.
Well, to be honest, I probably do know who is interested in buying Sour Boogers. Probably the same kids that are interested in Swiss Cake Roll breakfast cereal, Mrs. Buttherworth’s EPIC double chocolate pancake kit or Lucky Charms complete pancake mix.
I’m not immune to sweet treats myself. I think I need to try the MegaStuf Oreos. I was making my own double stuff oreos (by twisting open two regular oreos and putting the two sides with cream together and throwing away the extra ’empty’ chocolate sides) before Double Stuf Oreos even hit the market. Didn’t everybody? I would also be up for trying some Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie ice cream, and those Italian Rainbox Cake Bites are DELICIOUS! But I think I need to pass on the green Mandalorian Grogu Cake Bites.
I’m fascinated by variety of the same product. Did you know there are over a dozen flavors of Pringles?! I admit I’m a fan of the fudge brownie M&Ms but am not too sure about the Crunchy Cookie or Cararmel ColdBrew flavors. And Reese’s are good, but they all seem to be the same flavor, just different shapes and sizes.
And then we have the holiday items. I remember enjoying Boo Berry when I was a kid. Now we have Carmelita Creeper. This is blueberry and caramel apple flavored cereal respectively. Those Pumpkin Delights by Little Debbie look absolutely frightening to me. Thankfully, Boo Oreos just have orange food colored filling and are not pumpkin flavored. And vanilla flavored Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown breakfast cereal? Okay. Whatever.
And finally…
I saw this premium product while standing in the check-out line. At first glance, it gave me pause. Was it doughnuts? Coffee? Turns out it’s goldfish crackers. I really try to be tolerant of the pumpkin-spice zealots. There are a few in my friends and family circle, but ALL the products are just too much.
So that’s my bit this week. What’s the product you see at the grocery store that makes you shake your head?
Once Upon a Willow 