Grocery shopping in America has been quite a different experience to my usual shopping in the UK. Partly, I guess this is down to the fact we’re on holiday and partly due to that fact that you can buy such different things over here – a lot of which my waistline will not thank me for! For example, Pop Tarts. I would never dream of buying them in the UK and I’m not even that keen on them but here there are so many varieties that I got sucked to trying some. I mean, S’mores Pop Tarts – seriously, who could resist that?! However, there are a few things I’ve managed to avoid, such as cheese in a can. I’m scared to think what that even is!
We have found a few firm favourites though:
1. Chex Mix – the children are mad for this and I have to admit, it is pretty moreish!
2. Watermelon – I hardly ever buy watermelon in the UK but here it has fallen into our shopping basket every time. Faith loves it!
3. Country Time Pink Lemonade – this drink is good! We permanently have a jug made up in the fridge and I’m wondering how many tubs we can fit in our suitcase to bring back! The kids also tried Kool Aid but it is a revolting colour and tastes of chemicals – they don’t seem to mind it though!
4. Jello – we tried making a pie using Jello pudding as the filling and it was super easy to do and quite tasty. I was, however, slightly disturbed when what appeared to be jelly mixed with mayo was one of the options at the salad bar! Grace said it was actually really yummy!
5. Ice cream – I have never seen so much to choose from! You can buy any kind of ice cream under the sun here. My personal favourite so far is the vanilla ice cream with Moose Tracks (still no idea what this is!) and peanut butter cups. So good!
6. Cherries – again, we get them in the UK but here they are much cheaper and are super tasty.
7. All things peanut butter – you can get anything covered in/filled with/featuring peanut butter here. To me this is heaven, Grace isn’t so keen, although she does like the Goobers peanut butter and jelly spread.
8. All things cinnamon – ditto the above comment. Cinnamon features highly in most things. Our current faves are morning buns and cinnamon bagels, which Dale likes as you can get them without raisins in too!
I also have to have a special mention for root beer – what is that stuff! It smells like antiseptic and tastes worse! If anybody wants a bottle, we have one going spare!
So those of you who have been to/live in the US, what else do we need to try while we’re here?
10 comments
Jules says:
Aug 8, 2013
Root beer is horrible stuff. As a child I used to live near a US Airbase and I used to love go food shopping there. Most of my memories are about the junk food. When my brother came back from the US recently be brought me a hamper full of stuff like Kool Aid, Mike & Ikes, Life Savers.
amylane says:
Aug 8, 2013
It’s truly vile, isn’t it?! There is so much junk food I want to try but must resist! I’ll have to check out Mike & Ike and Lifesavers 🙂
Restless Pilgrim says:
Aug 8, 2013
Red Vines (*not* Twizzlers!)
amylane says:
Aug 8, 2013
Thanks! We’ll keep an eye out for them.
Alex says:
Aug 8, 2013
My auntie Voula makes Jello salad (with nuts and stuff in) to go with savoury dishes. I don’t even like plain Jello as I find it sickly compared to the watery British stuff I’m used to. 😉
I’m a bit obsessed with white corn Tostitos tortilla chips in the US, and I basically have to try every kind of cereal even though they all taste weird and very, very sweet. Though speaking of sweet, I do love US candy: Lifesavers and Jolly Ranchers especially.
Oh, and Goldfish crackers are wonderful.
All the rest of the stuff I can think of to try is in restaurants rather than the grocery store… And God I’m jealous right now. 😉
amylane says:
Aug 8, 2013
Jello must be very versatile stuff! The kind we tried was like a thick angel delight.
I find lots of things here very sweet and I have a sweet tooth! The girls tried fruit loops, ate one spoonful and refused to eat the rest. They are pestering to try some different types of candy – think we might need to relax the sweets only on a Saturday rule 🙂
Pippa pain says:
Aug 9, 2013
Love root beer! My us favs-flips chocolate pretzels, baby Ruth chocolate bars(apart from reeses I found us chocolate disappointing), animal crackers!! Yum!, lucky charms, their tortilla chips are great….all healthy stuff u see! Lol
amylane says:
Aug 12, 2013
There seem to be a couple of you who like root beer – obviously an acquired taste 🙂
I love Reeses chocolate but not a big fan of Hershey’s – UK chocolate is definitely better!
Patrice says:
Aug 10, 2013
The last time I was over in the US (I am American but live in the UK) I picked up Dinosaur Oatmeal. Depending on how old your kids are, they might get a kick out of the (really sugary) eggs hatching out into brightly coloured dinosaurs! My 4 year old grandson absolutely loves them. When we ran out, I had to get my son’s Canadian girlfriend to pick some up when she went home for a visit!
My first job was with A&W Root Beer, was able to drink it free – and during a summer in Florida, I drank quite a lot. Couldn’t face root beer for years after that. But I do like it. Maybe being American helps. I live in Scotland and I cannot see the attraction to Irn Bru!
amylane says:
Aug 12, 2013
Thanks Patrice! The girls love the sound of Dinosaur Oatmeal – we’ll have to keep an eye out for it. I’ve not tried Irn Bru either, maybe I’ll give that miss 🙂