Food Shopping Local Economy - Supermarkets

When it comes to grocery shopping on the Belgian economy, there are a few options.  In the Mons area there are a few "supermarkets" - the chains are Carrefour (think French wal-mart), Colyrut and Champion.

These markets are about the size of a Trader Joe's.  They have a bakery, cheese counter and a meat counter in addition to the standard produce section, canned goods, wine section, cleaning supplies, paper goods, etc.

Shopping in these places is fairly similar to what you would find in the US.  Grab cart or basket, load up with what you want to purchase, put stuff on conveyor belt, stand in line and pay.  There are a few slight differences.

If you want to use a shopping cart, you must have correct change.  The shopping carts are all chained together.  To release a cart, one must have a 50 euro cent coin.  Not 50 cents in assorted change, but the actual 50 cent piece.  When you are done shopping and link the cart back with its friends, out pops your 50 cent coin.

You are your own bagger.  Most people bring their own shopping bags, but there are bags available for purchase.

In general there is a greater emphasis on fresh food versus prepared food, though prepared foods are available. Potatoes are plentiful and cheap.  Pork and beef are also plentiful and reasonably priced.  Chicken is quite expensive.  Leeks seem to be a popular food item as well.  Outside of the fresh food a good amount of floor space is given over to wine and chocolate.

We were pleased to discover that there is a soy brand that is well stocked in local markets.  Alpro Soya makes several flavors of yogurts and puddings in addition to boxed soy milk and soy margarine.  This helps us add some variety to Allen's diet, as this type of soy product is not available at the commissary.

In general, I enjoy shopping at these local markets, it is good for practicing my French skills and I can buy goodies - tiramisu, chocolate mousse, fresh bread, brie, etc that I can't get at the commissary.

Tomorrow- traditional food shopping

Bring Your Own Bag

The green movement encourages us to reuse shopping bags - to not keep consuming more and more and more plastic bags.
Back home, I was working on this. We certainly reused or recycled all our Giant, Safeway and Washington Post bags.  I bought a couple re-usable Giant bags and more than half the time remembered to take them into the store with me.
In Belgium, I always remember.  If I don't I have to figure out how to juggle all my items in my hands and arms until I can get to the car.  This applies to any store in which one purchases anything - grocery, hardware, clothing, office supply, etc.  (Souvenir shops will usually provide bags, they are used to Americans.)
At the grocery store one can buy a re-useable bag, but they aren't that great and if you buy new ones every time, the cost adds up quickly.
I own five Giant bags, one is a cooler bag.  I use them constantly.  I even bring them to the US Commissary (the one store that does give away bags).
I'm in the habit of remembering my bags and using them.  Maybe I'll even keep the habit when I return to the US....