Feeding at Grocery Store

AZ123

Do you judge parents that open bags of pretzels or bananas and feed them to their children while they shop but haven't paid for the item yet?

ridesbuttons

yeah, I do.

I think something was drilled into me as a kid that tells me to this day that you don't sample things until they've been paid for. 

When my kids were 'that' age that a snack was needed or all hell might break loose, I'd bring a snack to the grocery store.

saraboston

I used to, until I had a kid who freaks out if she doesn't get a snack at the store. I try to only give her samples, occasionally I'll open a bag of things, but I never do produce or things that need to be weighed... well... except for the time she saw the chocolate covered pretzels in the bulk bins at WFs, I scooped two out and gave them to her.

Syncronicity09

Nope.

I did before I had kids....but now I do it all the time. Honestly, I think other shoppers would prefer to see me feed my son freeze dried fruit that I pulled off a shelf than hear him scream. Plus, if it bothers somene else I really don't care, my kid is more important than a stranger imo.

ShellShockedMama

Nope. I'd rather them eat food in a store vs hear them cry forever. Sometimes when I've forgotten my own snacks, I'll open a box. 

Dont care if I'm judged. I already know I'm a bad parent, everyone on the bump is totes better than me.  

ShellShockedMama

Also, I love the self check out lane for this reason. Many times DS wants a banana, so I'll ring up the banana before we start shopping. I love using my debit card for 21?. Lol. 

cynnichinny13

It really bugs me when DH does (or wants to do) something like that. "Sampling" the grapes? No dude, you're screwing up a pack of grapes for who ever is going to buy it. And stealing. I have crazy morals for that type of thing. Any ways, I always bring a snack with us to the store for C. 

But to answer your question, no. I don't judge when other people do it. As long as they buy what they're eating or feeding their child then whatever. I just don't do it because I'm a worry wart and I don't want to get in trouble.

MrsGoodkat

No, I don't judge. I usually bring snacks for DS but once or twice I've forgotten or he's eaten it all and is looking for more (usually if we are making more than one stop) so I'll buy some Goldfish or something that comes with individual snack bags and let him have that.

FezzesAreCool

Bananas, yes.  (unless they're sold by the piece instead of by the lb.)

Pretzels, no.

klondikebar

I have never noticed anyone doing this before. And no, I wouldn't do it. When my children were little, I brought a snack with me to the store if they were going to need one. It never occured to me to let my child eat something I haven't purchased. I'd probably do a double take if I saw it, but I'd definitely judge the dumbasses blocking the whole aisle more than this.

MrsSR

It depends-if the item is priced by weight, then yes.

If it's a set price for the bag/box, then no.

I bring a snack for DD, but sometimes she wants an item she sees and not what I brought. 

DreadLoc

I've done it before but not with weighted items.  Cashiers can't weigh a banana peel.

azzyberry

I am one of those parents so no, I don't judge others that do it.

I don't understand why this is even judge worthy.  It's not like I don't pay for the item.  I pay for whatever we open in the store and I'd rather open a snack for my kids and keep them happy so I can shop in peace rather than listen to them whine.

dairygirl19

azzyberry:

I am one of those parents so no, I don't judge others that do it.

I don't understand why this is even judge worthy.  It's not like I don't pay for the item.  I pay for whatever we open in the store and I'd rather open a snack for my kids and keep them happy so I can shop in peace rather than listen to them whine.

Yeah this. It's so common in my grocery store I didn't even know it was a judgeworthy offense. One of the stores I shop most frequently hands out cheese sticks to the kids at the deli so I try to grab one of those. They also welcome that kids have a banana or the like. They just ring up another one (I usually give LO something I plan on buying anyways and just have them double scan).

If not, I usually do a squeeze pouch. Less mess, less hassle, easily ringable. Or I buy an individual size box of cereal and hand that out.

In the grocery store whatever keeps my kid and anyone else's quiet is fair game to me, what else are you supposed to do?

delg23

I have never seen anyone do this. DS always asks for "pouch" (veggie/fruit pouch) when we're at the grocery store and I give it to him as soon as she rings it up, but before I pay. They seem to be cool w/ it.

I don't want to give him something before check out because I think it is opening up a can of worms. One...for him to ask to eat things I don't want him to have and two some things that I can't give him like a gallon of milk. I don't think I'd judge, but like I said I've never seen anyone do this.  

Abinormal

I don't judge because I do this all the time. Our store has a system where you weigh your own produce and the print out a barcode for the register. I can weigh the bunch of bananas, give DD one and then pay for the original weight at the register. Also, I see nothing wrong with opening a bag of chips, pretzels, crackers, etc. as long as I'm going to pay for them. I was a cashier all though high school and college and it was never an issue when someone would do this while in the store. I never met a single cashier or even store manager who was upset with someone opening something while they were shopping.

Wufroggy79

Yes.  Food like bananas, grapes, etc. is purchased by the pound.  My guess is a lot of those folks didn't go to pay for it first, so essentially they are stealing.  For other things - if you know your kid can't handle being in the cart with food, pack a snack from home to bring?  Just chomping away on the groceries is kinda rude - kid or not.

ougrad1

No.  I bring snacks with us but, have been known to open a pack of gold fish or animal crackers when the situation dictated it.  : )

LnR70707

It depends on the age of your child.  If your kid is 8 and running around with an open bag of candy I'm going to judge you....hell if your kid is 4 or 5 I'd probably judge a little.  Under 2 I don't really think much of it.   I always bring snacks with me, even to the grocery store, so DS is often snacking as we shop...its just not stuff I'm buying that day...he'd want to open every.single.thing if I opened one.

ougrad1

Abinormal:

I don't judge because I do this all the time. Our store has a system where you weigh your own produce and the print out a barcode for the register. I can weigh the bunch of bananas, give DD one and then pay for the original weight at the register.

I so miss these stores...even as a single lady I love, loved them. 

FezzesAreCool

GhostMonkey:

Wufroggy79:

Yes.  Food like bananas, grapes, etc. is purchased by the pound.  My guess is a lot of those folks didn't go to pay for it first, so essentially they are stealing.  For other things - if you know your kid can't handle being in the cart with food, pack a snack from home to bring?  Just chomping away on the groceries is kinda rude - kid or not.

Feel free to pick up the Cheerios or Goldfish my kid is throwing on the floor as he screams for the raspberries I just picked up. Or listen to him scream after he eats all that was brought and wants more.

Around here, raspberries are sold by the pint in a little plastic box.  Not by the lb. 

FezzesAreCool

I'm truly stunned by the number of people who would give their kids foods sold by the lb prior to paying for said food. 

That's just wrong. 

jcsumm0

gwinnygirl:

Count me as a no judgement passed for non-weighted items.

Pouches & goldfish crackers have saved many a shopping trips when I've forgotten my own.

This.

I eat food in a restaurant before I pay for it.  I don't see how this is much different.

IrishEyes0530

Nope, I've done it. We were in a crazy long line at Walmart and DS was freaking out. There happened to be goldfish in the line we were in so I opened them. As long as you pay for it, who cares?

stdldb29

HEB has now put out signs that say not to eat the produce because of this reason---

And no, we do not give them anything in the grocery store. 

chardonnay24

Yes. I either bring my kid to a store right after a meal or go by myself on the evening or weekends to avoid this situation. If a parent cannot avoid giving their child a snack, they should bring it from home.

missmuffin87

I don't judge that. As long as it gets paid for its no big deal. I haven't personally opened a package of food for my child, but I remember my mom letting me have a bottle of water while we were shopping as a kid when I was really thirsty and then she paid for it at the end. I was really appreciative. I was probably too old to be needing a drink at the grocery store, but I just remember being so thirsty. If my child was really hungry or thirsty and surrounded by food I wouldn't deny them, essentially punishing them for my forgetting to pack a snack or drink. That's pretty doosh parenting if you ask me. 

Venus04d

I'll happily host DD have a snack while I shop if she's in a rotten mood or I had to go before dinner and I know she's already hungry. I won't let he eat anything that is priced by weight, like produce, but if she opens the Cheerios or has a squeeze pouch, who cares? I still pay the same price for it and she didn't burst anyone's eardrums with incessant whining.

TunaTown

No I don't judge. I did this for myself before I had LO.....but only with bottles of water. If I was thirsty and had a lot of shopping ahead of me, I'd think nothing of opening a bottle (or gallon) of water and drinking it while i shopped. I mean, I DID pay for it in the checkout.

I haven't opened food for LO in the store - thankfully I haven't been caught out without snacks for her. But if that day comes, you bet your hoochie that I'd open up a box of something to keep her happy. 

AshasaurusRex

No, I don't judge. I've done it maybe 3 times since having DS, but I always make sure it's something I can pay for (not charged by weight). Even if I bring a snack, sometimes they want a handful of the giant box of goldfish in the cart, and maybe I do too, so I open it.

AshasaurusRex

Wufroggy79:

Yes.  Food like bananas, grapes, etc. is purchased by the pound.  My guess is a lot of those folks didn't go to pay for it first, so essentially they are stealing.  For other things - if you know your kid can't handle being in the cart with food, pack a snack from home to bring?  Just chomping away on the groceries is kinda rude - kid or not.

LOL, how in the world is that rude? If a child is sitting quietly eating a snack, why the heck do you care if it's a snack that was brought in advance or not if it's going to get paid for?

 

driveshorses

Not as long as a)it's not weighable produce or b)they pay for it. 

shortstuff15

I don't judge anybody and I often see other moms in the store doing this!  I do brings snacks with me, but often she blows through those and will want more.  For a while she would ask for grapes and banana's and such, but I won't let her eat anything that is paid for by weight so now she knows that "we have to pay for that first" and won't even ask for any sort of produce.  Fruit snacks or crackers - yeah she'll ask for those, and I'll give them to her.  If I'm paying for the box regardless of whether it's full or not, not a problem in my books.

I remember my mom letting us eat doughnuts as a treat sometimes, but she would always bring the bin number with her and we would pay for every doughnut that we ate.

persephonerose

Now that I am pregnant I cannot go into the grocery store without eating. My husband refuses to let me eat or drink anything until he has paid for it though which I find mildly annoying, but mostly because I feel like I'm going to die without something to eat. 

Bananas is a weird thing to give your kid with out paying for it because it has to be weighed and chances of you picking out two bananas that weigh exactly the same are slight. But I guess if you have the scale that prints the label so you can weigh it and price it before you eat it? 

I'm conflicted. I know I would never eat something without paying for it at the register, husband says it only takes a few minutes to pay first then eat, but I guess there have to be some people that snack and don't pay. 

LoCarb

I'm guilty of this so of course, I'm not judging.

scoutkate

lol @ the judgey hors in this thread. 

anneimal98

As long as you pay for it, I don't nor have I ever had a problem with that. We often do a piece of cheese offered by the deli person or some grape tomatoes (sold by the package not lb).

SnoopyLuv

Nope. We routinely give J an apple from the bag (the one that has a flat price), pieces of lunch meat, etc. The cashiers have told us over and over not to apologize and that everyone does it. We shop at Harris Teeter and they always have some kind of bread, cheese or something to sample. I'm sure people appreciate my toddler with her mouth full over one screaming.

I definitely like that the deli gives samples now too, so whenever we get cold cuts J gets a ton of samples. They love her there and laugh at her signing more with cheeks full of cheese, ham, turkey, etc.

fancynewbeesly

I don't judge. I have done this. I obviously don't do it for any weighted stuff--or even berries--because I like to wash all of the fruit, but crackers, snacks, cheerios--I have. 

Sometimes we have blown through the snacks I already packed for her. Other times the store was an impromptu trip and I forgot to pack something. Plus, since I don't drive--if I go to the food store I HAVE to bring her with me (and usually someone else is taking me)--so I can never food shop completely in peace. Which I can't stand. My DH can sometimes be worse than her!

I always pay for anything we open though.  

kllrbnny

If it is purchased by weight absolutely. I've done it with goldfish crackers before, when they were toddlers and I had forgotten to bring a snack or they had run out and started to get fussy. And only for full on 2 weeks worth grocery shopping.

KJmashup

We have a small chain of grocery stores here (owned by H-E-B) that welcomes "sampling" of their produce and even encourages it. It's an honor system, and it seems to work well.

However, under normal circumstances, I try not to feed DS weight-priced items. We'll do pouches or crackers or something.