Walmart

posted by Patty James @ 11:48am, Saturday 6 February 2010.

Here's the thing; I was just about out of veggies and fruit and had asked several people if there was a grocery store around and each time directions were given to Walmart. I don't shop at Walmart but they seemed to be the only choice without traisping into downtown.

I felt guilty just driving into the parking lot. I parked the RV in the back of the lot and slowly made my way to the store. Inundated is the only word I can think of as I walked in: the colors of cheap plastic toys and teddy bears made in China all ready for Valentines Day. The place was packed, by the way. What I didn't want to do was judge or take a microphone and explain to people how much damage Walmart has done to our country. These people were here because they needed to buy food, household products, clothes and just about whatever else they needed and it had to be cheaper. I spent the next 30 minutes observing. Never have I seen so many overweight folks all in one place, many of whom were driving around in those electric carts.

You can actually smell the chemicals as you walk down the cereal and baking isles. Interestingly enough I did find some organic products that I needed; eggs, milk, and yogurt. I asked the person in the meat department if he had any organic meats and he did not. He had carried organic chicken, but it didn't sell, so he stopped. I skipped the meat department. Next was the produce isle and there were few choices of organic fruit or veggies, but at least there were lots of leafy greens. Huge bags of collard greens, bunches of really pretty turnip greens, and much to my excitement organic romaine lettuce. They also had a pint of organic blueberries-not seasonal I know, but at least they were organic. I was able to fill my basket with mostly organic foods. Here's another interesting story-I had forgotten my bags in the RV, so I asked the checker to please pack the bags full and I would carry them from the bottom. I explained I had forgotten my own bags and didn't like using plastic. The woman behind me  asked me something and as I looked back, the checker had used only 2 bags, but had doubled bagged them.....

I'm still mulling the experience over in my head. It's all about education, but education only works if people want to be educated. One woman who was severely obese and driving a cart, was choosing all junk food. Perhaps she has given up. What would happen if I were to give a talk at Walmart and could help one person be healthier? Someone suggested that I give talks at Walmart because they are the people who might need me the most. Walmart is a tricky subject in my head.....

I'm looking forward to Monday's interviews. There are 15 kids whose parents have signed the release. I'm going to interview 3 kids individually and then do a group interview. Lastly, is my bone health talk to all the kids. I'm excited!