One of the biggest challenges I faced when getting to Tallahassee was learning how to be completely independent. One new aspect of this new independence was grocery shopping. Who knew grocery shopping could be this complicated? Not only are there endless options, but specific things cost more money in certain places. As a vegetarian, I know that some stores have more food options for me than others. After being here for over three years and shopping at pretty much every big-name grocery store in the area, I have decided to discuss each one to assist you in your own journey toward independence.
Aldi
Aldi takes the home run when it comes to having the cheapest groceries, but it lacks when it comes to the daily, essential groceries that everyone needs. Aldi is the place to find your basic items such as flour, sugar, off-brand soda, and random finds like Wendy’s frozen chicken nuggets. My favorite things about Aldi are the produce and the rotating aisle with brand new, limited-time groceries. The rotating aisle provides a great way to try out some new products, and the produce aisle is usually always fully stocked and looks delicious.
Walmart
I would argue that Walmart is the place to go for receiving more “bang for your buck” because you can get a decent number of groceries for a lower price. Will they be the best quality groceries? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean the groceries are bad in any way. They’re just not fancy-shmancy groceries. My favorite thing about Walmart is its reliability. For the most part, you know what’s going to be there. The things you want will more than likely be in stock, and you’ll have a good idea of how much it will all cost.
Target
Target seems to be the official grocery store for Gen Z. It’s mostly known for its ability to sway people toward products that they definitely don’t need or didn’t even know they wanted. The prices at Target are more on the expensive side. However, if you’re someone who wants organic, fresh groceries, then you’re probably going to have the best luck here. My favorite thing at Target is the freezer section. The freezer section is always stocked with easy-to-make, frozen meals that actually taste good (I speak from experience). Personally, as a vegetarian, the amount of options they have for fake meat is amazing.
Publix
Publix is probably my least favorite grocery store in regard to actual groceries. Store prices are a bit higher; however, there are plenty of coupons and buy-one-get-one-free deals (it’s almost like they know their groceries are expensive). Of course, there is also the Florida staple, the “Pub sub,” which is the perfect meal for the beach. When it comes to the Publix on Ocala Road, that specific Publix could sell my favorite food every day, and I still wouldn’t go because of its parking lot. The parking lot for the Publix on Ocala Road is the busiest and most cramped parking lot I have ever parked in.
At the end of the day, each of these stores has its own pros and cons that you just have to discover for yourself.
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