Random as hell, but as a teen did you make your own meals, eat what was prepared, or both? And did you select your own groceries, whether you purchased the items or not?

Where did you shop? The corner store? Regional/national grocery chain (A&P, Kroger, Publix, Food Lion, or hypermarket (Meijer/Walmart) Health food chains? Local co-ops?

Did you grow up poor? Working class? Middle-class? Middle/upper? Affluent?

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Once I decided to become a vegetarian as a teen 15+ years ago, I began preparing my own meals and selecting my own groceries, mostly paid for by my mother. She would typically give me money and I’d ride my bike or drive to Whole Foods, Trader Joes and the local fresh food market nearby.

Before that (elementary/most of middle school), I would tag along during trips to Meijer and Kroger, and pick out as many snacks as my little heart desired. Usually gushers, hostess cakes and muffins, and Hi-Ci fruit punch juice boxes, and a host of other B.S. LOL. At that time, I eat the meals my mother prepared. This was before my hotep-health phase, of course. Typical kid shit.

I’m Black, grew up in the city and the ‘burbs in a middle-upper class household (both parents made six figures).

My mother wasn’t particularly “progressive,” but she never gave me a hard time about my “weird” eating choices and respected my right to make decisions about my health.

My sense is that my grocery shopping duties as a teen were atypical, even in a financially stable household. I recall getting some stares at the grocery store as a teen, and now that I think about it, I rarely see youth solo at the grocery store.

This is why I'm curious to know how other adults eat and selected food growing up, especially during ages 13-18.

i have never been "sent to the store" to pickup groceries. even as an adult being home on break from college or living at home post-grad

however i can't remember a time not getting exactly what i wanted from the store unless my folks flat out overlooked/forgot something. even when i was in kindergarten and my parents made lists i just put whatever i wanted on there and i got it.

i essentially got to set the dinner choices as well most of the time. my folks were very "path of least resistance" when it came to food.

we used to do Kroger's mainly cause they had the best produce. then Teeter came through and ate all that up.

i would assume my folks made over 100K combined. my folks said they'd tell me what they made once they knew i made more than them since i let them do my taxes. i just know my mom made more than my dad. but i can't ever recall wanting for something and not eventually getting it even if i did have to wait for some of the big ticket items.