Here, in no particular order, are a few of my favorite things- minus raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens….. sadly, even if I order food from Amazon, it still won’t come in brown paper packages tied up with string………. the dog bite and the bee sting in the whole operation.

1. Dr Pepper Zero
   • Of all the no sugar sodas out there, I think it tastes the most authentic. Everything is held to Dr Pepper Zero standards, and few have met it. If Dr Pepper Zero was unavailable (at Safeway, it usually is), I don’t mind any of the zero colas. DPZ is just my favorite. Interestingly enough, I don’t buy a lot of it anymore. I used to drink a ton of soda, but now that I drink flavored water, soda is on the back burner.
2. Water Bottle Mix-ins
   • Most of the things on this list will probably be drinks because I don’t go out of my way to eat. I know it sounds weird, but most people with ADHD or ASD (or AuDHD) have trouble remembering to eat, or get demand avoidance with cooking. I do stay hydrated, though, and my favorite are the little sticks of drink powder you can add to a water bottle. Giant makes a lemon honey green tea that’s very good, and so is Crystal Light Pure.
3. The Crab Chip, Utz
   • They’re too salty, and you notice quickly. You will never stop eating them at any point. There are other brands of Old Bay flavored potato chips, but this is the gold standard. It’s also not a requirement to like Old Bay when you arrive in Maryland, either, but I will say you’ll have a hard time adjusting if you don’t care for it. 😉
4. Beyond Italian Sausage
   • I know that this is going to sound weird, but I like Beyond Italian sausage vs. pork/beef in everything requiring it. I can’t even explain to you why I think it’s better, I just think it is. There’s no moral judgment here, I’m a line cook. I’m telling you what I like. It’s very good sautéed loose for spaghetti sauce or in the casing for sandwiches. It’s probably better for you in saturated fat, but that’s not why I eat it. I like what I like. 😉 I also don’t know who needs to hear this because I don’t have a deep fryer. Beyond sausage tastes amazing dropped in a deep fryer and just served on a bun. You don’t even need condiments.
5. Tillsmook ice cream
   • If you’re an Oregonian, cheese identifies as Tillamook. We don’t have any other brands. It has extended to all dairy for me, because it’s the brand I trust. Their ice cream is every bit as decadent as their sharpest cheddar. I usually get Oregon Dark Cherry, but I’ve gotten other flavors in the past…. but not for at least a year or so, because I find something I like and eat it until I’m tired of it. It’s very, very hard to get tired of Oregon Dark Cherry ice cream. The only thing better is if I could get marionberry instead.

If there is a bonus, sometimes I grab a 5 Hour Energy in the checkout. They’re great with a seltzer “back,” and even though the vitamins don’t taste ideal, I do need them. I’ve just cut down on caffeine an enormous amount, because I realized that I couldn’t replace sleep with drugs, as much as I’d like to be able to do so……… I’ve checked with me, though, and sleeping the correct amount is non-negotiable. I’ve missed a lot of tricks from being tired, because my disabilities don’t have a chance to be less annoying if I keep getting more and more exhausted without recharging. I’m not even sure I have USB-C yet. 😉

It has also been years since I’ve been grocery shopping in person, because I started getting my groceries delivered during the pandemic and I never stopped. It’s a necessity for me because I’d still have to Uber home with all my groceries, so why not just pay someone else? It works out to be the same.

Also not a grocery store item, necessarily, but I love it that stores have SBUX inside. I love to drink an iced tea when I’m shopping, and the only time I do that is when I’m getting prescriptions refilled and have to pick them up in person.

If there’s anything you should be glad I get at the grocery store, it’s my medications. 😉