From the moment I step out my door the nightmare begins. My Big Boy, who is six, asks where we are going and I answer ‘the grocery store.’ Immediately the nagging begins from the Little Tike, now 3, asking for candy and bargaining good behavior for a lollipop. Mind you, he had a big lunch right before heading out the door.

How can I blame him?  As soon as we walk into the grocery store, we’re greeted with displays of candies and potato chips. They fill the shelves, beckoning us with their bright colors.  As a three year old, it is hard to ignore. Companies have spent millions of dollars to create this very result in my son and yours. It is the most effective way to market their products to innocent children. 

I feel defeated during our grocery shopping trip.  I am exhausted from saying no to my sons’ requests for junk food. No matter how much I try to distract their attention from the colorful, inviting displays and educate my sons on the perils of junk food, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed.

We bypass aisles with cereal, cookies, chips, candy, soda and many other aisles; we try to shop the perimeter of the store. I’ve found this helps us avoid the junk food. Even as we navigate the store, my boys ask for different foods. Anything they request in the produce section, I buy. I am thankful I am blessed enough to grant their wishes, but what about the less fortunate? What about those who cannot afford the fresh vegetables and fruits? I ponder these questions as we continue towards the checkout.

The true grocery shopping nightmare occurs at the checkout lines. For about 10 full minutes my children are situated within arms reach of a plethora of chocolate, candy, gum and whatever new chemical concoctions food companies have dreamt up. Both children beg for some overly priced candy bar, helplessly reminding me how good there were during our trip; listening to Mommy, not running off, not nagging too much, of course (in their mind) they deserved a treat. What is a mom to do? Sometimes I give in, sometimes I don’t

I wish there were grocery stores with checkout lanes without candy, soda, gum, or inappropriate magazines. Why can't grocery stores make designated checkout lanes with chilled water, sugar free iced tea, snack sized bags of snap peas, baby carrots and single serving hummus bowls? I would definitely buy snap peas if my kids asked!

When will stores catch on?