The Supermarket Challenge

So, we haven´t quite figured out our grocery store here, Jumbo Supermercado. It is so random in what it carries - there is no rhyme or reason to it! (Or if there is, us ´gringos´ don´t know it!) We were on a search for bacon for the longest time - on a conquest to make BLATs (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Avacado. Avacados go for about 7 Lempira each here, 30 cents). We searched and searched, and NOTHING! Finally one of our friends volunteered to pick some up for us during a trip to Tegucigapla (the capital city - and a shopping haven). We were thrilled when he returned with it and finished every last bacon dripping in the package. On our next trip to Jumbo, we did our normal routine of looking for bacon again - planning to leave disappointed as always. However, to our surprise, there was actually a VARIETY of bacon available. Regular bacon, thick cut bacon, even turkey bacon! Unbelievable! We have learned to ´stock up´ when they actually have something we want, because we may never see it again! I think everyone else here has learned that trick too because it is crazy how many aisles will have open shelves - completely sold out of every last item. For example, there have been several occaisions that we have walked down the bread aisle, and there will not be a single loaf on the shelf (completely sold out of buns and rollls too!) I can´t imagine what would happen is there was natural disaster (hurricane) heading this way! The place would probably be sold out of select foods for weeks!

Current Mission - Right now, we are scavaging for yogurt. We tried to pick some up on Monday, but there wasn´t any. They told us the expected to have it by Tuesday, or Wednesday. We continue to stop in (fortunately, we walk by Jumbo every day on our way home from school) but they are still lacking our desired product. I´m keeping my fingers crossed for today´s visit!

Thanksgiving 2007 - When November rolled around, it was impossible to find sweet potatoes or stuffing. Fortunatley, Jumbo had Turkey and cranberry sauce (random) but those were about the only traditional ´Thanksgiving´ fare available. Literally the week after Thanksgiving, the canned goods aisle was stocked full with cans of sweet potatoes and at least 3 different kinds of stuffing. Unbelievable! I have noticed that there is about the same amount of stuffing and sweet potatoes still on the shelves today. I bet the only people that buy that stuff are Americans, and since Thanksgiving is over, they don´t have much a reason to buy it anymore! (I will admit, I bought 1 can of sweet potatoes - still haven´t eaten them yet, but I do have them in case I ever have a hankering!)

Transfat - I have recently found out how to say (or read, rather) ´partially hydrogenated oil´in Spanish (the really bad ingredient found in many foods that is the code name for Transfat). Okay, so that is a good thing, but a little disheartening at the same time. Sadly, we have found the ingredient in several of our ´semi-regular´ shopping list items. Oh well, knowlege is power so in return, we can be a little healthier!

Butter - Truly an American delicasy! Their lather of choice here is margerine! Either that or this runny white cream stuff that tastes a little like sour milk and cheese. YUCK! Anyway, Jumbo carries at least 10 varieties of margerine. Nearly all ladden with heart stopping transfat! After having a real butter craving (of should I say, butter-like craving) Greg and I scoured the section at Jumbo. We read every single margerine and butter substitute package in desperation to find one free of partially hydrogenated oil in the ingredient list. When we were about to give up, we FINALLY, found one! Fat Free I Can´t Believe It´s Not Butter pulled through for us. Greg and I both agreed that there were probably other things in it´s make up that weren´t healthy for us, but we had officially found a transfat free semi-butter tasting spread....and we were happy! (Real butter anywhere in Honduras is quite limited. We have had friends look in Teguc for us and on the military base - No dice!) So smear some delicious real butter on a warm slice of bread tonight and enjoy the indulgence in honor of Greg and I!

Food Surplus - There is one thing that is for sure though, there is never a shortage of rice and beans here. It is comforting to know that butter, yogurt and bacon aside, I can always fall back on the hearty meal combination of white rice and red beans!