A deli counter encounter

Abby is working this summer at the neighboring lavender farm, so her school lunch containers are continuing to get a workout. Lately it’s been a lot of peanut butter sandwiches, but she decided that this week, she’d like to do something different, a la turkey wraps.

That's Mount Adams in the background.

That’s Mount Adams in the background.

Which meant I had a visit to the deli department on my list during our weekly shopping trip.

I’ve gotten deli meat in jars before, but I don’t do it often. I can’t eat it, Eric has given it up, and the girls aren’t really into that sort of thing. (Which is why it was surprising that Abby requested it — those girls tend to be vegetarians when left to their own devices.)

It wasn’t a big deal the times I have tried to get lunchmeat in a jar, so I wasn’t particularly worried this time — plus it’s easier the more you do it. I was armed with my orange tupperware (we are still eating chicken from my perfect meat counter experience) and the lady didn’t even blink when I made my request.

But.

Lightening-fast, she had that lunchmeat on a paper square before I could even ask about tare. You probably don’t want this in your container, she said, gesturing to the paper, and I was like, no, thank you, so she proceeds to throw the paper away (I guess I should have brought it home after all) and grabs another paper square and slaps the price sticker on that.

What?!

I feel ya, Bert.

I feel ya, Bert.

As we’ve established, I’m not a fighter or a complainer, so once I wiped the shock off my face, I smiled and thanked her — and peeled the sticker off the paper and just stuck it to the container. Then recycled the paper when I got home.

Here’s what I’m learning: I need to speak up. The time to clarify my meat counter expectations is NOT after I’ve handed over my container — it’s before. This is hard for me. I am all about letting people be who they are, I have a natural apologetic nature and I don’t just assume that my way is the right way — I think people should find their own path, just as I’ve been allowed to find mine.

(Does that make sense?)

Unfortunately, that attitude isn’t helping with the overall success of the project.

To be continued, I guess.

Next up: My dishwasher is working again (although now I’ve probably just jinxed it), so I can finally write about my homemade detergent attempt.


6 Responses to A deli counter encounter

  1. there’s a certain comfort I feel around people who know what they want and ask for it, and it gives me confidence to do the same! keep on keepin’ on!!!!

  2. I know what you mean, I also find it hard to speak up but I think you are right when you say that it would be better to say exactly what you would like before the container gets handed over. It’s hard for some of us I agree!

    • Having expectations laid out up front will make it easier for everyone, I think. The girls have already demolished the half a pound of turkey I got on Saturday so I’ll soon be putting my new … what, gutsy realization? … to the test quite soon. Unless I can convince them that cucumber and tomato sandwiches are really the way to go. 😉

  3. So I have a dilemma about balancing different ‘green’ initiatives: I can go to my supermarket deli or meat counter and get meat unwrapped (zero waste) or I can support my very local farmers who sells meat/milk/eggs directly but it comes pre wrapped in plastic because he butchers the meat in bulk then freezes it until it’s sold. These contradict each other, but somehow it feels better to support the local farmer rather than the big corporation. Do you have any thoughts?
    I’m also looking into a CSA (community service initiative), again directly supporting the small farmer, but that’s a 50minute weekly round trip by car – again, competing benefits. It’s difficult to find the right balance.

    • I struggle with this too, and agree that finding a balance is difficult. I generally vote local over everything else … mainly because I feel like there are other things I can do to offset the issue of bringing in wrapped meat once in a while (with veggies and fruit, I just hand the containers right back, whatever they’re made of, and I know they are able to reuse them). I also feel that farmers’ market season is short, so if I’m getting that wrapped meat now, I’ll be back to zero waste at the meat counter soon.

      (Not that I’ve gotten meat at the farmers’ market this year. I’m a little depressed because ours has turned into a boutique, and I just can’t justify spending that kind of money.)

      I’m lucky because we are lousy with CSAs and farm stands and farmers’ markets — I actually have two stands within 2 miles of our house — but I think that it’s really up to you on what you’re comfortable with. If supporting a small farm seems worth it, then I say go for it.

      Bottom line: We do what we can, and we forgive ourselves for what we can’t. 🙂

Tell me, tell me...