What food do you usually pick up when shopping in the U.S.?

[NAB]

We always hit the cereal aisle because they have lots of different ones that the kids see advertised here but can't get.

They always ask me if they see something if it is a U.S station...

Different chips and snacks too...

If I had a fridge I would hit the Pilsbury case too...

 

[SplashMountainMama]

Well, at least I'm not alone because, like most of the PP's, when I shop in the US I bring home a lot of crap! Oh, it's tasty alright, but it's crap! There's just some kind of voodoo magic that happens when you walk into a Target store that makes everything seem like the greatest invention ever!

 

[SherylWrites]

I am not from Canada.

But I found this thread so interesting! I can't believe you guys get such thrills out of the simpliest foods! I'm not being rude, I'm just so surprised that this kind of stuff isn't available there!

It is funny isn't it? But it's true, there are so many more things to choose from in the US than in Canada. Not that we're suffering by any stretch of the imagination, but it's just different.
We can't buy Aleve here without a prescription (actually, not Aleve itself but the naproxin in it). That's one thing I buy every time I go.
And many things are cheaper, except for cleaning supplies and paper products. I never find them any great bargain. And your dollar stores ROCK!

 

[Disneyof3]

cereals (13 at a time) eg: Captain Crunch with crunch berries/apple jacks,barbie cereal, chocolate chip cookie ceral/PB cookie cereal/ etc:
all emeril's spices and bam barbeque sauce
salt water taffy
pop tarts with barbie on them
cashews by the bucket
cookies from the bakery in Super walmart
chocolate bars
garlic crushed in a jar
kraft dinner with shapes of scooby doo/dora/etc:
chocolate bunny hot chocolate and now Butterfinger hot chocolate
chicken broth powder in bigger and cheaper containers
crackers like cheese stix/fishy crackers in all colors and pretzel flavour
fruit snacks in shapes that aren't here yet
I could go on and on. I usually spend about 150.00 in groceries everytime I head to the states.

 

[Stittsville]

Grits.

Hard to find this far north.

 

[24601]

Cherry Coke.

I love Cherry Coke and it angers me SO MUCH that you can't get it here. Even worse, there was a period a few years ago where you could (at least in the 600mL bottles) but they discontinued it in favor of disgusting ol' Black Cherry Vanilla. Blah.

Unfortunately I live in Calgary so there is no large-ish US city nearby so trips down there are rare ... the last time I was down south, I picked up about 10 24-packs of Cherry Coke to last me through to our next voyage.

I ALWAYS ask friends/relatives of ours who are driving down to pick some of this wonderful beverage up for me.

I also pick up Coors Original beer when I go down, sadly, I have to admit that hitting the grocery stores/Target is usually one of the more exciting parts of a road trip down to the States!

 

[Hug the Mouse]

Rainbow Goldfish club pack
Hershey with Almonds bar
Snapple Peach Ice Tea
Tassimo coffee and tea discs
Jack Daniels BBQ sauce
Oyster crackers


We Canadians have our Salt & Vinegar Chips though!!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

HUM Sounds like a good business idea for someone in the states. You could send me your list of items and I could shop and mail them to you!

Who will be my first customer?

 

[KiKi Mouse]

I went a couple of weeks ago and bought:

Big bags of cereal
Rainbow Goldfish
Ice cream+ ice cream bars
Cheese
Deli meat
Sugar free Poweraid
Juice

hash browns for our neighbor

 

[DisKneeKnut]

My husband and I crossed the border at Niagara Falls a few weeks ago.


We picked up Cocoa Pebbles. Best price Walmart 1.98 for a 13 oz box.

We couldn't locate any Knotts Berry Farm or Smuckers Boysenberry Jam, or Miss Sylvia's (kickin hot sauce) - says so on the bottle!

I got hooked on the jam when I used to live in Calif.
I have only been able to locate Boysenberry jam in Ont. at Greaves in Niagara on the Lake, more expensive though.

We couldn't locate any Gerards Rasberry salad dressing.

I see another trip south of the border. Or I can get a co-worker to pick up these items in Port Huron, Mich.

 

[FayeW]

So, you don't have any trouble bringing deli meats, cheese and dairy across the border? When ever I bring groceries back I always stick to just boxed or canned items because I was afraid they wouldn't let me bring it back.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

I've never had any trouble bringing dairy or anything across.
I think there is a limit of $20/person on the dairy products but nobody has ever asked how much we had.

 

[highland3]

There are limits on many things (eggs, dairy, pork, chicken, etc) but we make the occaisional grocery run into the U.S. have never been challenged regarding grocery items. It's the side trips to Target or Walmart that get challenged... hair care products, clothes!!!!

 

[katiesmom2]

Cherry Coke.

I love Cherry Coke and it angers me SO MUCH that you can't get it here. Even worse, there was a period a few years ago where you could (at least in the 600mL bottles) but they discontinued it in favor of disgusting ol' Black Cherry Vanilla. Blah.

Unfortunately I live in Calgary so there is no large-ish US city nearby so trips down there are rare ... the last time I was down south, I picked up about 10 24-packs of Cherry Coke to last me through to our next voyage.

I ALWAYS ask friends/relatives of ours who are driving down to pick some of this wonderful beverage up for me.

I also pick up Coors Original beer when I go down, sadly, I have to admit that hitting the grocery stores/Target is usually one of the more exciting parts of a road trip down to the States!

I know it's not exactly the same, but have you tried putting grenadine in your coke? It tastes a little bit like Cherry Coke!

 

[katiesmom2]

My husband and I crossed the border at Niagara Falls a few weeks ago.


We picked up Cocoa Pebbles. Best price Walmart 1.98 for a 13 oz box.

We couldn't locate any Knotts Berry Farm or Smuckers Boysenberry Jam, or Miss Sylvia's (kickin hot sauce) - says so on the bottle!

I got hooked on the jam when I used to live in Calif.
I have only been able to locate Boysenberry jam in Ont. at Greaves in Niagara on the Lake, more expensive though.

We couldn't locate any Gerards Rasberry salad dressing.

I see another trip south of the border. Or I can get a co-worker to pick up these items in Port Huron, Mich.

Ooohhhh Knott's Berry Farm - yum! We used to make a trip just for the fried chicken!

I got addicted to so many things when we lived in CA too. Mostly, DH misses all the Mexican ingredients you could readily get in the stores. It's hard to make good tasting, authentic Mexican food with what we have here.

 

[Nigel8600]

Ahhh... but we have ketchup chips!

Now back to the original topic...

Don't forget popcorn twists too. Not available in the US.

 

[Nigel8600]

Another thing we buy in the states, (but usually have to eat it there) is 100% turkey ...........TURKEY HAMS!!!

We won't eat pork because it's so bad for you (as I'm sure the turkey ham is too) but at least turkey ham is not mentioned in the bible.

 

[NAB]

What at popcorn twists?

I am in Ontario and not sure I heard of these.

 

[rewok]

Big Bites Mini Wheats: that's a "feel good" thing. We had those here when I was a kid, but my mom would cut them in smaller pieces, and I was always disappointed. Nowadays, well... I still cut them because they're way too big, but I love to do it!

Whipped butter: can't be found here, except the individual cups they have in restaurants.

 

[tigercat]

Rice Chex cereals. They have many different kinds down there. I really like the honey nut one and the strawberry ones.
tigercat