When I first moved here I was so stoked about walking to the grocery store every few days to purchase each ingredient for my well thought out meals (who was I kidding?). However optimistic the plan, I started my pilgrimage to the grocery store a few blocks away, with my cart in tow. I quite enjoyed the careful thought as to what I was going to cook and the scavenger hunt for gathering those items.

A few weeks into living it up in the city I found that I was simply doing too much. I was doing my shopping as soon as I got off of work and didn’t end up prepping for dinner until late into the night – I didn’t factor in the frequent potty breaks and cleanups my children needed. We were eating well past a normal hour and it was no longer realistic.

Then I discovered several options for online grocery shopping. It was a dream come true – one I had waited a long while for and I was over the top enthused to try it all out. Ultimately, I ended up saving Fresh Direct and Instacart as my top two faves. Why would I shop online when I could just walk next door to the grocery store? Well, for one I could buy a lot more and have it delivered to my house weekly and secondly I saved more doing so.

I tend to love Fresh Direct when I already have my list and know it’s time to refill the milk, eggs and other staple household things. I can add to my cart throughout the week and schedule a next day delivery as long as I submit my order before all the slots sell out. The one thing I have learned though, is not to order groceries on your phone at the end of a long day. When it’s late in the evening and your eyes are drifting and your phone keeps falling out your hand you may order one too many grapes and forget the wipes.

Instacart is my next go to for items I left off the Fresh Direct list – or just ran out of midweek. There are a few occasions where I get in a mood to cook a different meal on the weekend and just don’t feel like walking to Whole Foods and submit my order to Instacart to do the work.

Living in the city is full of conveniences I am grateful to finally enjoy. It’s my speed and I wouldn’t have it any other way.