What’s on the box and what’s in the box

It’s that time again. In some cases it is the dreaded time. In other cases it is a normal time, to grocery shop. Everyone enjoys the trip to the grocery store. Well, maybe not everyone. Furthermore, a grocery store visit does feel like an exercise in economics these days.

With this in mind it is even more interesting when the little ones are along to help with the shopping. Clearly we have different goals when we enter the store. With my little helper it is about securing the main item right away. For example, the faster we get to the ice cream aisle, the better.

Therefore, we need a little distraction because the ice cream aisle is always at the end of all the other aisles for some reason. The good news is there are plenty of distractions in the grocery store. In fact, almost every product has a distraction, and it is also very cleverly placed.

What’s on the box and what’s in the box

Just about every grocery shopping parent gets this one. It’s the picture on the box. The picture that says, this tasty looking thing, is in the box! The little ones buy in immediately, and admittedly some of those pictures are tempting. Like the hamburger that is steaming hot, with the fresh tomatoes and onions, and the lightly melted cheese.

Furthermore, that bun holding all that burger together, looks like the tastiest gourmet bread ever to wrap a hamburger patty. Therefore the box of prepackaged, and prepared hamburgers, finds its way into the cart. Then the trip to the ice cream aisle resumes. It isn’t until later that an important discovery is made.

Later, after the dreaded grocery store visit, we are preparing a meal and decide to have a really good hamburger. It will be a breeze because we have a box with a picture of a great burger! We are just moments away from a delicious meal. However that is looking less likely. Because we just got a look at what was actually in the box.

Spoiler alert, it was not very similar to the picture on the packaging. At all. Even the little one noticed. However, we were going to make an attempt to get the same results as the picture. It is possible in an alternate reality. Almost everything is doable in an alternate reality.

What’s That?

Rather than detail the remake of a convenience snack, let’s just say starting from scratch was a close approximation. Furthermore, it would’ve been cheaper to do that from the get go. What was in the box, wasn’t going to be in any picture we could take, after it was thoroughly heated. The cooking directions are clear. Heat thoroughly for best results.

With this in mind, it was a sobering realization. Little ones catch on to things like that pretty quick. They don’t like the cool thing that isn’t in the box they just got. That is like a false advertisement to a little one, and they will boycott that show. Fast and with no remorse. If it is shown on the box, and then it isn’t in the box. It must be a trick, and the little one will remember that trick.

the box

That was the last time on the boxed hamburgers. A good hamburger should be from scratch. A microwave and a frozen hamburger, is no substitute for a grilled burger patty. We didn’t have any trouble with the ice cream though. Somehow it always comes out of the box the way it looks on the box! Ice cream for the win. Thanks for reading today.