It is often said to not go to the grocery store when you're hungry. The reason being, obviously, that you'll let your hunger dictate your buying and end up with far too much food bought. This seems plausible enough, but it seems that grocery shopping while hungry isn't the most likely way to buy a lot of groceries unexpectedly. No, it just may be that going to the grocery store at 7:30 on a Sunday morning is circumstance most conducive for overspending.

In a large Kroger in a densely populated area, it is customary to encounter jammed aisle, long waits for check-out and general chaos. This is simply not the case in the early morning on a Sunday, which creates a quite pleasant shopping experience. It is nice not dodging feral children, overhearing numerous "Oh no he didn't" cellphone conversations or fighting for position in the soup aisle. Such peaceful conditions even allows audible strains of the music being played throughout the store such as "Unchained Melody" and "These are a Few of My Favorite Things". That music might not ever be heard by customers during normal business, but it shines through nicely early on a Sunday morning.

For someone that does not spend a great deal of time in a grocery store, it's easy to miss some interesting things. When you're only there in the middle of the day on a weekend or after work during the week, it's basically like rush hour traffic. No peace, no quiet, no decency, no enjoyment. Being there in calm conditions seems to have an effect on everyone, customers and employees alike. There is actually room for everyone to do their business and everyone just seems to be in a better mood. It makes the experience almost enjoyable and encourages more time, and money, to be spent while navigating the aisles.

Something you'd never have the chance to know about by only shopping during busy times is that the frozen food cabinets are energy efficient. The lights in the insulated glass cases are controlled by motion sensors, which allow the lights to turn off when nobody is walking past. Then, as you walk down an empty aisle of cases, the lights illuminate your path. It's definitely a simple pleasure, but strangely pleasing and maybe even a little uplifting.

If none of this makes you want to be at the grocery store early on a Sunday morning, just imagine reenacting the video for Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees". Money.