The grocery store sample station that rewired my meal planning brain

So I'm at the Safeway on 4th Ave last Friday, grabbing my usuals, when this older lady hands me a tiny cup of quinoa salad with mango and lime. Normally I walk right past those samples but I was starving, so I took it. 30 seconds later I'm standing there realizing I've been overthinking dinner for years, like I need 3 recipes and a full grocery run every time. That one little bowl had leftover rice, a can of beans, some frozen fruit, and a dressing I could make in 30 seconds. Now I'm trying to build meals from what's already in my fridge before I shop, and I'm saving like 40 bucks a week. Anyone else have a random food epiphany that totally changed how they cook or shop?