On a busy weekend, weeknight, or squished between baby’s naps, a trip to the grocery store can often feel like a burdensome undertaking. It is especially difficult when you don’t know where to go, how to shop, and in what way to best prepare.
Pick the Right Store
There may be many factors at play when choosing the grocery store best matched to your family: location, prices and store hours are important practical details. But here are some other things to consider:
– How available are the ingredients you shop for the most? If you are expanding your healthy eating repertoire, make sure your grocery store supports that! Do they have a good selection of quality organic produce? Do they offer ingredients for wholesome, whole foods dinners? Maybe you like to purchase bulk foods to get a little or a lot of what you need. Is there a good selection of ethnic foods that match your cuisine?
– Do they offer a price-matching program?
You can bank on big savings if your grocery store offers a price-matching program. That is, if you bring in a competitors flyer, they will match it. This may not be a total deal breaker for you, but it can help you to shop within your budget.
And don’t be afraid to think outside the box: the store itself! Online grocery delivery services are cropping up everywhere and they might just be the best answer to supplying your family with fresh foods. Sometimes people think of these services as too costly, but they have many advantages. You are more likely to stick to your list, if you aren’t tempted by impulse buys staring you right in the face! You can shop more frequently (a great cost-cutter because you learn to use up what you’ve got first), because you don’t have to head out to the store. You can also save money on gas.
Shop the Exterior Aisles
The good (and good-for-you) stuff is on the outer edges of the grocery store. In fact, there may be little reason for you to visit the aisles in between the produce, dairy case, bakery and meat selections! Try to avoid pre-packaged, prepared foods as much as possible.
Bring Your Own Bags
Let’s all do our part in conserving the environment by cutting out the need for grocery store bags. Bring your own re-usable shopping bags. You can also buy re-usable produce bags, like these ones.
And where possible, shop alone. Leave the kids at home! You will be more relaxed, and attentive to your purchases, which means you can stick to your list. You also won’t have to wrestle chocolate bars from your toddler’s hands, and worry about the glass jar within your four year old’s reach! Choose a time of day, and day of the week, that can support your need to shop by yourself. You will find doing this means you can be in and out much more quickly. Plus, the more you enjoy each step of the food preparation process, including the shopping, the more positive your relationship with food.
