5 ways to make grocery shopping easier

Picture this. It’s the end of the week and it’s dinner time. You open the fridge and you find the following items: a lemon, two slices of stale pizza from last week and a half empty gallon of milk. At this point, you’ve probably realized it’s time to grocery shop. If you’re anything like me, you might find supermarkets a bit intimidating. Between the huge store, the long aisles, and the immense variety of products available, the simple process of deciding what to eat becomes much more complicated. 

To combat this, here are a few ways to help you think past those blinding fluorescent lights, get the foods you need and be on your merry way. 

1. Think about what meals you’d like to eat for the week. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just food that’s nutritious that you’re capable of preparing. This will give you a little bit more direction when you make your shopping list.
2. Make your list. See what you have in your fridge, freezer and pantry, and if you have any of the items you already need, you can cross them off your list. If you shop at a market that offers coupons, check your weekly mail (or the store website!) for the latest issue to save a little extra cash.
3. Eat before you shop. Make sure you’re not hungry when you leave, or you’ll be more likely to purchase items on impulse that you didn’t intend to buy that are probably less healthy (like that bag of M&M’s at the checkout). By shopping on a full stomach you are more likely to stick to your list and resist the urge to stock up on impulse buy items.
4. Buy in bulk or single servings. Choose whichever option is more practical for your needs. For example, single serving yogurt cups might be ideal if you’re looking for a quick grab and go breakfast option, but you might prefer a two-pound bag of carrots over individually packed servings of baby carrots.
5. Buy frozen produce. One last tip: if you’re looking for ways to sneak a few extra fruits and vegetables into your day, but aren’t sure if you can finish that whole bag of spinach in a week, don’t worry! Frozen produce is a great option because it lasts longer than its fresh counterparts, and it allows you to eat what you want and save the rest for later.

At this point, your cart should be full of all the items you need and nothing you don’t. You’re ready to check out (stay strong as you pass by the chips, candy and magazines), get home, and start cooking all the delicious meals you planned to make that week. Now that you’ve stocked up, nothing can stop you now! 

Sources: Sharon Denny, MS, RDN. 10 Ways to Save Time and Money at the Grocery Store. Published on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website, 2/20/17.

- Jenna Heller, MS, RDN
Dietitian, Wellness @ ASU