Smart grocery shopping for good nutrition
Make a list and never shop on an empty stomach
When organizing your kitchen so you can start cooking healthy meals at home it is important to get the most out of your trips to the grocery store. Unless you have a local, well-stocked store down the block or across the street you'll need to get everything you need in one trip.
Planning meals and make list
Planning meals and making a shopping list will save you time and money when going to the grocery store. Keep your impulse buying to one or two items.
Know how much you spend on groceries
One good way to determine how much money you spend on groceries each month is to put all of the grocery receipts in an envelope and add it up at the end of the month.
Know what you're spending
Separate the cost of food from the cost of other items (such as toiletries or kitchen materials). You might be better off buying these items less frequently at discount stores.
Always eat before you go
It's possible to spend 10%-15% more if you grocery shop while hungry because everything looks good. Eating before you shop also gives you enough energy to combine your errands so you can reduce your driving time and miles.
Shop in the grocery store that offer you the best quality food
Avoid buying things at a convenience store because they have very high mark-ups and most food is highly processed. If you have a small, local store that offers good quality food or perhaps ethnic food you should shop there more often. This will reduce the quantity of processed food and will offer you options that you might not consider or find at a large brand-name grocery store.
Start in the fruit and vegetable aisles
Fill your cart with the healthy (and cheaper) fruits and vegetables which are usually positioned closest to the front door of the store. Many grocery stores design the layout of the store so the produce section is the first place you go. So take advantage of this.
Bring you own bags
Reduce your plastic by bringing your own shopping bags. Bring some old, but clean, fruit and vegetable plastic bags and use them again.
