Be a Savvy Grocery Shopper

Shopping at a grocery store can be overwhelming, and for some people it is one of the most stressful events of the week. The situation becomes even more difficult when you have a budget to keep in mind as well as your own health. It may take some practice, but with a few tips in mind you can easily become a savvy grocery shopper.

Make a Game Plan

Think about what your meals are for the week. Do you have any recipes that use the same ingredients? Being able to use the same ingredients for different recipes can be a great way to save money, not to mention a great way to save time if the ingredients are prepared the same way. For example, make a Roasted Chicken for one day of the week then save the leftovers. Take the leftovers and make a Roasted Chicken and Arugula Salad the next day, and then use the remaining parts of the chicken to make a Chicken, Pasta, and Spinach Soup on another day. That's three different recipes for three different meals (or more if there are leftovers) from just one main ingredient! This can be easily done with other ingredients too.

One more thing to remember is that planning ahead also means planning around your own eating schedule. Try not to make purchases based on a hungry stomach! When hunger kicks in we get different cravings and it's tempting to buy less healthy foods. So make sure you have something to eat before you head over to the grocery store and you'll do great in curbing your hunger and resisting temptations.

Know Your Limits

In planning your meals for the week, pick out meals with recipes that contain a small amount of ingredients. Aim to keep a short grocery list when you go shopping – less items means less to buy and less money spent. Check out some delicious recipes that use only FOUR ingredients here. Remember to keep that grocery list short and stick to it!

When you get to the grocery store take it a step further – use the smallest shopping cart available or simply use a basket. This will help you stick to your short grocery list since you won't have much space to carry extra items.

Shop the Perimeter

Shopping the perimeter means shopping and purchasing items that are located around the edges of a grocery store. Here you will find plenty of fresh produce, eggs, dairy, meats, and poultry. More than half of your cart or basket should be filled with these foods. Have you noticed that most of these items do not have a nutrition facts label? That's because these are whole foods without added ingredients and have gone through little to no processing – these are usually the best choices.

What is missing from the perimeter? The packaged goods that are often less healthy and highly processed, all typically located in the aisles and at the center of the stores. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule like canned or frozen legumes, fruits and vegetables that contain important nutrients . Look for products with no added sugar or salt. If buying canned goods, rinse off the food and go for canned fruit that is in water only.

Know Which Label to Read

With the number of new products and labels, it's no wonder people are overwhelmed at the grocery store. Marketing professionals sometimes call these labels "buzz words", but what do they all mean? Buzz words help to create a conversation among customers about a specific product. Words like organic, fortified, wholesome, natural, and many more are used to attract customers. However, many of these words don't really have a clear definition and some of these words are not clearly defined by the Food and Drug Administration. Marketers and food companies like to use buzz words to create a healthy brand image around the product which usually gives a reason to increase the product's price.

The best way to know what you're eating is to read the nutrition facts label and the ingredient list. Doing this will help you steer clear of these marketing tricks and guide you to a healthier lifestyle without the extra costs.

Buy in Bulk

If you have a big family, buying in bulk can be a good idea since you get a large quantity of food for a low price. But beware! Buying food for the sake of a good sale can end up as waste. You may end up with extra food that you won't eat and after some time it will spoil and need to be thrown out. If you want to buy in bulk, think about what foods you do eat regularly and think about how long they can be stored.

Some cheap and healthy items you may want to buy in bulk are foods that can become your pantry staples too, like canned beans and vegetables or dry products like brown rice. It might also be a good idea to buy your spices in bulk. More spices mean more flavors for your recipes without adding unnecessary salt and increasing your sodium intake. Buying these kinds of items in bulk can give you almost an endless supply of food and a cost savings too.