There is more variety on today's grocery store shelves than ever before. With so many choices, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Make shopping easier by following these guidelines:
- Don't shop when you're hungry.
You’re more likely to make impulse purchases on less nutritious items that cost more.
- Make and stick to a shopping list.
If you keep a running list at home of items that need to be replaced, you won't have to worry about forgetting anything.
- Organize your list into sections according to the layout of the supermarket.
This cuts down on time and the number of passes you need to make through the aisles.
- Check for supermarket specials.
These are printed in the newspaper or online. Plan your shopping trip around what is on sale.
If you are a single-person household, there are special ways to maximize your food dollars at the grocery store:
- Buy frozen vegetables and fruit in bags.
Take out what you need and freeze the rest.
- Look for foods sold in single servings.
You'll find juice, yogurt, frozen meals, soup and pudding.
- Shop from bulk bins.
So you can buy smaller amounts.
- Talk to the butchers. Ask them, or the produce managers, for a smaller amount of prepackaged items.
- Buy produce that keeps longer in the refrigerator.
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and carrots.
- Buy small loaves of bread.
Then, wrap and freeze bread you won't use right away.
Reviewed January 2013