Tips For Becoming a Better Grocery Shopper

Love it or hate it, grocery shopping is an essential part of life. But, for almost as long as I’ve been doing it, I’ve been doing it wrong. I’ve been purchasing the wrong things, overspending and inevitably, tossing out too much of what I buy.

If you can relate, keep reading for tips to become better, spend wiser and eat healthier.

How to Become a More Successful Grocery Shopper

Take the Time to Plan, and Yes, Create a Grocery Shopping List (and Stick to It): In the past, I’ve made lists for the things I need, but then there have been the things I want, usually in the form of snacks. And something I’ve discovered? Even the “healthier” snack options, aren’t really.

Because of the commitment I’ve made over the past several years to understand what the ingredients are in each of the foods I’ve been eating or have the option to eat, most snacks have already made their way off of my list and out of my cart.

Not that I don’t snack, but my snacks are a bit different now. Fruit, sometimes with peanut butter or veggies sometimes with a homemade dip. And, I do like baking. While I try to use healthier ingredients (no seed oils for example), I still will make homemade cookies, muffins, etc. No need to tell me sugar isn’t good for me, I got it🙂 BUT, I also think the occasional treat, especially when homemade using real ingredients (including real sugar), is always a better option that store-bought versions stuffed with synthetic garbage.

So, my list generally includes (drum roll, please)…INGREDIENTS, not food that’s already been prepared for meals and snacks throughout the week.

How to Grocery Shop on a Budget: Read the Store’s Ad as You’re Planning: If you like saving money or are on a budget, see what’s on sale and come up with your weekly recipes based on that.

You can also use the Ibotta app to get cash back on your grocery purchases. While the majority of items included through Ibotta aren’t items I purchase, many of them are so I might as well get some cash for what I plan on using. It’s similar to grocery shopping coupons, but cash is added back to your account versus a discount at the register.

You can use my personal invite to Ibotta and get and additional $5 back when you first use it. Click here to join!

Learn What Ingredients Are: I call it like I see it…we’re being scammed. 1st, by the food companies that can taut something as “healthy,” or “natural,” or otherwise imply they’re good for us. They’ll say “low calorie,” or “no sugar,” and what do we think? “This must be a good option!” However, the foods and what they’re made of are actually terrible for us. The second form of scamming is brought to you by our own officials who approve of these items to begin with. Would your opinion of these ingredients that are deemed safe, change if you knew members of the FDA likely financially or otherwise benefitted from their approval? Read about the approval of aspartame here. Yikes!

I’ve said goodbye to a few things I used to love and honestly? I don’t miss them one bit. I think our bodies grow so used to garbage that after a few weeks of “clean-ish” eating, we quickly adapt to life without them. Natural flavors become more flavorful. And after some time, when you taste something that you previously enjoyed eating, it’s flat, flavorless and unappetizing.

Stock Up on Dry Goods, Not Fresh: Trust me, I understand that we don’t want to go to the store every other day. BUT, I used to try to go to the store every other week. While some produce might last that long (maybe apples, oranges), much of it won’t. And I’ve accepted a weekly grocery run is way better. I spend less and eat so much healthier.

Be Purposeful: Have you ever gone to the store and kinda wandered around because you don’t really know what you want to make that week? You end up with a cart full of “stuff,” (not necessarily even bad “stuff,”), only realizing once you get home, you’re still missing something for whatever meal you planned in your head?

Or, you end up with so much “stuff,” you could cook double what you actually are going to and then half of what you purchased goes bad? I’m so guilty of this. The worse part is, I know it’s going to happen, and yet occasionally, I still have no plan when I grocery shop!

Stop Relying on “Convenience” Items: Food brands have got us to believe that their “convenient” options are the only way to eat. I realized that recently when I took a look at a packet of taco seasoning. Nearly everything in it was garbage. Instead, I learned to make my own. It maybe took an additional 5 minutes out of my life (MAYBE). Plus, I made extra so the next time I needed it, I could conveniently enjoy using it, just like I would if I purchased a packet.

You can snag 4 easy recipes for seasoning packets, here.

This also reminds me of another option in terms of convenience: double whatever you’re making and freeze or have leftovers later in the week. You can also do this for specific ingredients.

For example, let’s say I’m using my taco seasoning above for tacos and I’m browning ground beef (I also don’t think red meat is bad for us, but that’s a post for a different day). I can double the meat I brown and set half of it back (or freeze) to use in spaghetti later in the week.

Let me know which tip (or tips) you plan on implementing on your next grocery run!