Grocery shooping like a pro!

If shopping for groceries is a chore rather than a pleasure for you, read these tips carefully to become efficient! These few tips to incorporate into your eating planning routine will save you time and money.

1. Probably the best advice of all:

Never go to the grocery store on an empty stomach! When we are very hungry our bodies sometimes play tricks on us and our craving for high calorie foods prompts us to make questionable food choices. A simple solution is to have a snack before you go shopping or to go after a full meal if your schedule allows.

2. Make a shopping list and follow it!

It’s true that making a grocery list is an additional step and requires more time. However, that time will be saved when you get to the grocery store, pinky promise. By following your list, you will avoid oversights and you will also avoid going through certain aisles unnecessarily. Ideally, you plan meals for the week and then make your grocery list based on your planned meals. Don’t like to plan what to eat on Thursday night? Think about foods that keep longer or freeze, so that your meals are interchangeable from day to day.

3. Go to the grocery store once a week rather than several times.

Again, this requires a little more planning, but this will prevent you from ending up in the grocery store too often and wasting your time. If your schedule allows you to set a time dedicated to this task, great!

4. Go around first and a few rows afterwards if necessary.

No matter your favorite grocery store, they are usually all laid out the same way: the fruit and vegetables at the entrance, then the bakery followed by the meat, cheese and dairy section. Deep down are frozen foods, and the center aisles are filled with processed (and ultra-processed) foods. The idea is therefore to fill your basket with foods that are at the edge of the grocery store and to cross after a few aisles to choose your cereals, legumes, pasta / rice / quinoa and other basic products such as flour. and sugar for your favorite muffins.

5. Take advantage of the deals.

It only takes a few minutes to consult your grocery store flyer and make your list based on the discounts offered.

6. Get to work on your return!

When you get back from grocery shopping, before you even put the vegetables in the refrigerator, wash them and cut them to store them in an airtight container. It is so much more appealing to eat raw vegetables when they are ready to be tasted. You could also take the opportunity to portion them for lunch.

Happy grocery shopping!