Top 6 Tips to keep in Mind for Your Next Grocery Shopping

While walking through the aisles of a grocery store in Cape Town, South Africa, what to choose and what not to can be pretty confusing! Even though shopping is one of the most satisfying experiences, it can also be a daunting task with so many options and long lists. Grocery shopping is even more challenging when you're trying to follow a special diet, like eating gluten-free. Don’t let grocery shopping get you down. By going to the store armed with a healthy grocery list, you’re more likely to buy more nutritious foods, save some time and stick to your budget. Well, if you find it challenging to choose grocery wisely and end up purchasing things that you rarely need, then we got you covered as some super hacks will help you shop in a much hassle-free way, so here are some tips and tricks you can keep handy for your next trading company trip! 

1. Make a List: Going shopping without a purpose can dig a hole in your pocket as the eye-grabbing products put on shelves are so alluring that most people end up purchasing things that they don’t even need. So, always make a list before you go grocery shopping. Plan menus and make your list ahead of time to stay focused as you shop and avoid buying less-healthy things you don’t need. This will help you shop smart and stick to your budget!

2. Shop the Store's Outer Aisles First: This is where fresh foods like fruits, veggies, dairy, whole grains, lean meats, and fish usually reside. Then move to the center aisles for healthy foods like frozen fruits and vegetables, beans, and instant oatmeal.

3. Buy in Bulk: If you have space, buying in bulk can be a great budget-friendly way to fill your freezer and pantry with your favorite healthy foods. The key is to buy items you use most often, not jumbo-sized quantities of foods you’ve never tried and may not like. Flour, grains, pasta, coffee, tea, rice, snack mix, even some cookies, and candies can all be purchased in the bulk section. 

4. Read Nutrition Facts Labels: Whenever we see a product labeled “vegan,” we want to do a little dance because it saves us time looking through the ingredients list to ensure that a product is vegan-friendly. When there’s multiple choices, compare brands. Try to choose the item with the lowest amounts of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. 

5. Don’t Shop on an Empty Stomach: Grocery shopping on an empty stomach is a recipe for bad decisions. When you’re starving and wandering the aisles, you’re more prone to act on impulse and add unhealthy foods to your cart. You’ll also have a more challenging time resisting in-store samples or opening up a snack to tide you over as you shop.

6. Look Carefully at Expiration Dates: When choosing a food product, look for one with the longest expiration date of all the others on the shelf. This may require a bit of hunting through items. Spices don’t technically expire in the sense that they’ll cause sickness past their use-by date, but they definitely lose their flavor. So, ensure your food is freshest when you buy it and will stay freshest the longest.