How to Grocery Shop Efficiently

Grocery shopping can be daunting. Learning how to grocery shop efficiently can save you time and money in the year ahead.

Here are few strategies to shave time off of running around the aisles and standing in line:

1. Make a plan.

What are you going to cook up this week? What snacks do you need? Write it down.

2. Organize your list.

After Step 1. Make a second list, by categorizing your shopping list based on location of the store. For example: produce, sauces/canned goods, bulk-section etc. Seems time consuming to take this next step, but it will have you in and out of the store more quickly.

3. Don’t shop hungry.

Doing a grocery shop when hungry can influence the foods you reach for, in maybe not a good way. Grab a healthy snack when you go in if you are feeling ravenous, eat it, and pay when you check out, like a granola bar (something with a barcode).

4. Buy in bulk.

Highlight what ingredients you often use that are not quickly perishable and buy those in large quantities. Such as, oatmeal, spaghetti sauce, pasta, rice, olive oil, coconut oil etc. It might feel overwhelming to drop into spending so much in one transaction, but it will likely save you money in the long run.

**5. Another bulk bonus.**

By shopping this way you can you likely simplify your weekly shops. With the perishables already purchased, you very likely may only need to hit up the produce department—a real time saver.

6. Order ahead of time.

If you want to avoid the lines all together, make an order online for delivery or order ahead of time and pick it up without having to cruise the aisles.

Find a ton of easy, healthy recipes to cook at home in the Nutrition section of the Salty Club.