Grocery Prices Got You Down?
I think we all collectively understand grocery prices are nowhere near where they used to be. It’s certainly a shock to say the least having the bill double, and sometimes triple from what you previously dished out for more or less the same amount of groceries.
At the end of the day, when a challenge does arise and we’re feeling frustrated or overwhelmed, sometimes what we need is to change up our tactics and try something new.
Which poses the question:
How do we still get our grocery shopping done in the most economic and effortless way?
Check out these tips/hacks from one of our Food for 6S Registered Dietitians Max!
| 1.) TIP/HACK | GO PANTRY SHOPPING FIRST |
| 2.) TIP/HACK | LEAVE WITH A LIST |
| 3.) TIP/HACK | SPREAD OUT YOUR MEAL PREP |
1.) GO PANTRY SHOPPING FIRST
Often times a quick scan of the pantry before you head out for a grocery shop might inspire a meal idea, indicate what you’re running low on, or result in a surprising find of something you totally forgot was there in the first place. The idea behind this tip/hack is to reinforce intentional grocery shopping.
For example:
If I wanted to purchase a container of MISO PASTE so that I could make my own ramen at home, I should also consider —>
- Can this ingredient be utilized for other recipes?
If the answer is yes, then perfect! This allows me to stretch my dollar with one single ingredient!
Think of it this way
When you’re out shopping for clothes it makes more sense to select pieces which compliment items you already have in your wardrobe. That way you’re building a sustainable and reliable wardrobe, the same rules apply to your pantry at home!
2.) LEAVE WITH A LIST
You heard me, make a list! We’ve all been there, roaming the aisles on an empty stomach or after a stressful day of work with little to no brain power on our side to be making the executive decision of,
“What should I buy?”
The reality is, the grocery store is overwhelming on purpose.
- Things are set up in a manner that will against your better judgement, convince you to spend anywhere from $10-40 outside of your budget walking in.
- Impulse purchases outside of your ‘list’ are not economically sustainable if they are a habit
Max, one of our Food for 6S Registered Dietitians enjoys making lists and finds that it,
“…keeps [her] on target for [her] weekly budget and means the prep that goes into deciding on the meals for the week is done with care and attention.”
Max says she currently uses the app, Flipp on her phone to help formulate the lists for each shop.
It’s also worth noting, the app itself pings users when items at their preferred stores have gone on sale. Give it a try!
3.) SPREAD OUT YOUR MEAL PREP
Not everything needs to be taken care of all at once, nor can it sometimes. Perhaps this is one of the reasons you’ve felt overwhelmed about meal prepping in the past.
Either way, spreading out your meal prep:
- Allows you to have fresh meals baked into the week (literally)
- Alleviates some of the pressure behind it and honours a busy schedule that can’t always accommodate a full day of prep
Interested in continuing the conversation?
Book a No Snack Intro with our Registered Dietitian and learn how to make travelling work for you!
