Books | Giveaways
So, with the onslaught of social media, who is with me that
there are days when it seems like we’re back in grade school, tweeting,
friending, and FourSquaring ourselves into a virtual game of "who likes me?"
Picture this: Note passes your way. Open note. “Do you like
me?” Yes, No, or Maybe? There are many days when prompted to “Like” something,
I’d rather there be a “maybe” button. I mean, can I think about it before
sending it out to the universe that I “like” something?
Our first thanks for “Liking” us gift: a chance to win a
free copy of the new Cooking Light grocery store guide: What to Eat. This book shows you how to navigate the grocery store,
aisle by aisle, in search of the healthiest products. Here’s how it works:
Step
2: Tell us here in 30 words or less your best tip for successful grocery
shopping. Entries should be typed into the comments field of this blog post.
Entries are due by Monday, August 9 at 11:59 AM EST.
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
My best tip for grocery shopping? Don't be in a hurry! I am a mom and pregnant and have alot going on. But when I stress over time, coupons, lists, etc, I tend to give up on healthy and throw things into the cart. So after lunch and with everything nicely organized, I take my time shopping and planning healthy dinners.
Always have a plan before shopping so you don't buy things that look good but you won't use.
Best Tip: Unload "like items with like" onto conveyor belt (i.e. cold stuff together, boxed stuff together, etc). That way it makes it easier not only to bag items but when putting them away at home.
My successful shopping is best had by making a menu, listing what I need and only buying those items but allowing one item not on the list. You save money and calories!
My successful shopping is best had by making a menu, listing what I need and only buying those items but allowing one item not on the list. You save money and calories!
This is an oldie but a goodie: NEVER go grocery shopping when you're hungry! You will buy all kinds of unhealthy items that look appetizing at the time but will destroy your healthy eating plan later. Have a healthy meal first, then go to the supermarket!
I have 3 kids under the age of 5 so I try to plan meals ahead, but sometimes I can't before the grocery trip...so my tip is to think of 5 easy, healthy meals while shopping that have very few ingredients (such as spaghetti, salad, and bread or frozen asian veggies, chicken, and stir fry sauce just to name a few).
Make a list of what you need to make all your meals for the week. Then when you get to the grocery store go as quick as you can, gets your heart rate up and makes you avoid grabbing things you do not need!
Plan meals for the week in advance. This makes grocery shopping fast and easy and there's no temptation to buy things you don't need!
Make a list, leave the family at home and shop on a full stomach.
Learn the layout of your grocery store and organize your list accordinly. If crackers, bread, and cereal are all in one spot, then they should be together on your list.
Utilize grocery ads and plan menus for the week around them. Use coupons. READ LABELS! Finally, have some great music in your iPod to dance your way through the store!
I like everybody's tips, and I pretty much have the same ideas. But my biggest tip is to plan grocery menus around things that you already have in the house. Like a steak marinade: I already have red wine vinegar, worchestershire (can't spell it, let alone say it!), salt and pepper, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, etc. All I need to do is defrost the steak. Planning my menus around items in my cupboards has led me to spending $75-85 a WEEK on groceries for a family of 4, and that's WITH impulse buys and kids in tow!! Also, buying meat in bulk is a huge saver. So I go to the warehouse store to buy meats, and I try to buy from Sam's when they have their e-values on what I need to buy.
Oops, sorry...didn't notice that 30 words or less part! Looks like nobody else did either, lol!
Shop on Sunday mornings when it's less crowded. Bring an mp3 player and listen to what makes you happy. Don't forget to bring your own bags.
I go with a list written on a re-purposed envelop with coupons inside. I'm on a strict cash-only budget, so I can't over-spend.
Enjoy the experience! Make a game of finding the freshest foods, buying foods from every colour of the rainbow, and picking at least one item you've never tried each week.
I select my main dishes by what's on sale for the week. I research recipes for those items on Cookinglight.com. I then do the same with the side dishes pairing them up with the main dish they compliment the most.
I am a huge coupon lover so we started a coupon swap at work so many times I will have multiple coupons I paper clip them to index cards that I write my grocery list.
Between the savings on the sale items and the coupons purchasing the foods we need to eat healthy is a breeze!
Plan menus around what's on sale and use blogs like Pocket Your Dollars to keep the cost as low as possible.
Don't go hungry, have a list and stay to the perimeter of the store where the fresh food is. Leave the kids at home.
i try to just shop the perimeter of the store - produce, meat, seafood, etc. i also try to organize my grocery list like the store is laid out, ie all the produce first on the list, then meat, etc.
I mostly stick to the perimeter of the store where all the healthiest food are stocked. All the processed junk is in the middle.
Keep a running shopping list in the kitchen, because when else are you going to remember that you're out of paprika?
Always make a list before you go.
My best tip is: plan ahead. Research the sale ads at home, base menus and your shopping list around sale items and stick to the list at the store.
