Shop Smart
Shopping is not only about buying food that looks and tastes good, it’s also about buying exactly what you need and making good decisions on how you spend your money.
Here are some helpful tips:
Before heading to the store, create a grocery list based on your weekly meal plan. Creating your grocery list alongside you meal plan will ensure you make a better assessment of the things you already have at home and the items that are still needed. Remember to take your list with you when you head out to the store. Having a grocery list on hand will help you avoid purchasing food items on impulse. A great way to keep you from overbuying food is to include quantities on your list. For example, salad greens- write the number of salads or the number of meals you’ll need the greens for. By specifying the amount of food that is needed you’ll have more control over your purchases.
Avoid in-store sales that encourage customers to buy large quantities of perishable food. We all love taking advantage of food specials and in-store discounts on items. But sometimes these discounts may encourage people to buy more food than is needed. So keep this in mind, you’re not saving money if the food you purchase at a discount spoils before you get a chance to use it. Grocery shopping is not only about buying food that looks and tastes good, it’s also about being strategic about the way you spend your money. Take into account that wasted food equals wasted money and wasted resources.
Choose loose instead of prepackaged goods, this will allow you to buy only what you need. This way, you’ll have more control over the quantity of fresh ingredients. Remember to take your reusable bags with you when you head to the grocery store. The mesh reusable bags come in handy for loose produce. We also encourage you to familiarize yourself with the bulk section in your grocery store. This section is constantly expanding with more fabulous food items being offered in bulk.
Fresh ingredients spoil fast, so buy them in smaller quantities and more often. Fresh ingredients spoil fast, so it’s always best to purchase smaller quantities on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Don’t let too much time pass by before planning your next trip to the grocery store. This will enable you to eat more fresh food at its nutritional peak, and at the same time you won’t miss out on all the tasty food that’s in season (especially during the summer months).
Avoid going grocery shopping on an empty stomach. Lastly, remember not to go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. Hunger makes people grumpy and impatient, and it’s the last thing you need when you’re at the grocery store. Besides, hungry people tend to buy more unhealthy and highly processed food.
Be the Change: Save the Food
What if I told you that you can reduce the amount of food wasted and save on groceries and garbage? Sound pretty good, right? We have the power to make real changes in our community by simply implementing food waste prevention strategies in our kitchens. Start today by taking the
Save the Food Pledge and encourage others to do the same!
Special thanks to the Natural Resources Defense Council, EPA, and West Coast Climate and Material Management Forum for statistics and resources.
