HealthWorks! Healthy Living Series: Grocery Shopping
by The Center for Better Health and Nutrition/HealthWorks! at Cincinnati Children's
Jenna Williams, Registered Dietitian: "Are you spending more when you go to the grocery store but coming home with less? Do you stress about the time it takes to go to the grocery store, especially with your kids in tow?
Well, you're definitely not alone. This short video gives you five tips to navigate in the grocery store and becoming smart, savvy shoppers.
Step 1: Make a list and stick to it.
This is one of the most important tips we're going to talk about today. By making a list of items that you need, especially if you can organize it by the store layout, it will cut down on the time it takes in the store, help you stay on budget and eliminate forgotten items.
Involve your kids in helping make this list. Have them choose new fruits, vegetables or meals they'd like to try. It's a great way to give them options and a voice in decision-making before you get to the store and are surrounded by unhealthy treats that they are definitely going to beg you for.
Step 2: Set a Budget
Make a budget of how much you're able to spend at the grocery store. Clip coupons, download the store app and join your grocery's shopping club for discounts. Each store will have something along the lines of a shopper's club where you will receive special pricing, and they may even send you coupons for foods you frequently purchase. The last thing you want is to be surprised when the cashier rings up your cart. So setting a firm amount will help you plan for what you need and avoid the extra treats as you go through the store.
Step 3: Shop the perimeter for healthier, less-processed foods first. Foods that spoil or go bad are less processed than the foods on the shelves and can be found around the outside edge of the store. Then, if there are items left on your list, try to only go down those aisles and not spend time wandering through the store.
Junk foods and treats are often at the eye level of children, so avoiding seeing them may help keep your family stick to the list and can keep you on budget.
Step 4: Buy local and seasonal produce and products when possible.
Fresh, local produce is often cheaper than canned or frozen options when it's their growing season. These foods will be at the front of the produce section and generally will have special signage.
Lastly, 5: Buy in bulk if products are on sale, especially if you use the products often or could freeze the extras until you're ready to use them.
The retail price, or what you pay in the store today may be more than buying a smaller package or quantity, but the unit price, shown on the tag here, will be less when you buy in bulk.
This means you're saving money in the long run if it fits in your budget to buy more today.
It may take some trial and error to see what works best for your family, but starting to work on these five tips will help you shop faster, smarter and healthier when you're at the grocery store."
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The funding for these videos was in part provided by Master Han and the Han’s White Tiger Tae Kwon Do Annual Break-A-Thon. Thank you!
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