I love grocery shopping. Truly, it is so therapeutic to me walking up and down the aisles looking at the newest local brands or seasonal goodies. For those of you who might think I am crazy, I have a few tips for you to make grocery shopping much more enjoyable.   

1. Look in your fridge, freezer, and pantry at what you already have

If you’re like me, you have definitely made a trip to the store just to come home and realize you have everything you need to make your favorite chilli or marinara sauce recipe except for tomato paste because you thought you had some at home *sigh*. Doing a quick check in your kitchen before you head to the store can save you from frustrating moments like this! Not only will you thank yourself later for taking those extra moments to check, but seeing what you already have on hand can also inspire your meals for the week. Lastly, this step will help you save time, money and limit food waste! Don’t skip this! 

2. Create Your List

After you have taken inventory of all of the staples you do or do not have in your kitchen, make a list. Now I know you are thinking “how original” of me to say (more detail to come in a later post on how to build your grocery list and where to even start when meal planning for the week), but for the purpose of this post, yes, if you would like to feel more enjoyment and less guilt annoyance overwhelm impatience or underlying fear while grocery shopping, you need to prepare a list. There have been many times I have ventured to the grocery store thinking “oh I’ll just see what looks good and whatever I want to eat this week will just come to me when I walk by it.” This is wishful thinking and rarely ever works. However, if the idea of planning or creating a list equally overwhelms you, there are ways to still come prepared while still having some flexibility. This doesn’t take long and will save you time in the long run! 

3. Don’t Discount The Freezer section

Although the frozen foods section may get a bad rep, I find that stocking up on frozen fruits and veggies saves me time and money (ie. limits food waste) while still ensuring I am fueling myself with nutrient dense foods. I always have a couple frozen veggies (usually spinach, broccoli and brussel sprouts- so good to put straight into the airfryer), frozen berries and frozen rice on hand for days when I only have time to microwave my food*. 

4. Shop Seasonally (and locally if you can)

Another great way to get inspiration for your groceries and variety into your cart and onto your plate is by shopping seasonally. In fall and winter, I love making homemade soups, rice bowls, oatmeal bowls and chilis to warm up and eat those comfort foods that feed the soul on those colder evenings when it gets dark so early. In spring and summer, I tend to crave more salads, smoothies and eat more fruit to cool the body down and feel light and energized in the long daylight hours. A great resource to see what is currently in season at your local store is the Seasonal Food Guide. I often find fruits and veggies especially taste better when they are in season. If you are able to buy them locally in your grocery store as well, they usually taste even fresher! 

5. Buy Organic, if you can

Buying organic produce can be another great way to navigate this section of the grocery store. While it is often more expensive, it is really beneficial for your health and your families health to minimize the amount of pesticides, GMO’s and other chemicals you are consuming on a regular basis. Looking for ways to be financially savvy when it comes to buying organic, I find that Trader Joe’s, Thrive Market, or Amazon Prime have great deals on these items. For more information on what is included on the dirty dozen list and why these pesticides and chemicals are so harmful for our bodies and environment, visit the Environmental Working Group’s 2020 Guide.

A little preparation can go a long way when it comes to grocery shopping. I hope these tips inspired you to take some time to make a game plan for your next shopping trip and allow you to make nutritious meals more easily attainable!

*Be sure you are microwaving frozen food in a microwave safe dish. Most containers or bags the food comes in are made of plastic and release several harmful chemicals when microwaved.