Buzz
Whether you love it or hate it, grocery shopping is one of those tasks that will likely be part of your routine forever. While it may not be as intense as other chores, such as cleaning the gutters or unclogging the tub, grocery shopping is frequent and can feel endless. It’s something we have to do to get the food we need to live, especially fresh food, which makes the process crucial. Over time, you may have picked up some habits that aren't the best, but don't worry — that’s completely normal! We’re here to guide you through changing those not-so-ideal grocery shopping habits, so you can make your shopping trips more efficient and enjoyable. Here’s a list of habits to rethink, as they may be wasting your time, money, and safety during your shopping trips.
Liudmila Chernetska/Getty ImagesShopping While Hungry
Shopping on an empty stomach can lead to poor choices, making you just want to rush through the trip to satisfy your hunger. A 2018 study published in the medical journal Plant Cell shows that when you're hungry while shopping, you're more likely to be driven by cravings rather than considering the nutritional value of the food. If you find yourself shopping during meal time, have a healthy snack (something with protein and fiber) to hold you over until you're done.
Shopping Without a List
Before stepping into the automatic sliding doors of your supermarket, take a moment to ensure you have a list in hand. Your list can be organized based on meals you plan to prepare, staple ingredients you need to restock, seasonal produce you're excited about, or items for a recipe you're eager to try. Try sorting your list into general categories like shelf-stable, refrigerated, and frozen. If the idea of making a list feels overwhelming, simply keep a list of weekly essentials on your phone (e.g., eggs, yogurt, pretzels, baby carrots, tomato sauce) and check them off as you go.
Only Buying Organic Products
Organic food definitely offers some benefits, but it’s usually more expensive and may not always be worth the extra cost. If organic produce isn’t in your budget, any fruit or vegetable is usually better than none. Here's a simple guideline: If you eat the entire fruit or vegetable (e.g., berries, carrots, apples, grapes, kale), choose organic. If the item has a thick, inedible peel (e.g., avocado, banana, mango), conventional is fine. If knowing the growing practices of your food is important to you, consider joining a local CSA or shopping at the farmer's market. Smaller farms may not have organic certification (which is also costly) but could still offer toxin-free produce.
Not Planning Ahead for Carrying Your Groceries Home
Whether you're walking, biking, or driving home with your grocery haul, it’s important to plan how you'll transport everything. Bring reusable shopping bags to avoid extra fees (and in some stores, you can even get a discount) and consider using a soft cooler or ice packs if you’re purchasing frozen goods or fresh fish. There's nothing worse than getting home to find your ice cream half-melted and your salmon soggy. For warm items like rotisserie chicken, be sure to insulate the container to keep other groceries from warming up and maintain the chicken at a safe temperature to avoid foodborne illness. And if you're walking home, a portable shopping cart can be a great help for larger loads.
Buying Discounted Items That Could Be Unsafe
When it comes to foodborne illnesses, be cautious of heavily discounted groceries, if possible. Items like last-day rotisserie chicken may have been exposed to varying temperatures, which can lead to bacterial growth and food poisoning. Dented cans could pose a small risk of botulism, and pre-cut produce that's been sitting around too long might be contaminated. End-of-day hot bar deals should also be avoided due to the higher risk of contamination. Always smell items with a close sell-by date to check for off scents. Saving money feels great, but a long-lasting stomach ache isn’t worth it.
Buying Bulk Items You Won't Use Before They Expire
Buying in bulk can seem like a great deal, as you often get a lower price per unit when purchasing in larger quantities. However, if you're not going to use everything you buy, you may end up wasting money and contributing to food waste. Before making a bulk purchase, think about how long the ingredient will last and how much you actually use. For example, while buying five dozen eggs may be cheaper per egg than just a dozen, they’ll only last about a month in the fridge. But do you really need that many? Flour can last from six months to a year on the shelf and up to two years in the freezer, but do you actually need a 15-pound bag? If you love bulk shopping, consider teaming up with a friend or neighbor to share the goods. That way, you’ll truly save money and minimize waste.
Skipping out on the loyalty club might seem like a good idea, but signing up for your supermarket’s loyalty program is often quick and easy, requiring just your phone number in an app, and it brings you a variety of perks like coupons, discounts, and rewards. If you’re concerned about spam, you can always opt out of emails or text alerts. These free-to-join rewards programs are a simple way to save money. Even if you shop at several stores, being a member of a loyalty program is beneficial—you could earn cashback or get bonus offers. Plus, grocery store apps can help streamline your shopping by assisting with your list, aisle navigation, price comparisons (both between stores and brands), and more.
Shopping just once a week might be your usual routine, and we understand—life can get busy. But if you can manage a few smaller trips each week, you’ll find yourself making quicker stops, eating fresher food, and enjoying the fun of discovering new products in your kitchen. Studies show that getting new items can boost your mood, so rather than forcing yourself to make a meal from six-day-old lettuce (or worse, tossing it and opting for takeout), try shopping more regularly. If you shop locally, you can even time your visits with fresh produce deliveries to get the pick of the crop. Most countries, unlike the U.S. with its large refrigerators, are accustomed to daily shopping—take a cue from Europeans and try micro-shopping trips for yourself.
Keeping your grocery shopping to just one trip per week might be the easiest way to stick to your schedule, but there are other benefits to shopping more frequently. While it can be hard to break the habit, a few short trips during the week instead of a single large one can result in fresher food, less waste, and an overall easier shopping experience. The novelty of seeing new food on your shelves can also have a positive effect on your mindset. It’s not just about getting groceries—getting new things can be an enjoyable experience. You might even find that your favorite stores have fresher items that could encourage you to eat more fruits and vegetables.
Regular shopping trips might make your life a bit busier, but they also mean fresher food and better-quality ingredients. The idea of buying everything once a week sounds simple, but there’s a charm to shopping a little more often. Not only do you get a variety of fresh items, but you’ll also see new products that could inspire you to get creative in the kitchen. This approach reduces the temptation to waste food and makes meal prep easier. It’s time to take a note from the Europeans and opt for micro trips to the grocery store to enjoy the best selection and less waste.
Shopping at peak hours can quickly turn into a nightmare, with crowded aisles, impatient shoppers, and kids on the verge of a meltdown. The worst times to shop tend to be between 4 PM and 6 PM, when everyone is rushing after work, as well as on weekends. To avoid the chaos, try heading out early in the morning, use your lunch break to pick up a few things, or visit the store just before it closes to enjoy fewer crowds and quicker lines. If you're looking for the best times to go, don't hesitate to ask a cashier or manager about when their store is least busy and plan accordingly.
Navigating through a grocery store at peak hours can feel like a battle. The aisles are packed with rushed people and their screaming kids, making shopping a less-than-pleasant experience. Usually, the worst times to shop are in the late afternoon, from around 4 PM to 6 PM, when people are finishing work and heading out to the store. Weekends are another notorious time for chaos. To escape the frenzy, try shopping early in the morning, during your lunch break, or close to closing time, when the store tends to be quieter. If you want expert advice, ask the staff about the quieter hours, and plan your trips around them.
Dreading your supermarket trip? If grocery shopping isn’t something you look forward to, it may be time to shake up your routine. Why not explore a new store nearby, check out a specialty market, or revisit a supermarket that brings back good memories? Grocery shopping can also become a social outing. Grab a friend or family member to join you, and enjoy a chat while shopping. Some stores even feature cafes, coffee shops, or bars where you can relax and have a treat before diving into your shopping. You might even bring your own drink to sip while you stroll through the aisles.
Grabbing perishables first can help streamline your shopping experience. The idea is simple: pick up the items that spoil quickly, like dairy and produce, at the start of your shopping trip. This way, you can ensure they stay fresh and cold while you continue picking up non-perishable items. By knocking out these urgent purchases first, you can shop at a relaxed pace and avoid having delicate items sitting out for too long.
When shopping, it's often best to grab your perishables early on. This method helps keep items like dairy and fresh produce cool, and ensures they stay in good condition while you shop for the rest of your groceries. By prioritizing these items, you can shop at a more leisurely pace for the rest of your list, all while ensuring that your perishables are handled properly.
Believe it or not, the way you organize your groceries in the cart matters. For food safety, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises that you purchase perishable items last. This includes refrigerated and frozen products, like raw meat, poultry, milk, and ice cream. These items are kept cold to ensure freshness, and if you pick them up too early during your shopping, they could lose their chill and become unsafe to consume. This is especially true if you're running errands after your grocery trip or live far from the store. To avoid this, pick up perishables just before checking out. If you have more stops to make, bring a cooler with ice or gel packs to keep them cold.
Not keeping raw meat, poultry, or seafood separate from your other groceries is a common mistake. If you’re buying hamburgers or chicken cutlets, ensure that the raw meat and raw chicken are kept apart from the rest of your items in the cart. The same goes for any raw seafood. These foods can leak, which increases the risk of contaminating other groceries with harmful bacteria. Once at home, store these items separately in the fridge. The USDA recommends “placing any raw food in plastic bags to stop juices, which could contain harmful bacteria, from dripping onto other foods.”
When preparing hamburgers or chicken cutlets, always keep ground beef and raw chicken separate from the rest of your groceries. The same applies to any raw seafood. These items are prone to leaking, which can cause cross-contamination with other groceries. When you get home, make sure to store them apart in your refrigerator. In fact, the USDA suggests “placing any raw food in plastic bags to avoid the juices, which may contain harmful bacteria, from dripping onto other foods.”
