Grocery Shop 'Til You Drop

One of my favorite activities in the entire world is grocery shopping. Something about walking up and down the different aisles of food, looking for the best priced items and thinking about how full my refrigerator will be at the end of my trip just brings me such immense joy. It is also oddly therapuetic. I use grocery shopping as a time to reflect on my day and anything else that is on my mind, so I can literally spend hours at the local Harris Teeter, and I tend to clear my entire schedule so that I can dedicate my time solely to shopping.

But along with the actual shopping, alot of planning goes into my trip. I am a big list maker, and I feel completely helpless without one at the grocery store. It is so easy to get mesmerized by all the different items that are stocked on the numerous shelves, that bringing a predetermined list is a must.

Your grocery list should have a foundation built on more than just food though. In order to make your grocery store trip meaningful and cost efficient, there are many things to consider.

1. What do you ACTUALLY need?

This is always the hardest part for me. Whenever I see a food item that looks or even sounds absolutely delicious, I find myself trying to justify why I need the item and how it would be an investment. This is very dangerous, because I can be pretty persuasive, but almost all of the time, the food item in question is unnecessary. To avoid this internal conversation, take a look in your pantry or refrigerator before going and note what you are out of that is absolutely essential for mealtimes. For me, this includes: Bread, eggs, milk, peanut butter, rice, and black beans. I eat these items constantly, therefore they are always first on my list.

2. Are there any recipes you are looking to try?

Trying new recipes is always super fun and exciting. If you are feeling daring, then make sure to note the ingredients that you are going to need, so that you don't have to make another trip later. Unless you are solely there for some therapy of the shopping variety, which in that case, I fully support.

3. What's on sale?

This consideration is super important if your main goal is to keep costs down. Even though it is a basic need, food is extremely expensive. ESPECIALLY if you are shopping for organics (am I right or am I right?). Luckily, most grocery stores will post their weekly specials on their website for you to peruse prior to your trip. Some stores even will give you the option of being added to their email list, and they'll send you the sales AND coupons. Nifty stuff.

4. "Do you have any coupons?"

That annoying voice that plays at the self checkout, besides slowing down your checkout process, is actually is there to help you out! If you've seen the TLC show, "Extreme Couponing," then you probably can deduce two things. One: Those people have absolutely way too much time on their hands and probably have a couple of marbles loose, and Two: Those people are absolute geniuses and are saving so much money, it is insane. Seriously, save the coupons, save your wallet.

5. Do you have fruits and veggies on your list?

These items are an absolute necessity to have at your home. They can enhance any meal's nutritional value and overall taste (also, they make your food ten times more visually appealing!). Looking up fruits/veggies that are in season can be helpful when deciding on what produce to pursue.

6. Do you have snack items on your list?

Snacking is extremely important for everyday life and survival. This is a scientific fact that shouldn't be questioned. But to avoid picking highly processed and junky snacks at random during your trip, it is a good idea to plan out healthy snacks beforehand. Fit & Active Cheddar Cheese Rice Snacks are my absolute favorite snack and they are still relatively healthy! (Free Advertising!)

*There can be many other items of consideration based on your personal diet, so personalizing your grocery list further should be done!*

My final words are of encouragement: for everyone to go grocery shop 'til they drop!