Planning meals before you head to the store allows time to consider your family’s schedule for the week and what they need nutritionally to keep going and growing.
By Alison Crane
Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Being a savvy shopper can protect your pocketbook and your health.
First, keep in mind that supermarkets are literally marketing machines. Years of research have resulted in a layout designed to keep you spending as much time and money as possible. This, combined with packaging on products that is designed to influence your decision-making, can make sticking to your budget a challenge.
Watch those end caps and center aisle displays. They are there to attract your attention, and the items on them may or may not be on sale. Many times, they are set up to remind you of upcoming events or holidays to help increase sales. Purchasing items not on your list, even when they are on sale, can cause you to overspend.
Be a comparison shopper. Compare store brands versus national brands for best value and nutrition. Keep in mind that national brands are usually more expensive because their cost includes the cost of advertising in magazines and on TV. Store brands are sold by individual chains
Avoid shopping on an empty stomach. Research shows we purchase more junk food when we are hungry than not. Stores utilize tantalizing bakery smells and free samples to whet your appetite and encourage impulse buying. Resisting temptation is easier when you are not hungry, and everything is less appealing.
Contact the Garland County Extension Service for more tips on cutting costs at the supermarket, but keep in mind that a shrewd shopper needs to make good decisions about nutrition to be truly savvy. Planning meals before you head to the store allows time to consider your family’s schedule for the week and what they need nutritionally to keep going and growing.
Apply these tips to be smart and healthy.
- If two products are the same price and quality, compare the information on the nutrition label to decide which one to buy.
- Buy a combination of fresh, frozen, and non-perishable items and eat your fresh food first so it does not go bad.
- Utilize grocery stores, wholesale clubs, ethnic markets, dollar stores, and retail supercenters to add variety at a good price.
The Garland County Extension Service offers research-based information and educational programs and classes to improve family life at all levels. Call 501-623-6841 or email acrane@uada.edu for upcoming programs and available resources.
Alison Crane is a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent with the Garland County Extension Service. Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy, or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
