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Organizing your meals and menus before you go grocery shopping will make your grocery store experience easier, less expensive, often healthier, and will help with food waste reduction. With this in mind, here are some tips for you:

• Always go with a list and bring a pen to cross off ingredients as you place them in your cart.
• Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry as you’ll be tempted to buy something that will cause your grocery bill to increase and ready-to- eat foods (unless you buy an apple or carrots!) are generally less than healthy choices.
• If you have a grocery budget you can keep tally easily by rounding up or down as you shop. If you suspect that a certain ingredient might be too expensive, have a substitute chosen before you go to the store.
• Keep a list on your desk or refrigerator of basic panty items that you need to purchase. They might not be for a particular recipe, but you know you use that ingredient frequently (I think olive oil) so when you’re getting low, place the item on your pantry list.
• Keep items in your pantry or freezer for quick meals in case you arrive home tired and don’t want to prepare the meal you chose for that night. There are decent frozen meals now such as Amy’s, Kashi’s and many more.
• Keep your eye out for bulk items that can either be stored in your pantry (rice, beans, canned goods, etc.) or can be frozen such as berries and veggies. Be sure to choose items that you know you will use.
• Avoid those bright neon colored food aisles. They are generally ultra-processed food-like stuff that you don’t need and your body doesn’t want.