Living down in the south (Florida is southern, despite what people say or think), I've grown up around Publix supermarkets, but I didn't really start shopping there until I was in college. Once I did though, everything changed.
Fresh groceries in the produce, meat/deli and bakery sections, hundreds of sales throughout the aisles, recipes galore with samples ... and how could I EVER forget about the Public subs (you MUST try a chicken tender sub, tossed in honey mustard sauce with white American cheese and mayo, toasted, and topped with lettuce, chopped tomatoes, garlic pickles, onions, banana peppers and plenty of black pepper).
Call me weird, but one of the greatest moments in a day is when I can wander into a Publix. I visit different Publix stores like they are amusement parks, partly because each one is different from the next, capturing and reflecting the flavor and character of the community it serves. But it's also a place where I find inspiration for cooking.
You see, nothing makes me more curious and interested to start cooking than to wander around a grocery store. Seeing the different ingredients that are available, the different spices and herbs, seeing things on sale, once again set my imagination aflame, trying to figure out what I can use to cook a great meal or try a new recipe that I have found online that I already had 75% of the ingredients, but was missing the one or two to complete the dish.
But again, this is me. I'm weirdly wired like that to love grocery shopping. I know many people who feel overwhelmed when it comes to the grocery store. All the colors, the isles, the prices, the people ... it can be a lot for some people to handle at one time. And while grocery stores have done their best to help out, I'm here to help out a little bit more with a few tips and ideas.
Be Prepared with a Shopping List (After You Check The Fridge)
The biggest key to finding success in the grocery store is to go with a list in hand. Let's be honest; a lot of us (me included) run into a store intending to get two or three things, reciting that list in our heads as we enter the doors, but something catches our eye and next moment, everything gets wiped out and we blankly stare around, desperately recalling the items we NEEDED, while our carts are filled with items we don't need.
Having a shopping list is a powerful weapon against the mindless shopper. It's an accountability check in your hand or on your phone (I know the Publix app has an option to build your shopping list on your phone and even organizes it by aisle for you). This way you don't forget what you needed and it can help you on track (and on budget) for what you've been looking for. Again, there are plenty of apps, whether through the store or in your phone's app store, that can help you. Or you can go old-school and use pen and paper (I actually use a really handy checklist that stick to my fridge, so as I notice I need something, I can check it off. You can view it here).
But a list is not useful if you don't know what you need. Sometimes we write something on our list we THINK we need, buy it, then return home and open the pantry to find two or three of those items already waiting for us. Sometimes, it's good, but often times, it ends up being excessive. So double-check your fridge and pantry to make sure you don't already have what you add to your list.
Look for Ways to Save on Groceries
Did anyone else used to pull coupons from the little store dispensers in the random aisles as a child? The little red ones? No, just me? Okay, I'll take that. Anyway ...
I often hear people say "Isn't eating healthy expensive?" when I talk about my health journey with food. And I tell them, "Yes, but it's an investment to keep me out the hospital." And really, it's not as expensive as you think, if you are a smart shopper.
Here's a few secrets to how I save money on my groceries:
I check out sales at different stores: I am on the email list for a couple different stores (like Publix, The Fresh Market and Whole Food Market) and have loyalty cards to a couple other stores (like Winn-Dixie). The benefits? When these stores have sales on different items, I check them out and see who has what I need at the lowest price. With Publix, I know that their sales change every Thursday, so on Thursday morning, I'm searching their sales papers for what's on sale and build my list from there. Other stores, when they send out their promotions, I check them too to see if they have something at a decent enough price to make a trip out to get the items. It seems like a lot of extra work, but it helps when you're saved a few extra dollars on more expensive cuts of meat.
Look for Coupons and BOGOs too: BOGO (Buy One, Get One) deals and coupons help add a few extra dollars to your wallet. Often times, the BOGO deal is reduced, so it feels like a sale, but you can get just the one item for the sale price without needing to get the other item! And many stores now have phone apps where they upload coupons to your account that you can "clip" and save on your phone and simply scan at the cashier. Look through and see what extra savings you might be missing.
Don't Be Afraid To Try Farm Markets and Alternative Stores: Here in Orlando, there is a store that I love to shop at called Freshfields Farms in downtown. It's a fresh, indoor farmer's market that sells fresh fruits and vegetables and produce on one side of the store, and sells meat with its own butcher on the other side of the store. Because mostly everything is straight from the local farms (I don't know where there are farms in Orlando, but I'm not complaining), the prices are often lower than what you pay in major grocery chains. I can go between the two sections and buy about $100 worth of produce and meats and have my fridge and freezer full for most of the month. This saves me so much money on fresh, healthy food, because, sometimes, going to Publix for the same items can cost almost double (depending on the sales). You never know what else may be available to your budget if you don't ask around (I found Freshfields through a close friend at church).
I hope these tips make going grocery shopping a little bit easier (mentally). It can be a lot, and if you are alone doing it, just entering the store can make you give up and run through the Chick-Fil-A drive-thru (although I don't blame you) instead.
What other tips do you have for grocery shopping? Let me know.
We About the Love of Food ... but first, let's hit up the grocery store.
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