Hellobee Boards

Login/Register

Healthier grocery shopping

  1. Bao

    GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts

    @T.H.O.U.: oooh! I like the two transactions things, maybe that would be an eye opener.

  2. Mrs. Sketchbook

    GOLD / nectarine / 2884 posts

    @Bao: another thing is...my kids don't snack every day. Maybe since they still nap, and because they don't wake up super early, but by the time they get hungry it is usually time for another meal. So expensive add ons like berries get used at meals and not as snacks. I definitely could not afford to do organic berries as an everyday snack. In fact I feel like my 4 yo's meal eating has suffered now that he is in preschool and he gets an afternoon snack.

    Try frozen berries! I prefer organic berries but I can't always afford them. I buy berries from the farmers market in the spring and freeze them, but also just the freezer section of the grocery store is good... Kroger had a massive bag of maine blueberries (not organic but at least USA berries) for 9 dollars last week and when my kid has snackes this week I have given him some of those (still frozen) to eat. That bag was probably equivalent of seven berry trays. Main time my kid ends up with a snack is at 5 when he's ready for dinner and I am cooking.

    One more thing...I am all for the fresh fruit, etc., But sometimes I have to acknowledge that in the winter it is unnatural for me to be eating pineapple, etc. I mean, that stuff is $$$, and forces me to question how it got to me (labor, supply chain, etc.). So we do a lot more applesauce and dried cranberries and nuts this time of the year. Stuff that culturally is appropriate for winter. Don't get me wrong we still buy our share of produce that is from overseas but I don't put pressure on the budget to buy stuff out of season in order to keep my diet totally consistent year round.

    I did buy some fresh USA strawberries at Publix this week. Not organic though...but still, spring is coming!!

  3. Bao

    GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts

    @Mrs. Sketchbook: I don't buy organic berries, I think maybe misunderstood? the frozen and fresh regular non organic berries here tend to run the same price.

  4. Mrs. Sketchbook

    GOLD / nectarine / 2884 posts

    @Bao: I guess I was just responding to what you were saying about how cookies were more affordable than berries! I don't think of name brand snack foods as being less affordable than regular berries. But this is splitting hairs! Sorry

  5. Bao

    GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts

    @Mrs. Sketchbook: oh ok! No I just thought you meant if I didn't buy organic it would be cheaper. Must have read it the wrong way!

  6. PurplePumps

    pomegranate / 3809 posts

    Just don't walk down the isles with the junk and temp yourself. If you ever noticed the basic layout of every supermarket, veggies are on one side, meats on the other, and dairy along the back. All the isles are just filled with the junk food. Shop the perimeter and then get outta there.

  7. brownepiano

    persimmon / 1467 posts

    Two things:
    1. I make my own snacks if they are something processed (muffins, cookies) with the exception of pretzels. We almost never have crackers.
    2. I make a list before we go to the store of EVERYTHING we are going to eat that week, including snacks, and make my shopping list at the same time. I put a rough price estimate next to each thing (I round up to the closest dollar or 50 cents). While I am planning I try to make sure that total stays at/under whatever is budgeted for the week. If my meals are too expensive, I pick something else or don't stock up on something we are running low on. When I am shopping I pay attention to how much the actual cost is compared to my estimate. If everything is under than I know I can safely buy one extra. If some are over, I know I'd better stick to my list and not buy anything extra. I shop at Aldi every time so estimating prices isn't hard for me since they have limited options. Since I round up it doesn't matter if it is 1.10 or 1.25 because I probably budgeted 1.50.

  8. gingerbebe

    cantaloupe / 6131 posts

    The reason I do frozen last is because I often stand there in the freezer case doing the "do I really need this" go back sorting in my shopping cart. Just taking a few minutes to look over my cart and taking things back saves me money. Then I throw in my frozen junk and leave.

  9. travellingbee

    hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

    Like others have said, I always start in the produce section and only go down an aisle if I NEED something. I avoid soda, chips and cookie aisles. Also, ordering curbside or online groceries can help you stick to what you need.

Reply

You must login / Register to post

© copyright 2011-2014 Hellobee