“You spent HOW much at the grocery store?!”

Want to save money on groceries? You’re not alone. Right now, as we swipe that credit card in the checkout lane of the grocery store, most of us have a similar reaction, “What in the actual kale did I just buy?” Then we quickly scroll through the items on the receipt to make sure the cashier didn’t throw in a few bottles of Cristal or Dom Perignon while we weren’t looking….😖

Here in the United States, across most categories, food prices are already soaring. There’s no denying inflation when you’re standing in the checkout line. Seafood is near the top, along with other meats. Major grocery stores report that they will be raising prices on ALL products soon and many have already started. Now’s the time to come up with some strategies to save some Benjamins. (Can you tell I’ve been listening to the 90’s rap channel on Pandora this week?)

Here are a few tips:

💰 One category that is not yet seeing steep inflation is produce - fresh fruits and vegetables. This is great news because we’re at the end of the major growing season and you can likely find great deals. Berries, winter squash, potatoes, etc. check those out. Berries, greens, and bananas can easily be frozen and winter squash and potatoes store well in cool, dry places.

💰 Check out the farmer’s market or local farmers for deals.

💰 Look for nutrient-dense foods such as sweet potatoes, beans, nuts, and whole grains. These will help fill you up and keep you full longer (hello fiber!). Another important note along these lines, make sure you are eating your calories, not drinking them. Calories in alcohol and sugar are referred to as “empty” calories because they have virtually no nutritional value. Your body isn’t going to tell your brain to stop eating/drinking because it’s not full, even though you just chugged 500 calories. You’re going to eat more.

💰 Explore the bulk section of the grocery store. Look for grains, such as quinoa, rice, oats, and flours, nuts, dried fruits, and spices. Since you’re not paying for the packaging or marketing, chances are, you will pay a lot less. I just purchased 5 ½ pounds of quinoa for $30. Score!! (Yes, that is an extraordinary amount of quinoa for most people. But it will last us probably 3 months or so!)

💰 Watch for deals on the food you normally buy. Then purchase a few extras. 

💰 Shop local. Know what is available in your area directly from producers, growers or manufacturers. You may be able to get some good deals directly from them, saving on transportation and storage costs.

💰 Buy whole foods. The fewer ingredients they require to produce, the less of a chance it will be delayed by the backlogged shipments. Also, look for food that is minimally packaged. Manufacturers are also experiencing delays with packaging materials.

💰 Do not “panic buy”. We’ve all seen the cargo ships docked outside our ports, many of which contain food or the ingredients to make food. Remember the great toilet paper shortage of 2020? We still haven’t fully recovered. Panic buying will only stress an already fragile system. Purchase what you and your family will need for a few weeks, just to be safe, but don’t go overboard. Be respectful of others and the supply chain. We, the consumers, play a major role in it right now. It’s great to stock up but do so respectfully and smartly. 

💰 Finally, be kind to those working at the grocery stores. This won’t help you save money, but it’s a good reminder to be a good human. Everyone is stressed and worried about the state of the world. The least we can do is smile at each other and treat everyone with respect. Remember, the grocery store staff has been working tirelessly through the entire almost two-year hell of COVID to help put food on your table. To say there are staffing shortages is a serious understatement. Some workers may be new or just having a bad day because they were screamed at by the previous 6 customers. If they don’t know the PLU code for celeriac off the top of their head, let’s forgive them. Maybe that’s only a “me” problem! 🤪

Stay tuned for some upcoming articles about this topic and recipes that are quick, easy, and don’t break the bank!

Do you and your family have some strategies in place that I missed? Let me know! I would love to grow this list!

Peace, love & kale!

Lindsay