How do you find temptation when you go to the supermarket? Do you find yourself getting to the check out and looking into your trolley expecting to see all your good intentions and instead see everything you weren't meaning to collect or are you able to resist those temptations and specials?
I have a couple of tips + tricks that you can follow to ensure you minimise those temptations!
- Before you step foot in the supermarket, clearly define what it is that you are there to get. Is it a top up shop or a weekly grocery shop?
- If you're planning on doing a weekly shop, do you know everything you need to get? Have you created a meal plan to know what items you need/what you already have in your fridge, freezer and pantry? This can help to reduce impulse purchases.
- Have a well set out shopping list - categorise your items so you can move swiftly through the supermarket and not wander around going back and forth between aisles.
- Where you can, keep your groceries to being the 'outside' aisles of the supermarket. Typically fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy and bakery items are all on the perimeter and the inside aisles are full of packaged products.
- If the temptation is still strong to pick up those extra products, most supermarkets offer either home delivery or click and collect options where you can consciously select all your products and not be tempted by added extras.
- Depending on where you live and the resources that you have, avoid the supermarket in general. If you can - buy your produce and basic grocery items from a green grocer, meat from a butcher etc. and save the temptation all together.
Not only do these tips offer ways to buy less processed foods and helps to decrease temptation, but by being a little more prepared going into your grocery shop may help to save you some money and also minimise your food waste!
Let me know if there are any other techniques you use for your grocery trips!
