Clean. Simple. FIT!: How do I grocery shop?

Today I am going to share some tips with you about how I grocery shop and give you the run-down of what is usually on my list. Bailey is also sharing some pointers today so make sure to bounce on over to her blog when you’re done with this post!

1) Walk the perimeter first, that’s where the freshest stuff is

a. Veggies

i. Carrots, canned beets, squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, lettuce, zucchini, avocado

b. Fruits

i. Apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries

c. Grains

i. Granola, whole wheat fresh bread (occasionally), high fiber wraps, flax, quinoa

d. Meat

i. Chicken, steak, pork, fish

1. I always buy them in individual packages and just a couple days’ worth at a time.

e. Milk

i. Almond Breeze unsweetened almond milk

f. Cheese

i. String cheese, babybel cheese, rondele spreadable cheese

g. Yogurt

i. Always greek….always plain

2) Don’t walk down the aisles of temptation

a. Chips, desserts, candy….ignore it

b. Skip the crappy snack aisles and stick to the good stuff!

3) Check the labels!

a. Protein

i. Shoot for 80-100 grams a day if you are trying to lose weight or are working out hard

b. Sugar

i. Keep it under 25 grams a day

c. Fiber

i. The more the better

4) Bulk food is your friend

a. Cereal

b. Granola

c. Trail mix

d. Grains

i. Quinoa, flax, wild rice

How to I keep it in budget?

1) Coupons and web apps. Target’s new Cartwheel app is my best friend. I love that they always provide coupons and rebates for fresh fruit, veggies, and meat. Every penny counts on a college budget.

2) Menu planning. I make sure I know exactly what I need to buy before I hit the store.

3) Only buy for a couple of days. I try and only buy for a couple of days at a time so that no food goes to waste. I make sure I have time to eat everything I have before I replenish the supply.

Where do I shop?

I usually shop at Coborn’s (local grocery store) or Target