Be a Smarter Grocery Shopper

Updated: January 04, 2016
A little shopping savvy will help you navigate supermarket aisles with ease, spend wisely, and eat fresher and healthier than ever.
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15 Ways to Shop Smarter

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Before you grab a cart and hit the aisles, read our expert tips on how to make better choices at the grocery store. These strategies will help you save money, eat healthier, and live better.  

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1. Divvy Up Your Cart

Illustration: Sol Linero

Your shopping cart contents should match the proportions of the ideal dinner plate (as shown to the left).

Read More: The Secret to Better Food Choices? Divvy Up Your Grocery Cart.

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2. Make a Shopping List

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Organize your list by sections of the grocery (produce, meat/fish, frozen items, dairy, and so on). Bonus points: List sections in the order you travel in your market.

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3. Read The Labels

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Watch out for unreasonably high serving numbers—they strategically lower the calorie, fat, and sodium counts per serving. 

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4. Reach for the Top

Photo: Randy Mayor
Stores place their most expensive products at eye level. Items on the higher and lower shelves are often cheaper and sometimes more nutritious.

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5. Keep Food Fresher Longer

Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
Shop for fresh produce and bakery bread more than once a week—your food will be fresher, and you’ll reduce waste.
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6. Use Your Freezer

Photo: Charles Nesbit/Getty Images

Always keep frozen produce (without seasoning or sauce) on hand. It’s just as healthy as fresh, and handy when certain fresh produce is out of season. 

See More: How to Freeze Vegetables

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7. Pick A Healthy Grain for Your Morning Routine

Photo: Teresa Sabga

Go for cereals with at least 5g fiber, 5g protein, and less than 10g sugar per serving. A whole grain should be the first ingredient on the box’s list.

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8. Go Easy on Fatty Chips

Photo: Randy Mayor

Look for reduced-fat options; there are many good ones out there. Cape Cod Chips makes a great 40% reduced-fat potato chip—just don’t eat 40% more. 

See More: Our Taste Test Awards Winners

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9. Shop The Edges

Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images

Find fresh whole foods—dairy, protein, produce—around the market perimeter.

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10. Snack Smarter

Photo: Caitlin Bensel / Illustration: Lauren Tamaki

Take advantage of the growing array of lower-sodium popcorn, whole-grain pretzels, and high-fiber bean chips. Hit the frozen aisle for high-protein items like edamame. 

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11. Choose Safe, Sustainable Seafood

Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House

Ask your fishmonger or consult the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch to find sustainable choices.

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12. Know Your Labels

Photo: Charles Masters

Look for meat that hasn’t been injected with saline solution or preservatives. Sometimes those are labeled “marinated.”

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13. Only Settle for the Real Deal

Less scrupulous olive oil producers try to pass off lower grades of oil as the good stuff. We like California Olive Ranch, which is certified extra-virgin.

Also, beware! Big bottles of cooking oil are cheaper on a cost per unit basis, but you may not finish them before they go rancid. Stick with smaller bottles.

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14. Cut The Price of Poultry

Photo: John Autry

Slash poultry costs with your own knife. Cuts like breast tenders or cutlets cost more per pound than whole breasts. Slice and pound whole breasts at home. Cheaper yet: Buy a whole bird and try our Foolproof Roast Chicken.

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15. Maximize the Nutritional Value of Your Fruits and Vegetables

Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House

Precut produce is convenient, but it perishes and loses nutrients and flavor faster than whole fruits and veggies.

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