How to Become Supermarket Savvy

   We all love to go grocery shopping...NOT! Visiting the supermarket will probably be absent from most "Top Ten Things I like to Do" lists. This week's WW topic involved how to outsmart the supermarket.  Many members shared their tips and were the same ones that the lesson mentioned.  They were things like make a list and stick to it; beware of the end caps; stay away from certain isles; and fill your cart with the "good stuff" (aka Power Foods).  I found a few articles on the WW website that elaborate on the topic.  Check out Outsmart the Supermarket and Supermarket Psychology.
   Some advice my mom gave me was "Don't go to the grocery store hungry."  That has stuck with me and I try to follow it.  Even if I need to stop by to pick up a few things after work, I usually eat a string cheese or low-fat yogurt from my "snack stash" in the break room fridge before I go.
   "If you're not planning for success, you're planning for failure."  I see that quote every time I go in a fellow teacher's room.  That applies to grocery shopping, too. Plan your list by where the food is located in your favorite store.  Stick to your list.  (use the Plan-Friendly Shopping Guide to give you an idea of staples to purchase to help you with your healthy eating.) Plan a few meals for the week and add the ingredients to your list.  Plan to make a produce run during the week...you don't want to buy a lot of fresh produce all at once to have it go bad before you can enjoy it.  The time you spend planning is an investment to help you "Outsmart the Supermarket."