A Gentleman’s Guide to the Grocery Store
I have a few roommates that are facing a terrible reality for the first time: they must go to the grocery store or they will die of starvation. (Men of 801, this is for you) I faced the same terrible truth last year, so I have a barrage of tips and tricks for anyone who has never shopped for their own survival.
First, a step-by-step guide to the grocery store process. All grocery stores are pretty much alike, at least in content, so these tips should work any grocery store.
Produce:
Go straight for the local fruits and vegetables. Local produce will taste better and buying local will save fossil fuels and support your community. For one person, I like to buy half a dozen pieces of fruit or a few pints of berries, three or four different types of vegetables, and a fresh herb or a clove of garlic. It will be more difficult to buy local foods in the winter, but let’s face that when we come to it.
Meat:
Purchase in moderation. I’ve sung this song before.
Boxed and canned foods:
My advice here is to buy the least processed foods available. Leaving environmental concerns aside, unprocessed foods provide more nutrients and calories (food energy, not a bad thing) for every dollar you spend. Directly or indirectly, you will pay for the labor and energy that went into processing those precooked and packaged foods. Good examples of these wholesome items are grains like rice and rolled oats, all varieties of beans and nuts, and dried fruits and vegetables. If you can buy any of these items in bulk, you’ll save even more.
If you do buy preprocessed foods, go for things that are difficult to make at home (bread, tortillas) or especially tasty and savory items (salsa, pesto, spicy mustard).Frozen foods:
These are great to have on hand for emergencies or wintertime eating. Grab whatever looks healthiest and unprocessed. Frozen foods last forever so don’t worry about buying too much.
Dairy:
I admit that I’m addicted to cheese, so I buy a lot. Milk, eggs and yogurt are also staples in my diet — I am far from vegan. The cows and chickens will appreciate you buying grass-fed milk and free-range eggs. Amish cheeses and sheep or goat milk cheeses (like feta) are usually kinder to the ungulates.
Now some miscellaneous tips. I hope they are helpful.
Don’t be afraid of buying fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and sauces that you have never tried. If you come home with an onion, paprika and lima beans, try this google search and you can probably find a recipe for something delicious, or at least unique. Let your taste-buds do a little work. (This, by the way, is exactly how I choose recipes, so I’m not trying to fool you into eating really weird stuff).
Go to the store as often as is reasonable. If you live far from the store and you don’t have a car (this was me last year so I understand), at least try to make it out once a week. The more often you go, the less food will spoil and be wasted. Wasted food is wasted money.
Take a recipe with you every time you go to the store. Try printing out one of these and tossing it in your backpack.
Don’t be afraid to walk or bike to the store. You would be amazed at how much food fits in a backpack. Use those re-usable grocery bags — they can even hang from the handlebars of a bike.
If you have a farmer’s market, take advantage!
More tips from Lifehacker:
