You know me… I’m all about anything color coded, organized and that has a system. My grocery shopping falls right into that. I have a specific system that saves time and money for when I grocery shop and it lives and dies by “the list.” I wanted to not only share that system with you but also put together a free printable you can use for your grocery shopping!
MY GROCERY SHOPPING SYSTEM
By now you know, I love systems. They seem a little OCD (and they probably are!) but I read a really interesting study that found we implement habits to actually save on energy. Our bodies expend less ATP (energy) when we have habits and stick to them. Count me in for less energy spent grocery shopping… I can think of a million and one places I’d rather put that precious energy!
STEP 1: Meal Planning
Before I make my list, I have to have an idea of what I will be making that week. I aim for about 5 staple meals to make, which more often than not are dinner meals (I cook extras on purpose because they make for a perfect reheatable lunch the next day and one less meal to make).
It sounds silly, but I literally open the Eat Your Way Lean Meal Plan Cookbooks and peruse them like it’s a menu I’m ordering out of. It just helps me think of meals that are new and fresh. I also use Pinterest for ideas when I’m stuck on what to make as well. Then, I write those meals down on the list (and you’ll see there’s a perfect place for that).
STEP 2: Take Inventory
Once I know what meals I will be making, I take inventory of everything I already have so I know what items I need to shop for. I add these items to the grocery shopping list.
STEP 3: Finalize the List
I also just glance in my refrigerator and pantry to see what I’m short and long on to finalize my list. Here’s where the categories matter. If you follow the Eat Your Way Lean Meal Plan, you know it’s all about balanced meals. I may notice I don’t have many protein options for the week, so I’ll add eggs and Greek yogurt to my list for example. Or, I may realize I’ve been eating the same fat options for the past few weeks and I want to switch it up, so I add a different types of nut and cheese (always cheese lol!) to that section.
Bottom line… I focus on what I need for the meals I’m making AND having enough options for each food plate section.
STEP 4: Shop
The obvious final step is grocery shopping. This sounds hilarious, but I somehow manage to forget my list 40% of the time. Now, I try to remember to take a picture of it when I finish so I can have it with me even when I don’t haha.
A few quick tips… stick to your list! The categories will help you move efficiently through the store because everything is organized and corresponds well to the store layout (how many times have you had to walk all the way across the store because you forgot one item?!). Also, try to keep from adding item to your cart that aren’t on your list. This will keep you on budget and from sneaking in all those junk food items that stare at you lol.
GROCERY SHOPPING LIST PRINTABLES
There are two printables to best suit your personal style as well as two different sizes. The larger size takes up an entire computer paper (8.5 x 11) while the other version has two side by side that you can cut in half if you prefer a smaller list.
DOWNLOAD HERE (large size)
DOWNLOAD HERE (small size)
DOWNLOAD HERE (large size)
DOWNLOAD HERE (small size)
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