Lifestyle

The Right Way to Grocery Shop

By Erin Kwederis at University of Michigan

One of the most overwhelming parts of moving off-campus is grocery shopping. You leave the grocery store with a full cart, but when you go to make dinner you have lettuce but no dressing, ham but no bread and some Doritos. Being able to make a great grocery list is life-changing.

Most grocery stores have produce, meat and dairy around the inner aisles, which have everything from dry foods to frozen ones. Organize the list this way, and you won’t wander the store or double back.

Produce

Only get enough to last a week (or two, max).

• Apples, oranges and bananas are cheap to buy in larger quantities.
• Clementines are in season and are great for a quick breakfast or a study snack.
• Bell peppers are really versatile, as are spinach and lettuce. Spinach can also be found in the frozen aisle and thrown into soups or omelets (which may be better since it’ll last longer than the fresh stuff).

Meat

Frozen chicken breasts are cheaper than going to the meat counter and can be easily thawed to toss into a stir-fry, baked with a side of pasta or thrown on top of a salad.

Dairy (probiotics)

• Yogurt is a quick snack that can stay in the fridge for over a week.
• Cheese sticks or Laughing Cow cheeses are great for a snack or with lunch.