For some, grocery shopping is a daunting task. You never know what you're going to get walking into a store at any given time. There could be masses of people, or it could be completely empty. Everything on your list could be in stock, or you may have to travel to a different store to finish your shopping (most annoying thing of all). Add in a four-month long pandemic (with no end in sight) and grocery shopping may have turned into a living nightmare.
Store hours have changed, most are requiring masks, and product inventory may be down depending on the time or day you do your shopping. If you are like me, I would much rather avoid all things store related at this time, so I do a lot of my shopping online. Many stores offer curbside service or delivery to make shopping hassle free (most have minimum requirements or fees which can add up if you are on a tight budget).
Regardless of your feelings towards your weekly or bi-weekly shopping trip, there are a few things you can do before hopping in the car on grocery shopping day. Here are four easy practices so your pandemic shopping experience can be less stress and more success!
1. Plan Your Meals & Snacks
Growing up, mother would make my sisters and I sit at the table and think of one meal we would like to have for the upcoming week. She would collect all of our ideas and plan her grocery shopping around the meals we chose. Meal planning is an essential because this will help you formulate a grocery list. Don't forget to include any snack foods or drinks you may need.
2. Organize a Shopping List
Make a list of all the food items you will need, then check your refrigerator, freezer, and cabinets to see if there any items you have that do not need added to your list. Organize your list by types of food. Think about the set-up of the store. Put the shelf stable food items first, followed by fresh fruits/veggies, dairy products and frozen foods.
3. Gather All Your Shopping Necessities
Before you walk out the door, make sure you have some hand sanitizer, gloves (if you want extra protection), a mask, your list, and a pen for crossing items off your list. If you for get a mask or sanitizer, don't panic. An employee will greet you, mask in hand, and the store will (well should) have a sanitizing station for your hands and wipes for your cart.
4. At the Store
When shopping, look to see if the floors are marked by arrows. Some stores have one-way traffic down isles, so make sure to pay attention. Also, try to stay at least 6 feet away from other shoppers. If you look down an isle and its crowded, politely wait until it clears a little, or move on the the next isle and come back later. If an employee is cleaning or stocking and you need an item, wait until they are finished, or kindly ask them if you can grab what you need, or have them hand you the item (I recently made this mistake and ended up waiting FOREVER for an item I needed).
I hope these four simple tips will help you have a less-stressful shopping experience during the pandemic. I have found that the more prepared I am for a trip to the grocery, the more positive my experience and the less prepared I am, the more prone I am to losing my $hi%#, which eventually makes it home to my husband who gets all my attitude (definitely not good for a relationship!). If you have any tips you would like to share, please send me a message - I would love to add them to the blog!
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