Are you ready to take your grocery shopping trips to another level? In this student-friendly guide, we will unveil some game-changing strategies to help make your shopping trips worthwhile. Let' get into some easy ways on how to avoid buying duplicate items, to finding unbeatable deals and shopping smarter to enhance our overall grocery shopping experience.

Make a list and stick with it
When preparing for a grocery trip, it is crucial for students to plan their grocery lists and meals in advance. Before heading out, take inventory of your pantry, freezer, and fridge, then mark off any items you already have to avoid unnecessary purchases. As you uncover items such as canned beans, spices, broth, canned fruit, dried beans, rice, taco shells, peanut butter, whole wheat crackers etc., check them off your list. These ingredient items can be utilized in a variety of meal prep recipes.

Save big with flyers and apps
When it comes to grocery shopping, we all like to save money where we can, which is why it's important to have money-saving strategies in place. For example, taking advantage of grocery store flyers or shopping apps like Flipp to find weekly sales in your area and planning your meals accordingly can be a great savings hack. Another way to save money is to leverage food rescue apps like Too Good To Go, which displays local restaurants in your area that are selling food at a significantly reduced price. 

Shop smarter
The next time you go to the grocery store, consider asking customer service if they have a points system to earn discounts on future purchases. Shopping at discount stores or local farm stands are great places to find less expensive fresh produce items and support local businesses. While you are there, stop by the frozen aisle to grab some stir-fry vegetables to use on days when you are short on time. Remember to always check food item labels for the expiration date and the types of allergens present in any food product before buying.

For those living near the York U campus, check out the following grocery store locations: 

Keele Campus: 

• No Frills (1 York gate Blvd, Toronto, ON)
• Freshco (3925 Jane Street North york, ON
• Walmart (3757 Keele Street, North York ON 

Glendon Campus: 

• Metro (291 York Mills Rd, North York, ON)  
• George's Independent City Market (3080 Yonge St, Toronto, ON)

Some Additional Tips on How To Grocery Shop 

1. Set a budget to avoid overspending 
2. Look online to see what times the grocery store is less busy. The best days to visit the grocery stores are during the weekdays, usually in the morning or at noon. Going to the stores during busy times can cause you to feel fatigued. 
3. Refrain from going grocery shopping when feeling tired or hungry because it can result in you buying convenience foods that are costly. 
4. Try to begin your shopping trips at the produce aisle and end with the dairy and meat section because these perishable items can spoil if they are in the Temperature Danger Zone between 4 and 60 degrees Celsius for two hours. 
5. Shop when you have an ample amount of time in day 
6. Lastly, stick to your grocery list and bring reusable bags to avoid overspending.