Grocery Shopping Then VS. Now

Before I started eating healthy, our pantry and refrigerator were full of processed, unhealthy, and artificial foods that provided little to no nutrients or sustenance for our bodies. Now, they are full of fresh, nutrient dense, and beneficial foods that are great for our health and provide our bodies with more energy. One of the biggest changes that you can notice in our kitchen is that I buy a lot more fresh, whole foods like veggies, fruits, and meats rather than premade or canned items.

Below I want to show you the difference in price and items between our old grocery list vs. what it is now as if I were shopping for a completely empty pantry/fridge.

Then	Now
Chef Boyardee	Organic Celery
Cookies (Chips Ahoy, Oreos)	Greek Yogurt
Potato Chips	Organic Carrots
Deans Chip Dip	Onions
Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, Cherry Coke	Parsnips
Baked Lays	Organic Tomato Sauce (Muir Glen Brand)
Digiorno Pizza	Grapes
Frozen Cream Cheese Rangoons	Jumbo Blueberries
Frozen Chicken Tenders	Organic Romaine/Spring Mix
Milk (White and Chocolate)	Siete Tortilla Shells (Burrito and Taco Cassava Flour)
Lucky Charms, Cap'n Crunch	Siete Tortilla Chips
Pies/Bakery Desserts (2)	Chickpea/Lentil Noodles (Explore Cuisine Brand)
Spaghetti Noodles	Paleo Puffs (Lesser Evil Brand)
Garlic Texas Toast	Banza Chickpea Pizzas
Pickles	Shredded Cheese (Violife Brand)
Chicken	Organic Low Sodium Chicken/Veggie Broth (Fresh Thyme Brand)
Shrimp	Lunch Meat
Ramen	Pita Bread
Tortilla Shells	Loaf Bread
Tortilla Chips	Salmon (From Seafood Counter)
Salsa	Chicken (Thighs, Breast, Bone-in Thighs and Legs)
Uncle Ben's 90 Second Rice	Frozen Cauliflower Rice
Colby Jack/Cheddar Cheese	Organic Salsa
Loaf Sliced Bread	Cholula Hot Sauce
French Loaf Bread	Organic Eggs
Velveeta Shells and Cheese	Quinoa
Sour Cream	Organic Rolled Oats
Potatoes	Zevia
Spaghetti Sauce	Oat Milk
Lunch Meat	Zucchini
Doritos	Red/Green Bell Peppers
Lunchables	Turkey Burger
Pizza Rolls	Organic Chickpeas
Cream Cheese	Organic Black Beans
	Banana Peppers
	Jalapenos
	Tomatoes
	Organic BBQ Sauce (Primal Kitchen)
	Organic Ketchup (Primal Kitchen)
Total: $197.64	Total: $206.88

As you can see from the list and pictures above, the foods I'm eating now are much more natural and fresh compared to the processed and artificial foods I used to eat. When looking at this list, I begin to understand the rut I found myself in when it came to my low energy levels, my mental health, and my overall lack of willpower and drive to make changes. I truly wasn't fueling my body and was instead filling myself with foods that had very little beneficial value to myself and my overall health.

Another topic I want to touch on is the price difference. One of my biggest concerns when I started eating healthy and something that has since been brought up in conversation with people who have reached out to me is how much money it can cost to eat healthy. The reality of this? There is no major difference if you shop right!! Take my list above, the price difference is a miniscule $9.00 and that's with me buying more now. This isn't even taking into consideration how much money I spent on takeout per month compared to now. These days, I eat out maybe once or twice a month. I used to eat takeout at least 2-3 times a week. On average I was spending about $51 a week on takeout which means I was spending $204 per month on eating out on top of the groceries and impulse snack foods I would buy on my random trips to the store. So in the end, by spending a little bit more money on my healthier foods at the grocery store, I'm not only eating healthier but I'm actually saving money in the long run because I have the drive and energy to cook homemade meals rather than caving in and getting takeout.

I want to give you all some tips that I've learned along the way to make grocery shopping easier and cheaper! My first tip is to never grocery shop on an empty stomach. This will lead you to making impulse buys that are purely based on hunger. There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying something sweet or a "treat" (I actually encourage this), but impulse buying can make for a more expensive bill and foods you may regret buying when you get home. Another tip that has helped me is having a detailed list and being prepared. I keep a magnetic notepad on the fridge and keep a running list in between grocery store visits. Before we make our trip to the store, I sit down and make sure our list is complete. I plan out meals for the week and add any extra ingredients we need and don't have to the list. I then research what stores have the best deals for that week and make a note by each item for which store we should buy the food at. Having a list this detailed ensures that I'm stocking our kitchen up, saving money, and eliminating unnecessary trips to the store in the future.

Another tip that I live by when grocery shopping is stick to the outer aisles as much as possible when at the store. This is where you're going to find your fresh veggies, fruits, meats, dairy, and whole grains. These foods are the most pure, clean, and fresh compared to the inner aisles where you'll find the prepackaged, sugary, and processed foods. Of course I do buy food from inner aisles, but it's only a few items such as frozen fruits and veggies, canned beans, dried oats, and various grains, and I try to find the cleanest and usually organic option available.

Lastly, I have a money saving tip. If you look at foods that are premade, pre-chopped, and just prepped for you in general they will almost always be way more expensive than buying the food in whole. So, if you have the time to chop your own lettuce, cut your own squash, or make your own turkey burger patties yourself, I highly recommend doing that rather than buying items pre-done as they can cost up to $5 or $6 more, and who doesn't love saving money?

I hope you found today's post informational and helpful. I know grocery shopping in general can be daunting, so I hope my tips and advice help you in your next visit at the store. As always, if you have any comments or questions for me, please don't hesitate to reach out! Thank you for reading and the continued support in my journey!