Grocery Shopping with the Family (with FREEBIE)

Have you ever felt very frustrated or anxious while shopping with the family at the grocery store? Are your kids very antsy and you always feel unaccomplished after the event? Are you always forgetting things and have to go back to the store to buy things you forgot? Don't worry, in this blog post, I will be sharing my family tips with you, to make your life as busy parents, a little bit easier ;)

© Everything Family Guide

Here are some tips for effective grocery shopping for busy moms and dads:

1. You know all about the "Grocery List". It is very important for families that go grocery shopping to make a list before heading out. It allows you easily plan healthy meals and reduce the stress of shopping with your family. You are probably wondering about how it only takes a few minutes to make a list, but it is equally important to make an effective one. As busy parents, our schedules, time constraints and responsibilities, don't allow us to revisit shopping stores. This is an added stress and makes you feel helpless at times! To avoid that stressful scenario, make a list when your kids are napping or sleeping at night. I go around each room of the house (i.e. kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, powder room, closet, etc) and make a simple list of things that are gone or in dire need of replacing. For some weird reason, when I go to a particular room in the house I remember what I need much better than composing a list on my couch or while I'm doing housework.
2. I have a magnetic shopping list on the fridge that I fill in whenever I run out of items in the kitchen or around the house. For example, if we run out of dishwasher liquid, I fill it in, so that if I didn't get a chance to make a list I have what I really need. This list is the most important list, as it has all the items that we ran out of and use on a day-to-day basis.
3. Buy your foods in bulk. Buy bulk chicken from the meat shop by ordering a box of chicken thighs or legs cut up and evenly divided into freezer bags (I know I'm spoiled; our butcher is a God-sent!) Anyhow, we freeze the chicken and pull it out in the morning for the day's meal. I let my meat thaw in the fridge overnight or in a basin of warm water (only if I'm cooking right away). We also love Costco! We buy our snacks, breads, and other household/grocery items in bulk. We have a stand-alone deep freezer that we bought last year and we place our bulk grocery in there. Bulk shopping reduces the stress of buying everyday use things. I also buy dry items like healthy snack mixes, nuts, beans, or lentils in bulk. Lentils are a great source of protein and very budget friendly. We make lentils a few times per week. Also, snack mixes and nuts are much healthier and cost-effective than unhealthy snacks like chips, candies, juices/fizzy drinks, ready-made or packaged desserts or cookies.
4. The main stress of grocery shopping aside from 'tantrums' is the COST. That's why making a grocery list is key! You can browse through online or hard-copy flyers to pick and choose items that are in season and/or on sale. This will save you money and help you stay on top of your budget. I know its sounds mean but please refrain from impulsive buying as you will overspend. Only buy what is needed. No matter what the family income (high, medium, or low), it is important to avoid costly grocery store bills of food that might just get stale or rot in the pantry. All that money wasted can go into your child's college fund! You can always give yourself an occasional treat but not every time, if you know what I mean.
5. Park the car near the grocery side of the store, so that you can be in and out in no time. If you park on the pharmacy or clothing side, then you will stop to look and waste your time before the 'Untimely Tantrum' strikes (hehe..).
6. Sadly, the days of leisurely strolling in the grocery store are over! Well not exactly, you just have to wait till your kids are going to school and a little more independent to stay at home with an adult. Anyways, you need to make a time limit or set an alarm on your cell phone so that you don't waste time, before any of your kids decide to act up. I go with a set mind frame of what I need to buy and come out with the things I need in the same amount of time that was set in my timer. I know it seems like "Amazing Race" or "Grocery Games" but trust me, you don't want to be halfway through the grocery shopping experience and have your little one throw a major tantrum. Previously, I have had to leave everything as is and leave the store because my little one was very, very noisy and fidgety.
7. I am sad to say this but I have to resort to the Candy/treat technique for those high anxiety moments when my child is screaming his head off and I feel so embarrassed and helpless. I have little candies (like chocolate kisses, mints, gum, etc) and if a tantrum strikes, I tell them to settle down in the cart to earn a treat. This is very rare and only happens when I'm alone and REALLY need those groceries!
8. Let your kids take the responsibility of holding items, reading off the grocery list and putting safe/light items on the conveyor belt at the cashiers'. Little preschooler or toddlers love to help out and you can use that to your benefit. Let them pick out the apples or hold something (light) so that they feel valuable and stay busy.

So, now you know the tips and tricks I use for effective grocery shopping as busy parents. What are some strategies that you apply to your grocery shopping experience?

Annie
Here is the FREEBIE as promised (I have coordinated the checklist with the food guide).