Not much makes me happier than strolling into Trader Joe’s at 8am on a Sunday morning. There’s plenty of parking, clear aisles, and every piece of produce and canned good is lined up in its just right position. If you can relate to this happy feeling, read on! Today I’m sharing how I like to grocery shop as a professional organizer. 

Go in with a plan: 
There’s a time and place for spontaneity; grocery shopping is not one of those times. I take thirty minutes to brainstorm meals I’d like to eat for the week, jot down the ingredients, and make a grocery list. We love this Rosa Meal Planner which gives you space to write down your meal plans for each day of the week. There’s also a section to write your grocery list on a perforated piece of paper that you can easily tear out and take with you. Prefer to keep things more digital? Use the Notes app or Reminders App on your phone to write down what you need. Having your grocery list digitally ensures that you’ll never lose your list or leave it at home. The best part is that you can make it a shared note so anyone else in your household can directly add their requests onto it!

Meal planning can be tricky – how are you supposed to guess what you’ll be in the mood for on Thursday? I like to pick two or three rotating staples, something quick like burgers for a busy night, and try a new recipe once a week. My favorite cookbooks I’ve been pulling from lately are Half Baked Harvest Super Simple and Magnolia Table. Please, never go to the grocery store without a list! You know you’ll ending up buying way too many snacks.

Outsource where you can:
Does anyone else find themselves going to 3 different grocery stores in one day? I used to find myself hitting TJs for most of my list, Wegmans for the rest, and ended up at Stop and Shop the next day for something I forgot. Stop the madness! Create a schedule and automate what you can to be efficient. I use Thrive Market for pantry staples and paper goods which I can have auto-shipped right to my door. Grocery delivery is here to stay - but beware of bulk-shopping. Be realistic with how quickly you go through your supplies so you’re not left with a ton of overstock and nowhere to store it!

The Little Details:
Alright, you’ve made it to the store. If you’re super organized, your list is categorized by section: produce, meat, snacks, etc. I even take the extra step to list my items by what order I’ll see them in at the store. If you’re not that crazy, keep your items sorted in your cart by category and lay them out at the register that way. This makes it easy for the bagger to do their job, and easy for you to unpack at home. Try this awesome trolley bag on your next trip to the store. It’s designed to fit most carts, has a cooler section, wine, and egg holder. I use the largest purple section for produce (since it’s what we should be buying most of), the teal section that’s insulated for all cold food (ie. meat, dairy and frozen items), the blue section for pantry items and the brown section for paper goods, body products, or any miscellaneous items since it’s the smallest.

I use these tips to keep my shopping trips efficient and to avoid impulse buying. That being said, I love the grocery store! It can be fun now and then to wander about, discover new items, and find good deals. We’d love to know what you think! What day do you grocery shop? What meals have you been loving lately? Connect with us here on Instagram and Facebook.