Supplies, shopping and sustainability: 4 smart tips for planning your groceries

March 2021 brought with it the second wave of COVID-19 in India and now more than ever, it's important that we maintain social distancing. Living through a pandemic has impacted our day to day lives. There is now a loungewear office staple and unending Zoom calls that have replaced being stuck in the traffic (however, we continue to scroll through our Instagram just as much).

The other thing that's changed is grocery shopping. Or should we say, how we look at it. From a chore we detested to an errand we now look forward to, given that it lets us leave our houses and also, allows us to stock our pantry up adequately, should we need a midnight snack, or two. Plus, with reduced social interactions, more  people have taken up cooking and baking as a way of spending time with family and also to curb the anxiety around the pandemic that just doesn't seem to ebb. 

While it may feel like a mighty task, it really doesn't need to be, if you're planning your meals. This will help you change your shopping habits and most importantly, be more sustainable and responsible. So, we collated a few tips on small changes you can incorporate while you do your grocery shopping to make big, positive and long-term changes in your life. And of course, on the planet, too.

Don't shop while hungry

We have been hearing this one for a while, but is it actually true? If you think about it, when you are scrolling through Zomato and salivating at the world of lip-smacking options available in front of you, you end up ordering too much food and eating leftovers for the next two days. The same goes for grocery shopping, when you're picking up things and you're hungry, studies show that you are likely to buy an average of 60 to 70% more than what you need.

Support local vendors

Living in India, we have far easier access to fresh and local produce than some other countries, where the same would warrant a weekend trip to the farmer's market.  Produce stocked by local vendors is not only organic, but also much fresher than it's supermarket counterparts. Besides, we all want to be #VocalforLocal, right?

Have a game plan ready

When you're planning an outfit, you decide on all the elements you need to complete the look. Try and apply the same logic to grocery shopping, too. Plan what you're going to cook for the week before you head out, so you can shop more efficiently without succumbing to tempting offers or baits.

Eat according to shelf-life

While COVID-19 continues to remain in our lives, it is important to avoid food waste and reduce your grocery runs. One way of ensuring that is to use the items in your pantry following the shelf-life. Utilise the fresh produce and leftovers first, followed by frozen foods and non-perishables. This will not only allow you to be more responsible but also, plan your meals better.

Now we don't want to bore you with antiquated adages about how "every drop in the ocean" counts so we're just going to leave these tips here and wait to hear from you while you give them a shot.