Tuesday's Tip of the Day: The Secret to Writing a Perfectly Executed Shopping List

Before heading to the store, take a minute to write out your shopping list to save time and money! If you haven’t factored in pizza night this week and have a packed schedule, when were you planning on eating the pre-made pizza dough before it goes bad? Exactly!

When I write a shopping list, I always write the list according to my store. At my local grocery store, the dry goods are located to the far left and the produce and dairy are in the far right corner. Knowing this, I build my list starting with the dry goods and working my way toward the dairy and produce.  This way, I streamline the entire process as I work my way from one end of the store to the other. I also like to finish with dairy and produce to keep them at their prime as long as possible.

As far as the list itself is concerned, I like organizing it by categories and as they appear in my store:

• Alcohol/Drinks: Wine, OJ, Sparkling Water, etc.
• Dry goods: Paper towels, Dish Soap, Dry Beans, Canned Tomatoes, etc.
• Frozen: Ice Cream, Phyllo, Frozen Fruit, and Vegetables, etc.
• Protein: Seafood, Beef, Poultry, Pork, etc.
• Produce: Bananas, Lettuce, Garlic, Cilantro, etc.
• Dairy: Milk, Eggs, Cheese, Sour Cream, Yogurt, etc.

Before you head to the store, print or write down your shopping list and accompany it with a pen crossing off items as you shop. By creating a thoughtful and well organized shopping list, you will save time and money while ensuring all items are accounted for. 

Cheers to starting a new tradition around the table together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!