WWYD: Grocery Store Edition

noelr56
noelr56 Posts: 107 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey y'all,

I was running errands and - you guessed it- I hit the grocery store RIGHT at lunch time! I was so hungry- so, question is: what would you do? power through and hope it doesn't effect what you put in the cart? or have a snack?

I chose to buy a turkey jerky stick and eat it prior to completing my shopping trip but would be interested to hear what others think!
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Replies

  • aemmons81
    aemmons81 Posts: 9 Member
    I would buy a snack. I try to make sure to not grocery shop when hungry because I might be too tempted to buy things I wouldn't normally buy! I do shop with a list and try to stick with it, but I think if I was overly hungry, it'd be harder to stick with it.
  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
    I have a planned time for grocery shopping - Saturday right after dinner, so I'm always full. Like others said, I also shop with a list and do my best to stick to it. Doesn't always work. SALES.
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    I make a menu for the week, then a list for the store(s) that I need stuff from, I don't even understand how people know what they need to buy without a list.
  • Keto_Vampire
    Keto_Vampire Posts: 1,670 Member
    Shop by objectiveness/by the #s/macros (usually the same stuff) over emotions/feelings
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    Go with a list, remind myself that there are better uses for my money than an unplanned and unneeded snack, potentially try to avoid the areas that have what I want to snack on.

    But really my primary answer is go with a list and don't deviate from said list.
  • Idontcareyoupick
    Idontcareyoupick Posts: 2,854 Member
    I'd get a snack because cookies make their way in when I shop hungry
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    Like others, I make a grocery list, and I check nutrition labels and ingredients on everything I put in my cart regardless of when I'm shopping. If I really want to get in and out quickly, I just go directly to the items on my list and don't wander around other parts of the store. If I don't see it, I can't buy it.

    If you sometimes forget lunch or don't have time to eat, I would recommend keeping things like protein bars or other snacks in your car/bag.
  • RachellaJ
    RachellaJ Posts: 58 Member
    I might just get lunch at the store before shopping; either salad bar, or sushi depending on what store. If I wanted a snack, I might get some nuts from the bulk bin (and weigh out what I want to eat right then and there), or a string cheese. I wouldn’t let it derail me.
  • cherrybomb526
    cherrybomb526 Posts: 13 Member
    If it was lunch time and my financial budget had room for eating out, I would probably get lunch at the store, eat, then shop (it has picnic tables out front). Maybe a salad from the salad bar, sushi, or a yogurt/skyr and some fruit and meat, something like that. If my plan was to eat at home immediately after, I would probably power through. In those moments I like to make it a game of “how fast can I get out of here”! Keeps me distracted. If I’m feeling weak, I might skip non-essentials in the middle aisles (say tortilla chips we need for entertaining next week) to avoid feeling so uncomfortable. Often I’ll buy myself a big seltzer as a treat, and that does the job for me!
  • ktekc
    ktekc Posts: 879 Member
    I usually shop with my mother after one of our weekly 5 mile walks so we get lunch first. I bring a list but its only the things i dont get every week that i might forget. Things like yogurt and eggs i dont bother.
  • skelterhelter
    skelterhelter Posts: 803 Member
    If I'm really hungry when I'm shopping, I tend to grab something I like that also doesn't break the calorie bank -- a cottage cheese double with fruit, a banana, a yogurt, turkey jerky, etc. If I give into something more calorie dense, I just log it and make adjustments for later meals.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    I'm not the wisest grocery shopper regardless of my hunger, so the deciding factor would be: do I have something delicious planned to wait for, or do I feel like buying a sandwich or something. After that, I would do my shopping, buy a whole bunch of stuff that I don't need, then spend the next few weeks thinking how to use them so they don't go waste. That's why I let others do the shopping and only do it myself if I'm out for one specific item.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I order my groceries from the store online and go pick them up once a week after I have had lunch. Otherwise I have a grocery list and stick to it closely. I'm not going to throw random cookies in my cart just because I missed lunch.

    If you did not have lunch or a snack planned then picking up a food like jerky to eat seems like a decent idea.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Lounmoun wrote: »
    I order my groceries from the store online and go pick them up once a week after I have had lunch.

    Yep. That.
  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
    Lounmoun wrote: »
    I order my groceries from the store online and go pick them up once a week after I have had lunch. Otherwise I have a grocery list and stick to it closely. I'm not going to throw random cookies in my cart just because I missed lunch.

    If you did not have lunch or a snack planned then picking up a food like jerky to eat seems like a decent idea.

    How do they do with fruits and vegetables? I'm pretty picky about what I pick up, which has been one of my barriers to ordering online. I suppose I could just order the stuff that doesn't matter then do vegetables myself...
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    RelCanonical wrote: »
    Lounmoun wrote: »
    I order my groceries from the store online and go pick them up once a week after I have had lunch. Otherwise I have a grocery list and stick to it closely. I'm not going to throw random cookies in my cart just because I missed lunch.

    If you did not have lunch or a snack planned then picking up a food like jerky to eat seems like a decent idea.

    How do they do with fruits and vegetables? I'm pretty picky about what I pick up, which has been one of my barriers to ordering online. I suppose I could just order the stuff that doesn't matter then do vegetables myself...

    I was worried about that, too. But for the most part, they seem to pick good stuff. It's worth it to me, even if I get a rock-hard avocado once in awhile.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    RelCanonical wrote: »
    Lounmoun wrote: »
    I order my groceries from the store online and go pick them up once a week after I have had lunch. Otherwise I have a grocery list and stick to it closely. I'm not going to throw random cookies in my cart just because I missed lunch.

    If you did not have lunch or a snack planned then picking up a food like jerky to eat seems like a decent idea.

    How do they do with fruits and vegetables? I'm pretty picky about what I pick up, which has been one of my barriers to ordering online. I suppose I could just order the stuff that doesn't matter then do vegetables myself...

    I was worried about that, too. But for the most part, they seem to pick good stuff. It's worth it to me, even if I get a rock-hard avocado once in awhile.

    :lol: You know someone will complain that their avocado was too ripe.


    I try to shop at the store when I'm not hungry. Also I agree that only my regular foods are *allowed* in the cart. Once a week I buy one treat food. Once. And it has to be small. No half gallons of ice cream or a package of cookies.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    I envy people who write a list and stick to it. I'm heavily swayed by discounts curious temptations, it doesn't even matter if I'm full or hungry. That's why there is carob paste that has been sitting in the pantry for a few months now because "I never tried to make anything with carob, it sounds interesting", and a new body lotion has joined my other 4 sealed ones because "but I never tried a cucumber scented one". Salt and vinegar chips were buy 3 get one free, so why not, I don't like them but surely someone else will eat them. They are being tossed around from one shelf to another because they're occupying space. I'm banned from grocery shopping unless I need something specific, in which case I will go straight to the item. If I'm not carrying a basket, I'm not too tempted to buy things just because they're "interesting".
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    I'm another who limits my impulse/convenience food buys to things I don't mind eating. Usually berries or lunch meat which are no prep, delicious (to me) and not something I eat regularly so they tick all of the boxes.

    Desserts, candy and junk food are things I eat on occasion but they're not anything I can eat casually "just because" and maintain my weight so no matter how hungry or tired I am they're not ending up in my cart - I made that decision long ago, stuck to it and now it's a non-issue.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    edited June 2019
    I don't really impulse buy at the grocery store, and I often drop by on my way home after work (when I'm hungry for dinner). I also tend to just go to the areas of the store where the items I plan to buy are. Veg and fruit I do tend to wing it -- just buy based on what's there, what looks good, and everything else is planned (usually just in my head, but I'm very good at sticking to a plan when shopping -- I Christmas shop in a fast and focused way too!). ;-)
  • Katmary71
    Katmary71 Posts: 7,082 Member
    I usually stick to my list and go straight from the produce section to dairy, with some canned products. It helps to stay out of certain areas if hungry. I've been allowing myself to get two pints of light ice cream lately and that has been fun, but is my only splurge.
  • Yellerie
    Yellerie Posts: 221 Member
    I would have a snack before shopping or I would buy to much stuff & it would be yummy vs healthy stuff too. I'm lousy at sticking to a list though so if I have a snack before going to the store (like a 100 cal pack of almonds) I eat those drink some water then go shopping.
  • noelr56
    noelr56 Posts: 107 Member
    ultra_violets wrote: »
    This:

    2zxf8hrca7cz.png

    My absolute favorite snack on the go. Protein and fat to give me energy and keep me satiated and keep my blood sugar stable til my next meal, and it's delicious too.

    I've been wanting to try these!! they look like a delicious adult cheese stick!
  • yayamom3
    yayamom3 Posts: 939 Member
    I usually go right after work and I am hungry. There's a Starbuck's in my store, and I always budget my calories for a nonfat latte. I really enjoy sipping it as I shop, it stops my hunger pangs so I can wait for dinner when I get home, and it helps me meet my protein goal for the day. Win, win, win!
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    RelCanonical wrote: »
    Lounmoun wrote: »
    I order my groceries from the store online and go pick them up once a week after I have had lunch. Otherwise I have a grocery list and stick to it closely. I'm not going to throw random cookies in my cart just because I missed lunch.

    If you did not have lunch or a snack planned then picking up a food like jerky to eat seems like a decent idea.

    How do they do with fruits and vegetables? I'm pretty picky about what I pick up, which has been one of my barriers to ordering online. I suppose I could just order the stuff that doesn't matter then do vegetables myself...

    I order from Whole Foods via Prime Now. I once got a grapefruit instead of an orange >.< I always mark everything No Substitutions now, so I can get a refund if mistakes like that happen. Other than that, they do better picking produce than my OH does :smiley:

    But yes, your plan of getting produce yourself is a good one.

    I spend a lot less money at Whole Foods with online ordering due to no impulse buying.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    noelr56 wrote: »
    Hey y'all,

    I was running errands and - you guessed it- I hit the grocery store RIGHT at lunch time! I was so hungry- so, question is: what would you do? power through and hope it doesn't effect what you put in the cart? or have a snack?

    I chose to buy a turkey jerky stick and eat it prior to completing my shopping trip but would be interested to hear what others think!

    I'd get a protein bar first and eat while I shop.

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