Shopping Section By Section. You’ve got your list set up by grocery store sections, right? Plan to make the most efficient purchases in each section.
Produce
- Select whole fruits and vegetables rather than juice. It’s better to eat your calories than drink them.
- Pre-cut, pre-washed, and ready-to-eat produce can be a big time saver. Weigh the benefits of with the extra cost to see if these products are a good option for you.
- Buy the produce that is in season:
- Winter Produce: Brussels sprouts, chicory, collard greens, escarole, fennel, grapefruit, kale, limes, parsnips, radicchio, tangerines and turnips.
- Spring Produce: Asparagus, artichokes, apricots, fava beans, rhubarb, strawberries, sweet peas and watercress.
- Summer Produce: Berries, cherries, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, figs, melons, okra, peas, rhubarb, stone fruit, summer squash, tomatillos and tomatoes.
- Fall Produce: Apples, cranberries, dates, figs, mushrooms, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard and winter squash.
- Waste less by using leftover vegetables for soup or casseroles—freeze until you have enough. Overripe fruit is great for smoothies or baking.
