Making a list for grocery shopping is a classic hack to make your supermarket errands efficient. However, the work doesn’t end there. The actual chore is shopping for every single item and navigating through the store to get what you need. Whether you are shopping at your neighborhood grocer’s store or at the nearest SM Hypermarket, here is a helpful guide on which section of the supermarket you should check out first. Keep your grocery shopping stress-free when you stick to your plan and follow these tips:
1. Produce
The first order of business is to go to the produce section, where you will find piles of whole foods such as grains, vegetables, and fruits. In most supermarkets, like SM Hypermarket, you will find the produce section in the corner right side of the store. Why go to this section first? By filling your cart with healthy food items at the beginning of grocery shopping, you can make sure to get all the nutritious food first. You might even decide to skip junk foods and other unhealthy choices later. Just make sure to put the fragile veggies in a safe corner of your cart to avoid crushing the produce.
2. Canned or Dry Goods
The next stop is where the packaged foods are. When you reach this section, take advantage of your grocery list so you won’t get overwhelmed with the wide array of choices you see. Make sure to focus on the essential ingredients you need in the kitchen first, such as cooking oil, vinegar, soy sauce, spices, etc. Next, go to the bread section for this breakfast and merienda staple. Lastly, to round out the packaged food portion of the grocery trip, restock on pastas, sauces, and canned goods.
3. Chips and Sweets
When you’ve filled up your cart with healthy foods and pantry staples from your list, you can proceed to the treats section. Just make sure to proceed with caution, especially if you’re shopping with young kids, because you still have other items to get. Of course it’s okay to have snacks in the house, but try and limit your purchases to save room for mealtime food. Besides, you don’t want to ruin your budget either by getting loads of chocolate bars and packs of chips from the shelves.
4. Home Cleaning Items and Toiletries
SM Hypermarket is truly a one-stop-shop for all your needs at home including your toiletries and cleaning supplies. If you are buying home cleaning items and toiletries, ensure that you place them away from the food items. You can either bring a separate basket for it or place it on the bottom shelf of your cart to avoid contamination.
5. Meat and Seafood
In terms of the layout of most grocery stores, the meat and seafood sections sit in the back of the store, next to the produce. So, doesn’t it make sense to go here next after you pick vegetables? Not quite. You don’t want raw proteins like chicken or fish to sit in the cart for a long time while getting other items you need. You want to minimize spoilage as well as contamination to keep all your groceries fresh. This is why you want the meat and seafood section to be one of your last stops.
6. Frozen Food and Dairy Products
If you plan to buy month’s worth of goods, you have to consider the items that could lose their cool. We suggest to head over to the frozen food and dairy products sections right before you head to the checkout line. Dairy products, such as butter and ice cream, could melt in no time, while other frozen items can spoil if left out of the freezer for too long.
1. Produce
The first order of business is to go to the produce section, where you will find piles of whole foods such as grains, vegetables, and fruits. In most supermarkets, like SM Hypermarket, you will find the produce section in the corner right side of the store. Why go to this section first? By filling your cart with healthy food items at the beginning of grocery shopping, you can make sure to get all the nutritious food first. You might even decide to skip junk foods and other unhealthy choices later. Just make sure to put the fragile veggies in a safe corner of your cart to avoid crushing the produce.
