Published October 11, 2021 05:38PM
Chef Nik Fields Has Some Genius Tips for Saving Money on Groceries
What does listening to Beyoncé have to do with saving money at the supermarket? Let chef and food waste reduction activist Nik Fields explain.
(Photo: Courtesy Nik Fields)
Do you ever feel like your regular grocery run is a drag? You’re not alone. Even if you go in with a clear list in mind (based on your recipe plan for the week, naturally) you’re still trudging around the florescent-lit store, tossing stuff into your cart, only to finally make your way to the counter and inevitably swipe your card for an amount that’s more than you expected to spend. Enter Nik Fields and her genius tips for saving money on groceries while reducing household food waste.
Chef Fields – known to her Instagram followers as “The Chic Chef” – is a private chef to pro athletes and celebrities, a go-to expert on food and nutrition, and the founder of food waste reduction organization Waste Not Want Not. And when it comes to saving money on groceries, her insights run the gamut from clever shopping and storage to secrets of how to outsmart supermarket tricks designed to make you buy more than you need.
6 Tips for Saving Money on Groceries from Chef Nik Fields
- Do not feel the need to fill your shopping cart. Shopping carts are getting larger because testing reveals that they encourage customers to buy more. Opt to get a [hand-held] basket instead.
- Wear headphones and listen to upbeat music. Stores intentionally play music with a slower beat to encourage shoppers to move more slowly through the aisles and buy more. Put on some Beyoncé, move briskly while shopping, and burn some calories while protecting your pocketbook
- Make a shopping list and put it to work! Do not fall into the habit of “running into the grocery store to grab a few items.”
- Eat, eat, eat before you go shopping! The worst decision to make is to go to the supermarket on an empty stomach. When you’re hungry, everything looks good. Don’t spend extra money on food that you have no intentions of eating or cooking just because you are eye-hungry.
- Two words: Farmer’s Market! The farmers market is your best friend. Prices are lower than the typical store, and the fruits and veggies are organic. Most importantly you’re keeping the money in your community to ensure the prices are lower when you shop.
- Proper food storage at home will aid in your masterplan to protect your pocketbook. Invest in freezer bags and storage containers. Having the proper storage containers will extend the life of your prepared food which will save you time and money.
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