A dietitian has shared the eight grocery shopping tricks she swears by, and how they can save you time and money in the supermarket.
Sarah Morgan, 26, from Melbourne, said there are many ways you can get the most out of your supermarket shop, provided you’re willing to sometimes reach to the back of the shelf and commit to choosing frozen fruit over fresh.
‘These tricks are designed to help both your overall health and save you some money,’ Sarah told FEMAIL.
A dietitian has shared the eight grocery shopping tricks she swears by, and how they can save you time and money in the supermarket (Sarah Morgan pictured)
The first tip Sarah religiously follows is she will always study the plant-based milks she intends to buy, and opt for items that are fortified with calcium and other vitamins (pictured)
1. Choose the best milk available
The first tip Sarah religiously follows is she will always study the plant-based milks she intends to buy.
‘Choose plant milks that are fortified with calcium and other vitamins such as B, E or D and have no added sugars,’ Sarah posted on Instagram.
‘If they have added protein, then that’s a bonus.’
Some of Sarah’s favoruites include the So Good No Added Sugar Oat Milk and Vita Soy Soy Milk, which is fortified with 50 per cent of your daily calcium requirements.
Sarah recommends you choose your products from the back, as they typically have longer use-by dates so you have longer to enjoy them (pictured)
2. Choose products from the back
Sarah’s second tip is one that means you’ll get more bang for your buck from your groceries.
She recommends that you always choose products from the back.
‘For produce with longer use-by dates, select items from the back of the shelves,’ she said.
‘This can be done with refrigerated products, but also with fruit and veg, as the freshest stuff is always unpacked towards the back.’
If you’re someone who wants to get the cheapest deal but you don’t feel as though you have hours on end to work it out, then Sarah has a simple formula to help you in the supermarket – work out the price per kilo (pictured)
3. Compare prices
If you’re someone who wants to get the cheapest deal but you don’t feel as though you have hours on end to work it out, then Sarah has a simple formula to help you in the supermarket.
‘Choosing a product that has several brands or specials can be overwhelming,’ she said.
‘So, to get the best bang for your buck, you should always compare products by reading the per gram or per kilogram or per litre at the bottom left of every price tag.’
The dietitian added this little marking is commonplace on most supermarket products, form canned goods to fresh fruit – and it means you’ll always be getting the best deal.
One of Sarah’s more unusual tips is she recommends that you buy olive oil that is in ‘dark glass or metal packaging’, as this will stop the olive oil from degrading (pictured)
4. Buy olive oil in dark glass
One of Sarah’s more unusual tips is she recommends that you buy olive oil that is in ‘dark glass or metal packaging’.
The reason why it’s better to choose these ones than clear packaging is because this packaging can often help to prevent sunlight from degrading the olive oil and ‘turning it rancid’.
To extend the shelf life of your olive oil further, Sarah said you should store it away from direct sunlight and ensure the lid is always perfectly screwed on.
Sarah said she loves using her rewards cards, whether they are her Coles FlyBuys card or her Woolworths Rewards card (pictured)
5. Get a rewards card
Rewards cards are absolutely vital for saving you money in the supermarket.
Sarah said she regrets all of the years she didn’t use one because she didn’t ‘think it would make much difference’.
But now, she uses her FlyBuys and Woolworths Rewards cards religiously, and regularly gets somewhere between $10 and $20 off her shop.
‘Every dollar counts,’ she added. ‘It’s absolutely worth it.’
6. Consult online catalogues
While it might take you a little bit longer, Sarah said if you have the time, you should always consult the supermarket online catalogues.
‘Viewing the online catalogues before you go shopping to see if any of your favourite or regularly purchased items are on special means you can target when you want to stock up on some of the longer-lasting items you buy,’ she said.
For instance, Sarah will often buy several cartons of her favoruite plant-based milks when they’re on special, as they last when stored in a cool dark place.
Pre-planning your meals in advance is one of the best things you can do for your health and grocery bill, as it means you’re less likely to overspend later
7. Pre-plan your meals
Pre-planning your meals in advance is one of the best things you can do for your health and grocery bill, as it means you’re less likely to overspend later.
‘Try to pre-plan your meals for the week so you have a rough idea of what items you need to help reduce over-spending or buying unnecessary items,’ Sarah said.
8. Don’t be scared to buy frozen foods
Finally, Sarah explained that you shouldn’t be afraid of buying frozen fruits or vegetables, which have often been flash frozen and so provide the same – if not more – nutrients than their fresh counterparts.
‘Frozen food is just as nutritious as fresh, and it’s usually a lot cheaper too, especially when foods aren’t in season,’ she said.
Another benefit to buying frozen food is that it typically lasts longer than fresh produce, meaning you can safely keep it in your freezer long-term.
To find out more about Sarah Morgan, you can visit her Instagram page here.