Studying abroad is typically like a rose which comes with thorns. One of the thorns is trying to figure out what type of food to prepare and where to acquire them. Fortunately, life is made easy for international students going grocery shopping. This is because they can get organic vegetables, grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, fruits and other ingredients for healthy meals. Here are some tips to help you:
Before you go Grocery Shopping
International students going grocery shopping need to consider a number of things. They include their budget, dietary preferences and restrictions, and how to keep the ingredients from going bad before use. Thus,
- Make a list of all the items you need for the week and stick to it.
- Avoid shopping when you’re hungry, it can make you spend more than necessary.
- Shop by yourself and stay with organic products; cut down on junks.
- Stick to the perimeter of the grocery store if you can, and venture into the aisles only when you need them.
- Avoid pre-prepared items; purchasing fresh items is always a step in the right direction and they are much cheaper.
- Remember that you will find many grocery stores selling some ethnic foods in the international aisles.
- Equally, remember that many stores offer ‘price matching’ where they match or beat lower advertised prices in other stores.
College Grocery List Ideas
Here is a simple list of foods which are cheap, healthy, and widely available on a budget.
- Apples
- Bananas
- Beans
- Bell peppers
- Cereal
- Cheese sticks
- Coffee
- Eggs
- Garlic
- Hummus
- Lentils
- Oatmeal (look for low sugar)
- Onions
- Peanut butter
- Popcorn
- Rice (preferably brown)
- Salsa
- Spinach
- Sweet potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Tortillas
- Tuna fish (look for low sodium)
- Whole grain bread
- Whole wheat pasta
- Yoghurt (look for low sugar)
While Grocery Shopping
International students going grocery shopping need to
- Compare prices on meats because prepackaged meat is cheaper, but occasionally, there are good butcher counter deals.
- Decide on food items that need freezing and package them properly so they don’t go bad, thereby constituting a waste.
- Organize their food items accordingly.
- Ensure that when shopping, they get everything on their list.
After Grocery Shopping
- Keep food items near the edges of the shelves for easy access and refrigerate items that need refrigeration.
- Find out if your grocery store has an app and a rewards program whose coupons you can add to your reward card. The coupons will be applied automatically when you scan it at check out. This is a relatively quick way to save some money each week.