Grocery Shop Like a European — Save Money, Reduce Waste & Improve Your Diet Now
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It’s no secret that the shopping is just better in Europe. Parisian luxury is unmatched. Wandering through Harrod’s is a gift no Londoner takes for granted. An Italian summer isn’t complete without channeling La Dolce Vita in Dolce’s finest.
That’s not all they do better than Americans, though. They prioritize a healthier work-life balance, create the finest wines, offer some of the best public transportation I’ve ever used, but there was one thing that always confused me about how they live—their refrigerators. Seriously, watch any episode of House Hunters International and you’ll see what I’m talking about. A normal fridge to them is literally the size of the mini fridge we took with us to college. Freezer? Maybe a tiny one, but honestly I’d be surprised if there was one at all or if they’d even use it.
I couldn’t understand why they were all perfectly fine with this teeny tiny excuse for a fridge while us Americans are aesthetically organizing our huge side by side 6 foot tall appliances stocked with all the goods to feed a football team. Then I realized, they don’t care about the size because they aren’t shopping the same way we are.
Americans usually hit the grocery stores on the weekend to buy everything we need for the week, plus all the things that happen to be on sale that we just can’t pass up and the sauces we’ve never heard of until stumbling upon them in the condiments aisle. Before you know it, we’ve spent $200 and freak out on Wednesday or Thursday because we haven’t eaten the chicken we planned to have on Tuesday, our strawberries are starting to mold, we haven’t even touched that cool new sauce and the meals we planned to eat towards the end of the week no longer sound as appealing as they did on Sunday so we just heat up a frozen meal and waste $50+ of our latest haul.
Sound a little too familiar? Don’t feel bad. I used to shop the same way until I started taking a note from the Europeans and their shopping style. I don’t have a gorgeous Parisian market down the road or a place as fantastic as Borough Market to wander through, but I’ve still managed to save hundreds each month, eat all the food I buy, enjoy every meal all week long and feel healthier than ever before.
Keep reading to learn how to follow the European style shopping method and transform how you shop and eat.
Image: Alesia Kozik
What Is European Style Grocery Shopping?
The European grocery shopping method is really quite simple. It prioritizes shopping more frequently, with more intention and buying fresh, high-quality choices. They buy what they need for that day and maybe the following day—typically enough to only need one tote bag. It’s also a more leisurely experience rather than a dreaded task to be fit into the day after work.
Europeans usually make multiple smaller trips to the market throughout the week—sometimes even daily. They also stop at different places for specific items like bread, meat or produce. One trip may be to a supermarket and another to a local market or butcher shop.
How To Shop Like A European
You may not have a cluster of grocery stores near one another, but there’s likely a small, local shop or market near them that you didn’t realize was there before. Take a look at your Apple/Google Maps and see what hidden gems have been available all along. I absolutely love French and Italian food, plus their ingredients are often much better than you’ll find in food made in the USA. Looking through my Apple Maps helped me find Little Gourmand—the most amazing French bakery & market just down the road from me—and Coco’s Italian Market & Restaurant 10 minutes from my home. Now I can grab dinner with friends before going through Coco’s aisles of pasta, flour, sauces, spices, fresh cut meats from their deli and, of course, Italian sweets to devour at home.
Even if you don’t find a local market nearby, you can still channel the European shopping style with just one store. Here’s seven tips to transform your shopping style into one that would make any Parisian proud.
Image: mariellehaon
1. Shop More Frequently
Try hitting the grocery store at least 3 times a week instead of one weekly haul. I usually go on Monday, Wednesday and Friday but I’ve been in my local Trader Joe’s almost 5 times a week on many different occasions. I know this may sound like more work but since you’re only grabbing a few items each time and being more intentional with your purchases you’ll be saving yourself a whole lot of time and money each visit. I used to spend 45 minutes on each weekly visit (and much more money than I’d like to admit) but now I’m in and out within 10-15 minutes for each trip without spending more than maybe $40…even with the price of today’s eggs.
Many of us dread the idea of going to the grocery store 3-4 times a week because we think it’s going to like our big Sunday haul over and over again. Don’t worry. Adopting this shopping style is going to make your visits calm and easy.
2. Skip the Shopping Cart
Unless you’re planning to grab heavier or bulky items, pick up a hand held basket instead. The only times you’ll see me pushing a cart is when I’m taking home a watermelon, three different fruits in those plastic cases that take up so much space, cases of mineral water or a few pumpkins to decorate for fall. Grab a basket instead so it’s easier to not go overboard with unnecessary items you see along the way.
3. Only Purchase What You Plan to Eat
I’m sure you don’t buy food expecting to let it go to waste yet somehow that always seems to happen to so many of us. I think I fell into this dilemma over and over because I liked to have things on hand. Maybe I was planning to make an acai bowl at some point in the week, but then the strawberries are moldy by Thursday. Perhaps I’ve finished my last meal prepped oatmeal and want to enjoy an avocado toast, but now the avocados are nowhere near good. How about the chicken you bought in bulk that’s now got freezer burn or you keep forgetting to thaw it the day beforehand so you just heat something up or order in? It’s a nasty cycle that I know all too well.
Avoid this by planning what you want to eat for tonight, tomorrow and maybe the following day’s lunch. Shop more intuitively and build meals around what you’re craving. Grab a cookbook and plan a new recipe to try for dinner—which can also be tomorrow’s leftovers. Plan a few meals for tomorrow’s breakfast and lunch (no need to worry about dinner thanks to your leftovers) then hit the store again to buy what you’re craving for a new dinner recipe. Before you know it, you’ll fall into an easy flow of stopping into the store every few days to grab exactly what you want.
Let’s play out how I ate this week to see an easy breakdown of meal planning. I always need an example to follow to really grasp a plan so here’s what I bought this week:
SUNDAY: Eggs, Carrot Juice, Fresh Berries, Green Fruits & Veggies for Homemade Green Juice, 5 Single Yogurts for Snacking, Bananas, Southwest Salad Mix & Rotisserie Chicken (it’s easily enough for 2 lunches), Papaya & Chicken Thighs
TUESDAY: Avocados, Everything Bagel Smoked Salmon, Sourdough Bread, Chicken Breasts, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Spinach, Chicken Salad (you know what’s for lunch the next few days) & Romaine Lettuce Hearts
THURSDAY: Potatoes, Plain Yogurt, Chives, Asparagus, Chicken Thighs, Mushrooms (can you guess what I’m making? Chicken Thighs in Mushroom Gravy over potatoes. Yum!!)
Now I don’t have to go back until Sunday since I like to meet up with my girlfriends over the weekend for a little get-together. Everything on this list is going to be used and I don’t have to worry about tossing out a single thing.
The only things I have on hand at all times is probably butter, milk, onions, garlic and plenty of spices so I can make anything I like with fresh and simple ingredients.
4. Bring Your Reusable Bag
Who needs more plastic bags lying around? Certainly not me! Not only is bringing a reusable bag great for the environment, it also keeps you mindful about what you’re getting. If you have your bag with you and keep it in your handheld basket you’re more likely to only buy as much as it will fit, which is probably all you needed during this visit anyway.
Image: mariellehaon
Reusable bags are usually very cheap at your local store. I think the most I’ve spent on one from Publix or Trader Joe’s is $5. If you don’t want one that has a grocery store’s logo on it though you can always bring one that’s great for different uses like these. Bringing a nice bag like this always makes me feel so chic and like I’m a classy European lady.
4. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
Europeans are not only healthier than Americans because their food quality is better, but they also choose the best of the best. Fresh versus frozen, seasonal, and mostly local & organic produce rather than processed stuff that I wouldn’t even call food.
Did you know you can reduce seasonal allergies by using local honey? Buy honey from your local farmer’s market that was harvested in your area and see how rarely you grab your Claritin. I love putting it on my morning yogurt bowls and toasts! Swap out all that processed sugar and go for a natural alternative that has additional benefits.
Not to sound like a negative Nancy but, have you looked into the chemicals they’re putting into our food? It’s honestly the most terrifying rabbit hole you can fall into and the reason I started eating organic. When I tried going back to regular options I was shocked at how my body responded. My digestion was horrible—painful even. Making the shift to organic truly changed my body in the best way! Trader Joe’s has amazing prices on their produce so I don’t have to spend an arm and a leg saving the rest of my body.
Stick to the perimeters of the grocery store and you’ll find it easier to avoid a lot of processed junk that usually lives in the middle aisles.
5. Buy Certain Items At Different Stores
This may sound like extra work but I promise, it’s a quick in and out trip to a place with the highest quality and is usually a family-owned small business. I always love supporting small businesses!
Want a great cut of meat? Head to your local butcher shop. They know more about that cut than the kid chopping and weighing options at the Kroger and Piggly Wiggly.
Need a loaf of bread that’s made with the highest quality ingredients and not bio-engineered? Your local boulangerie has you covered. The French market I like to shop at has another location where they bake all their sweet treats, sandwich baguettes and sourdough breads so I can check off two boxes at once. Ask the shop owners if they have a similar setup or if they know anywhere in the area they would trust with finding the items you’re looking for. They’ve always got the best suggestions!
6. Start Menu Planning
Creating delicious meals is all about balance and flavors playing well with off of each other. Start menu planning—not meal planning, but menu planning—and you’ll be able to get a clearer vision of what items you need to buy for the next 2-3 days.
If you’re not sure what you’d really like to put on your menu, look at the menus online of restaurants you like. Eating out is hard for me not just because I have no clue what exactly is on my plate or what was used to cook it but because I hate spending money on something I could’ve easily done at home myself. Find a meal you would order if you were out at a restaurant and try to recreate it at home, but with all the best ingredients.
Before you know it, you’ll be savoring every meal you make from breakfast to dinner. Plus, when you get a craving for Mexican or Italian you don’t have to deprive yourself because you prepped something completely different. You’ll be able to go to the store after work and grab exactly what you need to indulge in exactly what you want!
7. Treat Yourself to Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers are a staple in my home! Maybe it’s my obsession with Nancy Meyers movies or maybe it’s just that they make me feel so calm and happy. I used to buy fake flowers but now I mix it up a little and half my floral decor is fake and the main points are all fresh. Trader Joe’s has some of the best prices for fresh flowers, eucalyptus for my shower and even plants I can add to my collection. Once a week go to your grocery store, local market or, my fave: Trader Joe’s and enjoy picking out some roses, lilies, orchids and fillers to bring some extra life to your home.
Little luxuries like this are a great way to romanticize your life and enjoy your trips to the market even more.
Image: mariellehaon
Making this shift can seem difficult, especially when you’ve been grocery shopping the same way for years (decades even) but once you get the hang of things you’ll cringe at the thought of a shopping haul or suffering the Costco curse. Of course, there are times you may have to buy in bulk like when you’re hosting an event or having family & friends visiting but as soon as those moments are over you’ll be yearning for you calm, relaxed and mindful little trips to the market.
