If you find your grocery bill creeping up and your waistline expanding, then it would be a smart idea to take a hard look at how and where you buy your food...and all those other seemingly inevitable extras. Seasons, smells and samples can empty your wallet and fill your belly, so let's take a look at some of the pitfalls you might find in your grocery store.
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During the various holiday seasons, you might notice decorations and festive desserts side by side right as you enter the store. You can avoid sweeping the entire display into your cart by making a list beforehand of the decorations and food items you'll need to celebrate. Stick to the list, and buy decorations at discount stores, not the grocery store, where they tend to be more expensive. Avoid end caps - those end-of-aisle displays that tend to house sales items and seasonal combinations, like pumpkin pie ingredients at Thanksgiving.
These displays can contain some of those healthy items on your list, but if they don't, then bypass the pretty display. Give the entire shelf a once-over when you shop, instead of simply grabbing the items at eye level. They tend to be the priciest and least nutritious items. Avoid free samples, too.{relatedarticles}They may not hit your wallet, but they will hit your waistline. After all, how many times have you seen items available that are actually healthful? Grocers generally hand out convenience items or those on sale instead of more healthful options from the produce section or lean meat case. Really want a sample? Take one if the product is free of trans fats and added sweeteners.