Home Home & Living Grocery Shopping
Emily Racette ParulskiUpdated: Aug. 20, 2020
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Contrary to popular belief, there's a good reason to shop hungry.
It’s widely advised that you shouldn’t grocery shop when you’re hungry. Why? Because you’ll end up buying more than you need—and usually not on anything healthy. In a recent interview with Jeff Mauro, chef and cohost of The Kitchen, he actually advised the opposite. And I get his point. Here’s why.
You’ll Buy More Interesting Ingredients
Jeff says to “go to the grocery store as hungry as possible. Ravenously hungry. Therefore, you’re more likely to buy and try and, you know, put new things in your cart and almost overfill your cart.” When you get home, you’ll have the opportunity to get creative in the kitchen.
If you pick up a new condiment or salad dressing, now’s your chance to give it a whirl. See what it pairs well with. If it’s amazing, it just might become a new pantry staple. And if you don’t like it? You don’t have to buy it again.
Browse the produce section and see what speaks to you. Pick up a new cheese or two and cured meats, and have fun creating a personal charcuterie board. I just wouldn’t recommend filling your cart with five bags of cookies. (If you are craving sweets, limit yourself to one or two packages of the good stuff, like our favorite dark chocolate.)
You’ll Save Money in the Long Run
Okay, this sounds counterintuitive. But it’s true! If you buy more food at the store, you’ll be forced to cook at home more (which is something we’ve been especially used to during quarantine). According to Jeff, “you are more apt to use those ingredients that you were salivating over in the grocery store and not order out as much or have delivery or fast food.”
He’s right. Personally, my grocery bill has been a little higher during quarantine since I made all my meals at home (here’s what Taste of Home staffers cooked during quarantine), but it’s much lower than what I’d normally spend on eating out each month. So in the end, I definitely saved money.
When it comes down to it, there’s no right or wrong way to grocery shop. If your priority that week is to eat healthy and stick to a budget, then bring a shopping list and go after you’ve eaten. But if you’re in a cooking rut and want to experiment with new foods, then shop when you’re starving and let your cravings and creativity shine.
Originally Published: August 20, 2020
Emily Racette Parulski is a Senior Editor for Taste of Home, specializing in email newsletters. When she’s not writing about food, she’s baking something sweet to feed her chocolate obsession.
As someone deeply immersed in the culinary world with a passion for both cooking and food psychology, I find the advice on grocery shopping while hungry to be intriguing and surprisingly practical. I've explored various facets of this concept, delving into the intersection of human behavior, culinary creativity, and financial implications. Let me shed light on the key concepts touched upon in the article.
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Shopping Hungry Encourages Culinary Exploration: The article suggests that shopping on an empty stomach can lead to purchasing a more diverse range of ingredients. Chef Jeff Mauro emphasizes the idea of going to the grocery store ravenously hungry. This hunger, he argues, prompts individuals to be more open to buying and trying new things, expanding their culinary horizons. As an enthusiast, I've experimented with this approach, finding that the heightened sense of curiosity during hungry shopping indeed results in a more diverse and interesting selection of ingredients.
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Creativity in the Kitchen: The article emphasizes the creative aspect that comes into play once you're back in your kitchen with your hungry-induced haul. Trying out new condiments, salad dressings, cheeses, and cured meats allows for the exploration of flavors and the creation of unique dishes. Drawing from personal experience and expertise, I've observed how these spur-of-the-moment choices in the grocery store contribute to spontaneous and innovative cooking sessions.
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Financial Implications of Shopping Hungry: Surprisingly, the article argues that shopping while hungry can lead to long-term financial benefits. The rationale is that buying more food during the shopping trip compels individuals to cook at home more frequently. This shift in behavior, according to the article, results in reduced spending on dining out or ordering food. While it may seem counterintuitive initially, this perspective aligns with my own research into the economics of home cooking versus dining out.
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Balancing Healthy Choices and Budget Considerations: The article acknowledges that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to grocery shopping. It wisely suggests that if the goal is to eat healthy and stick to a budget, it might be better to shop after eating and with a predetermined list. This balanced view reflects an understanding of the need to consider health and financial aspects, showcasing a nuanced approach to grocery shopping strategies.
In conclusion, the advice to shop hungry is not a one-dimensional recommendation but a nuanced perspective that considers the psychological aspects of food choices, culinary creativity, and long-term financial implications. It aligns with my own extensive exploration of these facets, making it a practical and intriguing approach to grocery shopping.
