LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Fitness |
by Rick Moore |
Boy, I am starved. They say that's the worst way to be when going into a grocery store, but it got me thinking. Since Dave's parents are here visiting from Buffalo, I have to make my weekly trek to the grocery store a bit earlier than normal. Why not pass along some advice from my previous life as a food broker and master shopper? (At least until I get something in my stomach!) I've got some really great advice and hints from the "Happy Health Homo." You didn't hear that from O'Donna Matthews!
Did you know that the worst time to grocery shop is Saturday and Sunday, in the afternoon? Who didn't know that? If you have to shop on the weekend, then nighttime shopping is best, especially when the major stores are open 24 hours. But ideally, for those of you with a flexible schedule, Mondays and Tuesdays are the best. I particularly like to shop on Tuesdays after 6:00 p.m., as there are no crowds. There's no need to rush around. It's time for myself. When you do your grocery shopping, remember to check out the circulars that the supermarkets mail out, or pick one up at the store itself. Peruse the sales by categoryusually frozen, dairy, meat, bakery, and dry goods. You need to write up a list of everything you intend to purchase. A list, made up well in advance, will save you lots of time and money. This is intended to stop you from "impulse buying." This can be very expensive when you see 10-pound boxes of chocolates for half price, and you know you're not supposed to be eating that sort of stuff anyway. Dave and I really do eat a lot. But we eat as healthy as we can. Impulse item shopping can really damage the waistline. The only "gotta have it" item that we insist on is ice cream. And as I'm reminded, "get the good kind, not that cheap generic stuff." We try to allow ourselves a cup of ice cream for dessert. We've put together a mutually agreed upon list of approved flavors. After you make your list, clip coupons. You'd be amazed at the savings coupons can have. Many stores are now offering double coupons. That's truly amazing, considering that some products can be purchased for nearly no cost when they double a coupon. And when they have those lovely half-price specials, it makes sense to use coupons to save big! Did you know that many manufacturers will send you coupons if you call their toll-free number? Something many stores have instituted is a bonus savings card. They scan it during your order to credit "clipless coupons" and deduct from certain items. You have to keep your eyes open for this, though. Sometimes they forget to scan your card, then it's a hassle going back to get your credit. And sometimes, nothing is deducted, even when it's supposed to be. So in addition to individual items ringing up at the wrong price, you have to watch for your bonus to be credited as well. The stores claim these are almost always accurate, but I've spent my share of time waiting at the service desk to complain. Often the overcharge is more than $5, which isn't a trivial amount, so be careful. Another drawback of the bonus cards is the fact that the store learns everything about you. They know every item you purchase, in what amount, and when. They sell that data to marketing companies and they use it for their own promotions. So next time you purchase some, shall we say, unmentionablesremember you might receive a coupon for them in the mail as a result. Dave jokes around about how he wants to announce those promotions on the loudspeaker. "Attention Mr. Moore, did you know Depends Undergarments are now on SALE?!" Odds are, Martha Stewart isn't shopping the specials like I do. She's probably too busy ordering her staff around to worry about them. But for us ordinary people (e.g., those minus an estate in Connecticut and a marketing deal with K-Mart) cutting some corners can make sense. For example, instead of buying an expensive bagged salad that's mostly lettuce, buy a whole head of lettuce and combine it with carrots and cabbage yourself. You'll end up with five times the product for the same price. Instead of a jar of prepared pasta sauce for $2.29, pay 99 cents for a can of crushed tomatoes and season them to taste. The same holds true for salad dressings. Who can remember that flute-shaped "Good Seasons" cruet from the 70s? I still have mine. (I don't think the new ones are as nice). If chicken, beef, pork, or fish are on sale at a great price half off, for examplepurchase more and freeze the leftovers. It will usually keep several months. Canned goods are also great to stock-up on at sale prices. They'll last 2 to 5 years in a cool, dry place. When buying produce, purchase fruits and vegetables that are in season. Summer tomatoes, squash, eggplant, peppers and cucumbers are often well priced. The ones grown locally and offered at roadside stands are especially fresh. But this "buying in bulk" thing does have a limit. Only buy products you will use during their shelf life. It's no bargain to throw away a stale box of cereal or rotten fruit just because it was cheap when you bought it. Now I know what you're thinking, "prepackaged snack cakes never expire." Heck, add those to the short list of post-nuclear survivors (cockroaches and Cher already included). Someone ought to do a test on those. I'm going to ask Dave's mom if his old Scooby-Doo lunchbox still has one inside. I bet it'd be as curiously spongy and artificially yellow as the day it was made! Rick Moore is a personal trainer certified by the American Fitness Professionals & Associates. Visit his club, Rick's Fitness & Health, in Milton, Delaware or www.ricksfitness.net, or call 302-684-3669. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 12, August 24, 2001 |