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Grocery shopping shouldn’t drain your energy — or your bank account.
It can be draining to sit down and make a grocery list, but going to the store without a list can also lead to overspending or buying things you won’t use.
To avoid these issues, social media users are using the 5-4-3-2-1 method to simplify how they shop for groceries.
Created by Chef Will Coleman, the trick involves associating each number to a food group to make shopping easy and balanced.
According to Coleman, the method involves buying five different vegetables, four different fruits, three different proteins, two different sauces or spreads, and one grain — plus a treat for yourself.
However, other sources categorize differently, with Healthline recommending five vegetables, four proteins, three fruits, two carbohydrates and one treat.
The 5-4-3-2-1 method is meant to create a grocery list that works for you and your needs, so if some weeks you buy five fruits and four vegetables or one sauce and two grains, it’s OK to swap the numbers.
Those shopping for a family will likely have to purchase multiples of some items to make sure there’s enough to feed the table, but the method would still apply.
It’s less about saving money to buy cheaper products, but rather learning how to be a mindful shopper. Instead of shopping on an empty stomach and buying whatever sounds good, the method sets up a plan for your week of meals.
When using this grocery method, it’s helpful to have a a template when planning meals for the week, such as each meal having a protein, carb and vegetable.
It can also be beneficial to use recipes that share common ingredients. For example, if you buy chicken for one of your proteins and rice for a carb, you can use them for two dinners and swap out the vegetables to make your meals different.
However, even with this method, your grocery list probably will consist of more than the 16 items because you might need further ingredients for a recipe or staples that you need to restock. Those ingredients are your “free items.”
There may also be ingredients in a meal that calls for ingredients that don’t fall into these categories. The 5-4-3-2-1 method should be used as a starting point instead of a strict method.
