Families average at least two hours a week food shopping. Clients often ask, "Should I shop with a list?"
There is no pat answer. Assess your needs, preferences and goals. Use systems, such as shopping lists, only when they work for you. The goal of an organizational aid is never to make you miserable. Creative, intuitive shoppers would never adapt to a shopping list.For instance, Marty Meitus, a newspaper food editor, is a creative shopper. She loves to shop daily. The meals she prepares are a reflection of her and her family's tastes.
For Meitus, preparing meals is a creative outlet. It's important to her to have the freedom to exercise that creativity. If you're like her, don't even think about using a list.
On the other hand, if grocery shopping is not a rewarding activity, if you want to bring order to your purchases, stay on a budget or a diet, avoid impulse buying mistakes or spend a minimum of time shopping, use a shopping list faithfully.
One reader suggests developing and using a personalized shopping list. She designed hers years ago when she and her husband were trying to save money. If it wasn't on the list, it wasn't in the budget.
As it's evolved, they've added ingredients for new favorites and deleted foods that have fallen from favor.
She finds her list more convenient than a commercial list because it contains only what she really uses.
Developing a personal shopping list takes time, but once the initial investment is made, it simplifies shopping and allows anyone in the family to complete the task.
Shopping lists are an essential part of any diet. Dieters who roam the aisles are more likely to fall victim to cravings. If you are dieting, list what is healthy for you and buy only what is on the list.
Susan Valaskovic, a professional organizer, writes for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver.