Grocery Stores- The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

All grocery stores are in the business of making money and selling you what you're looking for.  Unfortunately like any type of store they are master marketers and set up their stores in an attempt to get you to spend more money.  Below I'll share some ways that grocery stores are getting more money out of your pocket and some ways they are helping you make healthier decisions!

The Bad:

• Stores are mapped out in a specific way to force you to spend more money- or at least walk by more items you might cave in and buy.  Think about where the milk is located in your favorite store; typically it's at the way back of the store.  All you want to do is run in for a simple gallon of milk and then you get roped into multiple other items because you have to walk by it to get to your milk.  
• In order to avoid junk food it's best to stay on the "outer loop". This means to stay on the areas closest to the outside walls of the store.  Typically this is where fresh produce, homemade bread, meats, and dairy is located.  In the isles is where junk food, chips, candy, other not-so-great for you foods are located.
• Beware of "end caps".  End caps are the section of "goodies" at the end of an isle.  Often people think of these as a place for good sales.  This is not always true and even more than that end caps are primarily used sell items that will catch your eye.  Bright displays with big signs normally are placed here.  Next time a holiday comes around take note of what's placed here.  Recently the weekend before the Super Bowl the end caps were filled with chips, dips, soda, and other snack things, but nothing healthy!
• Grocery stores play into the age and height of people shopping.  Next time you take a stroll down the cereal isle look up and down.  Have you ever noticed that the sugary kid cereal is down at a lower level?  That's so your kids notice them because they are at kid height!  Likewise, the healthier fiber rich cereal is above you.  Look up and down for the best deals, the healthiest options, and the off brand items that have the same nutritional value as the known brand.

 The Good:Super Snack Lady prefers to shop at Hy-Vee for buying produce for work.  It is important to note that Super Snack Lady has a working relationship with Hy-Vee in order to purchase produce at a good price for school visits.  No matter where you shop I'd like to introduce you to a really cool tool that Hy-Vee has implemented in their stores.  It's called NuVal and it tells you what the nutritional value of almost every item in the store right next to the price tag.  A NuVal score of 1 says there is practically no nutritional value in it while a NuVal score of 100 means it has the highest possible nutritional value.  This system makes it easy to see how healthy you are shopping and even easier to compare different items. If you want to know more about the NuVal system click here!  Check out the photos below that Super Snack Lady took on a recent trip to a local Hy-Vee store!

This Romaine lettuce scores a 100 on the NuVal
scale which means it is SUPER healthy!

These red raspberries scored a 91 on the NuVal
scale, which means they are very healthy.

This guacamole (which is made out of avocado)
comes in at 47 which is pretty middle of the road
for the NuVal scoring.  However it is still healthier
than cookies!

This fruit dip comes in at a poor score of 2. 
So remember, your fruit is healthy but if you start
dipping your fruit it is going to make it
a lot less healthy!

Fruit by the Foot scores a bad score of only 1.
Just because it says Fruit in the title of the item
doesn't make it healthy!

Skittles which are famous for being fruit flavored
also come in at a score of 1.  This means that
it has no nutritional value at all.

Another common item comes in at a score of 1.
This Gaterade has no nutritional value for you
or your child!

 Bottom line about grocery stores:  You have to know the secrets in order to not be drawn into getting items that you didn't want to get.  Have a list of items you need and stick to it.  That will not only make you feel better about the choices you are making but will also save you money.