Nutrition for Older Adults: Shopping Tips

Reduced Income

Many older adults have reduced income which can lower diet quality. Reduced income may result in:

• Less money for food.
• Less money for transportation to shop.
• Moving into housing with poorer facilities for storing and preparing foods.

Grocery Shopping Tips: 

 

Plan

• Plan meals in advance.
• Plan meals to use foods before they spoil.
• Check food ads for weekly specials when you plan meals.
  
  

Check

• Keep a list in the kitchen to write down food items as supplies run low.
• Check food supplies for what you need and don’t need before you shop.
• Check coupons for items you normally use.
  
  

Write

• Write a grocery list.
• Organize your grocery list with the store layout.
  
  

Get Ready

• Pick grocery stores with the best prices and services.
• Avoid shopping when tired, hungry or rushed.
• Avoid crowds by going shopping early in the day and early in the week.
  
  

At the store

• Stick to your grocery list.
• Compare prices – unit pricing can help you know which brand or package size costs less. However, only buy the amount you can use and store safely.
• Generic or store brands are usually less expensive.
• Sale items may not be less expensive than generic or store brands.
• Purchase only the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables you will use before they go bad.
• Try buying larger amounts of produce with family or friends and splitting the cost and produce.
• Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season.
• Buying frozen vegetables in bags allows you to use small amounts at a time.
• If meat or produce are too large, ask to have them repacked.
• Check “sell by” and “use by” dates.
• Resist impulse purchases.
  
  

At home

• Handle and store food properly to reduce waste.
• Larger packages of meat can be divided into smaller portions and frozen.
  
  

Community Resources 

• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help income eligible people buy groceries.
• Senior meal sites provide meals with no income eligibility. Many programs provide transportation and other services.
• Many community centers and churches also provide meals or food banks.

Janice Hermann, 

Extension Nutrition Specialist