Sharp shoppers save
Posted on January 10, 2008
It’s Sunday night, and junior Leah Kahl has an empty kitchen cabinet and an empty stomach.
Even though she knew that her growling stomach could affect her number of purchases, she decided to shop that night because of the busy week ahead.
Sophomore Sarah Pile faced a similar dilemma. She normally watches “Desperate Housewives” at 9 p.m. and “Brothers and Sisters” at 10 p.m., but sometimes she has to food shop. Her week is so busy with classes, homework, club meetings and other “must-see” television shows that she has to go at night.
Since the two are friends, they decide to head to Wal-Mart together.
Being typical college students on a budget, the women scope the aisles for low prices, quality brands and expiration dates longer than the end of the week. They attempt to shop frugally and health consciously while challenged by time and hunger.
Kahl and Pile admit that they’ve bought items such as crème-filled Zebra Cakes and string cheese due to their unyielding hunger.
According to the coordinator of nutrition and fitness at UREC, Holly Bailey, students should have a plan before they go shopping. A list helps shoppers avoid impulse buys, clip coupons and buy high-quality organic foods. A well-devised plan saves time and money.
“I get Shenandoah milk because I feel like it is from around the area,” Pile said. “I get the half-gallon so I can drink it all before it expires.”
Bailey even offered advice on how to navigate grocery stores.
“Students need to avoid the middle aisles at all costs,” she said. They contain processed foods that are high in salt and sugar.
Low-priced canned foods, sugary cereals and salty munchies in bright packaging can be deadly distractions for shoppers. Bailey urges students to buy plenty of natural products, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains for a healthy lifestyle.
“Fresh meats, produce and the bakery’s whole-grain breads are on the perimeter of the store,” she said.
The American College Health Association said that the biggest problem for most students is that they maintain a diet with too much fat and salt, too many calories and too little fiber.
According to MyPyramid.gov, fresh dark green and orange vegetables, a variety of fresh fruit, fresh whole-grains, low-fat or fat free milk, and fresh, lean meat that is grilled, broiled or baked are all part of a healthy diet.
For Pile, eating healthy is not always possible.
“I walk down each aisle and try to plan meals,” Pile says. “Frozen meals are fast and easy.”
With a touch of a button, a meal is heated up and ready to go in a few minutes. Yet these meals range from $3 to $5, which can add up. Fresh meat and produce may take longer to cook but are healthier and can last for more than one meal.
Having a shopping plan can be helpful when on a budget, but if students eat out often they lose money. Pile admitted eating out a few times a week out of convenience.
“It’s so much easier to buy a sandwich instead of making one,” she said.
Pile’s roommate, junior Kristen Malzone, said that her roommates influence each other to order out.
“If someone mentions the word ‘pizza,’ we have to buy it or someone is getting punched in the face,” she said.
Bailey, however, pointed out the negative attributes of eating out.
“It doesn’t make sense to waste money on fast food that lasts one meal when you can buy inexpensive, quality foods at the grocery store that will last a week,” she said.
Pile will catch “Brothers and Sisters” a little late and Kahl is looking forward to baking some gooey brownies she bought. A shopping plan might have resulted in a quicker trip, a lower total cost and a cart full of diet-friendly products.
Maybe next time.
