Tips for spending less time in the store?

[SquareDuck]

You know, when buying food.
I'm superfast when in binge mode, because then I just put anything in my basket. I'm also doing rather well when working with a shopping list, safe for a bit of looking at food like a tourist.

But when going to a store (or restaurant too, actually) without a plan beforehand, it takes soooooo long. Walking ten times down the same isle, comparing all kinds of food, doubting what to get and what not, studying unknown foods...

Anyone here go over that? What did you do?

I found one trick myself already and that is taking a picture of any food that grabs my attention. xD I dunno, it works for me. As soon as I take the picture, I can stop thinking about it.

[canunot]

I really like that picture idea I think from now until my admission date every time I go to the shop I will take photos of everything that really catches my eye and then when I'm home maybe set them into food shopping folders then I can go through each section Just before entering the shop and then choose from those because I take SO LONG ALL THE TIME and all I do is look at the same things in tree supermarkets in a row it's awful whether I'm buying restrictive food alcohol. /p food pissing candles!


I'm hoping someone has a super helpful idea, thanks for making this thread ^_^

[JaydeNJ]

not sure, but when you figure it out, let me know, k? i can spend hours at a store and doing laps and come away with bits. i have no idea what normal people eat and it upsets the husband when i don't come back with a full meal's worth and only half the stuff he asks for. >.< but really, i've just learned to skip aisles because, i mean, how interesting can crushed tomatoes be?

[bulimiargh]

As soon as you find the mythical secret, let me know. Only thing I've found works is shopping with a minder who forces me to keep to a list and keep to the task, no meandering around or second guessing or backtracks.

[sushi?]

If it's a chain grocery store, you could try to look at their selection and deals online before hand!

[Hershey]

I have no idea!

Never go to the grocery store hungry though. It will turn into a fucking disaster.

[silverfighter]

What I did in early recovery was decide my brands and everything ahead of time and allowing myself 1 "mulligan" to add a random thing to the cart or switch a brand for a sale. It helped me a lot.

Mel

[bulimiargh]

I have no idea!

Never go to the grocery store hungry though. It will turn into a fucking disaster.

Truer words were never spoken!

[CaffeineNebula]

For me, I tell myself that I will allow X number of "new" or "fun" foods during that shopping trip. For example, let's say I need to go shopping and I can buy my vegetables and such, and then I'll allow myself one or two of these new/fun foods, such as a different kind of cheese or some raw fish. This helps control my spending without making me feel like I'm trapping myself.


Also, if you do go to the store hungry, grab something "safe" for you to eat and nosh on it while you shop (then pay for it with all your food, obviously!) This way, you aren't starving when you shop, which prevents you from making some crazy food choices.