Grocery prices are higher than ever and dollar store food shopping has gained a lot of popularity because of it. Not to mention the vast number of dollar store locations popping up around the US. These have become the convenient stores replacing gas stations and pharmacies for small to medium purchases.
Dollar Store Food Quality
Dollar stores have a stigma of being low quality however many of the foods are just as good as what you would get at any other store. Dollar stores may not have top-of-line steaks, chickens, and other expensive food options but really we’re focused on the bargains anyways. This doesn’t mean that the dollar store is always the more affordable option though.
Look at the cost per ounce when buying anything as quite often the dollar store may have lower prices but the price per volume is worse. Which is fine if you only need a little while bulk buying may be better done at a bix box store.
When shopping for dollar store food keep an eye out for packages with holes in them, canned food with dents, and seals that seem weak or have been opened before. All of these are signs of spoilage and it’s not worth risking food poisoning. You should also keep an eye out for the expiration date of the foods. Many foods may be nearing the end of their shelf life and may go bad shortly. You don’t want to waste money on food you won’t be able to use. Better to go with shelf stable foods when trying to save money.
Shelf Stable Foods
An important component of affordable grocery shopping is stocking up on shelf stable foods. These foods last longer and avoid losing money on wasted foods. They also tend to fill out a meal more affordably in terms of volume. Pasta and canned foods are great examples of this. Both of these can add calories to your meal on the cheap. Frozen veggies are a great way to get nutritious greens into your meal without worrying about spoilage. The texture may be a little different but the nutrition is as good as the fresh greens. You may want to cook them differently to adjust for the frozen state.
- Canned food
- Frozen veggies
- Oatmeal
- Canned tuna
- Rice
- Dried pasta
Dollar Store Spices
Spices are a great way to improve on a meal especially if you’re working what’s available rather than what you want. Dollar stores tend to have the basic spices and this can be a good place to get them rather than big grocery stores, if you can find them cheaper. Even if the cost per volume is worse, for spices this could be a good trade for a lower price for now. Spices tend to sit on your shelf for months or years so there is no reason to bulk buy spices right now. Spices can get really expensive quickly so if you’re meal prepping on a budget, choose recipes that require spices that you already have or recipes with fewer spices.
Dollar Store Food Nutrition
The nutrition of dollar store food is essentially the same as any grocery store. If you pick unhealthy, highly processed, high sodium or sugar foods then no, it won’t be healthy. If you focus on non-processed foods with low sodium and require a bit of cooking on your end, you’ll do alright. With a few exceptions, fresh tends to be healthier. Anything pre-made tends to be less healthy.
Not sure where to start, start reading food labels. Every person is different but a safe bet is that you should be around or under 2000 calories a day. When you read the food label and single serving calorie count is in the hundreds for a small snack item, you should probably stay away. Also low calorie doesn’t mean it’s healthy just as much as high calorie doesn’t mean that it is unhealthy. We’ll cover a more nuanced food label reading guide in the future. For now, avoid processed foods and try this information from Heart.org.
1 – Start with the serving information.
2 – Check total calories per serving and container.
3 – Limit certain nutrients.
4 – Get enough of the beneficial nutrients.
5 – Understand % Daily Value.
Multiple Grocery Stores
People often stick to a single store to pick everything up for convenience. Especially when a dollar store is the closed store to you by far. This can make it tough to shop at different store but if you’re committed to saving money while eating better, shop at multiple grocery stores. We all love our local grocery store the most. We know where everything is and we can run and run out quickly. Diversifying your shopping across multiple grocery stores and convenience stores not only opens up your available food options but it can save you tons. Some stores specialize in specific foods or have better deals. Mix and match your stores for the best deals and hit the stores through the week. Run by a store on your way home from work, do another grocery store on the weekend when you’re off. It can be a lot of work but the variety is fun and savings make it worth it.
