4 Quick Tips for Grocery Shopping With Food Allergies

The dreaded grocery store haul. We all have to do it at some point, and I don't think anyone enjoys grocery shopping. At least, I know I don't. It is one of those tasks I could do without, and I would love someone else to step in and do it for me.

Could you imagine never having to do your grocery shopping ever again? Oh, the glorious feeling of opening your fridge and seeing fresh, delicious food all organized and ready to eat, and you didn't have to get it there. What a life that would be!

Grocery shopping with food allergies

We all have to shop for groceries at some point, and if you have food allergies, this task can become quite unpleasant and stressful. I found that grocery shopping with food allergies could be challenging, so I decided to share some tips I have learned along the way.

1. Always make a shopping list

Don't go grocery shopping without a list! Without one, your errand could become a much longer trip than desired, and you might feel aimless going up and down the aisles trying to come up with meals on the spot. To me, that is very stressful. With some preparation beforehand, a shopping list will keep you on track and make your grocery trip more efficient. Your list will help you focus on purchasing your "safe" foods so that you won't spend extra time and energy improvising in the aisles.

2. Do your research on foods and ingredients beforehand

To reduce time spent reading food labels in the middle of the grocery aisle, you can go online and search for your food items. Read labels from the comfort of your home and make your shopping decisions ahead of time. It makes for grocery shopping to be painless, quick, and stress-free. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, most grocery stores offer online pick-up or delivery options so that you can browse labels directly on the store's website.

3. Understand the definitions on food labels

Food products can list their ingredients in sneaky ways. For example, if you are allergic to corn syrup, be aware that some food products choose to list corn syrup with different wording like glucose syrup. So if you ever see glucose syrup, know it is the same ingredient.

Because of this discovery, especially if you have a severe allergy, I suggest going online and searching "different names for..." and entering the ingredient you are allergic to. You may be surprised to learn that food labels might use various names for the same ingredient.

4. Don't grocery shop while you're hungry

Lastly, this tip is so important! If you shop while you are hungry, you are more likely to grab a snack (or a few) while perusing down the aisles. Not only will you inadvertently spend more money, but you may accidentally purchase something you're allergic to. Let's face it; when we are angry, we can make hasty decisions and even misread labels. So always make sure you shop with a full belly.

How about you? Do you have any tips you would like to add towards grocery shopping with food allergies?