S.M.A.R.T is both a goal-setting approach commonly used in project management, employee-performance or personal development as well as the acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Related objectives.
I’m a big fan of the S.M.A.R.T. approach not only with my clients but also with myself.
I believe that S.M.A.R.T. can be applied to pretty much everything we can think of but mostly important to our day-to-day lives.
Achieving optimal wellbeing and wellness goes beyond eating and sleeping well, exercising and engaging in mindful activities, and forming positive social interactions. S.M.A.R.T. grocery shopping is also part of a positive lifestyle for the body and the mind, where some practical tips can be helpful to avoid or minimise over-stressing, over-spending or over-wasting.
Be S.M.A.R.T. and give a go to my 3 favourite grocery shopping tips:
1. Be a mindful shopper
Grocery shopping shouldn’t be a source of stress even when it’s not your favourite task of all.
Turn your grocery shopping experience into a more mindful one by allocating enough time to do it and choosing when shopping truly suits your daily/weekly commitments and keeps promoting a balanced MIND.
A rushed grocery shopping can lead to increased stress, overspending or making less positive food choices. Also, if you already anxious or having a bad day, prioritising rest and relaxation may be the wisest thing to do as well as a take-away, even though I believe that nothing is more joyful and irreplaceable than the real SENSORY, EMOTIONAL and NUTRITIONAL EXPERIENCE of seeing, smelling, touching, picking and shopping FOOD as well as COOKING and EATING home-made fresh food.
2. Be a specific & time-related shopper
Before going grocery shopping, spend time deciding for how long you need to shop for and try to plan your meals accordingly. For a week or just 3 days? For a veggie curry, a roast chicken or quick & easy nutritious salads? I also find it very useful following what the plate-composition-rule: always include in your meals a main protein source (e.g. chicken, salmon or tofu) and your 3 favourite vegetables/salad leaves (e.g. spinach, tomatoes, broccoli).
Planning ahead is equal to time, wallet and non-waste-friendly habits.
3. Be your fridge & cupboard’s best friend
Shopping for, when and what you need may avoid over-spending and wasting food. However, running into an empty fridge or a cupboard may trigger unnecessary stress, less positive food choices and emotional eating when there is nothing to eat at home except from a pack of instant noodles or a forgotten box of chocolates.
Stock up your fridge and cupboard for sustainable eating and living with the following food allies: eggs, frozen vegetables/fruits, wholegrains/pulses (e.g. rice, buckwheat, lentils) and tinned goods (e.g. sardines, beans).
Be S.M.A.R.T. and also check out these 2 mindful and wallet, non-waste friendly places to shop in-store or online:
Find out more about my Personalised Meal Planning and Grocery Store Face-to-Face Tours or Online Shopping Remote Service and get in touch to know more.
