Why You Should Avoid Shopping At This Part Of The Grocery Store

There are tons of tips and tricks out there to help you find great deals and discounts while grocery shopping. However, one of the best tips is all about grocery shopping strategy. Not only will this help you save money, but it can help you be healthier, too (via Mayo Clinic Health System).

To take advantage of shopping at your local grocery store in the simplest way possible, all you have to do is avoid shopping in the middle aisles of the grocery store. The way the shelves are stocked and the stores are organized, most of the foods that are less healthy are in the middle part of the grocery store. That means that shopping the perimeter of the grocery store is where you should focus your time (via Business Insider).

When you shop the perimeter of the store, you'll find that the foods are fresher and less processed. Essentially, if you primarily shop from this part of the grocery store, the food you buy will be healthier.

While it may seem fairly obvious that primarily buying items from the perimeter of the grocery store (including fresh produce, fresh meat, and dairy products) is healthier for you, there's an added bonus too. Shopping in these sections will also help you control the amount of sodium and fat you consume in your diet. Finally, most processed foods in the center of the stores have preservatives, which fresh foods around the perimeter largely do not have. These added chemicals, which help keep the shelf-stable foods in good shape for a longer period of time, are also not as healthy.

Apart from all of the health benefits when you avoid shopping in the middle of the grocery store, this tip can also help you save money. The more highly-processed products are often also more costly to prepare, which means they're more expensive overall. 

So, when you shop the perimeter of the store, you'll spend less on groceries and eat a healthier diet — which is a win all the way around.