Which grocery stores have the best deals?

TOP OF MIND

The days of "one-stop" grocery runs are over
We all know prices at the supermarket have skyrocketed in the last few years, but there's another phenomenon going on as well.

You can no longer get everything you need at just one grocery store anymore, because for some reason, they all seem to have different prices. According to a recent analysis, grocery shoppers are making 8% more trips than they did last year, and buying fewer items at each stop.

Roger Beahm, a marketing professor at Wake Forest University School of Business, says a handful of major supermarket chains are focusing on specific categories they can excel in.

The important bits
Researchers have found that many large chains are now putting greater focus on their own private label or store brands, which are typically cheaper than the name brands. Sales of store brands were up 15% last year.

This has led to shoppers having to visit multiple grocery stores throughout the week to find the best deals on certain products. A flight attendant by the name of Bahadir Senyurt admits he sometimes fills up his suitcase with groceries at each stop because he can find better deals in different regions.

But what if you don't have the superpower of flight? Well, you gotta get creative. Roughly two-thirds of the over 8,000 Americans surveyed by Advantage Solutions said they now lean heavily on in-store coupons, compared to just 33% in 2021.

Some consumers don't even bother with a shopping list anymore. They just walk inside the store and get what's on sale, which means sometimes, momma's cooking sardines for dinner!

What's it all mean?
If you’re looking to save on groceries, it’s worth doing a little extra research. Ask your friends where they're shopping and finding the best deals. We looked around the web and determined a lot of people find great deals at local specific cultural grocery stores, such as your local Asian supermarket. One user wrote, "The Mexican grocery store near me has the most amazing produce section I’ve ever seen. They carry several fruits, veggies and peppers that stores like Kroger don’t."

Stores like Aldi and Trader Joe's often have great deals as well, especially on canned items, produce and staples like rice, beans, eggs and milk.

You can also download apps like Flipp and Fetch, which aim to show you the best deals and coupons, while also turning your receipts into rewards!

DID YOU HEAR

🧃 One pouch of food please
Toddlers love to snack, and according to super smart doctors, they NEED to snack because their stomachs are too small to get them through those long gaps from meal to meal. Parents often reach for easy snacks like squeezable pouches, but one pediatrician says you can do much better, and she was nice enough to tell you exactly how!

💪 How to raise mentally strong kids
In today's world, you need to be strong mentally to survive, but how does one build mental toughness in a society that's constantly trying to bring you down? Well, a few psychologists and parenting experts are sharing their tips and tricks to raising mentally strong children. One tip? Show them the value of doing something hard.

🌪️ 11% of U.S. children have been diagnosed with ADHD
More than 1 in 10 U.S. children (11%) have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. What's causing the rise? Well, no single cause has been linked to all cases, but there are theories floating around. Medical experts believe genetics play a major role, while others point to excessive screen time exposure.

👯 Is twin telepathy real?
Have you ever wondered if there is any truth to the twin telepathy theory? Well, the "twin telepathy challenge" is trending on TikTok and the results have been mixed. But according to a leading expert in the psychology of twinhood, twin telepathy is most likely a myth. See her reasons why here.

🎯 This toddler was hired at Target for a day
And it's super cute.

A DOSE OF GOOD

@laurkurt

My sweet angelic baby. #millennials #toddlermom #stayathomemom #millennialsoftiktok #sahm #breastfeeding #newmom #newborn #kindergartenmom... See more

BITES WITH KIYAH

I firmly believe that no food is inherently bad. I also have a sweet tooth, and managing it within a balanced diet takes thought and effort. Treats have their place, just not every place. It’s also my role as a parent to guide my children towards achieving this balance in their own lives. One method that works for us is baking our own sweets. Instead of filling our pantry with prepackaged treats, we choose to create them at home.

This not only allows us to control the quality and quantity of ingredients but also transforms baking into a meaningful family activity (which is admittedly easier now that my kiddos are older!) This shared experience fosters a deeper appreciation for the food we eat, making the treats we enjoy together all the more special.

kiyahduffey

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P.S. You don’t have to bake from scratch to enjoy these benefits. Pre-made cookie dough or frozen pie crust with canned filling, if made together, serve the same purpose!

Kiyah is the co-founder of Kizingo Kids and an expert in nutrition. Follow her on Instagram.

PARENTING WIN/FAIL

This week, loyal reader Lucy A. shares how consistency at mealtime pays off...

Lucy, we're green with envy!

Do you have a parenting win/fail you'd like to share? Submit one using the button below to have it featured in a future edition!

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked you how many times per year does your household come down with an illness, and there was a tie for first place between "1-3 times per year" and "4-7 times per year" 😬

RECALLS

H-E-B ICE CREAM

Peanut butter cups in ice cream? Yum! Cookie dough? Yes, please! But metal? Uh, we'll pass on that.

H-E-B is recalling 12-count packages of 3-ounce cups of their Creamy Creations Ice Cream due to the potential presence of metal. The products in question were sold in all H-E-B stores in Texas, as well as Central Market.

No injuries have been reported and all the affected ice cream has been removed from the freezer aisle. But if you happen to have one of the products in your freezer, H-E-B wants you to return them to the store for a full refund.

Check out the lot codes you should be looking for here.