3 things to know the next time you grocery shop

When was the last time you had a wonderful meal? Really think about it. Now, can you recall the cost of preparing that meal?  

In the fall of 2022, Western Washington University and the Washington Student Achievement Council worked together to distribute a survey to students at 39 different colleges and universities throughout the state. According to the survey, two out of every five students had faced food insecurity within 30 days of their response. 

“High-quality, nutritious food is vital to a person's well-being, but those experiencing food insecurity may not always have access to healthy meals.” said Ginna Ebbeling, WWU's basic needs resource manager. 

According to a poll conducted on The Front’s Instagram page, 84% of this largely Western student population are in charge of paying for their food and 94% of them find grocery shopping in Bellingham unaffordable. 

“Bellingham rent is high and that doesn't even account for other bills. After paying those, some have very little money left over for food and they may only eat one meal a day,” said Ebbeling. 

So how do we begin to have a better shopping experience?

1) Know resources near you

For Western students, various food resources on and off campus can be found through WWU's Basic Needs Hub. Among these options are WWU’s food pantries,  Basic food/SNAP and several food banks around Whatcom County.

“Typically, [Bellingham Food Bank offers] fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen protein, bread, milk, eggs and nonperishable foods while supplies last,” said the Bellingham Food Bank’s team via email.   

While food banks are a great option to cut costs on your grocery bill, Ebbeling urges people to analyze how they grocery shop.

2) Pick the right grocery store

It is critical to pay attention to where you purchase your groceries from according to Ebbeling. Different grocers charge different prices for the same items, so knowing where to shop is the first step toward affordable grocery shopping. 

“I show those facing food insecurity their available resources, but I also think it's crucial to teach them grocery shopping techniques,” Ebbeling said. 

In a recent article, the Bellingham Herald examined the costs of five different items and determined the most and least costly grocery stores. 

Based on their findings, the least expensive is WinCo Foods, followed by Grocery Outlet. The Community Food Co-op came in as the priciest, followed by Whole Foods Market.  

3) Prepare before hitting the store

Apart from where you shop, planning ahead on what you're shopping for can make a huge impact on that number at the end of your receipt. 

“People often don’t think of grocery shopping as a skill but it is, and it's so important to set yourself up for success” Ebbeling said.

According to Ebbeling, a successful grocery store trip starts at home. She urges shoppers to create a grocery list by checking what they already have and building meals based around those ingredients. 

Shoppers should also think about the cost and amount of the ingredients they are buying. In order to save money, buying ingredients with long shelf lives in bulk can be a great option. 

“Things like pasta, rice, beans, canned tomatoes are great because they are cheap, you can get a lot, they are nutritious, and they last for a long time,” Ebbeling said.. 

 In particular, Ebbeling recommends meal preparation to help not break the bank. 

The process of meal prepping involves planning and preparing entire meals ahead of time and often in bulk. CPD Online College Knowledge Base lists several advantages, including saving time, increased accessibility to healthy eating, guidance with portion control, less food waste and cost savings.  

Evangelos Waters, a third-year Western student, is no stranger to meal prepping. 

“When I don't have a meal plan, I spend more money on sporadic items that could last for one or two meals,” Waters said. “My groceries last me across multiple meals when I do [meal plan].”

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