Buying and choosing food
Navigating the supermarket can feel overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Learn how to understand labels, stretch your budget, and pick the best bites for your needs.
Buying and choosing food
Easy steps for weekly meal planning
Practical advice on choosing recipes, shopping lists, and food prep.
Budget-friendly grocery shopping: spend less, eat better
Good food, low cost, no compromise
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions for Buying and choosing food
Reading food labels is a simple but powerful way to make healthier and more informed choices. Labels like the nutrition declaration, ingredient lists, and dietary claims help you understand what’s in your food and how it fits into a balanced diet.
By learning how to read these labels, you can choose products that support your health, avoid unwanted ingredients, and reduce waste by paying attention to use-by dates and storage advice. Next time you shop, let the label guide you toward better food choices.
Below are a list of items to look for on food labels:
- Nutrition declaration
- Nutrition claims
- Ingredient lists: what’s really in your food?
- Allergens and dietary labels
- Use-by vs. best-before
- Sustainability labels
Start by planning a few meals for the week and writing out a shopping list. This helps you stick to your budget and avoid last-minute extras.
When you're in store, here are a few techniques to keep your basket healthy and budget-friendly:
The unit price: Helps you spot the best deal in a flash by showing how much an item costs by ounce, kilo, or litre.
Local and seasonal fresh produce: When you buy food in season and grown locally, there's plenty around so it tastes better and costs less.
Frozen food: Typically cheaper, especially for essentials like fruits, vegetables, and fish.
Bulk buying: Smart way to save money, but only if the unit price is lower and you actually use what you buy.
The key to planning meals is to start slow and keep things fun and flexible!
Start with what you have: Identify what foods you have in your fridge, freezer, and cupboards, and plan recipes around these ingredients to reduce waste and save money.
Mix favourite recipes with new ones: Start with familiar recipes that are easy to make, then add a new recipes every so often to keep things interesting.
Let cuisines guide your choices: A single sauce or cuisine can inspire multiple dishes. For example, a teriyaki sauce can be used with many different dishes,
Overlapping ingredients: Think about how one ingredient can be used across multiple meals. If you cook a roast chicken on Sunday, the leftovers can be used in a curry on Monday.