This Is Why You SHOULD Go to the Grocery Store When You’re Hungry (2024)

FAQs

Should you go grocery shopping when hungry? ›

If you are sticking to the grocery section of the store, or are at a store with only food items, shopping hungry makes it much more likely that you will deviate from your shopping list, and high calorie foods are much more likely to make their way into your grocery cart.

More than three-fourths of participants in the survey said shopping while they're hungry causes them to buy unhealthy foods they would otherwise avoid. They also spend up to 20% more than planned on those items, for an average of $26 extra in a typical shopping trip.

It found that 76% of people are likely to spend more if they're in the store when their stomachs are rumbling. The average shopper in the US spends an extra $26 at these times. Not only that, about six out of 10 people said they forget about their health goals when they shop while they're hungry.

Going grocery shopping on an empty stomach is a bad idea. You're bound to make poor decisions that are not based on nutritional content of the food but on temporary cravings that will leave you asking for more later.

New study suggests making big decisions while hungry leads to a focus on short-term gratification. Grocery shopping when you're hungry is typically not a good idea—you're likely to fill your cart with unhealthy or overly indulgent items.

Shopping on an empty stomach? Go and eat something quick! People buy far more stuff and spend more money when they're hungry than when they're full, and that extends to non-edible goods, too, according to a study of the association between our bellies and our belongings.

Aim for Weekly

“I always recommend to my clients to check out the weekly sales, and they can meal plan around those items,” she said. “Not only will you save money for the meals that week, but you can plan ahead, and stock up and save.”

It's up to you how much you want to spend on food per month, but the recommendation given by Dave Ramsey (I confirmed this with Paige Schmidt, a Dave Ramsey Certified Financial Coach) is around 10-15% of your income.

Shopping while hungry may lead you to spend more than 60 percent more and buy more non-food items than less hungry customers, research by Norbert Schwarz indicates. It's almost lunchtime. You are hungry, but decide to stop at an office supply store before eating to pick up a few items.

Drive's research determined that, in 2024, the average person shops at two different grocery stores per week and makes six grocery store trips or orders per month. That number is down from an average of eight trips per month in 2022.

What is cheaper groceries or eating out? ›

Is It Cheaper to Cook or Eat Out? For those who want a quick and easy answer: It's generally cheaper to cook food at home than eat out. The reason so many people can get stuck on the question is the human psychology variable.

Grocery shopping on an empty stomach makes you do crazy irrational things including getting irrationally short-tempered with everything — even that short walk between aisles. So take heed, don't shop when you're hungry. Your mental well-being and your pocket will thank you.

Late afternoons after parents pick up kids from school and early evenings when everyone is heading home from work are always the busiest. Again, aim for morning grocery shopping if your schedule allows. If not, make the trip later in the evening when other shoppers are settled at home for the night.

The term "urban food deserts" is traditionally applied to North America and Europe, but in recent years, the term has been extended to Africa as well.

“If you are hungry, you should eat something, regardless of the time of day,” says Aimee Takamura, registered dietitian and director of wellness and sustainability at Restaurant Associates. “The act of eating late at night does not affect metabolism or lead to many of the adverse effects you may have heard of.

If you head to the supermarket hungry, there's a good chance you'll come back with a cart packed with salty snacks. But shopping on an empty stomach can also make you buy more non-food products—everything from office supplies to clothing, according to new research from the University of Minnesota.