How the European Grocery Shopping Trend Can Help You Save Money and Prevent Waste
Maybe 2025 is the time to try a new grocery shopping strategy.
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Need to spruce up your supermarket routine this year? It’s time to meet the European grocery shopping method. And no, that doesn’t mean pushing your cart through Costco with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of Bordeaux in the cupholder.
Instead this trending grocery strategy on TikTok refers to the more pared-down and intentional style of Northern European shopping, with a focus on specific meals, recipes, and quality ingredients. The concise method contrasts with how many Americans may shop, as we often stock up on enough food for a week (or longer), buy every item at the same store, or get ingredients in the hopes that they may eventually be useful.
In a nutshell, the European shopping method is the antithesis of a major Whole Foods haul. It’s about buying fewer items more often, which may be slightly more time consuming, but also more enjoyable, affordable, and less wasteful.
European homes are, on average, notably smaller than American ones, which can translate to less refrigerator, appliance, and storage space — so this method isn’t just a preference, it’s a practical way of life. And it might also mean more delicious, fresh meals at home.
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To succeed at the European grocery method, start by setting a goal. Are you making a roast chicken and vegetables tonight to turn into a pot pie tomorrow? Do you want to shop for the requisite ingredients to create a stir-fry or slowly-simmered soup? The recipes you create with the European shopping method aren’t necessarily French or Italian, but rather planned in advance of your trip to the store, to prevent purchasing unnecessary ingredients or foods that might go to waste.
How do you use the European grocery shopping method?
In an ideal world, the European grocery shopping method can be a leisurely, enjoyable, and multi-stop experience. One hallmark of this trend is that you don’t buy everything at one store. You may go to the farmers market, fishmonger, butcher, bakery, cheese shop, and more locations to get your preferred products.
Of course, European cities are much more walkable than those in the United States, and specialty stores in America can be more cost prohibitive — which could be why our shopping habits have developed the way they did. But finding ways to incorporate a more intentional, local mindset into your grocery shopping when and where it works for you can still have incremental benefits.
When you do embark on a European grocery trip — especially if you are in a walkable location — limit yourself to as much as you can comfortably carry. Invest in a sturdy tote or market bag, and plan to purchase only what will fit in the bag. (Envision carrying 12 pounds of chicken tenders up the stairs of the Parisian apartment of your dreams, and you may just change up what’s in your cart.)
Select items that work well together, can create one to two recipes, and are reusable for the next few meals. For example, seasonal vegetables can be easily leveraged in a range of egg dishes, soups, stir-fries, pastas, or simply roasted with olive oil. Just make sure you have a vision for how you'll use them.
Pick a protein you think will go well with your produce. Maybe snag some salmon that can be simply baked with a few vegetables, and a starch to go on the side. It's also important to make a plan for leftovers, like purchasing a grain that can easily form the base of a bowl (along with that salmon and those vegetables) for lunch.
Who can benefit from the European grocery shopping method?
People with small kitchens, or who are cooking for only one or two people, can benefit from the European Shopping Method by keeping the perishable inventory in their fridge to a minimum and avoiding overcrowding storage space.
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This shopping strategy can also be helpful for those on a budget, especially if you have a small household and don't need to buy any items in bulk. By not purchasing more than you need, you can save money and prevent food waste. (Think about it — have you ever impulsively purchased a vegetable because it was on sale, with no concrete plans to use it, only to toss it out a week later once it wilted?)
You might also find that some items are more affordable at different locations. Produce could be less expensive at the farmers market, while meat may have a better price at a major supermarket or butcher. Part of the goal of the European grocery method is to explore, so you can figure out how to best utilize ingredients, and where you can find exactly what you need.
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