This dietitian's 'Rule of 5' makes healthy grocery shopping so much easier (2024)

FAQs

What is the rule of 5 grocery shopping? ›

Following Coleman's method, you'd buy five different vegetables, four different fruits, three different proteins, two different sauces or spreads, and one grain—plus a special treat for yourself.

The 6-to-1 grocery method is an approach to cooking that involves picking six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads, and one fun item. The purpose is to streamline your shopping experience, promote variety, eliminate food waste, and keep grocery costs lower.

Here's the system: Fill your grocery cart with six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads, and one "fun" item for yourself. It's a countdown of 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, prioritizing nutritious ingredients without depriving yourself of a little treat.

The 6-to-1 grocery method entails buying six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads and one treat. Continue to shop carefully while at the store to get the best deals. Flexibility with your purchases will be a key to making this method a success.

What's the 5-Second Rule? Almost everyone has dropped some food on the floor and still wanted to eat it. If someone saw you drop it, he or she might have yelled, "5-second rule!" This so-called rule says food is OK to eat if you pick it up in 5 seconds or less.

On average, a family of five spends anywhere from $922 to $1,488 a month on groceries, according to USDA monthly food plans. If you're looking to curb your spending, consider meal planning, buying in bulk, and shopping at more affordable grocery stores.

We set up a “3 in 1” shopping schedule, consisting of three separate grocery runs on average each week — one larger shop, where my husband or I (or both!) pick up groceries for the first half of the week, and one or two small- to medium-sized shops to fill in what we need for the remainder of our meals.

In Chef Will Coleman's 6 to 1 grocery shopping method, shoppers purchase six vegetables, five fruits, four protein sources, three starches, two sauces or spreads, and one item just for fun. This system simplifies shopping, reduces waste, and saves money.

The idea is that when making your grocery list, you should aim to get six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces/spreads and one fun thing for yourself.

A kitchen hack, also known as a food hack, is a technique used by home cooks and professionals to make food preparation tasks easier, faster, or more efficient. It may also be called a food hack, and is a type of life hack, although the concept of a kitchen hack predates the coinage of either term.

What is the six-to-one method? ›

“Whenever you go grocery shopping… use the 6 to 1 method,” Coleman said in the viral TikTok clip with nearly a million views. “You grab six veggies, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads and one fun thing for yourself.”

Today we're doing the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 challenge at Aldi. The challenge is essentially five vegetables, four fruits, three proteins, two sauces, and one thing for you. And if you're not doing it Aldi, you're doing it wrong.

You buy six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads, and one "fun" item for yourself. So it's 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. People on TikTok are already claiming that the method has helped them save money and eat healthier. "I've been using your method and it honestly helps," another added.

Grocery scale scanners are devices used in retail environments to weigh and scan items, typically fruits, vegetables, and other loose or bulk items.

If you're wondering how to create a monthly food budget, another tool to use is the 50/30/20 rule. This simple and intuitive grocery budget formula suggests that you spend your net (after-tax) monthly income this way: 50% for living essentials (e.g., groceries, housing, transportation, healthcare, etc.)

You pick out six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces, and one fun item for yourself. Of course there are pros and cons to everything. It's kind of mindless, at least at first. I think it's pretty easy to just grab and go.

The amount you should spend on food depends on your income, budget, and personal circ*mstances. • A general guideline is to allocate 10-15% of your income for food expenses.