Take The Stress Out of Grocery Shopping: 5 Cool Apps That Make Grocery Shopping a Breeze
- Published: Sunday, July 7th 2013
- in Mindset
by Rachel Chemerynski
While some of us may be grocery-shopping connoisseurs, for many the thought of simply entering the supermarket leads to one big headache (especially when trying to eat healthy). Which foods are the most nutritious? This cereal or that cereal? Low-cal or low-fat? Now, where did I put that recipe? While we at SpaFinder Wellness might not have all the answers, we’ve gathered 5 sweet (and free!) apps that come pretty close. Use these apps to bring out your inner foodie and take the stress out of grocery shopping for good! Hey, they don’t call them Smartphones for no reason.
App: Fooducate
Perfect for: The Skeptical Shopper
The Scoop: Are you feeling lost, confused, and downright fed up with the surplus of nutrition information out there? With all of the marketing claims and latest “health foods” on the market these days, we don’t blame you! Fortunately Fooducate—created by a group of dieticians and concerned parents—helps sift through food labels for you, so you can spend your time doing what you came there for in the first place. Just scan a product’s bar code on your phone, and the app will pinpoint its nutritional pros and cons, comparable products, and even healthier alternatives. We love that Fooducate investigates the often-overlooked sneaky ingredients like added sugar, trans fat, high fructose corn syrup, and even questionable serving sizes.
App: Ziplist
Perfect for: The List-Maker
The Scoop: You’ve got grocery lists everywhere, from sticky-notes on your fridge to random notes crumpled up in your purse, and quite frankly it’s getting a bit messy. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Thankfully ZipList saves the day by making grocery-list-making as simple as can be. With this handy app, you can gather and store your favorite recipes, shopping lists, and even weekly store deals all in one place: your smartphone. Plus, you can share the love with friends and family by sending them your weekly lists!
App: Locavore
Perfect for: The Local-Lover
The Scoop: If you’re a sucker for supporting the local economy, but don’t have the slightest idea where to begin when it comes to your food, you’ll likely fall in love with Locavore (as did we). Simply punch in your city’s deets, and this app will compile a list of what’s local and in-season near you. From farmers’ markets to neighborhood farms, you’ll be completely in-the-know on anything and everything local with jut a few quick clicks!
App: True Food Shoppers Guide
Perfect for: The Truth-Seekers
The Scoop: Created by the Center for Food Safety, this honest app has nothing to hide, as the founders believe we have every right to know what’s in our food. True Food tells it like it is when it comes to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), which may be potentially hazardous to our health and the environment. With this trusty app by your side, you’ll be in-the-loop about common GMO ingredients (like corn and soy), brands to trust (and look out for!) and simple tips to shop for non-GMO options with comfort and ease.
App: FoodSwitch
Perfect For: The Cautious Consumer
The Scoop: Ever think you were going for the healthiest option, only later to find out you were completely wrong (again)? Don’t worry, it’s happened to the best of us! That’s why we love that FoodSwitch takes care of business on-the-spot so you can swap your not-so-healthy favorites for more wholesome alternatives. It also comes with a handy “GlutenSwitch” and “SaltSwitch” feature for those looking for healthier gluten-free and low-sodium options. Have fun while making the switch to healthy living!
What do you do to take the stress out of grocery shopping? Which app would be most helpful for you and your family?
Rachel Chemerynski is a Certified Health Coach and freelance writer living in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the founder of Healthy Chicks, a wellness community dedicated to inspiring twenty-something women to live happier, healthier, more meaningful lives (without dieting).
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