Michael Pollan’s Grocery Shopping Tips

Michael Pollan grew up in Long Island, New York. After studying English at Bennington College and Columbia University, he put his degrees to good use as a contributing writer to publications like Harper’s Magazine, The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and The Washington Post. He published his first book—a collection of nature writing titled Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education—in 1991.

Since then, Michael has written extensively about the value of understanding humanity’s relationship to food, as well as the importance of eating a healthy and balanced diet. He’s chronicled his research in bestsellers like The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World, Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, and The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals.

Discover tips and techniques for optimizing your grocery store trips from bestselling author and food educator Michael Pollan:

1. 1. Buy less than you think you need. You can help the environment and make significant positive impacts toward addressing the global food crisis by consciously deciding not to overbuy groceries. Michael says, “Something like forty percent of the food that comes off America's farms is not eaten; it's wasted.” You can meal-prep and reuse staple products like rice and veggies in diverse ways to keep your diet interesting and reduce food waste.
2. 2. Choose quality over quantity. Michael argues people think about grocery shopping as the “end all, be all” of economic food consumption and sometimes select large amounts of lower-quality products over fresh, organic products to save money. “You are better off buying the grass-fed meat and using less of it in the recipe than buying the conventional meat and using a giant chunk of it,” Michael says. You can also work with a dietitian to develop a list of foods and nutritional requirements that will fit your dietary needs and weekly food budget.
3. 3. Make informed, responsible grocery shopping decisions. “Choice has to be informed by knowledge to have any meaning at all,” Michael says. “And that's why I think your only obligation is to know something about the system feeding you, and then you make your choices.” Each consumer can shape the food landscape and future of food sustainability by making responsible choices that promote environmental improvements and free-trade equity for workers in the supply chain.
4. 4. Reduce impulse buys. Consumers should scrutinize the many ploys supermarkets and marketing firms use to lure them into impulse purchases as they peruse grocery store aisles. Michael says, “In the same way food scientists are manipulating foods to get us to eat more, supermarkets are manipulating the landscape of the supermarket to get us to buy more.” Investigate the layout of your local market, take note of products the company has displayed at eye level or the ends of aisles, and observe how candy, soda, and other nutritionally deficient treats line the shelves near the checkout line as you leave. These are all strategies supermarkets use to encourage you to buy products that were likely not on your shopping list to start.

Consider these steps you can take to optimize your grocery list and make the most of your shopping trip:

1. 1. Be on the lookout for deals. Coupon cutters can save a lot of money and stretch their grocery budget by taking advantage of sales, rebate offers, and sell-by expiration dates. Frugal shoppers can find the best price for nonperishable food items like lentils, soups, and canned fruits nearing their sell-by date even though these products likely have a considerably longer shelf life.
2. 2. Buy generic brands. There is a consistent markup on name brands because marketers realize they can charge a premium for the public's trust in household names. Generic store brands sometimes produce products of equal, if not better, quality than some of the top-name firms. Investigate the unit price and nutrition facts to ensure you purchase healthy foods for the best price.
3. 3. Choose local, in-season options. Pick up fresh fruits and healthy snacks at local shops or a farmers’ market. These locations will have a wide selection of fresh produce from local farmers. Although they might be more expensive than what you find at big-box stores and other large retailers, they offer more nutritional value for your money. This also allows you to support your local economy and create relationships with the people who grow and prepare your food.
4. 4. Stick to your shopping list. Going to the grocery store on an empty stomach and no list is a recipe for disaster; falling victim to marketing and momentary cravings could mean making poor decisions. Instead, write out a detailed grocery list and give yourself strict guidelines to stay on track while you’re shopping. For instance, if bread is on your list, add a specific note reminding yourself to buy bread with whole grains if you plan to select healthier options on your next trip. These simple reminders will make you think twice before defaulting to your typical processed foods.

See food like you have never seen it before. With the MasterClass Annual Membership, journalist and educator Michael Pollan teaches you how to determine your ingredient sources, shop at the grocery store, and rethink your relationship to food.