Want a new grocery shopping strategy? This popular TikTok hack may help you save time and money, with the added bonus of making healthier and more eco-conscious deductions at the store.
Grocery prices are at an all-time high, with the shopping cart contents of a $100 shopping list from 2019 reportedly costing $137 as of April 2024. That’s a 37% increase and far heftier than average wage increases and inflation rates in that five-year period. Shopping more strategically may help Americans stay within budget at the supermarket, and this brilliant trick doesn’t feel frugal — just efficient, smart, and celebratory of the best thing in life: Food.
Here’s how to try the 6-to-1 grocery shopping method, wherever and whenever you shop,
The Origins of the 6-to-1 Grocery Shopping Method
The 6-to-1 Grocery Method came from, where else, TikTok. In early 2024, Chef Will Coleman shared a now-viral video explaining his signature shopping method, designed to make visiting the supermarket cheaper and easier. The fun part about his easily applicable method is that the efficiency method works anywhere, from Erewhon to Trader Joe’s to Wegmans, and every grocery store in between.
The Basic Idea Behind the 6-to-1 Grocery Shopping Method
The 6-to-1 Grocery Method is a basic calculation (we’re talking elementary-level math, basically counting), to plan your weekly grocery shop. 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 method is also super flexible, so you can switch up what you buy each supermarket visit without overthinking the contents of your cart, thanks to the method.
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Of course, portion size can also vary for the 6-to-1 method, regardless of whether you’re shopping for yourself or a larger family. The method is also adaptable to several diets, including veganism.
How to Use the 6-to1 Grocery Shopping Method in Real Life
There are various ways to implement the 6-to-1 method practically. You can start by making a shopping list of the six veggies and proteins you need to buy, thinking of what works together and what can function best for meal prep or recipes in your rotation. Or, you can wing it at the supermarket, picking what looks freshest in the produce aisle, the catch of the day at the seafood counter, and so on.
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For example, if green leaf lettuce looks great this week, add radishes and carrots to your cart to make a nice salad. The radishes and carrots could also work with a roast protein, like chicken. Green beans, asparagus, and kale could also work nicely as a side dish with the chicken, or in a stir fry with tofu or shrimp. Eggs with kale make a nice breakfast, perhaps with an English muffin or rice, which could pair with the stir fry. A box of pasta can be your third starch, a versatile base for any of the veggies or proteins, and you can add pasta sauce to the mix or go for hummus to dip your veggies in. The special item is totally up to you!
Of course, the 6-to-1 method leaves plenty of room for interpretation. If you’re planning on making a curry that requires both curry paste and a can of coconut milk, count that as one sauce. The strategy is also flexible with budget. If canned lentils are the best protein for you this week, go for it. If frozen veggies are easier on the wallet, stock up on six.
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The method also doesn’t account for fresh herbs, essentials such as cooking oil and spices, or beverages (coffee!). Adapting the method to your weekly shop will provide the best use for your specific lifestyle.
Planners can also build off a basic template for the 6-to-1 method, and print it out and write it on their smartphones each week.
Benefits of Using the 6-to-1 Grocery Shopping Method
The biggest benefit of using the 6-to-1 method is that it can help save money and simplify the shopping process. By streamlining what goes in your cart, you’ll hopefully have less spoiled food at the end of the week, fewer cartons and boxes stacking up in your pantry until they expire, and more cash in your pocket from not buying on impulse.
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The method also leaves little room for highly processed food and junk food, so you’ll have to think carefully about which little treat will offer the most joy this week. This is definitely a method for an ingredients household.
FAQs
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.
What is the 6 1 grocery strategy? ›
What is the 6-to-1 grocery shopping method? The 6-to-1 grocery method instructs shoppers to buy six veggies, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces and one fun item. Coleman says, “Anyone can use this method, anywhere, at any time.” He advises choosing foods that are on sale, in season and versatile.
What is the 6 to 1 grocery plan? ›
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.
What is the 3 in 1 grocery shopping method? ›
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.
Which shopping strategy can help you save money while at the grocery store? ›
Buying generic or store-brand items is also a great way to save money. These products are usually just as good as the name-brand items, but they're cheaper because you're not paying for the brand name. Additionally, you should try to avoid buying pre-packaged and processed foods.
What is the 6'1 grocery list? ›
The 6-to-1 Grocery Method is a basic calculation (we're talking elementary-level math, basically counting), to plan your weekly grocery shop. 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.
What is the 6 to 1 diet plan? ›
In my 6/1 Plan, I tell you exactly what to eat for the first 6 days and then allow you a “diet break” on the 7th day. All you have to do is choose the correct weight category. Eat the meals laid out in the prescriptive programme, stick to the right amounts, and you will drop body fat.
What is the average monthly grocery bill for one person? ›
Considering the Thrifty and Liberal plan averages, the monthly grocery cost for an adult male falls between $275.63 and $434.33, while the average for an adult female ranges from $238.46 to $384.93.
What is a reasonable grocery bill? ›
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.
What is the average grocery bill for 6 people? ›
For reference, a family of six typically spends anywhere from $1126 to $1546 per month on food and approximately $1,200 per month on other necessities, such as cleaning supplies.
Each number corresponds to a specific food group that you'll purchase for easy, balanced meals every week. 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.
What is the 5 4 3-2-1 shopping list? ›
original sound - Chef Will Coleman
You grab six veggies, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads, and one fun thing for yourself. This makes grocery shopping way easier. Way cheaper. Cheaper, and you get in and out.
How to buy groceries for 3 weeks? ›
5 Tips to Stretch Your Groceries for 2 to 3 Weeks (while eating tons of fresh produce)
- I make weekly meal plans. I can't stress meal planning enough! ...
- We have an extra refrigerator. ...
- We have an extra freezer. ...
- We eat the most perishable foods first. ...
- I do “quick pickups” in between my major shopping trips.
- Aldi. If you consider yourself a frugal spender, you've likely heard of the grocery store chain, Aldi. ...
- Grocery Outlet. My personal favorite! ...
- Winco Foods. ...
- Walmart Neighborhood Market. ...
- Food4Less. ...
- Target. ...
- Lidl. ...
- Costco.
Make a List: Once you know the items you need to make your meals, you can begin to make your full grocery list of all the items you need. If you usually go to the same grocery and know where most items are located within that store, try to organize your list by the aisle each item can be found in.
What is the six-to-one grocery shopping method? ›
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 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.”
What is the 5 4 3 2 1 shopping method? ›
Each number corresponds to a specific food group that you'll purchase for easy, balanced meals every week. 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.
What is the 5 4 3 2 1 shopping list? ›
original sound - Chef Will Coleman
You grab six veggies, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads, and one fun thing for yourself. This makes grocery shopping way easier. Way cheaper. Cheaper, and you get in and out.
