9 Tips for Supermarket Shopping with Kids

One of the struggles we busy moms face is shopping at the supermarket with kids in tow. They fight, they run, they yell, they whine, they beg for sugary treats, and they make the entire experience a pain. Even the best moms end up throwing their shopping lists to the side, grabbing whatever is closest, and throwing their debit card at the cashier while they try to keep Child A from murdering Child B right in front of the Slim Jims and Skittles.

Shopping without the children is a
glorious experience for these moms.

Of course, this worst case scenario is a scene that is much-dreaded yet seldom experienced. Most kids have their ups and downs, but are fairly well behaved in public. Perhaps the biggest issue with taking children supermarket shopping is keeping them from asking for, and receiving, pre-processed chips and sugary sweets.

9 Tips for Healthy Supermarket Trips with Kids


1. Make a List that Maps the Store
When you make your grocery list, list items in the order that they are found in the store. This will keep you from having to go back and forth in the aisles and from missing items altogether.

2. Feed the Kids Before They Shop
You know the old trick of never grocery shopping on an empty stomach? The same applies to your children. Give them a healthy snack that is high in fiber, like an apple or some cut up green veggies.

3. Make it a Game
My son and I like to play games as we run errands. We started doing this around age two, and of course it has evolved over the years. Take turns finding items of a specific color, shape, or that start with a certain letter. As they grow, ask them to find words that rhyme with the items in your cart or challenge each other to find the most nutritious items. For foods with labels, play "guess the calorie content."

4. Practice Child Labor
Not really labor, but giving your children a small job or task can occupy them and even get them excited about shopping. Readers can help with the grocery list, marking items off as they are placed in the cart. Younger children can be placed in charge of holding reusable shopping bags.

5. Bring Along Distractions
The purpose of the supermarket trip, ideally, should be to spend more time with your children and to teach them about health and nutrition. However, sometimes distractions are necessary. Toys, books, and educational smartphone apps are fine ways to calm the antsy child.

6. Allow for Treats, with an Exception
Before you leave for the market, tell each child that he or she can pick out one, and only one, treat. However, make sure those children know that the treat must be a type of fresh fruit or vegetable - not something out of a package.

7. Avoid the Snack Aisles
Supermarkets are savvy when it comes to shoppers. It is impossible to avoid snacks at all costs - one look at the checkout aisle can tell you that - but it is possible to stay completely away from aisles that contain chips and soda.

8. Talk About Budget
Too many parents do not prepare their children for the real world of finance. It's true that kids, for the most part, have a difficult time understanding the difference between a penny and a dollar. My six-year old genius of a son counted $12.99 in his piggy bank last weekend and told me that he was going to pay off our house. Still, if you explain to your children that you have a budget and only a certain amount of items will fit within that budget, they will understand eventually. It may take years.

9. Don't Give In
This can be the hardest of all. A crying baby, a screaming toddler, or a tantrum-throwing five year old may deter your best efforts at refusing to give in to a child's demands. However, over time, they will learn that their cries for junk food will not be met. Don't worry about those around you. Current and past parents will cut you some slack. The rest will likely eventually learn what it means to practice tough love in the grocery store.