Smarter Shopping: Work the Perimeter

After reading the top ten selling grocery store foods, and finding cigarettes in the number 10 spot I was shocked. They're not even food!

Then I read that the list was based on UPC scan sales, which explains why soda and cereal bested non-coded meat and perishable produce. The list, which also included frozen dinners, beer, and natural cheeses, was another reminder to shop the perimeter. Most grocery stores are laid out so milk and eggs are in the back corner, meaning you have to walk by the potato chips to reach the healthier foods. The foods naturally loaded with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals are kept at the perimeter, so take your cart to the edges of the store and fill up on unprocessed foods — fruit, veggies, meat, dairy and eggs.