I’m a dietitian and mom of two little kids, so dinnertime is hectic in my household. Even though I’ve written a cookbook and create and test recipes for a living, I’m often blankly staring at the fridge at 5 p.m. wondering what to make for dinner. That’s why I was intrigued when I learned about chef Will Coleman’s viral 6-to-1 grocery shopping method.
This novel concept helps home cooks choose ingredients at the grocery store, with the ultimate goal of cooking meals at home. “The 6-to-1 method was born out of the need to streamline my grocery shopping experience,” says Coleman. “Frustrated with spending excessive time in stores, wasting groceries and exceeding my budget, I designed this method to simplify the process,” he says.
That all sounds pretty appealing to a time-strapped mom who wants to prepare healthy meals for my family, so I decided to try it and see for myself.
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.
On my weekly trip to Trader Joe’s, I followed the method. I’m the primary shopper and cook for myself, my husband and my 2-year-old (and a baby that doesn’t eat solids yet). We all follow a vegetarian diet. Here’s what I purchased:
- 6 veggies: Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, baby carrots, romaine lettuce, shishito peppers
- 5 fruits: blueberries, apples, bananas, frozen raspberries, frozen cherries
- 4 proteins: black beans, chickpeas, tofu, Greek yogurt
- 3 starches: whole-wheat tortillas, brown rice, farro
- 2 sauces: enchilada sauce, soy sauce
- 1 fun item: peanut butter pretzels (my son and I love these!)
The easy, healthy meals I cooked
I’ve never really had a problem with grocery shopping. As a matter of fact, it’s one of my favorite activities….
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