So, you’ve booked your vacation and are counting down the days until you leave. While you may have planned excursions, transportation, and accommodation, you might not have considered costs like grocery shopping. Food will be one of your biggest expenses while you’re away, and you should have a plan before leaving. Here are some tips you can use while shopping on vacation.
1. Don’t Change Your Routine Dramatically
Most vacation rentals come equipped with a refrigerator, freezer, storage space, and cooking facilities. Changing your routine too dramatically will wreak havoc on your body, especially if you’re reaching for fast food. Think of some of the staples in your home and prioritize finding those when you’re in the local grocery store.
2. Dealing with Picky Eaters
Any parent will know that children can be very picky eaters, especially if you’re abroad or even in a different part of the country. You might want to sample all the local cuisine you can, but chances are your child will turn their nose up at exotic and unfamiliar dishes. Therefore, keep some of their favorite snacks and meals on hand. It might feel like a waste to be in a foreign country and feeding your kid chicken nuggets, but if it means they’re less moody, it’s worth it.
If you are divorced from your child’s other parent, your vacation time with your child is sacred, especially if you have less custody than your ex-spouse. In divorce cases, children will spend 277 days out of the year with the custodial parent, making your time with your child even more special. Do everything you can not to overwhelm them, and when you’re at the grocery store, look for snacks and meals with which they’re familiar.
3. Check Out Your Options
Where you are going on vacation is an essential factor. If you’re in a grocery store in France, your grocery store experience will be very different than if you’re at the Jersey Shore. We have already discussed finding your staple foods, but if you’re in a place where that isn’t possible, look for the closest options. Additionally, enjoy checking out the local fare and seeing what people in the area like eating. You are about to open up a whole new world of snacks and treats for yourself.
4. Shopping for Your Vacation Home
Buying a vacation home is an exciting adventure. While you might plan to rent it out, you should also enjoy your investment. 42% of vacation home buyers plan on using their property for vacations or as a family retreat. When you own the home, you can stock up on groceries and leave stuff there, rather than needing to throw away anything you don’t eat the day your rental expires. Look for coupons and shelf-stable items, as it’s not your full-time residence.
5. Don’t Neglect Your Health
No matter where you go, remember any health concerns or requirements you have. For example, if you wear Invisalign aligners, you need to be mindful of the texture and toughness of the food you’re buying. You need to wear Invisalign aligners 20 to 22 hours a day to get the results you want, and it’s not worth undoing all of that work by eating something that will ruin it.
Check the ingredients of things you buy. You might have food allergies that aren’t a problem where you live, but the brands you trust at home might contain allergens in other countries. If you’re allergic to peanuts and you’re somewhere that uses them as a base for most things, you’ll need to stock up at the grocery store with safe food to avoid a potential reaction.
Grocery shopping, when you’re on vacation, can be an exciting and immersive experience. It’s a great way to learn more about the local culture while stocking up on essentials that will make your family’s trip more enjoyable.
