{"id":182,"date":"2008-11-23T18:06:09","date_gmt":"2008-11-23T18:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/?p=182"},"modified":"2008-11-23T18:06:09","modified_gmt":"2008-11-23T18:06:09","slug":"holiday-stress-reducing-secret-no-2-steer-clear-of-holiday-shoppers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/holiday-stress-reducing-secret-no-2-steer-clear-of-holiday-shoppers\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Stress-Reducing Secret No. 2: Steer Clear of Holiday Shoppers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fighting crowds of frenetic shoppers can zap the magic right out of your holiday buying. <\/span>So avoid last-minute shopping–which is easy enough if you took the first Stress-Reducing Secret to heart and planned out your holiday meals in advance.<\/p>\n

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Thinking ahead yields so many surprising benefits. <\/span>While more inspired meal ideas may be the best, knowing exactly what to buy at the store is a close second. <\/span>Imagine coming home without forgetting several key ingredients. <\/span>What’s more, you can head to the store now, ahead of the crowds, and enjoy finding just the right ingredients to make your meals sparkle. <\/span>There will also be plenty of time to place any special orders for unusual foods. <\/span><\/p>\n

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But don’t buy any of the critically fresh produce for your meals, e.g., the fresh green beans, asparagus, broccoli, etc. <\/span>At this time of year in most parts of the country, those items are completely out of season. <\/span>They are brought in to satisfy our holiday palate from distant places, which means they will be on their last leg when they arrive at stores. <\/span>So wait until the day before to buy them.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re thinking this sounds like two separate shopping trips, you\u2019re right. <\/span>As a time management expert for the kitchen, I always advocate planning ahead to minimize <\/em>trips to the store. <\/span>But the holidays warrant an exception to the general rule. <\/span><\/p>\n

For the sake of sanity, make a first shopping trip in advance of the heavy holiday crowds to get all the pantry-type foods that will easily last a week or more, e.g., flour, butter, canned pumpkin, potatoes, etc. <\/span>To be efficient, this shopping can be done a week in advance while doing your regular grocery shopping. <\/span>Likely as not, this will knock off 75 to 80 percent of your grocery needs. <\/span><\/p>\n

Then, a day or two before your holiday meal, a quick in and out is all that’s needed to get those few items that must be purchased super fresh.<\/p>\n

So make a list, check it twice and shop on!<\/p>\n