Most people would agree that eating healthier is one of the best decisions you can make for yourself and your family. Stopping by a drive-through is quick, but you drive away with a bag of greasy food that’s high in saturated fats and processed carbs.
Junk food takes a toll on your health, so you may have a goal to eat better every day. The challenge is finding ways to stock those organic products and veggies in your home. They might be expensive at your local store, and you don’t have time to run across town to a different store for only a portion of your grocery list.
Technology is here to help. Check out a few of the best ways to buy healthy groceries online so you don’t have to waste your time or money to upgrade your diet.
1. Try an App
Since the rise of electronics with touch screens, apps have become an integral part of daily life. You use them to listen to music, keep in touch with friends and play games at the end of a stressful day. Apps are also expanding to include the food and beverage industry, like grocery stores.
Delivery apps can save the day when you need to restock your fridge. If you prefer to go to bulk stores like Costco or BJ’s, Instacart may become your new best friend. They’ve partnered with chains like these so people can order healthy groceries online and get them delivered to their door. It’s never been easier to buy huge bags of fruit and containers of vegetables!
2. Join a Shopping Service
Some grocery store brands offer services directly to their customers without a third party involved. For example, Harris Teeter allows customers to order groceries four hours in advance of pickup. All of their organic food and produce is available if customers pay a membership fee that’s applied per-order, monthly or annually. It depends on your budget and how often you plan to order groceries instead of shopping in-person.
3. Pay a Monthly Fee
Some companies, like Target and Publix, partnered with Shipt to provide delivery options. You can use the Shipt app or shop through the brand app if you want food from Target. Shipt also requires a monthly or annual fee, but you get the bonus of including office supplies and home goods with your groceries. You’ll receive text messages at every stage after you complete your order, especially if they need to replace a sold-out product.
4. Use Your Amazon Account
Amazon is always looking for innovative ways to provide more for their Prime members, which is why they created AmazonFresh. It’s a two-hour grocery delivery service that began when the company acquired 450 Whole Foods locations around the country. You can get premium healthy food and beverages from your local Whole Foods without leaving home, all for an added delivery fee.
5. Pick Up Your Order
Regional grocery stores like Safeway have also noticed the growing importance of online grocery shopping. They now offer flexible pickup hours and delivery options, which save you more money because you only get what you need. You might also find promo codes to cash in on deals that wouldn’t be available in-person.
Picking up your order could be better than delivery if you’ll already be out in town and have time to swing by the store. Team members will bring your groceries out to your car so you don’t need to go inside, but it will still take time out of your day to drive over there and unload when you get home. It’s something to think about when you look at all of your options.
Think About Your Grocery Needs
The best way to buy healthy groceries online depends on your needs. Think about how often you go to the grocery store, how much you buy, if you have time to pick up an order and whether you’ll be home for deliveries. Once you investigate what’s available in your city and compare membership fees and features, you’ll experience the ease and simplicity of shopping for groceries online.
Author Bio
Emily is a freelance writer, covering conservation and sustainability.
