Grocery shopping

 Words to learn:

• grocery cart
• aisle, or row
• fruits and vegetables
• produce (another word for fruits, vegetables)
• dairy products
• bakery
• meat counter
• check out lane

Grocery stores in America are often big. Just like an outdoor market, grocery stores have different areas for different foods. There is a special place just for fruits and vegetables. (The word "VEG" is short for "vegetables".) There is a special area just to buy meat. There is an area for dairy (milk) products and frozen products. There are also long rows called "aisles". You will find drinks, food in boxes and packages, and supplies for the kitchen and bathroom in the aisles. Here are some things to help you when you shop.

1)  Get a grocery cart when you go in the store. There are small carts and big carts. They are free to use. You don't have to pay to use them.

2) Make a list of things you need before you go to the store. It will make it easier for you when you are in the store.
    Every week the store will sell some products "on special" or for less money. (The products are all very good! They do this because they want people to come shop every week!) So the first thing to do is to look for the food that is on sale.

3) Many fruits and vegetables are not in packages. Take a bag and fill it with how many fruits or vegetables you want. The small bags for fruits and vegetables are free. If you buy tomatoes, take 1 bag for tomatoes. If you buy apples, take another little bag for your apples. Do not put different things in one bag.

4) You can also bring your own plastic bags and shopping bags. People in America like to do this to help the environment.

5) Every row, or aisle, has a sign with a number and the names of the foods you will find in the aisle. If you ask a store worker for help finding something, he will tell you the aisle number to go to. He will also tell you if what you want is on the left or right and if it is at the end of the aisle or in the middle.
     For example:
I could say to the store worker, "I need rice. Where is the rice?"  He would answer, "It is in aisle 5, on the left, at the very end of the aisle."

6) IMPORTANT!  Always read the "per ounce" cost on the grocery store price tags. Food in bigger boxes is not always less expensive. The "per ounce" price will tell what is the "best buy" or the most economical product to buy.

7)  When you have everything you want, take your grocery cart to the "check out line". Put your groceries on the long counter. If you bring your own shopping bags with you, put them on the counter too. Someone from the store will put your food into your bags while you pay for your food.