Inflation and an increased interest in healthy living are changing the way people shop for groceries. Celebrity chef Jason Smith of Lakeland, Florida, prefers shopping at physical grocery stores, where he can touch, smell, and see the products he’s buying.

Shopping Local

Smith recommends choosing smaller, local grocery stores whenever possible, as they often offer fresher produce and support the local community. However, for larger groups, he suggests shopping at bigger chains like Walmart, Kroger, and Target, which offer affordable store brands.

Austin Beckett, a private chef from Florida, sources some products from Whole Foods and Bedner’s Market but tries to buy directly from farmers whenever possible. He encourages people to start cooking at home, even if it’s not with organic or locally sourced ingredients, to develop healthy eating habits.

Tips for Saving Money

Both chefs advise shoppers to consider the difference between name-brand and store-brand products, as well as the freshness of produce. Smith notes that well-known companies often package store brands, so shoppers can save money by choosing the store brand without sacrificing quality.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.