8 Healthy Grocery Store Shortcuts Worth Trying

In the hustle of modern life, getting a nutritious meal on the table can feel like a Herculean task. But what if we told you that healthy eating doesn’t have to mean spending hours chopping, prepping, and cooking from scratch? The grocery store is brimming with smart shortcuts that can slash your kitchen time while keeping your meals wholesome and delicious.

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing endeavor. These grocery store shortcuts can help you put wholesome meals on the table without spending your entire evening in the kitchen. The key is to read labels carefully, opt for products with minimal additives and preservatives, and balance convenience with quality.

Pre-Washed Greens and Salad Mixes

Gone are the days when buying a head of lettuce meant dedicating precious minutes to washing, drying, and tearing leaves. Pre-washed greens and salad mixes are a game-changer for busy weeknights. Look for varieties that go beyond basic iceberg — think baby kale, arugula, and spring mix blends. They’re ready to eat straight from the package, making it effortless to add a healthy side salad to any meal or build a grain bowl in minutes.

Frozen Vegetables

If you’re not already a devotee of frozen vegetables, it’s time to convert. Flash-frozen at peak ripeness, they retain most of their nutrients and often outperform their fresh counterparts that have been sitting in the produce aisle for days. Stock your freezer with staples like broccoli florets, cauliflower rice, and mixed stir-fry blends. They require zero prep work and cook in minutes, whether you’re steaming, roasting, or sautéing.

Rotisserie Chicken

The rotisserie chicken is perhaps the ultimate grocery store shortcut. For less than the cost of a raw chicken, you get a fully cooked, seasoned bird that can be repurposed in countless ways. Shred it for tacos, slice it for sandwiches, toss it into pasta, or add it to soup. Many stores even offer plain, unseasoned versions if you’re watching sodium intake. Pro tip: save the carcass to make homemade stock.

Pre-Cut Vegetables and Fruit

Yes, you’ll pay a bit more, but the convenience factor of pre-cut vegetables and fruit can be the difference between cooking a healthy meal and ordering takeout. Butternut squash cubes, spiralized zucchini, diced onions, and pineapple chunks are all readily available. They’re especially useful for recipes that call for labor-intensive prep work. Just be sure to check the packaging date and use them quickly for optimal freshness.

Canned Beans and Lentils

Dried beans may be economical, but let’s be honest — who has time to soak them overnight and simmer for hours? Canned beans and lentils are just as nutritious (and some argue easier to digest) and take seconds to incorporate into your cooking. Rinse them well to reduce sodium, then add to salads, soups, grain bowls, or mash them for veggie burgers. Keep a variety on hand: black beans, chickpeas, cannellini, and lentils are all pantry MVPs.

Pre-Cooked Grains

Quinoa, brown rice, farro, and other whole grains are nutritional powerhouses, but cooking them from scratch can take 30 to 45 minutes. Enter pre-cooked grains, available in the refrigerated or freezer section. Many come in microwaveable pouches that are ready in just 90 seconds. They’re perfect for grain bowls, as a base for stir-fries, or mixed into soups for added heartiness and fiber.

Jarred Marinara and Pesto

Not all jarred sauces are created equal, but when you find a good one, it’s worth its weight in gold. Look for marinara sauces with short ingredient lists — ideally just tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and herbs, with minimal added sugar. The same goes for pesto: opt for versions made with quality olive oil and real Parmesan. These sauces can transform simple pasta, serve as a pizza base, or add instant flavor to chicken or fish.

Pre-Portioned Nut Butters and Hummus

Single-serve packets of almond butter, peanut butter, and hummus are perfect for on-the-go snacking or portion control. They pair beautifully with apple slices, carrot sticks, or whole-grain crackers, making it easy to pack a nutritious snack for work or school lunches. While they generate more packaging waste, the convenience and built-in portion control make them a worthwhile option for busy families.