Categories of Grocery Shopping Items

Creating a grocery list is one of the best ways to ensure that you are buying only what you need and staying within your shopping budget. The easiest way to do that is to plan your list by writing down needed items according to their category. This will prevent you from wandering aimlessly as you shop.

Items found in the produce aisle of the grocery store fall under this category. This includes fresh fruits such as apples, tomatoes, pears and bananas. Fresh vegetables such as lettuce, onions, celery and carrots also are a part of this category.

This is the category that covers all types of meats used for cooking. This includes beef items such as hamburgers and steaks; poultry items such as turkey, game hens and chicken; and pork foods such as sausage, chops and bacon. If you are writing a shopping list by categories, fish and shellfish should also be included here.

Milk, creams, sour cream and yogurt are all part of the dairy section of the grocery store. Other items that should be categorized as dairy products are cheeses, eggs and egg substitutes.

The frozen food category covers anything that is located in the freezer aisles at the grocery store. This can include ice cream and frozen meals such as microwaveable entrees and pizzas. Vegetables and meats that have been frozen are also included in this section. For example, if you are planning your grocery shopping list and need breaded chicken breasts or frozen corn, they should be written down under this category on your list.

This section corresponds with the grocery store aisles containing breads, pastas, cereals and rice products. It includes dinner rolls, tortillas, pitas, hamburger and hot dog buns. This category may also include bakery items such as pastries.

This category is for dried herbs and other spices. Sugar, sugar substitutes, flour and other items used for baking may also fall in this area.

The beauty section of the health and beauty category covers items such as cosmetics, hair dyes and deodorants. Aspirin, pain relievers, cold and flu medicine are an example of items that also fall under health and beauty. When writing a shopping list, write toothpaste in this area.

This category encompasses non-grocery items that are needed for household maintenance. Items such as laundry and dishwashing detergent are included here. Other examples of household items include garbage bags, air fresheners and cleaning supplies.