As part of RNIS Healthy Living Month
Its is always hard for International students to navigate the supermarket aisles particularly upon arrival in Melbourne. It is hardest for those that have never had to cook before such as the Malaysian, Singaporean and Chinese students who have had maids in their home countries. The maids used to do everything for you back home.
But in Melbourne you have to do your own grocery shopping and that's not always easy.
Timing is everything
Supermarkets open at 7am or 8am depending on what day and where. The fruits and vegetables are freshest at that time as they have just been delivered. Around 3pm-7pm on a weekday is the busiest with everyone madly trying to do all their stuff and bumping into each other with the trolley. The queues at the checkouts are really long too.
In the city stores, lunchtime is busy as everyone buys their ready made goods and yoghurts. Do try and go at a time when the supermarket is quiet as you can easily find your way around.
Supermarkets have their discount days and its mainly on Mondays and Thursdays.
Where is everything?
The lollies and magazines and ready made meals are at the counters for promotional purposes. The fruit and the veg are on one side, namely left of the supermarket.
The pastas, cereals and other things are right in the middle of the supermarket.
The meat section is next to the vegetable and fruit aisles. The bread section is right next to the cereal aisles. Coffee and tea aisles is in the middle.
Milk and butter aisles are placed at different sides of the store so that you stock up on the junk food.
Other hints
Don't shop on an empty stomach. Do plan your meals ahead and write a list. If you shop on an empty stomach you might buy more than you need.
See if you can pool some of the resources together with the other housemates such as milk, rice, soy sauce, pastas etc.
Do use the supermarket specials only when you need to. If you don't need that item and you use it, its a waste of money.
Its is always hard for International students to navigate the supermarket aisles particularly upon arrival in Melbourne. It is hardest for those that have never had to cook before such as the Malaysian, Singaporean and Chinese students who have had maids in their home countries. The maids used to do everything for you back home.
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| There are a myriad of items in the supermarket. What to choose? |
But in Melbourne you have to do your own grocery shopping and that's not always easy.
Timing is everything
Supermarkets open at 7am or 8am depending on what day and where. The fruits and vegetables are freshest at that time as they have just been delivered. Around 3pm-7pm on a weekday is the busiest with everyone madly trying to do all their stuff and bumping into each other with the trolley. The queues at the checkouts are really long too.
In the city stores, lunchtime is busy as everyone buys their ready made goods and yoghurts. Do try and go at a time when the supermarket is quiet as you can easily find your way around.
Supermarkets have their discount days and its mainly on Mondays and Thursdays.
Where is everything?
The lollies and magazines and ready made meals are at the counters for promotional purposes. The fruit and the veg are on one side, namely left of the supermarket.
The pastas, cereals and other things are right in the middle of the supermarket.
The meat section is next to the vegetable and fruit aisles. The bread section is right next to the cereal aisles. Coffee and tea aisles is in the middle.
Milk and butter aisles are placed at different sides of the store so that you stock up on the junk food.
Other hints
Don't shop on an empty stomach. Do plan your meals ahead and write a list. If you shop on an empty stomach you might buy more than you need.
See if you can pool some of the resources together with the other housemates such as milk, rice, soy sauce, pastas etc.
Do use the supermarket specials only when you need to. If you don't need that item and you use it, its a waste of money.
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