This viral '5-4-3-2-1' hack might help you stop impulse grocery shopping

Grocery shopping is always chaotic. Despite trying hard to stay true to the budget, most end up buying things they don't even need. In fact, according to Drive Research, as much as 39% of Americans spend more than their grocery shopping budget each month. If you, too, are tired of impulse purchases, you need try a viral TikTok trend called "5-4-3-2-1," which divides your shopping into categories (veggies, fruits, protein, carbs, treat) limited to their corresponding number. Various content creators have already hopped on the trend, and it has become quite popular on social media. Today, we're going to look at 3 creators who have absolutely aced the challenge.

Let's start with Myyaaa (@myaliindsay on TikTok), who said she always buys more than she actually needs. Following the rules, she began with five vegetables — lettuce, baby tomatoes, red onions, avocados, and broccoli. Then, for fruits, she picked up bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and lemons. Moving on, Myyaaa added chicken breast, sea bass, and eggs to her cart. Till now, she had been honest in following the grocery method, but then cheated when it was time to pick carb-rich food items. Instead of two, she added three things to her diet  —sweet potatoes, sourdough, and brioche. Last but not least, she picked up ice cream as a treat. 

Up next, we have Lauryn (@awklauryn7), who taught how to follow the trend in a budget-friendly way. Starting with veggies, she picked up broccoli, spinach, carrots, and lettuce. For protein, Lauryn decided to go for chicken, beef, fish, and prawns. It was then time for carbs, and she picked up baguettes, wheat pasta, and a sandwich bread packet. For fruits, Lauryn got some grapefruits and pears, and she ended her shopping spree with a packet of chocolate.

Third, we have Mystiqué (@8mystique on TikTok), who got broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, zucchini, and peppers for veggies. Bananas, grapes, a pineapple, and dragon fruit for fruits. Like most, she also got some chicken for protein, followed by salmon and lamb chops. For carbs and a guilty treat, Mystiqué added sweet potatoes, spaghetti, and ice cream, respectively.

Reacting to her video, @theangelestalk commented, "I ask ChatGPT for 4 recipes and cook them all in a day. Not only has it saved me money and food waste, but it has also made my week easier, and I am able to focus more on myself." @nakishagibson0916 wrote, "There’s also the 6-5-4-3-2-1 method. 6 veggies, 5 fruits, 4 proteins, 3 starches, 2 sauces/spreads, and 1 treat." @emma._.price commented, "The best way to reduce food waste is to make a weekly meal plan and buy the ingredients you need rather than buying random stuff." Supporting the content creator, @ris pointed out, "Maybe she’s actually getting what she needs with this method, not just random, and also shopping at Aldi (Australia), this could be under $100 easy. I’m not rich; the dragon fruit is questionable, though."

@lupucuviu joked, "I do that when I am at the grocery store, but never when I open the fridge." @meggiegb wrote, "I think this is a really good method for when you live alone... any other kind of setup is a different story." Praising the viral trend, @mads commented, "Dude, this is literally genius. There are plenty of meals with this guideline to shop for; I don’t need to do the reverse. Thank you!" Someone else, @jessbosh3, confessed, "I am such a sweet tooth; I would reverse this as well, but this is a great habit to get into and not buy unnecessary things that go to waste. I would add avocados in there!"

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