I’m a dietitian and mom of two little kids, so dinnertime is hectic in my household. Even though I’ve written a cookbook and create and test recipes for a living, I’m often blankly staring at the fridge at 5 p.m. wondering what to make for dinner. That’s why I was intrigued when I learned about chef Will Coleman’s viral 6-to-1 grocery shopping method.
This novel concept helps home cooks choose ingredients at the grocery store, with the ultimate goal of cooking meals at home. “The 6-to-1 method was born out of the need to streamline my grocery shopping experience,” says Coleman. “Frustrated with spending excessive time in stores, wasting groceries and exceeding my budget, I designed this method to simplify the process,” he says.
That all sounds pretty appealing to a time-strapped mom who wants to prepare healthy meals for my family, so I decided to try it and see for myself.
What is the 6-to-1 grocery shopping method?
The 6-to-1 grocery method instructs shoppers to buy six veggies, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces and one fun item. Coleman says, “Anyone can use this method, anywhere, at any time.” He advises choosing foods that are on sale, in season and versatile.
On my weekly trip to Trader Joe’s, I followed the method. I’m the primary shopper and cook for myself, my husband and my 2-year-old (and a baby that doesn’t eat solids yet). We all follow a vegetarian diet. Here’s what I purchased:
3 starches: whole-wheat tortillas, brown rice, farro
2 sauces: enchilada sauce, soy sauce
1 fun item: peanut butter pretzels (my son and I love these!)
The easy, healthy meals I cooked
I’ve never really had a problem with grocery shopping. As a matter of fact, it’s one of my favorite activities. My main issue is figuring out what to make with the groceries I buy. Although I didn’t plan my meals, I went to the store with a small plan: Buy foods I know how to use.
The first thing I made was a simple smoothie with frozen cherries, frozen raspberries, blueberries, Greek yogurt and soy milk (that I already had in the fridge). This protein and antioxidant-rich beverage was quick and easy to throw together for post-workout recovery.
For lunch, I combined the quick-cook farro with roasted sweet potatoes and shredded Brussels sprouts. I also added pomegranate seeds and feta cheese that were in my fridge, and I made a simple apple cider vinegar vinaigrette.
I threw together a yummy fried rice with the brown rice, tofu and soy sauce. I used other ingredients I had on hand, like frozen peas and edamame, shredded carrots and a red bell pepper. I paired it with the shish*to peppers, which I quickly charred in the air fryer.
Lastly, I made cauliflower, sweet potato and black bean enchiladas and a simple smashed chickpea wrap. My son and I also happily snacked on the peanut butter pretzels throughout the week.
Should you try the 6-to-1 method?
The balanced approach to cooking and eating drew me to this method. So many food hacks or diet plans are extreme — usually asking people to cut out certain food groups or only eat a certain food. With the 6-to-1 method, you get to eat from every food group and choose foods that you like. Plus, the one “fun” item encourages moderation, which is something I preach often.
Buying groceries from all different food groups inspired me to make more meals. Although I didn’t have a meal plan when I went to the store, I purchased certain sauces with a meal idea in mind. I also always have a stocked pantry and fridge, so I had other ingredients at my disposal to round out my meals.
I can imagine that some home chefs may find themselves with a fridge full of ingredients without any idea of what to make, so I asked Coleman if you should have a meal plan when you grocery shop or just let the foods in the store inspire you. He said that beginner cooks should draw inspiration from chefs and recipes online. “Additionally, my ebook is a great resource for curating your grocery shopping lists to align with accompanying recipes,” he says.
I will definitely use this approach for future grocery shopping and recommend it to clients who want to cook more often.
Natalie Rizzo
Natalie Rizzo is a New York City-based dietitian, the founder of Greenletes and author of "Planted Performance."
The 6-to-1 grocery method entails buying six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads and one treat. Continue to shop carefully while at the store to get the best deals. Flexibility with your purchases will be a key to making this method a success.
The 6-to-1 Grocery Method is a basic calculation (we're talking elementary-level math, basically counting), to plan your weekly grocery shop. Here's the system: Fill your grocery cart with six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads, and one "fun" item for yourself.
The 6-to-1 grocery method is an approach to cooking that involves picking six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads, and one fun item. The purpose is to streamline your shopping experience, promote variety, eliminate food waste, and keep grocery costs lower.
The 6-to-1 grocery method instructs shoppers to buy six veggies, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces and one fun item. Coleman says, “Anyone can use this method, anywhere, at any time.” He advises choosing foods that are on sale, in season and versatile.
Learn an easy-to-follow grocery shopping formula for a balanced meal that includes 5 types of vegetables, 4 types of protein, 3 types of fruits, 2 types of carbs, and 1 type of fun food.
So, even if you're busy and have a hard time making time for a larger shopping trip, try to keep your store visits down to no more than twice a week. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
We set up a “3 in 1” shopping schedule, consisting of three separate grocery runs on average each week — one larger shop, where my husband or I (or both!) pick up groceries for the first half of the week, and one or two small- to medium-sized shops to fill in what we need for the remainder of our meals.
Here is your 6 to 1 mission, should you choose to accept it: Seek out six fresh, frozen or canned vegetables, five fresh, frozen or canned fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces and one little luxury per supermarket trip.
Each number corresponds to a specific food group that you'll purchase for easy, balanced meals every week. Following Coleman's method, you'd buy five different vegetables, four different fruits, three different proteins, two different sauces or spreads, and one grain—plus a special treat for yourself.
Facts & Findings. Americans save around $12 by opting to cook and eat at home, with the average home meal costing $4.23 versus over $16 per meal at an inexpensive restaurant. Annually, it costs over $13,000 more to eat out than it costs to prepare the same amount of food at home.
If you're looking to save time and money on your groceries, give this method a try. All you have to do is grab 6 veggies, 5 fruits, 4 proteins, 3 starches, 2 sauces or spreads, and 1 fun thing for yourself and you'll be able have ingredients to make your family 6+ meals throughout the week!
For reference, a family of six typically spends anywhere from $1126 to $1546 per month on food and approximately $1,200 per month on other necessities, such as cleaning supplies.
The 6-to-1 grocery method entails buying six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads and one treat. Continue to shop carefully while at the store to get the best deals. Flexibility with your purchases will be a key to making this method a success.
What is the 54321 method? The 54321 (or 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) method is a grounding exercise designed to manage acute stress and reduce anxiety. It involves identifying 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
What Is the 3-3-2-2-1 Grocery Shopping Method? As TikTok creator and registered dietitian Steph Grasso outlines it, the 3-3-2-2-1-1 means that you fill your grocery cart up with three vegetables, three protein sources, two grains, two fruits, and one dip or spread.
Grocery stores use the first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory method, which entails stocking older foods and other items for sale toward the front of shelves to sell them first.
Grocery shopping made easier thanks to @Chef Will Coleman 's 6 to 1 method. The 6 to 1 method is when you grab 6 veggie's, 5 fruits, 4 proteins, 3 starches, 2 saucy items, and 1 fun thing for yourself. Let us know what you'd cook with all of these groceries!
For reference, a family of six typically spends anywhere from $1126 to $1546 per month on food and approximately $1,200 per month on other necessities, such as cleaning supplies.
Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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