To some paper may seem prehistoric, but I am such a sucker for colorful design that it actually helps motivate me to make grocery lists and keep on track every week. I have slowly turned my desk into a toy box over the years, collecting tiny fun things like Sharpies and notepads from the dollar store that help keep eating healthy manageable and affordable.

I have 2 levels of lists for food. The first is for items that keep for longer than 1 week. These are items I plan to buy once or twice a month: -Bread -Soy milk -Butter -Meat (to freeze) -Cheese/soy cheese -Tofu/tofu products -Potatoes -Apples -Dried Fruit -Nuts/trail mix -Oatmeal

The second list is for super-perishables. These are things that will die a sad expensive death if not consumed within a few days of buying. The trick is to keep this trip much less costly than the bigger trip above, but to plan your meals out so they all get used in time: -Milk -eggs -Spinach/mustard greens/kale -Broccoli -Bananas -Peaches/nectarines -Blueberries/blackberries/strawberries

This way life stays on track and I know what to expect when I get to the register. Do you have a way to stay organized that helps you make better eating decisions?