The 5-4-3-2-1 method sets numbers for categories: five vegetables, four fruits, three proteins, two starches, one treat. Shoppers can mix and match items to create multiple meals and limit food waste. The approach adds structure to reduce stress and overspending during grocery trips. Content creator and chef Will Coleman popularized the approach in 2023 and reported making four to six meals for two people for under $100. Rising grocery costs and nearly 90% of adults stressed about grocery expenses make the method timely. The method is a starting point, not a complete pantry list.
If you dread the weekly grocery shop, or get sidetracked by fun snacks only to end up with no real meals, this might be the hack for you. The 5-4-3-2-1 method gives shoppers like you a simple template the next time you're about to crash out in the produce aisle. Instead of tossing random items into the cart and realizing later you have nothing to cook, grab five vegetables, four fruits, three proteins, two starches, and one treat, and call it a day.
The idea is that everything can be mixed and matched for different meals, helping to cut costs and prevent food waste. Having a number in mind for each category brings just enough structure to make grocery shopping less stressful, and maybe even enjoyable. The method traces back to content creator and chef Will Coleman, who posted a video of his grocery tips in 2023. He said he could make between four and six meals for two people for under $100 using the formula.
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