Development of a Framework to Assess In-Store and Online Grocery Shopping Patterns, Values, and Strategies of Urban Families of Low Income

U.S. household grocery purchases include high proportions of less healthful food items, which contribute to chronic disease risk. This study investigated grocery shopping patterns, values, and strategies among families of low income. It employed a multi-method design consisting of quantitative analysis of itemized online and in-store grocery receipts ( n = 120), and qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews (IDIs; n = 15) on grocery shopping habits for the development of a concept map. For the quantitative phase, 57 primary food purchasers of low income with a young child submitted itemized grocery receipts. Subsequently, 15 of them participated in the qualitative phase. Data from itemized receipts revealed that most families shopped for groceries in-store (92%). The majority of purchases occurred at supermarkets ( n = 94, 84%), with families paying for them using government benefits alone or with other payments (66%). Families spent the highest proportion of the grocery budget on protein food items (27%), followed by miscellaneous items (26%), and grains (13%). Qualitative data showed that among strategies implemented by families, shopping list use was similarly observed across modalities. However, families’ attitudes differed by modality regarding bulk shopping and shopping with children. The concept map developed in the study illustrated that families made trade-offs between shopping values, which influenced their shopping modality and store choices. Results of this study can inform public health policy, and interventions ultimately aimed at the promotion of food security and the reduction of disease risk.