Here’s Why You Should Never Go Grocery Shopping With Your Partner, According to Science

There's one thing you either love or hate as a couple: grocery shopping together. Most people share this activity with their partner, turning it into a moment of sharing and bonding or into another source of stress. All of these implications influence our eating habits. Let's see what the study revealed.

Spending as a Couple Leads to a Less Healthy Diet

An experiment conducted by the ESCP Business School in Berlin examined the purchasing behavior of couples and individuals in a virtual supermarket. Participants were divided into two groups: some shopped as a couple, while others decided individually what to put in their carts. The results were surprising: couples tended to purchase an average of 20 products, compared to eight products purchased by individuals alone. Even more significant, most of the additional items chosen by couples were high-calorie and unhealthy foods, such as cookies and chips.

This tendency could be attributed to several psychological factors. When grocery shopping as a couple, the relationship dynamic can lead to a sort of "complicity in indulgence," where both partners feel entitled to indulge in small culinary pleasures, justified by the other's presence. Furthermore, the presence of a partner could reduce individual inhibitions, making it easier to give in to food temptations. A further study conducted by Virginia State University, Focus writes, highlighted that many couples choose to grocery shop together not only for practical reasons, but also for the pleasure of sharing the experience. However, this sharing can have a downside: mutual influence can lead to less healthy food choices, as both partners may encourage each other to purchase less healthy foods.

It's important to note that these behaviors aren't necessarily negative. Grocery shopping as a couple can strengthen the bond and make the activity more enjoyable. For those who want to maintain a balanced diet, it's crucial to be aware of these dynamics. Couples can adopt strategies to support each other in making healthier food choices, such as planning their grocery list in advance, setting shared nutritional goals, or encouraging each other to choose healthier options.