If you're anything like me, you still get overwhelmed by the size of a US grocery store. Some are bigger than others. Either way, there are about 40 varieties of yogurt, 20 different cheese options, and maybe 60 different cereal boxes in certain stores.

Before I arrived in the US, they told me everything was going to be 'big' and 'bigger'. They were not lying when they made this statement. So, how do you manage the grocery store? Here are a few quick tips and tricks.

Grocery Store Tips:

1. The outside or perimeter aisles are the 'healthier' aisles. It is recommended that you get as much as you can from those sections since they generally have more fresh products, such as produce.

2. Stick to products that have less sugar. There is a lot of sugar in certain products in the United States, and it is proven that the US puts more sugar and other unhealthy preservatives in products than most other parts of the world. Try to look at food labels and avoid "added sugar" as much as possible, which means there is sugar added on top of the sugar that is already naturally in the product.

3. With inflation rates being so high, see if you can find some coupons before you go to the store. Some stores have a card you can scan at the register that gives you an automatic discount, but for others, you have to find the discounts and coupons on your own. A good way to check what is on sale at your store of choice is to use the "Flipp" app. You can find stores and deals in your area and see if there are any coupons that you can use during your shopping trip.

While I like to get all my groceries for one week in one trip, some people prefer to make 2 or 3 trips a week. My favorite time to go is early in the morning, any day of the week, as it tends to be less busy. When stores first open, you have all the time and space to look around as much as you want before the heavier crowds arrive.

If you are new to Memphis or are not sure where to get your weekly needs, here is a quick top 3 list of stores around the University of Memphis campus:

1. Kroger at Poplar Plaza is really the only store within walking distance of the campus, and they have pretty much everything you need. They even have a small international aisle where you can find select international items.

2. Target. You can get all your home goods, clothes, groceries, toys, technology etc. here. You name it and you can probably find it there. It is slightly further from the campus, but it is one of my favorite stores just because you can get everything you might possibly need in one place. The closest location to campus is the Colonial locations, but there are a ton of Target’s all around town.

3. High Point Grocery. This is an extremely small local grocery store, if you would like to go somewhere with limited options and support the locals.

If you are looking for ingredients that might be native to your home country, check out International Farmer’s Market in Cordova. It is a great place with lots of variety. If you want to stay closer to campus, you can also check Mediterranean Grocery (Middle Eastern), Great China Food Market (Asian) or Rio Grande (Hispanic) for your international grocery needs that can’t be found at any of the 3 places listed above. Trader Joe's & Aldi for European products/grocery options. For Indian groceries, check out Balaji Supermarket in Germantown.

VIVIAN BRANDHOFF DANIS • THE NETHERLANDS

Vivian moved to Memphis from the Netherlands in 2011 to be a full-time student-athlete. She completed both her undergraduate degree in Sport & Leisure Management and her Master’s degree in Communication while throwing shot put and discus for the University of Memphis. VISA was the first organization that gave her many international friends, with most of whom she still enjoys hanging out with today. After meeting her American husband here, Vivian stayed in Memphis and now works part-time, while also being a full-time mom to her daughter Nora.