What Is the 54321 Grocery Method? (Plus Sample Grocery Lists)

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Budget and affordable living expert Karrie Thatcher shares the benefits of this viral TikTok grocery shopping plan

Co-authored by Elaine Heredia, BA Reviewed by Karrie Thatcher

Last Updated: January 28, 2026 Fact Checked

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• 54321 Grocery Method Explained
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• Sample Grocery Lists
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• Benefits
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• Tips

|Show more |Show less

The 54321 grocery method is taking TikTok by storm, and it might just revolutionize the way you shop for food for the week! It streamlines and simplifies grocery shopping by giving you a list of food categories and a certain number of items to buy in each category. With 5 vegetables, 4 fruits, 3 proteins, 2 starches or grains, and 1 special treat, you'll finally be ready to conquer home cooking! Keep reading to learn more about how the 54321 grocery method works, learn the benefits of the 54321 method, and discover a sample 54321 grocery list and meal ideas, with insights from budget and affordable living expert Karrie Thatcher.

What is the 54321 grocery method?

Budget and affordable living expert Karrie Thatcher says the 54321 grocery method is a budgeting and meal-planning strategy that helps simplify shopping and reduce overspending. It involves buying:

• 5 vegetables (e.g., broccoli, carrots, spinach, bell peppers, & peas)
• 4 fruits (e.g., avocados, blueberries, bananas, & cherry tomatoes)
• 3 proteins (e.g., chicken breasts, ground beef, & eggs)
• 2 starches or grains (e.g., whole grain bread & pinto beans)
• 1 special treat (e.g., ice cream bars)

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

54321 Grocery Method Explained

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1. 
   The 54321 method is a TikTok hack that makes grocery shopping easier. Many people struggle deciding what groceries to buy every week, how many items to purchase, and what meals to make with them. According to Thatcher, the 54321 grocery shopping method “is a budgeting and meal-planning strategy designed to simplify grocery shopping and reduce overspending.” It gives the shopper 5 food categories to buy from, and a certain number of items to buy within each category. They must use those items to cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner until their next shopping trip. Here's how the 54321 grocery list breaks down:

   • 5 vegetables
   • 4 fruits
   • 3 proteins (i.e., meat, dairy, or vegan protein sources)
   • 2 starch or grain (i.e., pasta, bread, rice, or potatoes)
   • 1 special treat (i.e., a chocolate bar, cookies, or popcorn)
   • This video by @8mystique is a great early example of the trend on TikTok and the types of items you can buy using this grocery shopping plan.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Karrie Thatcher is a budget and affordable living expert and the founder of Goglitchdeals. She shares content about finding deals, couponing, saving money, and opportunities for at-home earning.
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Section 2 of 3:

Sample 54321 Grocery Lists

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   Mediterranean-Inspired List Every night can be Greek night in your home when you follow a Mediterranean-inspired 54321 grocery list! Recreate your favorite recipes like chicken gyro, Greek salad, hummus, lentils, and more with these ingredients:

   • 5 vegetables: cucumbers, purple onions, Kalamata olives, spinach, arugula
   • 4 fruits: lemons, avocados, dates, tomatoes
   • 3 proteins: chicken thighs, lamb roast, yogurt
   • 2 starches or grains: chickpeas, lentils
   • 1 special treat: lemon pudding
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   Mexican-Inspired List Take your meals south of the border this week with dishes from traditional Mexican cuisine. Spice up your 54321 grocery shopping plan with ingredients for fajitas, carne guisada, and other delicious Latin meals!

   • 5 vegetables: romaine, New Mexico chiles, red bell peppers, yellow squash, sweet onions
   • 4 fruits: tomatoes, avocados, cantaloupes, guava
   • 3 proteins: ground beef, chicken breasts, Cotija cheese
   • 2 starches or grains: black beans, flour tortillas
   • 1 special treat: Mexican hot chocolate
3. 
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   Asian-Inspired List Buy ingredients for recipes originating in Asian communities all over the world, from stir fry and broccoli beef to rice bowls and bulgogi. Consider adding some condiments like spicy mayo, soy sauce, and teriyaki sauce to your list, as well, so you can capture those distinctive Eastern flavors.

   • 5 vegetables: carrots, bok choy, broccoli, napa cabbage, kimchi
   • 4 fruits: Asian pears, kumquats, dragon fruit, Fuji apples
   • 3 proteins: Flank steak, chicken breasts, eggs
   • 2 starches or grains: rice, tofu
   • 1 special treat: mochi
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Section 3 of 3:

Benefits of the 54321 Grocery Method

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1. 
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   It saves time grocery shopping. Who wants to go to the grocery store after a long day of work and spend an hour in the aisles trying to decide what to buy? When you use the 54321 grocery method, you already know what food categories you're buying and how many items to get. This means you can get your shopping done in as little as 15-20 minutes, so you can spend more time at home enjoying the food you purchased!

   • According to Thatcher, the 54321 method “works by limiting the number of items purchased in each food category during a single shopping trip.” This helps simplify grocery trips and save time.
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   It can reduce the stress of meal planning. Another area where people struggle is planning their meals for the week. They usually can't decide what they want to make, so they end up not buying enough ingredients to make anything. Following the 54321 grocery method means you always buy a variety of different ingredients, so you always have items in your fridge and pantry to get creative with.

   • Thatcher adds that the 54321 method encourages you to make balanced meals with a mix of healthy nutrients.
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   It's easy to customize. Thatcher says the 54321 method is flexible and easily adjustable based on your household size, dietary needs, and existing pantry items. For example, let's say you really enjoy a large variety of fruits, but not as many vegetables. You can simply buy 5 fruits and 4 vegetables. Another way to modify this plan is to buy 4 proteins and 3 fruits. There's virtually no limit to how you can swap and combine food categories in the 54321 method!

   • 6-1 grocery method: This popular variation of the 54321 grocery method was developed by chef and TikTok personality Will Coleman (@chefwillco). It calls for 6 vegetables, 5 fruits, 4 proteins, 3 starches, 2 sauces/condiments, and 1 fun item.
   • Thatcher shares her own alternative to the 54321 method. She recommends: 5 fruits or vegetables, 4 protein items (meat, eggs, beans, or tofu), 3 carbohydrates (rice, pasta, bread, or potatoes), 2 sauces or spreads (condiments or cooking sauces), and 1 treat.
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   It saves money. Thatcher notes that the structure of the 54321 method “helps shoppers stay focused, prioritize essentials, and avoid impulse purchases while still building balanced meals.” Going into the grocery store with a plan is key to saving money. If you don't know what you want to get, you might spend way too much on a lot of items that you don't know what to do with. You might also be more likely to reach for pricier pre-prepared meals or junk food, or skip the store and go straight to your favorite fast food joint.

   • Thatcher explains that the clear limits of the method help control spending, reduce unnecessary extras, and works well with sales and substitutions.
   • Plus, Thatcher says it helps prevent foodwaste because you’re overbuying less.
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Tips

• Take inventory of what you have before you go shopping, so you don't buy something you already have.
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• Consider staples like flour, spices, sugar, butter, and cooking oil as separate from your 54321 grocery list.
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• Add or take away food categories according to your lifestyle. For example, if you consume a lot of milk, cheese, yogurt, etc., include a dairy category.
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