At Canadian Living, grocery shopping is an essential part of our day. It happens at least once a day -- and in order to be at our most efficient, we have to make sure we shop in an organized manner so that we can get back into the kitchen quickly. The most important key to shopping in an organized way is by starting with a list. But not just any list! We divide up our shopping list by store section so that we're not running around like headless chickens and repeatedly visiting the same aisles. Here's our Canadian Living shopping list template. We've used this same template for about 20 years. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Here's how we break down the order of our grocery shopping:

• Start with non-perishables, like canned grocery items (in the centre aisles)
• Proceed to the fresh produce and bakery sections. Be sure to keep delicate leafy or squishable things off to one side and don't load anything heavy on top of them
• Next are your perishables like meat, poultry, fish and dairy
• Finally, make your last stop the freezer case so nothing has a chance to hang around and thaw while you're deciding whether to buy the lean or extra-lean ground beef

Tip: Know your inventory! Remember to check your cupboards, fridge and freezer (like we do) before you set out to shop, so you're not doubling up on things you already have. Click  here to see our health editor, Kate Daley's list of essential healthy grocery staples! Photography: Annabelle Waugh