Social Media Strategy

In today's society, social media is heavily relied upon for everyday uses. I plan to use the apps TikTok and Instagram to explain accessible grocery stores near you. The reason I believe that it is important to use these specific platforms is because of their relevance to the audience I'm targeting, specifically the demographic of ages 20-28. It is more likely for young adults and college students to be on these platforms over competing platforms like X and Facebook. They are used by young people, just not as much, and not for the content I intend to share.  

Tik Tok: 

For the TIk tok, I plan on going to one of the stores selected and getting together a cart full of affordable groceries for young adults and college students. Hopefully, I will be able to do this promptly to prove to others that shopping at the grocery store doesn’t have to be a burden, but a way to prioritize your health. I  plan on making the video around 1-2 minutes and the video will consist of segments of myself touring the store and shopping for specific healthy ingredients. I will also try and make TikTok appealing to older generations just because they are going to the grocery store as well and maybe they want to try a different diet. 

Instagram: 

For the Instagram post, I intend to add some pictures of the grocery stores and a graphic of some healthy foods you can get on a weekly budget. This story post intends to be a teaser for my TikTok, aiming to capture the targeted audience's attention with the pictures of the stores, creating an appealing image of the local stores while also creating a graphic that will have healthy, affordable foods listed on it to create a better meal plan for the week for students and young adults. 

I plan to post a teaser of the TikTok on my Instagram a day before posting the TikTok to give my viewers something to look forward to and get them to want to come back for the video. 

Then I will post my TikTok a day later and even post the link to my Instagram story, hoping to get more views that way as well, attaching an accessible link. 

To finish, I will post my TikTok to my Blog, hoping to get more attention from my online viewers who might not use social media as their first-hand source.

Final Article

Buying Fresh on a Budget in Auburn: for Students and Young Adults

By: Meg Garrett

Dec. 1, 2024

For college students, maintaining a healthy diet often feels impossible with the constant change in schedules and busy social schedules. 

When discussing unhealthy eating habits, Ella Olivieri, an Auburn University student, had much to say about the challenges she faced in her first year at college trying to budget. 

“Freshman year, I would never plan out what I was going to make. So I would always just go to the store, buy what I thought I needed and then buy way too much, and I was wasting so much food,” said Olivieri.

Clean eating is achievable in Auburn, with local grocery stores and farmers' markets offering cleaner produce options at a better price. Both options benefit people who prefer buying produce at one place and then buying their other grocery items at another. 

In this article, Auburn University students and young adults will learn new ways to get affordable, clean groceries and adopt new budgeting tips through other students' testimonies and information from the stores' websites. 

Budget-Friendly Grocery Stores

Local chain grocery store Kroger has weekly discounts, digital coupons and “Manager’s Specials” where produce and proteins are marked down. If you prefer to shop at Kroger, you can use the Kroger TikTok to help find items so you don’t have to. 

“For groceries, make a list and plan out recipes,” said Olivieri.

If you forget to make a list, don’t worry. Kroger also has a new “meal planning” section on the website that gives you fresh recipes recommended by The Fresh Lane - Kroger editorial teams. Kroger even offers the Simple Truth® Brand organic line, another great option for eating clean.  

Aldi is another local chain grocery option. With the two locations in the Auburn-Opelieaka area, it has become a favorite for budgeting students. Aldi offers low-priced produce, different brands of grains and cooking essentials while keeping good quality. 

When I asked Hope Grisham, a Georgia College student, she clarified why she likes to shop at Aldis when shopping on a budget.

“Aldi doesn't use, like, they took out all of their synthetic flavors and MSG stuff to pump to the food,” Grishman said.

Aldi makes it easier to eat clean while budgeting with several organic options. For example, they have Fresh Green Beans for $2.99 per lb. package, which can be helpful when students prep their meals for the week. 

Budgeting Tips

For some students, college life involves splitting grocery bills with roommates and cooking together to save food and money. Katie Kern, an Auburn University student, had a living situation in which she learned the value of budgeting with roommates. 

“I was in an apartment. It was right off campus, but we had a full kitchen. So I used our meal plan a lot at school, but I also made dinners as roommates because there were five of us,” Kern said. ”So we'd all split stuff, which is a learning opportunity because everyone eats differently and then people can eat more of something and splitting that can be hard between five people.” 

When you live with roommates, sometimes it can be helpful to split groceries, but in some cases, like Kerns, it can be complicated when others eat more. 

Another way to budget by yourself is grocery stores have Apps with coupons, deals and mobile order pickup options for when you don’t want to get out of the car. 

Many store brands offer clean, simple ingredients at a fraction of the price. Kroger’s Simple Truth and Fresh Lane organic line provide the same freshness as name brands and has organic options. 

For example, Aldi’s “Twice as Nice Guarantee” lets you return items if you’re unsatisfied, reducing the risk of wasting money. So even if you want to try something new that is recommended to you and you are unsatisfied, you can just take it back.

Farmers’ Markets 

There are options outside your local chain grocery store; for instance, you can find several farmers' markets in the Auburn area. 

The Market at Ag Heritage Park is every Thursday from May to September, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. This market offers locally grown produce, meats and local honey and sometimes vendors will bring baked goods. 

City Market - City of Auburn will be held at Town Creek Park in the 2025 season, which is up and running on Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., from May to August.

This farmers market hosts local vendors offering fruits, vegetables, free-range eggs, grass-fed meat and Art vendors. This is an excellent way for young adults and students to find high-quality, affordable produce and support local farmers.

“It's hard to budget. Honestly, a cheaper way would be to do farmer's market,” said Meredith Traylor, a University of West Georgia student.

Buying directly from farmers often costs less than chain grocery store prices and ensures high-quality, seasonal food instead of sorting through organic options at chain grocery stores. 

“The quality is bar-none. I don’t care what grocery store you go to — my farmers will beat their quality tenfold,” said Mark Foshee, Market Director. 

Some farmers markets tips when you decide to go; When you go at the beginning of the market day, you can get the best options, but if you go at the end of the market, you can score potential discounts. Bring cash for easier transactions, though most vendors now have a card payment option.  Many vendors accept student IDs for small discounts, so it’s worth asking! 

Also, don’t hesitate to ask about discounts on produce that may be slightly dented or bruised but perfectly edible. Many vendors accept student IDs for small discounts, so it’s worth asking! 

“I think if you do have a farmer's market, you should go to it. We have one up at home in Rhode Island and we go there all the time,” said Kern. “Especially in the summer because all the fruit is great in the summer.”

To conclude, with some planning, Auburn students can eat clean without spending all of their money. From local chain grocery stores to farmers’ markets, affordable, healthy options are within reach for anyone willing to explore their options and invest some time in meal prep. Eating clean on a budget is achievable with dedication and research; anyone can eat clean with money left to spend. 

Sources: 

Katie Kern

Meredith Traylor

Hope Grisham

Ella Olivieri