This guide to supermarket shopping begins with a study of the American food shopper. The major types of shoppers and their needs are identified. Chapter 2 discusses planning at home. Topics include preparation of a comprehensive list, using coupons, impulse buying, and comparison shopping. Chapter 3 focuses on the actual shopping experience. Unit pricing, nutritional labeling, and freshness coding are described. Hints are then offered for the meat department, generic products, the dairy department, the produce department, the delicatessen department, the general merchandising section, and the snacks section. Chapter 4 concerns vitamin supplementation. Chapter 5 considers alternatives to supermarket shopping as well as how to be self-assertive at the checkout counter. Appendixes include information on the content of various meat and poultry products, a sample shopping list, and a recommended reading list. (YLB)