Wheelchair grocery shopping tips. How Mike and Gem do a quick shop.

Gem and I recently shared a comparison between accessible and regular shopping carts. 

But sometimes the shop doesn't call for a full shopping cart. When you're just getting the essentials, there's a better way to carry your groceries.

Check out the video to see it all in action, then read on for the breakdown. 

Using LapStacker to carry items.

One of the hardest parts of grocery shopping in a wheelchair is the problem of carrying items. 

Your lap is your cargo space,  but without something to secure your items, you're one sharp corner away from watching your cherries roll across the floor.

A great solution to this problem is LapStacker. When I shop for a few items, I simply load up my lap and use my LapStacker to secure the items in place. 

Gem opts to use a basket on her lap and clips the straps across the top, so everything stays locked in place on her lap.  

Using LapStacker means we can move through the store with groceries fully under control. The hot cross buns made it to the checkout intact. Highly recommend.

How to reach low items safely.

Reaching for items on the bottom shelf can be tricky. You have to worry about your balance and your chair moving. Here's how we stay safe while reaching down.

• Move your chair in close to the shelf first. Proximity reduces how far you need to lean.
• Grip the push rim or wheel before you reach. This keeps the chair from rolling as you shift your weight.
• Lean with control. Take it slow and steady. This stability is key when you are picking up items that are close to the floor.

Reaching high items.

High shelves are the other half of the problem. The instinct is to just stretch your arm up, but there's a better move.

• Slide forward in your seat before you reach.
• Shifting your weight forward gives you noticeably more height and leverage than reaching from a reclined position. 
• Just make sure your brakes are on, or your chair is steady, before you make the move.

Choosing the right weight for heavy items.

Milk is heavy. Two litres of it are very heavy, and when it's sitting on your lap, the weight can make it difficult to maneuver your chair. There's also risk; overloading your lap with a heavy load is a recipe for all sorts of problems. 

Gem went with the one-litre bottle. If you're shopping regularly and keeping trips manageable, smaller sizes often make more sense from a mobility standpoint. Save the bulk buying for online delivery.

The right bags make a real difference.

Getting to the checkout with your items is one thing. Getting them home is another.

I use the Defiance, Adaptdefy's underseat wheelchair bag for my wallet, phone, and small essentials. It sits under the seat, out of the way, and means I'm not digging around in a bag on my lap when I need to pay. Everything's in one place. Checkout is fast.

Gem keeps a collapsible reusable bag in her chair as a backup for extra items. It's not as sturdy as a dedicated wheelchair bag, but it packs down to nothing, and it's there when you need it. 

The bottom line.

Grocery shopping in a wheelchair doesn't have to be slow, exhausting, or stressful. With the right tools,  LapStacker, a good bag, and a bit of technique,  you can get in, get what you need, and get out.

Do your best with what you've got and keep refining the process. The fresh hot cross buns are worth it.

Wanna hear more about how we shop with a trolley? Read more here.