Grocery Shopping, Again.
March 29, 2006
I’ve been getting some “but I don’t have that in my fridge” comments lately, and so I’ve decided to post a second blog on grocery shopping for dummies. I suggest that you first read my blog from November 7, 2005 on “Mysteries of Grocery Shopping Solved” before you read this one. That blog provides everyone a list of pantry basics and a typical grocery list I make when I go to the store.
Now that you are refreshed with a basic course in how to stock your pantry, here are some tips for grocery shopping that may help you spend your money and time wisely.
1. Plan your meals. Yes, before you head out to the store, and after you’ve stocked that pantry, you need to decide “what am I going to eat this week?” You should consider whether you like to pack lunches, and how often in a week you like to cook. I cook every night and I pack a lunch everyday. So go through this food blog and pick out 7 things you want to eat. Here is an example of a weeks worth of dinners: Pot Pie (11/28/05); Whipped Potatoes & Veg (11/30/05); Linguini & Olive Oil Trio (10/30/05); Minestrone Soup (10/27/05); Purple Potato Salad (12/01/05); Vegetarian Posole (1/28/06).
I also like to buy a big bag of salad, blue corn tortilla chips for snacking, fruit for breakfast/dessert, and I stock up on tea, coffee, and sparkling water (soda is not only harsh on your stomach, but it is filled with empty calories and rots your teeth).
2. Make a list. Now that you’ve planned your meals, go through each recipe and find out what you need to buy (remember, you should have a stocked pantry). You will be surprised by the repeat ingredients. Depending on how many people you are feeding, be sure to consider that my meals usually feed 2 for dinner with enough for leftovers the next day for 2. Compare that list with what you already have, and cross off things you don’t need.
3. Pick a grocery store. As stupid as this sounds you need to consider how much you want to spend on food. I buy most of my groceries from Whole Foods or Wild Oats, which tends to be very expensive; but I found that Safeway is now marketing cheaper organic products I like to buy. In the end, your budget will dictate whether you can splurge on quality, or confine yourself to quantity/price.
4. Expect to grocery shop once a week. Grocery shopping is fun - really! Be sure not to go on an empty stomach and try to find a grocery store you like (I like Whole Foods because they give free samples of everything while you shop; they have large aisles; they have a juice bar). The better your store, the better your experience. Going once a week will also help you budget better (you can evaluate at the end of the week how much you have spent on food). You will also waste less food (Americans toss away about %14 of groceries each year, contributing to the $75 billion dollars in food waste annually).
Now that you are refreshed with a basic course in how to stock your pantry, here are some tips for grocery shopping that may help you spend your money and time wisely.
1. Plan your meals. Yes, before you head out to the store, and after you’ve stocked that pantry, you need to decide “what am I going to eat this week?” You should consider whether you like to pack lunches, and how often in a week you like to cook. I cook every night and I pack a lunch everyday. So go through this food blog and pick out 7 things you want to eat. Here is an example of a weeks worth of dinners: Pot Pie (11/28/05); Whipped Potatoes & Veg (11/30/05); Linguini & Olive Oil Trio (10/30/05); Minestrone Soup (10/27/05); Purple Potato Salad (12/01/05); Vegetarian Posole (1/28/06).
I also like to buy a big bag of salad, blue corn tortilla chips for snacking, fruit for breakfast/dessert, and I stock up on tea, coffee, and sparkling water (soda is not only harsh on your stomach, but it is filled with empty calories and rots your teeth).
2. Make a list. Now that you’ve planned your meals, go through each recipe and find out what you need to buy (remember, you should have a stocked pantry). You will be surprised by the repeat ingredients. Depending on how many people you are feeding, be sure to consider that my meals usually feed 2 for dinner with enough for leftovers the next day for 2. Compare that list with what you already have, and cross off things you don’t need.
3. Pick a grocery store. As stupid as this sounds you need to consider how much you want to spend on food. I buy most of my groceries from Whole Foods or Wild Oats, which tends to be very expensive; but I found that Safeway is now marketing cheaper organic products I like to buy. In the end, your budget will dictate whether you can splurge on quality, or confine yourself to quantity/price.
4. Expect to grocery shop once a week. Grocery shopping is fun - really! Be sure not to go on an empty stomach and try to find a grocery store you like (I like Whole Foods because they give free samples of everything while you shop; they have large aisles; they have a juice bar). The better your store, the better your experience. Going once a week will also help you budget better (you can evaluate at the end of the week how much you have spent on food). You will also waste less food (Americans toss away about %14 of groceries each year, contributing to the $75 billion dollars in food waste annually).
Labels: shopping
