After getting home from vacation and attempting to make lunch with a jar of mustard, a squirt of ketchup and some wilted greens that I accidently left in the produce drawer, I knew a big trip to the store was in order. I would be lying if I said I didn’t make a few “big” trips to the store a on a regular basis. I live at the grocery store. I like seeing what people buy on a regular basis, but I almost didn’t publish this post because it’s not a true picture of my grocery shopping tendencies.
I wish I was better at making a specific list, buying things only on the list, using the things during the week and then having an empty fridge by the end of the week. This is not at all my system. Is this your system? I feel like this is a good and cost effective system but it doesn’t work for me. If it was just Brady and I and I was still teaching third grade and going to work every day I think this system would work for us. And, I can make meal and menu plans for others, just not myself.
Being home and cooking for other people while trying to balance teaching classes, Anna and everything else, I always have a “stock up” approach to the store. I usually buy things I am low on and if they are on sale, I buy more than one of something. This is a result of fear and the reality of planning a meal and realizing I am out of a key ingredient. For example, last week I was making a shrimp orzo pasta for a neighbor and realized I was out of orzo. It was about 2pm and Anna was napping. I didn’t have time to go to the store when she woke up and then come home and try making dinner with her “helping” me. So I made penne instead. Not the end of the world, but it’s these situations that cause me to load up on groceries to make sure I am never completely out of something I need.
Another reason for so much grocery shopping: we eat at home a lot. We don’t go out to eat much because we love to cook and it easier, tastier, cheaper and healthier. Brady packs his lunch of salad with chicken, greek yogurt and some type of fruit everyday or eats at home when he works at home a few days a week. And my Hugh Jass salads take a lot of produce. 🙂
I realize this could be resolved if I made a set menu, checked my cupboard for all ingredients and then shopped accordingly. But that’s not me. 🙂 Also, I like to be able to throw together an impromptu dinner for 10 at anytime. That is me.
So onto the first of 3 trips to different grocery stores this week: Heinen’s
Produce:
Spinach: for smoothies and blending into Anna’s pancakes and whatever else I can add it to
Champagne Mangoes: because they were on sale and are super sweet
Cantaloupe: on sale but not quite ripe, I’ll hold off on buying another one for a few weeks
Red Sweet Potatoes: super sweet and delicious sweet potatoes for our Indian night on Sunday
Cherry Tomatoes: we all love them! Especially Anna.
Cauliflower: for roasting or making into a pizza crust that has been on my to-do list
Zucchini: they go with anything
Asparagus: our fave – another great side for any meal
Strawberries: they looked super sweet and ripe so I couldn’t pass them by
Kale: superfood we all love. For kale chips (an everyday eat at our house) and Indian night
Pears: Heinen’s had delicious and sweet organic pears on sale – I should have bought more of them
Can’t pass up a sale on Alexia sweet potato fries.
Random Pantry Goods:
Soba Noodles: for the sesame salmon soba noodle dinner
Brown Rice: staple food we were out of
Cherry Tomatoes in a can: hmm…not sure how these will be
Orzo: another great staple
Garam Masala: one of my favorite spices that we were in need of
Sodium Free Broth: for a neighbor’s meals that are sodium free
Siracha: Hard to believe we have gone through a bottle of this already
Olive Oil: on sale
Sweet Baby Ray’s: one of the best bottled bbq sauces – Not the best for you…on sale though!
Egg noodles: for a neighbor’s dinner
Fiber One Honey Clusters: tons of fiber, a little sweetness and a perfect addition to greek yogurt
Rice Krispies: for making treats
No need to explain these staples.
Since buying this first haul of groceries on Sunday, I have also been to Trader Joe’s and Giant Eagle for arm loads of things.
How do you grocery shop? Are you a good planner? Do do a daily shop?
