Print This PostWhich type of grocery shopper are you?
- I visit the grocery store frequently, getting only what I need for the day.
- I plan ahead and get everything I need for the week.
- I don’t grocery shop.
I definitely fall into the first category, visiting my local grocery anywhere from 4 to 8 times a week (good thing it’s right around the corner). It’s funny; I tell myself I go to the grocery store so often because I’m busy, but if I planned my meals and got everything at once I wouldn’t be as busy! So I’m giving it a try. This weekend I took the time to plan my meals for the week. Here’s what I did…
- First I found 5 easy recipes: I picked 3 ground beef recipes and 2 chicken recipes. I figured sticking to two different types of meat a week would allow for variety while letting me buy in bulk. I also tried to pick recipes that shared similar ingredients.
Monday: Amish Country Casserole
Tuesday: Nice Crust Chicken
Wednesday: Fifties Style Salisbury Steak
Thursday: Frontier Chicken Casserole
Friday: Beefy Taco Bake
- Then I color coded ingredients: I listed all the ingredients for each recipe and color coded the ingredients into 6 categories: Produce, Meat, Dairy, Spices & Condiments, Canned Goods, and Starches. Here’s an example:
- Finally I created a shopping list: I made a neat list of all the ingredients needed for the week organized by category. I added the amounts of same ingredients together so it’d be easier to buy in bulk.
This entire process took me less than a hour! Before I went to the store I looked through my pantry and fridge to see if I could check anything off. I already had most of the spices and condiments, and I even had a can of tomato soup. When I got to the store, I was in-and-out in no time. It was great knowing I wouldn’t have to come back for another 5 days. All I could think about was the extra yoga classes I could fit into my schedule! I’m already thinking about what meals to make next week: Baked Crispy Chicken and Zippy Meat Loaf are topping the list!
If you like this week’s meal plan, then click on the shopping list and print it out!
How do you plan your shopping list?
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We are big on planning ahead in my house. On Sundays we sit down and look at our schedules to see what’s going on for the week and plan meals around that. We even plan for breakfast and lunches in order to minimize trips to the store. Buying in bulk really helps us save too, just invest in freezer safe baggies!
I am looking for a German Coffee Kuchen(cake) the recipe doesn’t have yeast in it,It is just made like cake batter and you bake it in a 9 by 13 pan you put half of the batter in the pan and then sprinkle half of the topping on it is made up of butter,brown sugar and English walnuts you put the rest of the batter in the pan and sprinkle the rest of the topping on it and bake and I forgot what temp and how long.This recipe was giving to me from a good friend and I lost it.I was hopeing Mr Food could find the recipe so I could make it again and it is Oh So Good.
I plan out my menus ahead for a month after checking freezer and canning pantry; then make out my list accordingly each week, adding basics as needed. Shop once weekly, and try to avoid the busy times. Our local stores put out discount items on Fridays, and I try to take advantage of these bargains… freezing for future use.
I would like to shop weekly and plan my meals ahead. Unfortunately we have limited space for storage to put away a whole weeks worth of groceries. I must shop on a daily basis for meals and other items.