Grocery Shopping Strategy

Step 1- Make a list of your must have items.  These are all the things you want in your house at all times no matter what you plan to cook for the week.  I typed out the must haves and keep it in a folder.  Every week I pull it out and check it over to see if I am running low on anything.  If I am, I write down that item on a separate paper (This week's list).  Here is my must haves:  It is helpful to name brands you prefer, so if someone else does the shopping, they will know what you want.

Food Items

Apples

Bananas

Bacon

Baking Powder

Baking Soda

Butter

Canned Tomatoes

Cereal

Eggs

Favorite Organic Frozen Vegetables (Peas, Corn)

Flours (Bread, All Purpose, Whole Wheat, Barley, Rye, Oat)

Garlic

Grapes

Jam

Ketchup

Lunch Meat

Milk

Mustard

Oatmeal

Olive oil

Onions

Orange Juice

Oranges

Orange Juice

Pasta

Pears

Potatoes

Pumpkin (canned)

Raisins

Rice

Salt

Soy Sauce

Sugar (White, Brown)

Vinegar (Balsamic, White, Red Wine, Apple Cider)

Yeast

Yogurt

Nonfood Items

Foil

Parchment Paper

Paper Towels

Plastic Wrap

Zip Lock Bags

Personal Care Items (soaps, vitamins, etc)

Step 2 – Plan your meals for the week.  It really isn’t so bad.  Just write out the days of the week on the grocery list page you started.  Jot down ideas as they come.  Mix and switch as you plan.

For Example:

Monday   -   Salmon in Balsamic Vinegar   Gren Beans Accented with Garlic and Basil, Mashed Potato Vegetable Casserole

Tuesday   -    Chicken Hassenfeffer  - Egg Spaetzle

Wednesday  -   Chicken Hassenfeffer – Egg Spaetzle

Thursday  Pork  - Chops and White Lima Beans

Friday  - Pork Chops and White Lima Beans

Saturday  Spaghetti Sauce

Sunday -   Beef Brisket With Honey Mustard Glaze,  Potatoe Gratin, Butternut Squash

Step 3 – Get the recipes out and add to the list what you need for these specific dishes.  If you have the item in the pantry, skip and check if you have the next one.  You will only be adding what you will be eating the planned week in this step.

Now go shopping!  You will not buy everything under the sun just because you think you may need it.  I save money this way and time.  Time, because I don’t waist time every night wondering what I am going to make.  Plan once and do it.  It is also less stressful, because if I wait to choose what I am going to make right before I make it,  I am usually rushed and not  in the creative mood.  We end up with better meals in the end.