How do I grocery shop for just me?

Question

So I recently moved out of the dorms, out of my parents house, and into a place of my own. Its great! The only problem is that when I lived at home, the groceries were there for all 5 of us, and dinner was cooked the same way. At school, I could just go to the cafeteria and get whatever I needed. Now, I have to grocery shop by myself, which isnt a problem, i've grocery shopped before, but I have to do it for only one person, myself. Not many stores sell groceries for a just one person, it usually comes in family sizes, etc. If i buy eggs, i buy a dozen and unless I make an effort to eat eggs everyday, they'll go bad. Same with lettuce, and most other things that are healthy. I was hoping to hear some suggestions from people who live by themselves on how they grocery shop for just themselves. Any tips would be greatly appreciated...

nyasha m - WTF are you taking about? Did you even read the question? I am living by myself, what does stop thinking about myself and think about my family have to do with any of that???

Answer 1

There are a lot of good ideas here!

I'd just add that I always buy my lettuce in the open bins (romaine and "spring mix" especially, and baby spinach) so it's sold by-the-pound. I guess they may not have those bins everywhere, but I'd shop around to try to find a grocery that does because it's so convenient (buying it this way is a lot cheaper than buying in the bag too, and to me the bagged stuff can taste a little funny but then I have uber-sensitive taste buds).

Many of the other most "healthy" things you'd buy in a grocery store can be bought by the individual piece, or by the pound (...always check the price sign to see if something is sold by the pound or by the unit, because many things that come bundled or as one unit are actually sold by their weight so you can feel free to get a produce bag and put in just as much as you want of those... for example-- grapes, asparagus, carrots, bananas, etc.)
And, as mentioned, meat/fish/poultry pieces can be bought by the piece or by the pound too if you get them from the butcher counter rather than pre-packaged... they will even open a package and repackage it with just one piece as long as it's something that was packaged by the store, not by a big company like Foster Farms, etc.
At the deli counter, almost everything is sold by weight, and many breads can be purchased individually in the bakery dept.

The other things I'd do a lot would be to use the freezer (amazing what all can be frozen, like a hunk of parmesan cheese for grating over veggies or pasta or omelettes, knobs of ginger, lunch meats, milk tho' shake that after thawing, butter, bread, muffins, half-limes & lemons, etc.)....not to mention all the regular stuff like leftovers, TV dinners, bags/boxes of frozen veggies or shrimp, etc.)
You probably won't have a large freezer though so you'll have to freeze mostly just the things *you* like to use.

When I shopped only for myself, I learned all kinds of tricks for finding individual or small portions of things (even saving packets of seasoning, etc., from fast food, or filling an extra mini-container with a bit of salsa to top the next night's chicken or fish), and for dividing, and for eating off the same stew or casserole etc. for several meals (interspersed with at least one different one to avoid boredom), using leftovers, etc.

Since I didn't really know how to cook either, I wanted to try making various things to get that going. I ended up feeling excited about cooking so I'd experiment for a few days, then I'd get sick of even thinking about it and just go to sandwiches, canned soups, etc., for a few days... by that time, my interest was piqued again and I'd scour cookbooks for things to try.

Learning which kinds of things to always have on hand, esp. those that don't need refrigeration, is a whole other thing too. I think of them as temporary staples like bread, butter, milk, cheese, fruit, etc., and longer-lasting ones like peanut butter, jam, noodles, canned tuna and chile, mayo/mustard/ketchup, herbs and spices, etc.

When I shop for meals, I also try to plan "backwards" too... so I'll often buy something that goes bad quickly to have for the first meal (like fish), something that lasts a little longer for the second meal (like chicken), and something that lasts a long time or can wait indefinitely for the third one (like ham or frozen stuff). That also leaves open the ability to skip cooking for a meal or two if I get invited out or don't have time, etc.

(Oh and btw, eggs come in cartons that are "allowed" to be split into 6 eggs and those that aren't, as well as sometimes just coming as 6... if you like hard-boiled eggs for quick breakfast or even to cut up for salads or tuna salad, they're fine a long time in the frig --even longer than they would be unboiled. I usually boil up one or two from a carton anyway then pencil mark an X on top so I'll know which ones in the carton are already cooked ).

(If you're interested in reading a recent question and answers here on "learning" to cook, check out at least this one:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al8EjwXsubzIzT7sPeg7f2jsy6IX?qid=20070306102835AA1Y29H
Here are more:
http://answers.yahoo.com/search/search_result;_ylt=AojtpTSli4Xnc1ltQnmpOqN36xR.?p=beginner+cooking

This is not exactly traditional shopping, but it can be good to ask for a doggie bag when you're at a restaurant then think of it as "free" shopping. You're still buying the food, but you're time-shifting it like recording a TV show to watch later. American restaurants serve such large portions that it's often possible to make a second meal from the parts you don't finish, or at least to add some rice or a fruit, etc., later to make them into another lunch or dinner. Even little bits of sour cream or stuff like that can be worth taking home, or you can also get a side dish a la carte at some point to take home for stretching out the leftovers later.

Oh, and one more thing... if possible, ask your mom (or anyone) for recipes for your favorite foods from home --perhaps even with an actual lesson. That'll give you things to eat that you know you like and might miss.


Best of luck!

Diane B.

Answer 2

I kind of have the same dilemna. It's just me and mom. We don't really eat that much. But to buy a dozen eggs is a toughy. I usually try to think ahead. Like I will plan on eggsalad that week along with breakfast or egg sandwiches. I'm pretty sure that you can split the eggs into a 6 pack. A lot of times I see people doing this. Check with the store. I'm not sure how that works. Lettuce is just a lost cause. No matter if I have a herd of people over or it's just me, the lettuce goes. For that there is 2 ways to go. Either buy it cheap and throw away whatever doesn't make it, or get a fresh small salad at Mc D's or someplace like that. Even the grocery stores will sell you a small salad. Go to the salad bar there and just take what you want. But then you are paying more. So you decide. No matter what you waste money on it. Maybe you have a neighbor that you could switch things off with. Give them salad and or eggs and maybe they will give you something in return. It's hard living by yourself. Most of the meats I just buy a big pack and make whatever, then I freeze the leftovers. Next time I need it I only have to warm it up instead of cooking. It's not easy. You either go without or end up throwing stuff away. I would try to share with the family or friends or neighbors. I think that would be easier.

Answer 3

Actually, eggs can keep for quite a long time in the fridge.

For meat, buy whatever you like and when you get home divide it up into 1-person portions. Put in sandwich or freezer bags and freeze what you won't use in the next few days.

Cheese keeps if you put in a sealable bag and keep the air off it.

You don't have to buy things like potatoes and onions in the pre-made bags, most stores do sell them individually also. But these also keep for longer in the fridge. Lettuce is a tougher call, you may have to decide whether it's better to buy a head and let some of it go to waste, or pay more for the pre-made salad bags that have less in them but may last for a little longer.

Some fruits keep better than others. Berries don't keep more than a couple days - but they DO freeze exremely well, and so do grapes. Just plop them in the freezer as is and look forward to a cool snack. Peaches, pears and plums will keep for a few days, but not a week. Just buy a few at a time and eat them first. Apples and oranges keep longer.

Do some trial and error. Figure out about how often you want to shop. Eat the most perishable things first and the least perishables next.

Good luck! Congrats on moving out on your own, that's a great step!

Answer 4

I have this same problem, I know things like eggs and milk you can buy 6 pack and ½ gallons. I end up still buying meat and chicken in the bigger packs and when I get home I separate them into single portions and then freeze them. Veggies seem to go bad easily for me so I started buying more frozen veggies and some canned (frozen is better than the canned because it does not come with all the sodium that the canned veggies have).
Things like lettuce I come home and wash then chop up and store in a container. I seem to eat more salad this way because its practically ready for me to eat. If some goes bad I don’t fret it b/c its not too expensive.
I also still make some things in family size portions and then either eat leftovers for the rest of the week or freeze portions.
I also noticed that you’ll go grocery shopping more often. Try to buy fresh items one time a week. Only buy things you plan on cooking that week. It takes a while but you’ll start to get the hang of things.

Answer 5

Go to www.allrecipes.com, you can scale down the serving sizes and buy ingredients accordingly. Do you have any friends that are also living buy themselves? Split the cost of say a dozen eggs and then divide them, same thing with a head of lettuce. You can usually buy a 1/2 dozen eggs, etc. In the meat department. Buy a lb. of burger, divide it when you get home. Use 1/2 and freeze the other 1/2 for later. If you buy at the deli, you can get just a 1/4 lb. of meat and cheese or whatever you will use before it goes bad. Good luck.

Answer 6

Some stores do sell 1/2 dozen eggs. Buy the shredded lettuce and/or pre-washed salads in the bag, will cost more. Those products are there you just have to look.

Or, buy the regular stuff and fix the meals. Then get those divided plastic types plates (Rubbermaid, Tupperware, Glad) and FREEZE your meals for the week. Some of the stuff I've tried: fix some rice like 4 -6 servings. Build up on this foundation for each meal. A can of beans will usually do 2 servings. The next day a different can of beans, but still pulling from the rice servings.


Go to your local library and check out books on cooking for one or two.

Answer 7

I spend a little more but buy alot of prepackaged things like lettuce. You can seal up the bag, wrap it with a rubber band and it will last for about 1-2 weeks. I buy quarts of milk, the rest always goes bad when I buy a gallon. I buy the 1/2 dozen eggs. I use alot of ziplock freezer bags for things like chicken breasts so I can freeze the 2-3 that are left over. I also cook extra and freeze the rest for a quick microwave dinner later. After years of loseing those tupper ware type of containers I brought one of those stackable containers on a spin shelve. All the lids fit onto each peice so I now have an easier way to store things. It' all in the storage and cooking.

Answer 8

I struggled with this for years. Its all about the planning. Now every sunday I sit down and I think about what I am going to eat for the week and list a meal for each night. I overlap recipes so that I don't have to buy extra stuff. So will have the same meal on thursday as I do on monday. Or take leftovers to lunch the next day at work. I shop weekly to ensure freshness. If you go to the deli you can usually get one chicken breast or one sausage. Also eggs usually come by the half dozen.

Answer 9

My husband was transferred last year, and I spent 8 months cooking for myself until I could sell our house and join him. Here are a few of the things that I learned about cooking for one:

Buy meats in the smallest possible quantity and repackage them into single serving sizes. Label them with the type of meat and the date purchased, then freeze them until needed. If you buy in bulk and repackage, you run the risk of the food getting freezer burn before you can use it up, so you haven't really saved any money.

See if a friend or a neighbor would be willing to go in with you and split the cost of perishable items like eggs, milk, etc. That way, you each get a half dozen eggs or half a gallon of milk which can be used up before they spoil.

You can buy some brands of bread in "half loaf" sizes now, which makes it easier to use before it molds. Some stores also sell eggs by the half dozen. And don't overlook individual serving sizes of things like tuna, cheese and crackers, etc.

If there is a farmer's market or organic food store near you, buy your produce there. The fruits and veggies are usually better quality, and you can purchase just the amount that you need.

If not, then buy things like small bags of salad mix, pre-sliced veggies, and small containers of already peeled and diced fruits from your local store. They're a bit more expensive, but you will be more apt to use them if you don't have to fuss with them, and they won't go to waste. For one person, they are as economical as buying a head of lettuce and only using half of it while the rest spoils.

Avoid things like frozen dinners, prepackaged hamburger helper meals, etc. Even the so-called "healthy" ones are high in salt, sugar, and fat. Ditto most canned veggies and fruits. Fresh is always the best way to go.

Buy a good "cooking for one or two" cookbook, so that you won't fall into the rut of grabbing a sandwich or eating junk food because you're too tired or uninspired to fix anything.

Cooking for one person can be a challenge, but it can also be a lot of fun, too. Enjoy being on your own and the chance to fix good, healthy meals for yourself!

Answer 10

Well I go once a week, so nothing really goes bad.
I always get the half loaf of bread, the six egg packs, 1/2 gallon of milk, just enough fruit a veg. to last a week. Anythign that keeps really well I will go with a bigger package and just store it correctly. Oh, and with meat and stuff you can always open the package when you get home and split it into two and freeze it.
Also another way to avoid wasting food that you have bought is to make a menu for the week, that way you know what you will be eating so you can plan accordingly.

Answer 11

If you have time to put some effort into it, it can be done. I'll admit that it took me a while to get the hang of it (I threw out lots of food at first). First - check out all the different grocery stores. Even in my small town, there are places that have started selling things like mini bags of baby carrots, 1/2 dozen egg containers, 3 oz. packages of cream cheese for 89 cents (instead of the big one for 3 bucks), smaller turkey breasts or ham (found by cold cuts in my store). Everyone used to always tell me that it was cheaper per ounce to buy the bigger size, but I was wasting food and adding a dollar or two PER ITEM to my grocery bill...so not really cheaper. If your store doesn't carry this stuff, make a request. Most store managers really want to know what their customers will buy.

I would try to set aside some time on the weekends to cook a couple of full meals, split them in half or into thirds and freeze two portions. Gladware makes a "freezer to oven" container that works well for storage. To thaw the meals, you need to remember to take them out about 2 days before you want to have it and keep it in the fridge. Sounds like lots of planning, but every time you eat something, you just pull something else out of the freezer for the next day (or day after that). Lots of meals can be done this way...soups, casseroles, even lots of appetizers (that I sometimes ate as meals). For something bigger like a stew or a roast, don't cook the meat in advance - just cut into the portions you want and freeze. I used to do ribs, small roasts, chicken in a small crock pot all the time.

Also - green giant makes individual microwavable frozen veggies now. They are called "Just for one" and they're pretty good....I found them at Target.

One other suggestion, although it's more expensive is Schwan's. When I lived alone, I liked to order at least a few things from them because they had so many things packaged as individual servings. Indiv. chicken breasts, fish fillets, individual healthy choice pizzas, etc. It is a bit more than the store though.

That's all I have for now....happy eating!