Grocery shopping?

Question

I need advise on grocery shopping for a family of 4 for at least 2 weeks at a time. I need to get organized about this and can't seem to figure out how. All help will be so appreciated.

Thanks

Answer 1

My best suggetion - and I do this on Saturday before I go grocery shopping - is sit down and plan a menu for each day and each meal I need to cook. As I make the menu I make a list of the ingredients. My grocery list is divided into sections of the supermarket so as I place an ingredient on my list I put it in a specific category. (Makes for less running around in the supermarket and less confusion on my list!)

Then I go to my pantry and cross off any ingredient I all ready have and check to see if I am low on any 'always have' ingredients - rice, pasta, cans of stock, peanut butter, etc.

It makes my life SO much easier to know in adavance what I'm cooking all week.

Also, when I bring home meats and I know I am freezing them, I put them into whatever serving size. Sometimes I freeze them right in the marinade I am going to use for that meal. LABEL EVERYTHING!!

Hope this helps and happy cooking!

Answer 2

the first thing u are going to want to do is organize the can goods than that way u know what u need and since u are shopping every 2 weeks this will be easy, as u buy the first two weeks what u eat the most of in canned goods and the last two weeks of the month u buy what u eat the less of and u will have plenty for the month... second u buy the meat and this requires getting in your freezer and seeing what u need, if u have 2 packs of chicken dont buy chicken, if u have a package of pork chops and are going to eat them in the week buy one more pack if not dont buy it, etc,,, when it comes to cereal only buy what u will eat for the month... as for milk i can buy a gallon on milk and make it last almost a month because we dont drink that much, if u can get away with a 1/2 gallon every 2 weeks do it... i buy for the month and then only get what i absolutely need the rest of the time... but i do just this, i survey everything i have and if i need it i get it... also check the weeks advertisements and use them... walmart will comp anyones ads, and kroger always runs good meat sales... I shop at aldi's grocery and gett my meat a kroger... walmart i buy shampoos. soaps, laundry soap etc but usually not grocerys and no meat from there they are toooooooooo expensive...but u do what helps u and i hope what i gave u helped u too...

Answer 3

Plan a menu before you go shopping. List everything you need for every recipe so there's no last minute panic. Buy lots of fresh veggies, they are very versatile, but if you can, buy your produce evey week. You can do all your other groceries for two weeks at a time but produce can go rotten and lose it's flavour so quickly, it's better to buy it more often.

Wash things when you get home, organize ingredients in your cupboards to the meals they match and try to help yourself out as much as you can. If you're chopping veggies for tonight's dinner, chop up the one's for tomorrow too. You've just saved yourself 10 minutes off tomorrow's dinner. Always try to plan a few dinners that are super simple for you to make. Whether it's just because you cook them all the time or a convenience food (if you're into eating those). It'll make those really busy days much better. Sandwiches are my easy meal. We love sandwiches so I always have a sandwich on the menu at least once a week. Grilled corned beef on sourdough with havarti cheese and deli mustard, baked baguette pieces with spicy barbeque sauce and beef. They're also a great way to use up leftover meat.

When you're shopping, hit the produce section first. Seriously, half your cart should be produce (or if it's not in season, frozen is almost as good as fresh), no more than 1/4 should be meat (but aiming for a meat free dinner once a week isn't a bad idea either), milk and dairy then dry goods. Wholegrain brown rice, pasta and lots of canned tomatoes. Canned tomatoes are a lifesaver. You can turn them into pasta sauce in 15 minutes, they make a great casserole and are super to add to soups!

Answer 4

Great answers above re planning - I have an additional hint -

Organise your shopping list to reflect the layout of the store.. (A great way to do this is to obtain a copy of the store plan from the specific shop where you will be making your purchases.)

If your list matches the order in which you will be circulating around the store, not only will you avoid back tracking, but you will also ensure you don't arrive home without some item.

Your list will need to be compilated from those recipe cards/ ingredients lists - but taking the time to do this will help in the long run.

If you are getting routine items - leaves some gaps ibetween "aisles" or categories (to allow addition of "special one-off" items) and then photocopy the list as a base personalised shopping list. This can save you time later.

Answer 5

The key is to plan your meals in advance. I actually use my calendar, I know it seems a little bit neurotic, but it makes life for me so much easier. When I make my menu I decide how much of each protein I am going to need. For example, if I am making a meat loaf, a pot of chili and burgers, I know that I will need three pounds. I know that I will need bread crumbs, eggs, chili seasonings, buns, ketchup, etc. You get the point. I also only buy exactly what I need, and when I am making my list am in the kitchen seeing what I need. Every trip I am obviously not going to need ketchup, but keeping a track of what I am low on is also a good idea. Since my daughter finally turned 6 we also have a list on the fridge. One thing as parents we have to realize that it's not just our jobs. My expectation is that when my daughter finishes her snacks, that she write on the list on the fridge what she would like it replaced with. If she doesn't have it on the list it just doesn't get purchased. The same with my husband. He loves hot sauce, but I rarely use it, is were out and you don't put it on the list, you're out of luck. I also tend to make double batches of certain things (lasagna, chili, meatballs, etc) and account for that on my grocery list. Then I have them in the freezer.

I would suggest starting with 2 weeks. Get comfortable with this for a few months, then you can move up. Obviously you can't buy fresh fruit and veggies for a month, but stopping at the supermarket for some grapes and lettuce is a lot easier than a full shopping.

Answer 6

Make sure you have store cupboard ingrediants, ie pasta, rice, sauces etc. Plan ahead for meals so you know how much and what meat to buy. If buying fresh meat always check the use by date and try to buy meat that will last as long as possible. You can always freeze or buy frozen meat. Potatoes will need to be stored in a cool dark place and will possibly not be ok after 2 weeks, but if your family like pasta or rice this wouldn't necesserily be a problem. Salad and other fresh vegetables will not last this long either, so you will need to buy some either tinned or frozen

Answer 7

Make a list of what you want to cook and all the ingredients for each meal. I have recipies on note cards and that constaintly add to my recipie box when I find something yummy. I have about 5 weeks worth of main courses that I can change out. once I make the plan of what i'm going to cook. I buy everything I need. I also have a book that talks about freezing food. the book is helpful for freezing veggies and main dishes.

Answer 8

Try Kraft foods, you can get meal ideas, and you can make a list out for the shopping, which is great because it keeps from spending too much money.

Answer 9

really now that merely my 20 365 days previous daughter is at living house, my husband and that i percentage the procuring both. at the same time as my little ones were youthful I did 95% of the grocery procuring (diverse husband)

Answer 10

try flylady.net they have some excellent grocery planning and list tips . just go there and check it out .