I hate to admit that I’m a totally random shopper! I just walk around and pick up stuff that appeals or I’ve not seen before then I cook just as randomly!
My cupboards are full of all sorts of basics plus lots of weird and wonderful things, as a result! It does all get used in the end though.
Most of the time I don’t know ahead of time who I’ll be cooking for and we all have very different tastes so whilst I kind of wish I were a ‘planner’ I think it would just frustrate me!
Times when I’ve tried to plan I find that I really don’t want to eat the thing I’ve planned. Something about knowing ahead of time puts me off, generally.
If I know what TO eat and what NOT to eat, what’s better etc etc .. why don’t I ever know what to buy at the grocery store?! Do you guys just buy random healthy things you like? Do you think of meals you want to eat & buy from that? I don’t know why it’s so hard to get started when I know what to eat and what not to eat!
Once you are in the habit of cooking regularly it's pretty easy. I tend to make sure I have lots of veg on hand (this time of year I tend to have winter squash, various root veg like carrots and turnips, some greens, and broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, and brussels. I also tend to make sure I have some meat/fish on hand. I usually have eggs, greek yogurt or cottage cheese, frozen fruit and maybe some fresh, frozen greens, and staples like rice and pasta and canned and dried beans.
When I cook or plan dinner, I decide the main meat and starch (say, I decide to make roasted chicken with potatoes or a stir fry with shrimp or a chili with chicken), and then I figure out which of the veg on hand to make with it and tend to make a lot. Fruit I tend to have on the side or on occasion as a snack. I have a standard breakfast (now 2 egg vegetable omelet with fruit and/or dairy on the side), and similarly just use the veg I have on hand for it.
Being flexible in the ingredients you use and using what you have is for me the best advice I can give.
I live alone, so whatever recipe I cook, I eat several times. That gets boring, so....
I have several go to ideas.
I go to the store and buy whatever meat is on sale/looks good—a package too big for one meal for one.
For example:
Hamburger meat-
1. also get a roll or two from the bakery for one or 2 hamburgers.
2. an onion, can of beans for chili a couple times.
3. Veggies for soup, several meals.
4. Mushrooms, noodles or rice for stroganoff
Then I buy the usual staples for lunches, tuna, eggs, salad fixings, etc.
Next week a different meat.
I eat the same breakfast everyday (frozen Jimmy Dean light bfast sandwiches)
I eat similar snacks daily (fruit, veggies and hummus, oatmeal, cottage cheese, yogurt, nuts)
I also eat a lot of the same lunches (chicken breast and veggie, turkey sandwiches, leftovers)
Every Sunday I make a meal plan with my Plan to Eat app, I have recipes stored on there, drag and drop into my calender, select serving number, and it makes me my grocery list. I also add my snacks and lunch ingredients to the list. It's so easy. Here's a screenshot of the site:
When I go to the store I stick to my list and don't buy what I won't eat. I've learned what kind of foods I will actually eat. I've learned which foods I shouldn't buy because I will eat the whole box/bag in a day. It is a learning process.
I'm a planner so this is what works for me! My boyfriend is not a planner and will eat anything which works well, he doesn't really like knowing what we'll eat ahead of time or planning future meals. So each night I surprise him with the planned meal. I couldn't stand coming home and having to make up some meal to cook, I like having all needed ingredients on hand. And I like cooking so it all works out.
I buy and eat what I like. Just in smaller quantities. And I have a bowl of cereal every night before bed...nothing is evil.
I've lost 16lbs since Sept. 3rd 2019 and just entered into maintenance.
Don't over think this - you'll find with experience what works for you and what doesn't. I basically by the same things I did when I was heavier, I just eat less and cook it differently.
Personally, I get overwhelmed trying to plan a whole week of meals. Instead I plan 3 days and do 2 quicker shopping trips. We eat out on lunch Saturday, so dinner is something extra simple like PB&J. Our meals are pretty easy, fast, and boring.
I also use the grocery store app to see what's on sale and download coupons. I will buy ahead on non-perishables that are good deals.
I eat the same breakfast everyday (frozen Jimmy Dean light bfast sandwiches)
I eat similar snacks daily (fruit, veggies and hummus, oatmeal, cottage cheese, yogurt, nuts)
I also eat a lot of the same lunches (chicken breast and veggie, turkey sandwiches, leftovers)
Every Sunday I make a meal plan with my Plan to Eat app, I have recipes stored on there, drag and drop into my calender, select serving number, and it makes me my grocery list. I also add my snacks and lunch ingredients to the list. It's so easy. Here's a screenshot of the site:
When I go to the store I stick to my list and don't buy what I won't eat. I've learned what kind of foods I will actually eat. I've learned which foods I shouldn't buy because I will eat the whole box/bag in a day. It is a learning process.
I'm a planner so this is what works for me! My boyfriend is not a planner and will eat anything which works well, he doesn't really like knowing what we'll eat ahead of time or planning future meals. So each night I surprise him with the planned meal. I couldn't stand coming home and having to make up some meal to cook, I like having all needed ingredients on hand. And I like cooking so it all works out.
I will check out this app! Thank you! Planning helps me as well!
I guess I'm a mix of a planner/unplanner. I use the grocery shopping app Out Of Milk, it has a list of my most commonly shopped for items so whatever I'm out of that I need replaced I select. I eat a very similar salad every day for lunch so the basics for that are needed. I get chicken, turkey, and fish in bulk from Costco so that leaves dried beans, Greek yogurt, and tuna if I'm out. I usually plan at least one pot of beans in the Instant pot and one soup/chili. From there I just see which veggies and fruit are on sale, in season, or look good. I stock up on frozen and canned with sales. I also get Imperfect Produce boxes every other week.
I eat the same breakfast everyday (frozen Jimmy Dean light bfast sandwiches)
I eat similar snacks daily (fruit, veggies and hummus, oatmeal, cottage cheese, yogurt, nuts)
I also eat a lot of the same lunches (chicken breast and veggie, turkey sandwiches, leftovers)
Every Sunday I make a meal plan with my Plan to Eat app, I have recipes stored on there, drag and drop into my calender, select serving number, and it makes me my grocery list. I also add my snacks and lunch ingredients to the list. It's so easy. Here's a screenshot of the site:
When I go to the store I stick to my list and don't buy what I won't eat. I've learned what kind of foods I will actually eat. I've learned which foods I shouldn't buy because I will eat the whole box/bag in a day. It is a learning process.
I'm a planner so this is what works for me! My boyfriend is not a planner and will eat anything which works well, he doesn't really like knowing what we'll eat ahead of time or planning future meals. So each night I surprise him with the planned meal. I couldn't stand coming home and having to make up some meal to cook, I like having all needed ingredients on hand. And I like cooking so it all works out.
I created a master list of every food I like to have in the house. Once a week I print the list and cross out everything I don't need. I then review the local grocery flyers and make notes of who has the best deals on which items. I also go through the online coupons to see if there are any matches.
This method keeps my pantry easily stocked and helps me save a good bit of money.
If I know what TO eat and what NOT to eat, what’s better etc etc .. why don’t I ever know what to buy at the grocery store?! Do you guys just buy random healthy things you like? Do you think of meals you want to eat & buy from that? I don’t know why it’s so hard to get started when I know what to eat and what not to eat!
Hi dawn__westbury, I have never experienced your dilema but you are not alone. I have friends who struggles with this as well. Just like some have suggested in comments above, I will recommend sitting down with your 16yr old and make a list of what you would like to eat for the week. Break it down by days/meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner). Also include snacks as well. Better yet Walmart emeals can also help you plan better. There's a cost and it's very less expensive. You can do a 14day free trial and see if its for you. Here's the link below. Good luck!
Replies
My cupboards are full of all sorts of basics plus lots of weird and wonderful things, as a result! It does all get used in the end though.
Most of the time I don’t know ahead of time who I’ll be cooking for and we all have very different tastes so whilst I kind of wish I were a ‘planner’ I think it would just frustrate me!
Times when I’ve tried to plan I find that I really don’t want to eat the thing I’ve planned. Something about knowing ahead of time puts me off, generally.
Once you are in the habit of cooking regularly it's pretty easy. I tend to make sure I have lots of veg on hand (this time of year I tend to have winter squash, various root veg like carrots and turnips, some greens, and broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, and brussels. I also tend to make sure I have some meat/fish on hand. I usually have eggs, greek yogurt or cottage cheese, frozen fruit and maybe some fresh, frozen greens, and staples like rice and pasta and canned and dried beans.
When I cook or plan dinner, I decide the main meat and starch (say, I decide to make roasted chicken with potatoes or a stir fry with shrimp or a chili with chicken), and then I figure out which of the veg on hand to make with it and tend to make a lot. Fruit I tend to have on the side or on occasion as a snack. I have a standard breakfast (now 2 egg vegetable omelet with fruit and/or dairy on the side), and similarly just use the veg I have on hand for it.
Being flexible in the ingredients you use and using what you have is for me the best advice I can give.
I have several go to ideas.
I go to the store and buy whatever meat is on sale/looks good—a package too big for one meal for one.
For example:
Hamburger meat-
1. also get a roll or two from the bakery for one or 2 hamburgers.
2. an onion, can of beans for chili a couple times.
3. Veggies for soup, several meals.
4. Mushrooms, noodles or rice for stroganoff
Then I buy the usual staples for lunches, tuna, eggs, salad fixings, etc.
Next week a different meat.
I eat similar snacks daily (fruit, veggies and hummus, oatmeal, cottage cheese, yogurt, nuts)
I also eat a lot of the same lunches (chicken breast and veggie, turkey sandwiches, leftovers)
Every Sunday I make a meal plan with my Plan to Eat app, I have recipes stored on there, drag and drop into my calender, select serving number, and it makes me my grocery list. I also add my snacks and lunch ingredients to the list. It's so easy. Here's a screenshot of the site:
When I go to the store I stick to my list and don't buy what I won't eat. I've learned what kind of foods I will actually eat. I've learned which foods I shouldn't buy because I will eat the whole box/bag in a day. It is a learning process.
I'm a planner so this is what works for me! My boyfriend is not a planner and will eat anything which works well, he doesn't really like knowing what we'll eat ahead of time or planning future meals. So each night I surprise him with the planned meal. I couldn't stand coming home and having to make up some meal to cook, I like having all needed ingredients on hand. And I like cooking so it all works out.
I've lost 16lbs since Sept. 3rd 2019 and just entered into maintenance.
Don't over think this - you'll find with experience what works for you and what doesn't. I basically by the same things I did when I was heavier, I just eat less and cook it differently.
I also use the grocery store app to see what's on sale and download coupons. I will buy ahead on non-perishables that are good deals.
I will check out this app! Thank you! Planning helps me as well!
This is an excellent info post.
This method keeps my pantry easily stocked and helps me save a good bit of money.
Hi dawn__westbury, I have never experienced your dilema but you are not alone. I have friends who struggles with this as well. Just like some have suggested in comments above, I will recommend sitting down with your 16yr old and make a list of what you would like to eat for the week. Break it down by days/meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner). Also include snacks as well. Better yet Walmart emeals can also help you plan better. There's a cost and it's very less expensive. You can do a 14day free trial and see if its for you. Here's the link below. Good luck!
https://emeals.com/grocery-delivery-pickup/walmart-grocery/
https://www.doughroller.net/reviews/emeals-review/
Thank you!!!!!