Trying to bake/cook healthier. Help me with my grocery list!!

Do you like quinoa or is that on your list because you read it was healthier? Same question for wheat flour??

I cook and bake a lot.
I buy whole chickens and break them down it's more cost effective
Fish
Pork
All purpose flour
Sugar
Butter
Vegetables depending on what's in season and a supply of frozen
White rice or Jasmine as that's what I like
Ice cream or gelato
Fruits what's on sale or looks really good
Pizza sauce or ingredients to make your own sauce
Full fat cheese for your pizza
Bacon (lots of bacon)
Coffee

GiveMeCoffee wrote: »

Do you like quinoa or is that on your list because you read it was healthier? Same question for wheat flour??

I cook and bake a lot.
I buy whole chickens and break them down it's more cost effective
Fish
Pork
All purpose flour
Sugar
Butter
Vegetables depending on what's in season and a supply of frozen
White rice or Jasmine as that's what I like
Ice cream or gelato
Fruits what's on sale or looks really good
Pizza sauce or ingredients to make your own sauce
Full fat cheese for your pizza
Bacon (lots of bacon)
Coffee

Pretty much this.

OP, if you really like quinoa and Stevia knock yourself out. But you don't have to buy those to be healthy. We do eat quinoa in my house (rinse that stuff GOOD btw or it has a bitter taste). But for the most part, just cooking meals from scratch and including lots of vegetables is a good starting point. I think one great way to begin, assuming you are not a big cook at this point, is to check out some simple and/or light recipes online, and steer clear of gimmicky ingredients that cost a lot...and just buy what you need for each recipe. Keep it simple as much as possible. Use garlic, onion, and spices a lot and try to keep away from prepared sauces and dressings unless necessary.

I make a really delicious chili… Here's the recipe:

16-20 oz. ground turkey
1 can black beans
1 small onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
Chili powder
Garlic powder
Ground pepper

Brown ground turkey. Add black beans, onion, bell pepper and spices. Simmer on low for 20 minutes.

I serve it with cornbread (optional, of course).

I make rotisserie chickens or buy rotisserie chickens at least 3 times a week. They're cheap and easily make 3 meals. I serve it with a baked potato and asparagus.

I eat salmon at least once, if not twice, a week. I serve it with brown rice and asparagus or green beans drizzled in EVOO and garlic.

You can also make big salads. Try spinach, feta cheese, grilled chicken, chopped pears, grapes cut in half, and pistachios (unshelled) with a vinaigrette.

Other things on my grocery list:
Eggs
Bacon
Earth Balance
Apples
Bananas
Raspberries
Blueberries
Frozen fruit
Almond milk
Mushrooms
Cucumbers
Green beans
Avocados
Lettuce
Carrots
Popcorn
Cashews
Almonds
Pistachios
Boars Head turkey breast
Low carb wraps

Beans and lentils are cheap and healthy.
http://www.grouprecipes.com/137845/spicy-sausage-lentil-soup.html

Instant thin-crust pizza; switch to soft tortillas for the crust. Load it up the way you like.

Have onions, eggs, garlic, a thickener like cornstarch, bouillon powder, and a variety of spices around to try out new recipes.

Adding to what others have said.
eggs
high fiber tortillas (for wraps, tacos, quesdillas, pizza, breakfast burritos,etc.)
no salt added can tomatoes (great in soup, sauces, for quick salsa)
no or low sodium chicken broth
fresh and frozen veggies
carrots and celery (snacks or great soup base)
onions and garlic (great flavor enhancers)
potatoes
lean ground beef
chicken breast
shrimp
lettuce (wraps, salads, sandwiches)
coleslaw mix (for salad, stir-fries, tacos)

http://soupspiceeverythingnice.blogspot.com/2013/12/inside-out-egg-roll-re-post.html

soupspiceeverythingnice.blogspot.com/2014/04/tomato-and-breakfast-bacon-pizza.html

I'm totally broke, but all those MnMs, chips, lollies, they're expensive, I now spend my money on
Chicken
carrots
broccoli
brown rice
eggs.
I buy fruits and weetbix as snacks and do you know what, even with $12 a kilo chicken I come out saving money!

My shopping list usually depends on what I'm planning to cook, but usually I have these kitchen staples:

- Rice (pretty much every variety, but the biggest bag is just regular old white rice)
- Spices & seasonings (I've accumulated next to every spice on the planet by this point)
- General sandwich stuff (ya'know, bread/ham/cheese/lettuce/tomato/chutney/margarine/etc.)
- Meat (usually chicken breast, beef/pork mince, or occasionally prawns. Sometimes sausages/burgers.)
- Tinned tuna/salmon (if I need to throw something together quickly)
- General baking stuff (flour, sugar, baking powder, sprinkles, etc.)
- Baking substitutes (sweetener & applesauce - have to be careful when recipe tinkering though)
- Greek yoghurt (can be breakfast, snack, dip, dessert, and baking substitute!)
- Fruit (frozen, fresh, or in those little fruit cup things - whatever's on special or in season)
- Tea (...it's a slight obsession of mine)
- Chocolate (which is a non-negotiable item which must be stocked at all times)
- Quick Breakfasts (like Up&Go, things that can be grabbed on the way to work)
- Ice cream (it's HOT over here. Not that I don't eat ice cream in winter too...)
- Quest Bars and/or Muesli bars (the former isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I like them so)
- Vegetables (whatever I'm planning to cook with, plus some mixed frozen & tinned ones. I don't like science projects in the bottom of the fridge.)
- General sauces & spreads (peanut butter, BBQ sauce, tomato relish, chocolate sauce, etc.)

I guess the system I find easiest is to have a whole heap of non-perishable staples first, then decide on a recipe to make and buy the rest of the ingredients accordingly. But that's because I make a batch of food and it lasts me a few days.

Think about what you like to eat and see what you could do in terms of making it healthier.

For instance, if you love chips (though I suspect you mean crisps), buy potatoes, chop 'em up with some olive oil and cook. Even healthier? Do it with sweet potato. Just add paprika and mmm.

If you like pizza, buy a couple of bases and then go to town with things you like on them - just buy some tomato paste, cheese and whatever meat or veg you enjoy.

I bought a slow cooker and it's been brilliant, too, very good for being lazy!

My staples at the moment are:

Sweet potatoes
Split peas
Rice / pearl barley / bulgar wheat
Courgettes
Green beans
Canned tuna
Chicken pieces / Quorn pieces / turkey mince
Cheese (I use lacto-free as I'm intolerant)
Seeded granary bread (so much nicer than white)
Olivio spread
Mixed beans
Bananas
Carrots
Golden syrup porridge sachets (which I use water with instead of milk, and put blueberries in)

I still eat junk too, I can't kick those habits so easily, but these aren't expensive things (a thing of pearl barley cost me 55p!) so you won't kill your budget on them.

Feel free to add me if you want to

Things I generally have on hand-
Onions, garlic, olive oil, peanut oil, oatmeal, dry beans, dry lentils, canned chickpeas, canned diced tomato, chicken, all purpose flour, whote wheat flour, corn meal, lemon juice, lime juice, plain yogurt, milk, eggs, pasta, rice, frozen vegetables, peanut butter, popcorn (not microwave type), cereal, canned or frozen fruit, cheese, trail mix, white sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, tomato paste, spaghetti sauce, potatoes, carrots, celery, spinach, whole wheat bread, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, balsalmic vinegar, rice vinegar, condiments, spices (salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin, oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cinnamon, ginger, bay leaf...lots of others), oranges, apples, bananas, salsa, butter (not margarine or spread), salad dressing

Making things like pita bread, flour tortillas, or pizza dough isn't too complicated. I generally use a portion of whole wheat flour and a portion of all purpose flour combined.
Pizza is a good way to use leftovers. A leftover flatbread can serve as a crust. Leftover spaghetti sauce makes good pizza sauce. Use leftover meat or vegetables as toppings.
Soup is a good dollar stretcher. It freezes well usually and reheats well.
Plan your meals before shopping. Use the most perishable foods first.

budgetbytes.com has some good recipes.

seltzermint wrote: »

GiveMeCoffee wrote: »

Do you like quinoa or is that on your list because you read it was healthier? Same question for wheat flour??

I cook and bake a lot.
I buy whole chickens and break them down it's more cost effective
Fish
Pork
All purpose flour
Sugar
Butter
Vegetables depending on what's in season and a supply of frozen
White rice or Jasmine as that's what I like
Ice cream or gelato
Fruits what's on sale or looks really good
Pizza sauce or ingredients to make your own sauce
Full fat cheese for your pizza
Bacon (lots of bacon)
Coffee

Pretty much this.

OP, if you really like quinoa and Stevia knock yourself out. But you don't have to buy those to be healthy. We do eat quinoa in my house (rinse that stuff GOOD btw or it has a bitter taste). But for the most part, just cooking meals from scratch and including lots of vegetables is a good starting point. I think one great way to begin, assuming you are not a big cook at this point, is to check out some simple and/or light recipes online, and steer clear of gimmicky ingredients that cost a lot...and just buy what you need for each recipe. Keep it simple as much as possible. Use garlic, onion, and spices a lot and try to keep away from prepared sauces and dressings unless necessary.

I agree too...shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Just buy 'real' food and stay away from packaged things (expensive!) Start using spices too...they really are beautiful thing!
Good Luck

I shop at Whole Foods or my local Co-op and in the summer love shopping at my city's farmers market. Whenever I get groceries it is usually 85% produce (vegetables, fruit) and also I usually get Fage 0% greek yogurt, bulk grains, chicken breasts, shrimp, egg whites, stevia, and whatever else... Frozen fruit and vegetables are great for smoothies. There are far too many foods to choose from at the grocery! haha