AWKWARD Shopper Needs Groceries TIPS!

Ineed2toneup · February 2016

Not all of us are naturals at looking like they know what they're doing while visiting the supermarket.
I for one HATE shopping and that's one of the causes I relapse. I get overwhelmed by all the choices and just end up getting yogurt and a loaf of bread... Please provide TIPS on your game plan for shopping and getting the job DONE!
• Tried lists on paper and iPhone and I still miss things.
• I am confused, what are the staple foods?
• do you shop per recipe or for the whole week?

THANKS SO MUCH! Add me too :-)

girlinahat · February 2016

Have you looked into online shopping? It could be a good way of ensuring you don't get distracted.

I have a couple of student cookbooks which give some lists of staple foods - great to get you started with some storecupboard items. From there you can expand, and in the same way I would approach buying cocktail ingredients, I would find a few recipes you like, maybe some with overlapping ingredients, and buy just those items for now.

storecupboard basics would be things like:

rice and grains
tinned tomatoes
tinned beans
tinned tuna
pasta
a variety of spices - simple spices like salt, pepper, and for me paprika is a must.
oil for cooking

also:
a loaf of bread
butter
eggs
some cheese
milk
yoghurt
vegetables - carrots, potatoes, green vegetables and salad veg is a must.

To be honest that is probably all you need to start (if only that was all I had in my cupboard!) and then work through some recipe books buying whatever is needed for those. The freezer is your friend.

ShrinkingScientist · February 2016

If you get overwhelmed I think one of the best things to do is go get produce, meat, eggs. Basically the stuff that has a short shelf life (so usually the perimeter of the store).

Then use something like Amazon pantry to fill in with any of the other stuff that you want.

I shop per week, though sometimes I have to stop in to get something specific for a recipe.

CassidyScaglione · February 2016

I do a loop around the perimeter, veggies, meat, milk, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese. This is weekly stuff. Then I go down only the aisles where I know there are things I need (so, not the candy aisle. ) thus is semi-weekly or monthly things. Rice, barley, dried lentils, dried beans, spices, coffee, tea, pickled beets (addicted), and some frozen peas/ veggies (cheaper than fresh ones.) nut butter, some nuts, canned tuna, etc.

There are extras here and there...but not important. These above things usually give me what I need to make almost anything I like.

For veggies I get things like cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, radiahes, beets, turnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, ginger root, tomatoes. Trying to work in more greens, but still a little flummoxed over how to prepare them. That's just me, you may differ.

For fruit: bananas,apples, oranges. In the summer, when they are I. Season and cheaper: peaches plums, apricots cherries, berries etc, but I refuse to pay what they charge for those things in the winter.

ARGriffy · February 2016

So I shop for a few weeks at a time and will top up the veg as I run out, the meat normally lasts a while In the freezer. Below are my normal buys for a biggish shop (and I cook... A lot!!)
Peppers (mixed and xtra red)
Leeks
Cabbage, green and red
Kale
Spinach
Beetroot ( pickled and fresh)
Butternut squash
Pak choi
Sugar snap peas
Mangetout
Baby sweetcorn
Beansprouts

Turkey breast
Turkey lean mince
Beef lean mince
Steak
Salmon fillets
Fish pie fish mix
Prawns
Tuna steak
A whole chicken

Coconut oil
Noodle nests
Fresh chilli
Fresh ginger
Garlic
Tinned tomatoes
Passata
Tomato puree
Wholegrain rice
Couscous
Polenta
Eggs
Wholewheat seeded bread

If you buy these, you have millions of recipe options that are healthy and packed of flavour! !!

ARGriffy · February 2016

Ahh forgot fruit!!! My fruit staples are bananas, apples, grapes and blueberries!

Unknown · February 2016

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DavPul · February 2016

First time buying food?

samgamgee · February 2016

When I'm writing a shopping list for the weekly shop, my process generally goes like this: Plan dinners for the week, work out what I need to buy for those, then add lunches/snacks to the list (things like tins of soup and yoghurts), before adding general things I need to top up (household items, coffee, sugar etc). I then show the list to my other half, or if we're putting together an online shop he'll log on to the website and add any extra items he wants. Throughout the week if I notice that we're running low on something, I'll add it to a list I keep on my phone so I'm not trying to remember everything from scratch when the time comes to do a shop.

I always try to make sure I have pasta, jar sauces and instant noodles (a habit from my student days) in the house in case I want to make something quick and easy that isn't on the list.

kommodevaran · February 2016

Lots of good questions! What you need to do, is get a flow going between pantry - meal plan - shopping.

Start by planning your meals. In fact, first, look at you calendar, when do you have to be places and do things and when do you have time to cook? Plot in meals that fit your schedule. Pick a selection of meals that you like and know how to make and any new ones if you would like to try.

Then, go through your cupboards and make a list of all foodstuff you have - grains and flour, herbs and spices, tins and jars - these are your staples. Do the same with you fridge and freezer. Now, see if you can combine any of those foods into real meals. Add those to your meal plan, focusing on fridge foods that will expire soon.

Now that you know what you have, you need to find out what you need: Look at the meals you have coming up for the next seven days. Find the corresponding recipes, and by checking the lists of your stock, write down somewhere (you may have to try different media here) what is not in your pantry, fridge or freezer. Decide if there are any redundant items - you don't need ten different types of pasta or 13 different kinds of beans; vinegar can be replaced by lemon juice; maybe you don't even like all of the herbs in a recipe, it will still be tasty if you omit some of it.

Add any items that go into meals that you don't have to really plan for, just to stock up for, this usually means breakfast foods, fruit, milk, and nonfood (toilet paper, toothpaste, dog food). Take that list with you to the store. Stick to the list as closely as you can.

These are the basics. After a while, you'll learn your own tricks and shortcuts, and it starts to get fun and interesting.

I shop for fruit and vegetables twice a week (for the next three or four days). Then I top up with milk, meat and fish, crispbread etc, whenever.

auddii · February 2016

Pro tip: make a list before going.

Annie_01 · February 2016

To avoid being overwhelmed...

Try just planning for a couple of days.

Start building your pantry gradually.

Make a list of the meals that you enjoy and then find a recipe. (If you are a novice cook make sure that it is simple and easy to prepare.

Make a list of a few snacks...fruits...cereal...etc...etc

Then make a shopping list.

Rinse and repeat.

My son gets overwhelmed at the grocery too and ends up coming home with very little. He does okay if he shops smaller stores such as Trader Joes...Sprouts...etc...etc. They are smaller stores and not so many options.

jyvonne27 · February 2016

My top tips:

Never grocery shop hungry- you will leave with much more than what you need.
Try to plan out what you are going to eat for bkfast, lunch, dinner, snacks for a week. Start with your calendar- there may be days a crockpot dinner or eating out might be your option over a high prep meal if you are short on time.
Check and see what you already have in your fridge/freezer pantry.
Make a list from there- I like to use Grocery IQ app on the iPhone because it organizes my list by aisle and it remembers what I bought before.
Some weekly staples for me and my daughter are:
Fresh fruits- strawberries, oranges, bananas, etc whatever is on sale that week
Veggies fresh and frozen- Lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, zuchinni, cauliflower, etc
Yogurts, eggs, milk
Rotissirie chicken
I usually add some other type of meat based on what I am cooking that week, but sometimes I can just dig from my deep freezer. I try and stock up on chicken and other items when they go on clearance and freeze them.

sjohnny · February 2016

auddii wrote: »

Pro tip: make a list before going.

WITCHCRAFT!!!!

Unknown · February 2016

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snowflake954 · February 2016

I shop alot--for five, and have for a long time. When I am running out of something I quick write it down on a list I keep handy in the kitchen. I pour over the weekly specials and write down what interests me. I usually go to the same grocery store so I know where everything is located.

jofjltncb6 · February 2016

Practice. Start with a short list to make one meal. Buy everything on the list. Don't leave the store until every item is crossed off.

Repeat.

Then expand to more than one meal.

Annie_01 · February 2016

OP...you didn't say how experienced you were at cooking. Because of your age I am going to assume that you are just starting out.

Google...recipes with 5 ingredients of less...maybe even 3 ingredients or less.

As you gain experience you can try more advanced recipes. This will also help with your shopping since you won't need to buy as much at one time. It will also allow you to build your pantry slowly if you are on a budget.

Roasted vegetables are easy and require few ingredients. All you need is the vegetable...a little oil...salt & pepper (or seasoning of choice). Add in a protein and you have a complete meal.

If you want a desert you can add in an ice cream bar. Skinny Cow...Weight Watchers...a few other brands have fairly good tasting bars and the calorie counts are reasonable.

holly_roman · February 2016

tip for not getting overwhelmed - music. I know a couple people who hate grocery shopping. They let me in on their secret, They plan ahead what they need and which isles to hit but they also put in their earbuds and rock out while shopping. Helps take some of the stress out of it.

CassidyScaglione · February 2016

I only find shopping stressful when I go with people who are in a hurry. It isn't like walking through a haunted house or something.

jgnatca · February 2016

There are about a dozen recipes that I repeat over and over, which need the staples I have on hand and whatever I've picked up fresh. I have all the spices and baking needs on hand so each shopping trip is simply filling in the blanks. All my thinking was done decades ago. You are just starting out so it will take a little more planning.

I plan my meals around my meat, having always noodles, rice, bread and potatoes for the carb, and whatever vegetables I've picked up that week.

If choice overwhelms you, pick:
Vegetables and Fruit - whatever is fresh on sale that week. Get bright green and dark orange vegetables. I always have carrots, lettuce, apples, and onions. This time of year the citrus fruits are the freshest.
Meats - pick up hamburger, something chicken (breast, whole chicken or chicken thighs; whatever is on sale), and steaks (pork or beef)
Carbs - noodles, rice, bread, and potatoes. To help you choose, pick the cheapest.
Fats - a cooking oil, margarine, and butter
Eggs. Always have eggs on hand. You can make dozens of meals out of eggs.
Dairy - if you like yogurt, pick up yogurt.

A starter set of spices includes salt, pepper, cinnamon, oregano, chili powder and garlic powder.

We don't have Aldi's here, but I suspect it has fewer brand choices? We have a similar discount store here. Fewer choices, less stress.

Annie_01 · February 2016

CassidyScaglione wrote: »

I only find shopping stressful when I go with people who are in a hurry. It isn't like walking through a haunted house or something.

Well...you must not have shopped my grocery store then...I swear...there are times late at night or on the weekends that I think the goblins have come out. It can be quite scary at times!

vczK2t · February 2016

i found a site that is free and that can help with shopping. it's called eatthismuch.com. you would enter in recipes and tell the site if the meals/foods/drinks are recurring. it will generate meals for you. you can print that off to get what you need.

chunky_pinup · February 2016

Online shopping. If you have it in your area, try it. It's a lifesaver for me! We have pick-up and delivery options where I am and it's great! I plan my meals, put everything I need on a list, then plug that list into my online shopping cart to pick up at the store after work! They bring it right out to your car! I love it because I am not in the store being distracted, then forgetting things on my list, or grabbing things that I don't need that will end up being binged on in the long run. I get exactly what I need - nothing more or less - and I don't even have to leave the car, which in the freezing cold with a crabby toddler is a huge blessing too! Then, there's no more awkwardness!

mkakids · February 2016

Personally, i have a list of 6 meals that the whole family enjoys. We eat those every week. Rarely deviate.

I buy the same things from the store week after week. Makes it easier!

DaisyHamilton · February 2016

Honestly for me, it's easiest to write down what I'm having to eat for the two weeks (I only shop bi-weekly), then from there write all the ingredients I'll need. Every single thing I might need goes on the list. Honestly it helps shopping with someone else. My husband hates grocery shopping so we try to get in and out as fast as possible, and that way I stay focused and don't grab a bag of chips off the rack like I would if I were shopping alone.

besaro · February 2016

a list.

CaitlinW19 · February 2016

I downloaded an app called Cozi...it's got a calendar you can share with your whole household, but honestly I use the grocery list in the app the most. I'm sure there are others, but why I like this is I have to check the box next to something to mark that I got it and delete it from my list. It's tough to miss anything that way...if there is anything not checked on the list, then you missed something :-)

You could also try making lists by category...all the produce, then all the meat, then all the dairy, etc. and just move right down that list.

You have to find what works for you...using the app I mentioned, I now shop a lot less. It would be once a week, but there are at least 2 grocery stores I plan to go to weekly for specific things. I buy a lot of my fruits, veggies and meat at a club store for better pricing, but I don't want a giant container of cumin. :-)

Staple foods I would say are subjective, but it's the kind of stuff that you always want around...for examples: salt, flour, dry pasta, milk, cooking oil, a loaf of bread...the things you really rely on to be able to prepare meals that aren't purchases for a particular recipe generally.

rim14isluv · February 2016

I shouldn't be giving tips, i could be going for toilet paper and still end up in the Snack Aisle.

But here's what i've been doing. Now a days, I buy my greens/ fresh products from the farmers market weekly instead of the supermarket. Now, i buy my avocados, lemons, grapefruit, oranges, and greens from the market instead of Stop & Shop ( New York folks would know). Yes, its a tad bit more pricey because they claim its 'fresh fresh fresh' and there's no sale at the farmers market like the chain supermarkets run. But the only snacks I can find there are dried fruits and nuts so that takes care of my Oreo, Chip ahoy and Doritos craving/indulgence.

I also buy my fish from the fish place/market too now instead of the supermarket. You wont find any specials or deals here but I buy enough salmon for two weeks and make it last.

All this helps me to go to the supermarket less times a month than my usual weekly trip. Plus, try raiding your mom's pantry or getting her/someone to shop on your behalf. You could try shopping online too if you have that ability and if its cost effective for you.

Just a suggestion! Hope this helps.

senecarr · February 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RqtXc1VLZE&index=6&list=PLB0AYRZmsMalvNbfs1qMWUeB2YF3CcOgI

scolaris · February 2016

Make a master list that matches the layout of the store. Follow it in order...

AWKWARD Shopper Needs Groceries TIPS!

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