Comments on: Food Shopping and Menu Planning

By: Sarah .aka. Mamalotsoftots

Sarah .aka. Mamalotsoftots — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:18:53 +0000

Hi! I plan my menu’s backwards as you do. Only I’ve never really thought of it as backwards. LOL! Funny.
It seems to make the most sense to shop first with what’s on sale, the plan. Well, I look at the ad, then plan, then shop.

Sarah .aka. Mamalotsoftots´s last blog post..Spring Cleaning ~Kitchen Edition

By: Katy Wolk-Stanley

Katy Wolk-Stanley — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:51:30 +0000

I do a similar type of shopping. I try to go infrequently to the grocery store, as each trip increases what we’re spending. (Plus I HATE food shopping.)

I just keep a variety of staples on hand, from which I can make a large number of different meals. What I cook for dinner is based on using up food that would otherwise go bad.

When I have tried planning meals way ahead of time, we end up wasting a lot of food, as the leftovers build up faster than we can eat them.

For dinner tonight?

I have no idea. But . . . I do know we have chicken in the freezer, some leftover rice, a few tortillas, dried beans and salsa. Maybe burritos?

Amy Dacyczyn, of “The Tightwad Gazette” cooked and shopping in a way she called, “The Pantry Principle,” which sounds similar to what you do. She just made sure to have what she considered necessary on hand, from which she was able to concoct a variety of different meals.

Thanks for this entry, as it was very interesting to read and mull over.

Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

http://thenonconsumeradvocate.wordpress.com

Katy Wolk-Stanley´s last blog post..Once A Month Garbage – An Update

By: kllycat

kllycat — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:57:14 +0000

Kelly says:
@Eponine, My husband likes to joke that I really live in Seattle, France. Somehow my ‘exotic’ life abroad has morphed into a little corner, albeit far removed, of the good ole US of A. I didn’t really mean for this to happen, but, the best laid plans and all that.
@Shevy, wow from the pot to the table in 5 to 15 minutes? You’ll have to write about that!

By: Budget Mama

Budget Mama — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:50:36 +0000

Groceries are my weak spot in my budget. I try to plan meals about 2 weeks out. This almost always works and saves me money big time. The problem is sticking to the planning. I’m making more of an effort lately. Great blog!

Budget Mama’s last blog post..Completed some goals

By: Eponine

Eponine — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:47:24 +0000

What about going to the daily or weekly market to buy fruits and veggies? What about the friendly (or even cranky) local merchant who remembers what you like to buy and makes helpful suggestions? Don’t destroy my illusions about what my life would be like if I lived in France!

By: Denise

Denise — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:08:18 +0000

I'm impressed with your overall food budget! That's amazing. With the kids home this summer with a sitter, I can't seem to make anything last in our house. Denise's last blog post..Food for Thought

By: Toblerone @ Simple M

Toblerone @ Simple M — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:45:56 +0000

Sounds like this system works for your personality, your family's tastes, and your situation over there in France. Good for you! I wish I could go to the grocery store as seldom as you – it's one of my least favorite stores. I love the farmer's market, but the grocery store here is insane.

Thanks for sharing!

Toblerone @ Simple Mom's last blog post..Menu Planning Resources :: Useful Links, Sites, & a Free Download

By: Ann at One Bag Nation

Ann at One Bag Nation — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:35:38 +0000

I’m a weekly planner, and sad to say, a frequent shopper. There are three stores very close by, so that encourages my habit. I keep a running list for the basic stuff, and add to the list according to what I’m cooking for the week.

Now that the local farmer’s market has opened, I’ll take advantage of that and try to hit the grocery store less often.

I’m impressed with your system!

Ann at One Bag Nation’s last blog post..Is Decluttering the Same as Simplifying?

By: Shevy

Shevy — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:57:28 +0000

I guess I do something sort of similar. I have a list of 22 dinner menus (dairy or neutral ones), 5 more meat meals for Friday nights and a couple for Saturday lunch (which is really dinner). I also have a few other meals I haven’t written down that we have very occasionally.

I generally restock the main ingredients for the most popular of these and try to have as many possible combinations as I can on hand, but I’ve definitely fallen away from planning what we’ll have on specific days (other than Friday night and Saturday by day for Shabbos). We often decide what to have when Hubby gets home, based on what’s happening later, the weather, our energy level, etc.

It seems to work fairly well for us. It helps that I don’t cook fancy meals except for birthdays, Shabbos or religious holidays. Any meal I make can probably be on the table from 5 to 15 minutes from when I start.

Shevy’s last blog post..Nothing New Under the Sun

By: kllycat

kllycat — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:26:22 +0000

Kelly says: Thanks Aaron! I appreciate the feedback.