Save, time, money and get healthy with one secret

Shop for two weeks you can shop for two weeks or more worth of meals you will save money and time. You will save time at the store, your diet will be better because you will plan healthy meals and you will save money by not going to a restaurant instead of eating at home. 

Plan a menu for two weeks The most important thing is to know what your family eats. What they really eat. You will plug these things into a list. You will create an eating map. If you work late every Thursday or the kids roll in at different times because of sports after school commitments plan for it. Don’t plan to get a bag of burgers on the way home. Plan microwave burritos with a great big salad, tuna sandwiches with can soup. You get the idea simple but healthy like meals planned around your crock-pot. Sitting down for a few minutes and making a genuine list and taking the time to shop this list will save on many levels.

Shop the list Shopping the list means don’t buy things not on the list. I usually leave one day open to fill in with a surprise item I discover at the store. I plan to buy six snacks what snacks are open but I only buy six. With my clan I usually take a few snacks and hide them so everything is not gone in the first three days. I also plan on items to carry over.

Examples

• Buy fresh OJ and concentrate juice for second week
• Fresh veggies first week canned or frozen for the next
• Fish days I plan later in shopping cycle because we buy and eat the same day on that day you can buy milk and some fruit to last until your next big shopping day.

Keep staples on hand and Buy in Bulk
Staples vary from home to home but there are some items no home should be with out. When creating your list shop your cabinets first to avoid over purchasing. Also this will guide you to create a meal for fresh food you have on hand.

I would include toiletries here like Soaps, Shampoos, Laundry soaps, cleaners. All these items should be bought in bulk or as needed to keep them in stock. Without grocery shopping I can usually prepare a meal from staples alone. The list below is comprehensive you will want to pare it down for your specific needs.
Increase your Skills The other thing I would suggest you have is a really good cook book. I have several and I do use the internet to quick reference how to cook specific foods. However, to get ideas for meals I love to flip through my books. My favorite book is broken down into food types so I can look at how to prepare carrots or just veggies. Another way to improve your list is to prepare your list from the recipes or get a new subscription. Food should be tasty, healthy and cooking should be a pleasure.

Be creative there should be a mix of fresh healthy meals, home cooked fast food and so easy a child could do it. Your schedule may dictate lots of fast easy meals at times. You can pack a weekend with great meals when  friends are in town. Try it and see if your waistline and your wallet don’t thank you.

Grocery Shopping

My biggest time saver is grocery shopping with a purpose; I do my major shopping only twice a month. I plan 15 dinners and have food for breakfast, lunch and snacks. It is a monumental task with two boys and a hungry husband. Planning makes it work.

Staples

There are certain ingredients no kitchen should be without; most of the essential items can be bought in bulk. Staples include non-perishables like rice, couscous, salt, pepper, some spices, pastas and toiletries. Buy in bulk, replenish as needed and try to buy on sale.

Junk Food

I attempt to choose healthy options with the least amount of processed food as possible. Cooking from scratch helps. That being said if you have a few precious items and staples you will never want for a good meal. My 12 and 14-year-old boys have been able to make several meals for years. Starting simple and having a good cookbook will increase anyone’s skills over time. I leave the fruit all over the house like flowers. Since it is one of the only quick meals it is eaten. I buy frozen foods because my children enjoy corndogs and fish sticks and the like. It also gives them a chance to cook meals from start to finish with confidence.

Second, shop the perimeter. My local store has toiletries on one end and produce at the other with dairy, and meat in between. Having a list helps. If you make your time on the inside isles of the grocery limited you will eat better and save money.

Balance between fresh and canned, frozen or dried. In addition, some things we prefer to buy fresh, fish, shrimp should be purchased after fresh goods are eaten. Use fresh foods first. Antipasto, tuna, canned goods are great supplements. Try freezing your fresh veggies. With the right balance you can have tasty meals for two weeks.


Impulse Buys

Make your list for healthy meals, have budget, and stick to it. Allow discretionary funds to purchase milk, fruits and other perishables the second week. You can also buy soymilk, which keeps so you don’t have to return for two weeks. Allow three impulse buys and no more, if you must.


Have fun and enjoy your meals. Be sure to build in quick easy meals when time or energy is limited. Take your time and talk to each other, say grace or be thankful. Spend some time sharing your day with the people you love. Make dinner time a no TV, phone, games so you are not distracted from your meal.

Della Badart