make grocery shopping & cooking the highlight of your week

First Things First 

Check Your Pantry

Check your pantry, and check it twice! Like a menu planning Santa. 

 

No but really, I hate unloading groceries and realizing I already had two unopened bottles of coconut aminos staring right at me. It's bad for my tiny apartment pantry and bad for my grocery budget!

 

My first step in menu planning is to see what's on hand to use up from last week, whether it's sale items that made sense to stock up on in the moment or excess produce from past recipes that still hasn't spoiled.

 

 This helps guide my early-week recipes and gives me a place to start! 

Time To Plan

We're Going Shopping

I do the majority of my grocery shopping at Trader Joes & Whole Foods, with a couple of Sprouts trips mixed in every so often. Over time I've learned which store has the better option and best price on certain repeat ingredients. 

 

I like to get the majority of my beef and produce from Whole Foods but Trader Joes has the best option for wild caught Salmon but I like to buy Pasture Bird chicken whenever I'm at Sprouts. As someone who finds joy in grocery shopping, this doesn't bother me. If this sounds like your own personal nightmare, just order grocery delivery.

 

Speaking of delivery, I also love Thrive Market for pantry staples and fun snacks. Thrive is an especially great option if you don't live in areas with lots of grocery/health store options. 

FAQ

Most recipes can easily be multiplied or divided for different portions with simple math so don't immediately write off a 4 serving meal. I also love to use plain frozen beef/turkey/chicken patties as single-serve options that are easy to thaw and use in recipes to avoid wasting excess ground meats. 

 

Try disguising leftovers in new meals so it's not a copy-paste repeat of yesterday's food. If you cook steak for dinner, add the leftover into a salad for lunch the following day. Instead of tacos for a few nights in a row, use the meat in egg bites or quesadillas.

 

I firmly believe that crockpot is in need of a major meal prepping rebrand. Set that baby on low all day Sunday while you clean or nap and you can have a versatile protein prepped for the first half of your week with little to no work. I also love rotisserie chickens and sheet pan recipes for busy days. 

 

Then eat out! Or swap around your menu! But make note of why you didn't want to eat what you planned for future menus. I always remind myself that if I'm not looking forward to the meal when I write it down, I'm sure as heck not going to want to make it when the day comes.

 

I am a huge fan of meal boxes. I used to do Hello Fresh in college, but Green Chef is now my top choice because they emphasize higher quality meats and produce. If you're in a rut or have a busy week coming up, order a box and think of it as an at-home cooking class!