There are several things about my home management that aren’t working for me right now. Grocery shopping would be one.
I am going to try a new plan for a few months and see what I think. I buy lots of things in bulk from Country Life Natural Foods (I highly recommend them if you are in their delivery area!) every other month and from Azure Standard (this is actually our first month of Azure delivery in our area – YAY!) once a month. The items I am not able to get from either of those sources I usually buy at Costco or Trader Joe’s.
Since Trader Joe’s and Costco are both twenty-five minutes from my house (thankfully in the same direction), I was really finding it to be too much of a time-sucker to go once a week. So, I am going to plan meals two weeks at a time and shop every other week. This past Monday was my first two-week shopping trip.
I am looking forward to the saved time, the saved gas, and the saved money. No matter how specific my list, I always seem to grab one or two things “just in case” that I surely could have lived without. The less often I have the option to buy, the better. The only problem I can see so far is that two weeks worth of groceries don’t fit in my refrigerator :). Luckily, my mom lives with us in her own apartment and has a very modestly stocked fridge. I had to take part of it over!
On the weeks I don’t go to Trader Joe’s, I will most likely hit Aldi or Walmart that are both less than 5 minutes away to grab any fresh produce I need. I’ll let you know how it goes . . .
And, now for the actual meals!
BREAKFASTS:
Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits, Maple Icing, fresh fruit
Overnight Crock Pot Steel Cut Oats, blueberries
Coffee Cake, fresh fruit and veggie smoothies
Yogurt, Oatmeal or granola, fresh fruit x 4
LUNCHES:
Bean burritos, Carrot Apple Slaw, veggies
Deviled Eggs, veggies and dip, apples
Apple Bean Bake, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins, veggies
Bean Bowls (with fresh tomato, avocado and cheese), veggies, oranges
PB sandwiches, veggies
Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans, fruit
Leftovers
DINNERS:
Split Pea Soup, fruit
Cheesy Chili Soup, shredded cheese, fruit
Sloppy Joes (I use Laura’s recipe, but add a ton of grated carrots and chopped peppers), steamed corn, carrots
Lemon Tuna Cups, steamed peas
Cottage Mac & Cheese, apples
Pizza from Papa Murphy’s (gift certificate from Christmas :)!!), veggies
Leftovers
Do you usually shop every week, every other, once a month – what works for you?
I’ll be sharing my menu plan at I’m An Organizing Junkie today!
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Jenna, I was having the same issue with a weekly menu. I am in week 4 of my two-week plan and it is working out so much better. I definitely spend less and like not having to think about a meal plan on a weekly basis. Let me know how it works out. Oh and do you happen to have a recipe for those Lemon Tuna cups that you can post? They sound interesting and I need a tuna recipe!!
So glad to hear it’s working well for you! I am encouraged :). Yes, I can post the Lemon Tuna Cups recipe. My sister-in-law, Beth, gave it to me years ago. It was one she ate growing up. I’ll try to rememeber to take pics and share this week!
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I have been doing the every two week thing for years! I hate grocery shopping because it i such I time suck- so planing meals for two weeks at a time is so much easier. I bet it works so much better for you too!
I think I am off to a rough start. I definitely need to keep doing it until I get in a groove, though, because I agree that it is a huge time-taker!
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