The Grocery Store Post, II
In my last grocery store post, I showed you what it looks like when I do our quick weekly shops—that is, when I’m just picking up a few things and not doing a big pantry stock-up. This week, however, I DID have to do a big grocery shop so I snapped some pics so you could see what we bought!
First up, Produce:
Avocado, Roma tomatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, green pepper. Spring green mix, kale, romaine hearts, strawberries, arugula, 50/50 (arugula & spring green) mix, baby bella mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms (so I can make this!).
Next up, Dairy:
Dill-jack cheese (don’t ask me what it is, the name is self-explanatory and I live in Wisconsin, so we have LOTS of fun flavored cheeses!), shredded cheddar, shredded four-cheese Mexican blend, Laughing Cow light, blue cheese crumbles, eggs, cottage cheese, French Vanilla creamer (yes, I know it’s bad for you, but it’s my one vice).
Proteins:
Three different kinds of flavored almonds, black beans, center cut bacon, rotisserie chicken (Real Simple mag had some GREAT ideas for using rotisserie chicken—quick & easy dinners!), cubed ham (for a delicious and easy breakfast recipe, coming soon!)
Pantry:
Mayo, salsa, vegetable oil, chicken broth, ground black pepper, bouillon cubes
Grains:
Tortilla chips, whole wheat English muffins, two French bread baguettes, fake white (whole wheat white) bread, pizza crust.
And I bought some oats too but forgot to picture them with the grains!
Total cost for this shop was $135.40. Tonight I am headed to Trader Joe’s to pick up a few things I never buy at my regular grocery store (like arborio rice, for example—too expensive at the regular grocery store but cheap as hell at TJ’s!) and then we will be set for awhile. Obviously, I will have to restock produce again, like I normally do on my “weekly” shops, but otherwise, we’re pretty much set for the next month or so.
How often do you go grocery shopping? What are your grocery bills like for the size of your family?
I wish I had a Trader Joe’s closer to me. I would be there every day. Ha! Looks good, Amy. Can’t wait to get my grocery shopping on when I get paid on Friday.
Posts like this are great inspiration for me to be better about grocery shopping! So thanks!
I’m also addicted to coffeemate – I know it’s terrible for you, but plain old milk/cream just isn’t the same. Can’t wait to see your breakfast recipe!
I have found that for us, I usually with go every 2 weeks or so. However, we have found it to our advantage to have the Sam’s membership to stock up on things. We usually do a large Sam’s trip every few months sometimes 3-4 months depending on what we all stock up on. That bill can be about $250-300 sometimes less. At Sam’s we stock up on things like shredded cheese, sour cream, chicken breasts, ground beef or turkey, fish fillets, (all of which we freeze) loaves of bread (use one and freeze the other one), chips, salsa, TP, paper towel, and produce (which only last 2 weeks or so). I have found it to be cheaper than going to the grocery store all the time. When we do go grocery shopping it usually is about a $100-150 trip for us (family of 3 (Hailey is still a toddler though). Now that summer is hopefully coming, I usually hit up farmer markets to get fresh produce and that is usually still cheaper than the store. Does anyone have a great place to get fruit??? I haven’t had luck lately with the grocery store, Greatland Target, or Super Walmart.
If you can have a Trader Joe’s near you, I have had amazing luck with their produce department. There’s a lot of organic options, plenty of new and different fruits and veggies to try, and the prices are sooooo cheap! It definitely holds me over until Farmer’s Market season!
Wow. Wow – I think I should do this sometime to see what the heck we are buying at the grocery store. You’re a very good meal planner! I am impressed!!
I’m still stuck on dill jack cheese. Yummm. Send some to DC? Or maybe a visit to Wisconsin is in order…?
OMG YES! (No really, I can send you some…but I would MUCH RATHER you come visit here!)
Okay, we spend that much a week, if not more, and we never have that much food in our house. We are a serious FAIL at saving money at the grocery store. We’ve just recently decided to figure out what we’re doing wrong (everything) and learn how to do it better. Thanks for posting!