Grocery Shopping: Prep like your meals depend on it! – With Printables!

 

 

I am one of the few people in the world who loves grocery shopping. I mean, I prepare for days, get hyped over the different varieties and sales and genuinely make it an all-out event. When I was younger, my Mom had me go along with her when she grocery shopped. Come to think about it, I don’t remember my sister or brother ever coming along with us. Cooking, food and anything involved with the two have always been just one of the awesome bonding points between my mom and I. We’d spend our Sunday afternoon strolling around the grocery store, her telling me to stop pulling the coupons out of the thingamajiggy that grocery stores used to have in every aisle. (What happened to those things? Did busy children like me cause them to become extinct? Shame) But I digress.

Since those memories, grocery shopping has continued to be an event for me. I primarily shop every other Sunday, too busy to enjoy during the week and I like to cheat on routine on Saturdays, sue me. Throughout the week, I’ve taken the time to consider some meals I’d like to prepare or snacks I’ve been craving and I make sure to jot them down for future reference. I’m also great about remembering what items I may have in my freezer or pantry, being that I’m pretty precise about everything I buy. I like to think ahead when I can and buy items I love when they’re on sale because I will have a backup for less than the normal price when another week rolls around. I’m also dairy-free, white sugar-free, avoid any meat that isn’t grass fed/vegetarian diet and loveee produce, so I’m trying to rid of the rumors that eating healthy is always expensive. My favorite grocery stores? Trader Joe’s and Lucky’s Market! Both offer local, organic and natural goods that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, and even allow you to control the portions of your purchase. Check them out!

Because I’m usually cooking for one, I have been going out my way to NOT over buy, over prepare, or over-cook because that = wasting $ and food!! Because of this, I recommend everyone REALLY know their eating habits and their own personal habits. Don’t hype yourself up to meal prep only one choice if you know that your taste changes throughout the week because you’ll become bored. Add variety in, look at your available ingredients and consider which items are interchangeable, i.e: Making tacos? Use the ground beef/turkey/chicken to also prepare Shepard’s Pie (add mashed potatoes & canned veggies) or Stuffed Peppers (add Peppers and Rice).

Saving money while grocery shopping truly comes from proper preparation and I preach that to everyone.  When I spend only $70 grocery shopping for two weeks, and it includes organic food, wine + snacks, my friends are always shocked! (Some of them are certain I’m spending hundreds on groceries after seeing my hauls lol). I’m focused on saving money, not going overboard and eating healthy items and I’ve learned that those goals only come from making a grocery list, a meal plan (whether you do it for 2 days, 5 or 7!), and having a budget.

I want to help everyone reading this get their grocery and meal prep life right, so check out these awesome FREE printables!

(I even made them in colors other than Pink, woohoo!)

Ready to download and print on Letter Size paper for your use, check it out!

 

Love the Printables? Tag me in your Meal Planning/Grocery Prep post!

IG: @ms_americaaa