Are you tired of picking past the slimy veggies to get at the stuff in the fridge thatās still good?
If yes, chances are that your shopping list planningĀ skills could use some workāand not only that, a new plan will help you save money, cut food waste, and keep you eating healthy – and September is the perfect time to build new habits!
Food is constantly moving through your house, so it really is worth it to hold yourself accountable to actually eating everything you buy. Sure, that may seem like common sense but weāve all had to dump our fair share of spoiled ingredients simply due to lack of planning. Well folks, besides just throwing money in the garbage, our planet canāt cope with the sheer amount of food thatās not being eaten. Follow these shopping + meal-planning hacks to make sure that youāre actually eating everything that you buy!
Hack 1: Take an inventory of what youāve got before you go shopping.
Start your grocery shop in the kitchen. Instead of deciding what the weekās groceries will be at the store (or onlineāSPUD style!), begin by taking an inventory of what you already have at home. Become a master of knowing how far certain items will take you, and how often they need to be replenished. For example, how many days does it take you to get through a head of lettuce? Not everything can go into the freezer when itās getting close to spoiled.

Hack 2: Stay well stocked on cheap pantry staples.
Whether youāre a hopeless meal planner, or itās the night before your SPUD order arrives and youāve seamlessly used up all of your groceries, staying well-stocked with these items will ensure that youāve always got a medley of meal options. Because these pantry staples wonāt spoil, you never have to worry about having more than you need at any giving time. Keeping a hefty supply of these four ingredients will keep you armed with several options even if you feel like youāre low on everything else.
- Diced tomatoes: These are great to have on hand, as they provide the basis of soups, stews, pasta sauces and more. When you find yourself scrounging around the kitchen, youāll often find that diced tomatoes are the ingredient that brings together all of the random ingredients you need to use up. Half a pepper, three mushrooms, a quarter of an onion, and your diced tomatoes? BOOMāyouāve got a kickass pasta sauce,
- Grains: When youāre well-stocked on staple grains like quinoa, brown rice, barley, and wheat berries, all you have to do is cook some up and throw a few odds and ends in to create a great meal. Staple grains make using up the last bits of ingredients easy when you make things like stir fries, grain salads, and soups!
- Legumes: One of the cheapest sources of protein you can purchase for the amount of nutrition they pack. Keeping a couple of cans of lentils, or black, kidney, and garbanzo beans in the pantry leaves you stocked with the star of an easy soup, chili, salad, and more.
- Frozen veggies: You may be surprised to know that frozen veggies have just as many nutrients as fresh ones, making them the perfect back up plan for a night when youāre low on the fresh stuff. Throw a cup of these in an omelette, throw them into a pasta sauce, or any other meal that is lacking veggie goodness.
Hack 3: Plan for leftovers.
Itās a no-brainer that when you pack your own lunch, you save money and you make healthier choices. So why not make leftovers the goal instead an afterthought. Make enough dinner the night before that you know youāll be set up with a hearty lunch for the next day. Youāll save the money you might otherwise spend on lunch, and youāll have less of an excuse to make unhealthy choices.
Hack 4: Create an āeat this firstā section.
If you end up buying a whole new bag of apples before realizing that you already have a few still kicking around in your fruit bowl, move them into the āeat this firstā section of your pantry or counter. It can also include things like knobby looking produce items that would work well in juices and pies, but often lay forgotten until theyāve spoiled. This is such an easy way to get everyone into the routine of being aware of how food is moving through the house, and putting in a concerted effort to use everything up!
Hack 5: Be mindful when it comes to impulse buys.
Hint, hint: buying your groceries online largely reduces temptation to buy things you donāt need. And donāt get me wrong, sometimes the artisanal sauce, or those local mussels that are on sale are a great idea. But if you donāt eat everything, then the rest just sits thereāa random ingredient that doesnāt go with that much. So if youāre going to deviate very far away from your usual grocery routine, ask yourself if you can realistically use up everything youāre buying. If not, leave it. Youāll save money, room in your fridge, and the discomfort of discovering mysterious and unidentifiable items months later.
Try implementing these tips into your routine, and let us know if you find them helpful! In the meantime, if youāve got any of your own meal-planning hacks, weāre all ears!
SHOP SMARTER WITH SPUD |
