When we shop in normal supermarkets we buy all we can. When we shop organic, we buy all we need.
from Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution
I was asked to share what I cook for one week, my shopping list and our cost of eating. I think it’s important to note that I plan my meals first based on what I have on hand already, then I try to repeat ingredients in more than one meal to be able to purchase the largest quantity available for the best price.
Dinners:
Monday – tilapia, broccoli and roasted potatoes
have: tilapia, broccoli, seasoning
need: 5 lb. bag of potatoes
Tuesday – homemade pizza
have: ap flour, yeast, oil
need: mushrooms, red bell pepper, onion, pepperoni, feta cheese, mozzarella cheese
Wednesday – breakfast for dinner (church small group pot-luck meal), took bacon and garlic and herb buttermilk biscuits
have: uncured peppered turkey bacon, buttermilk, ap flour, butter, salt, seasonings
need: wheat pastry flour (bulk bins)
Thursday – chicken quesadillas
have: flour and wheat tortillas, chicken, corn, seasoning, corn chips, hot sauce, cumin, olive oil, green leaf lettuce
need: black beans, onion, red bell pepper, jack cheese, sour cream, tomato
Friday – out to eat with family
*This is almost always shiny food from unknown and questionable sources, but we do it each Friday because we love our family and will not be jerks about food choice toward them.
Saturday – turkey chili and cornbread
have: corn meal, eggs, buttermilk, seasoning
need: 1/2 lb. ground turkey, kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans, onion, green bell pepper, diced tomatoes, tomato paste
Sunday – Mediterrainian chicken, salad and baked poatoes
have: chicken, butter, olive oil, seasonings
need: feta cheese, diced tomatoes, salad, cucumber, tomato, potatoes, sour cream
Breakfasts on hand:
steel cut oats, homemade English muffins, homemade multigrain bread, eggs, cereals, greek yogurt, granola, variety of fresh fruit
purchased: multigrain hot cereal, greek yogurt, grapefruit, oranges, bananas, granola (bulk bins)
Snacks on hand:
homemade cheese crackers, granola bars, cereal bars, yogurt, fresh fruit, nuts, cheeses, crackers, pita chips, peanut butter, almond butter
purchased: fruit
Lunches on hand:
sandwich meat, peanut butter, almond butter, jelly, green leaf lettuce, tomato, homemade multigrain bread, fresh fruit, pita chips
*we have a sandwich and some fruit a few days a week, but lunch is often leftovers from dinner
All the “need” items I purchased. I also bought some chocolate oatmeal that looked yummy (but was NOT), a huge bottle of water to drink there in the store and some coconut water to try just because I was curious.
Total cost to eat organic this week: $64.96
And, on a not totally unrelated note I WANTWANTWANT this menu board from The Creative Mama for my kitchen. I love that on the back of each card the ingredients are listed. I’m pretty famous for forgetting just one, but usually very important thing for recipes I try to remember.
Thoughts on My Thoughts