So, the other day while I was grocery shopping, I was feeling confident about what was in my cart. I knew I had a plethora of things at home for this particular meal I was planning for supper (mini pizzas on naan) when all of a sudden (it really isn’t as shocking as it sounds) I wondered if I had pizza sauce at home.
I could picture my cupboard where the sauce would be, this particular lid there, but for some reason, it didn’t register. Eventually, I found my way to the pasta/sauce aisle and grabbed a jar for the pizzas. I got home, where the plan for supper changed. I opened the door to the cupboard (or the larder as my partner calls it) and lo and behold there it was, a full, unopened jar of the sauce I had just bought. I let out a few cursory sighs and said to myself, “We’re going to get back on the shopping track.”
Now, to finally get to the point of today’s column — better planning for grocery shopping so that you, my fine food friends, cut down on waste and doubles of certain products.
It seems like a silly pet peeve — but it bothers me when we have an excess of something (such as our now-apparent excess of pizza sauce) that isn’t getting used. Not only am I wasting it because every day the best-before date gets closer, but it’s also wasting space in my cabinets.
But how does one improve their grocery shopping abilities?
Let’s break it down.
As soon as you’re out of something, put it on “the list.” Ominous sounding, I know. But, myself and my better half are constantly telling each other to “add it to the list.” Now, actually remembering the list when I go out to shop is not as constant. But keeping track of what food supplies you have and what you don’t have is easiest when the database (the list) is kept up to date. The other night we figured out we were nearly out of ketchup — on to the list it went.
If paper hardcopy doesn’t work for you, try keeping a digital copy: I know you know that I love a good list. But sometimes it’s easy to forget to rip it off the notepad before I leave the house to start my workday and ultimately grocery shop that night. Cellphones always have a notes app built-in, so why not put it to good use and make your list digital? I don’t really know what android offers, but within the notes app on iPhone you can have bullet points, make a table, mark up a list with different brushes, and check off tasks.
Is there an app for that? The simple answer is of course!
Based on some of the browsing through the app store that I’ve done, there several out there that can really help get the job done. For instance, the app Out of Milk allows users to create an interactive list as well as a home pantry inventory, so you know in real-time what you’ve got. That way you won’t be picking up doubles (see reference to too much pizza sauce …). Some allow users to shop the best deals at various outlets within the app (super cool and handy) while others revolve around building a meal plan and will create a list of the ingredients a person will need for each meal.
So, food friends, I hope this helps you keep track of what you’re shopping for. If you have tips and tricks please, share them! Sharing is most-times caring.
Until next time,
M
Millicent McKay is a millennial homemaker, tea drinker, journalist and blogger for www.modernmillee.com . For more check out her weekly blog posts and follow her on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/modernmillee/
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