Author Topic: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"  (Read 10888 times)

wing117

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Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« on: July 31, 2013, 11:32:55 AM »
First, apologies if this is already covered. I tried searching and came up empty.

Since we are all cooking at home more these days, I am finding it difficult to know what to buy at the store - I don't really plan out meals yet - I just... it's hard for me. Mentally. So I end up doing it the (European way?) and basically buy whatever I don't have for that day's meal from the store the day of. I know that's terribly inefficient and also wastes money. It also makes it difficult to start a slow cooker first thing in the morning before hopping on the bike.

So what are the grocery items that you "Always Have On Hand" to make meals of many varieties outside of the classic "Gas Station Run" (Milk, Eggs, Bread)?

ace1224

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2013, 11:39:56 AM »
hmmm....let's see.  i always have

flour, sugar, cornstarch, pasta, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, yeast, olive oil, canned green beans, rice, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, various spices including salt and pepper, butter, eggs, and probably a couple of other things.  but if i even start to get low on any of those i stock up.  especially the flour and sugar and yeast because i do a lot of baking.

Rural

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2013, 11:55:10 AM »
I always have baking supplies: flour, sugar, baking powder, cornstarch, cornmeal, cocoa, oil.

I always keep potatoes and onions on hand.

Aside from that, canned vegetables, spices, soy sauce, lemon juice, Worchestershire, fish sauce.

Canned tomatoes: Italian style, tomato sauce, tomatoes with chili peppers. That gives a lot of different options. I always keep some chicken breast in the freezer and a couple of cans of tuna in the cabinet. Often, I have a can of chicken for really lazy or really rushed days.

TVP. I can't say enough about how much easier TVP makes life. I buy this 25 pounds at a time, and it lasts for more than a year, substituted for all ground meat in every recipe.

Other than that? Let me suggest that it may be easier to decide on several things you want to cook during the week, but not decide which day you want to cook which. For a long time I planned each individual day, but lately I've switched to just "I know we going to eat this this week," and it's really helped simplify my life in a lot of ways.

matchewed

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2013, 12:05:06 PM »
I got into the habit of cooking the same 5 meals or so. That makes the planning easier and if you have lots of basic ingredients leftover it is easy to figure out what you need. I know not everyone will dig that style of eating as they want more variety, I don't have much of a defense of that except I get to master and tweak my five dishes.

Vanguards and Lentils

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2013, 12:06:49 PM »
Jeff Yeager has some suggestions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0ikCC8-fhA


limeandpepper

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2013, 12:10:14 PM »
- rice / quinoa
- noodles / pasta
- some form of protein (tofu, beans, chickpeas, lentils, eggs, meat, cheese, nuts)
- any fruit or vegetable, fresh or frozen
- yoghurt
- oats / muesli
- canned tomatoes / passata / pasta sauce
- condiments, etc (oil, butter, salt and pepper, sugar, honey, cocoa, soy sauce, vinegar, dried herbs and spices)
- tea

I don't tend to plan meals, either, I usually just buy whatever is cheap, and somehow find a way to use them. I also rarely waste anything if I can help it, if something starts getting old then I make an effort to eat it asap, or freeze it to use later.

N

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2013, 12:15:10 PM »
Pantry:
pasta (usually 5-6 variety/shapes), rice, polenta, marinara sauce, canned beans, canned corn, canned coconut milk, jars of "better than bouillon" for instant broth, canned tuna, flour, sugar, cocoa powder, semi sweet choc, chips, dry cereal, oatmeal, molasses, honey, soy sauce, olive oil, canola oil

 Cupboard:
I have a pretty varied spice cupboard, but must haves: chili powder, coriander, cumin, oregano, basil, parsley, turmeric, cinnamon, garlic powder, seasoned salt, peppercorns, kosher salt. baking soda and baking powder, cornstarch,

Freezer: frozen chicken, hamburger, butter, nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews), frozen fruit, corn, peas, homemade stock, bones I havent made stock from yet. 

Fridge: there is almost ALWAYS a carton of eggs we've hard boiled to be ready for snacking/breakfast, plus more uncooked eggs, almond milk, cow milk, a container of either yogurt or sour cream (I use them interchangeably, really, in recipes), some sort of yellow cheese, mozzarella. I also save bacon and chicken fat after I cook, so I usually have little jars of that for cooking and I have a big tub of real lard that I bought from a farmer. great flavor!

In terms of fruits/veggies, we try to never run out of potatoes, onions, bananas, apples, broccoli, carrots, and celery, and mushrooms. I try to have greens and summer squashes in supply, too.

NumberCruncher

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #7 on: July 31, 2013, 01:50:01 PM »
We usually have some form of "vegetables on rice" (kale, bok choy, spinach, broccoli, etc) and go shopping about 1/week. Hot sauce, soy sauce, bouillon cubes, salt, potatoes, eggs, tofu, canned beans (might transition to soaking beans ourselves someday...), canned tomatoes, frozen vegetables to supplement, spices, and coconut milk are some staples of ours. Leftover rice can be stir-fried the next day :)

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #8 on: July 31, 2013, 03:11:07 PM »
i keep a fairly full pantry and freezer. it's great to be able to always been able to cook or bake something (i particularly love baking!)

Pantry:
granulated/caster/brown/icing sugar
plain/self raising/strong flour
baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, yeast
pasta, spaghetti, lasagne sheets
rice / lentils / noodles
garlic / tomato puree
spices: all spice, paprika, tumeric, chili, curry powder, cinnamon, basic, dried mixed herbs... +more.
canned: tomatoes, chickpeas, kidney beans, sweetcorn, pineapple, other beans
passata
basic cheap jar sauces (curry/bolognaise)
raisins/currants
oats/cereal
jam, peanut butter
stock cubes / gravy granules
coffee / tea / hot chocolate / cocoa
sunflower or vegetable oil
lemon juice, vinegar (actually live in the bathroom for cleaning)

Freezer:
reduced to clear meat (mince/fish/casserole meat)
reduced to clear bread (loves, rolls, pittas)
frozen home-made meals
stock
chips
pizza
frozen mixed veg, peas, sliced peppers

Fridge:
marg
eggs
mayonnaise



Eric

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #9 on: July 31, 2013, 03:52:28 PM »
Since we are all cooking at home more these days, I am finding it difficult to know what to buy at the store - I don't really plan out meals yet - I just... it's hard for me. Mentally. So I end up doing it the (European way?) and basically buy whatever I don't have for that day's meal from the store the day of. I know that's terribly inefficient and also wastes money. It also makes it difficult to start a slow cooker first thing in the morning before hopping on the bike.

As you cook at home more and more, you'll become a much better cook.  Probably really quickly too.  I've found that I've switched from buying ingredients to a certain recipe to finding ingredients that are cheap or fresh and then devising a recipe from that.  So we'll buy about a week's worth of produce, and then cook/eat some of it every night depending on time or effort, but not necessarily go in with a plan in mind.  For example, I'll buy eggplant, and then later decide if I want it with pasta, on salad, or with rice.

So to answer your question, mostly just basic staples like rice, pasta, potatoes, and chicken broth.

caligulala

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #10 on: July 31, 2013, 04:29:27 PM »
I happen to have a pantry inventory right now because we are moving internationally and I wanted to make sure we use everything up before the move. We spend more than the average mustachian on food because we like variety. These are pretty much all things we have on hand all the time with a few weirdo items thrown in:

Hershey's Syrup
Unsweetened coconut
Nutritional Yeast
Graham Flour
Sundried tomatoes
Sweet apple mustard
Portland Ketchup
Peanut Butter
Pickled jalapenos
Dijon Mustard
Pepper Rings
Evaporated milk
sweetened condensed milk
yellow curry paste
tomato paste
seitenbacher -3
dried mushrooms
salt
crisco
jello - 4
shrimp chips
tahini - 2
pumpkin pie mix
Franks red hot
coconut cream -3
anchovies - 3
smoked sardines - 3
albacore tuna - 3
clams  - 3
Salmon - 3
pickles
crushed tomatoes
roasted peppers - 5
tomato sauce
tomato paste
diced tomatoes
chocolate chips
farro
mac and cheese
grains & beans
millet - 3
popcorn  - 2
bread flour
corn meal
pastry flour
peanut oil
demerara sugar
craisins
prunes
dried plums
Pastry flour
couscous
quinoa
kamut
beluga lentils
arborio rice
barley - fine, medium, small
wheat germ
fine barley
black eyed peas
red lentils
rye berries
red wheat berries
small red beans
brown lentils
steel cut oats
millet
graham flour
anasazi beans
farro
pastry flour
black beans
polenta
panko
yellow lentils
pinto beans
garbanzo beans
cannellini beans
kidney beans
protein powder
white rice
soba noodles
bulghur
angel hair pasta
little soup pastas
orzo
fideos noodles

As for refrigerator items/produce we always have on hand:

Eggs
Sour cream
Plain Yogurt
lemons
limes
cilantro
jalapenos
tillamook cheese
blue cheese/feta
shredded mozzarella
onions
garlic
mayo
maple syrup
carrots
celery
heavy cream
butter
and 2 cupboards full of spices/vinegars/sauces

We get a CSA box every week and with that and our huge variety of pantry items, we can essentially make whatever we want, whenever we want it. We live in an 800 sq ft apartment, by the way, so this does not take up a ton of space.

zinnie

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #11 on: July 31, 2013, 04:46:46 PM »
Good topic! These are our staples:

Pantry:
-All-purpose flour, bread flour, yeast
-bread
-Sugar
-Cornmeal
-Baking powder
-vinegars: red wine, rice, apple cider
-oils: grapeseed, olive, canola
-canned tomatoes, tomato paste
-beans: black, garbanzo, lentils
-pasta, quinoa, couscous, white/brown rice
-popcorn kernels
-Salt, pepper, dried spices
-nuts, raisins

Fridge:
-milk
-cream
-cheese
-eggs
-hummus
-plain greek yogurt
-onions, garlic
-lemons, apples
-condensed chicken stock
-sriracha, dijon mustard
-hoisin sauce, soy sauce, peanut oil
-peanut butter, jelly
-beer! :)

Counter:
-avocados
-bananas
-wine

Freezer:
-butter (salted and unsalted)
-fish

Then we add produce and meat depending on season/ availability. I'm sure I'm missing a lot, but that comes to mind as what we use most.

backyardfeast

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #12 on: July 31, 2013, 08:38:12 PM »
Great topic!  And great lists already.  You can take this as far as you want--from thinking a week at a time to those who keep a 6 month supply on hand in case of disaster or emergency (personal or otherwise).  A great book about this is Sharon Astyk's _Independence Days_.

Although we're big cooks and have a well-stocked pantry, garden, and freezer, I think the biggest thing is to think about what kinds of foods you generally eat over a couple of weeks.  Are you meat and potatoes and veg? Pasta? Rice and beans?  Ie, what are *your* staples.  It's also useful to think of a couple of foolproof, quick recipes that your family likes and make sure you always have those supplies in the cupboard.  That way, there's always *something* you can make, even when tired and might otherwise be tempted to go shopping.

For example, we always have pasta, sundried tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts, and olives (all from Costco) in the pantry and pesto in the freezer.  It always tastes good, we can add fish/chicken/veg/cheese if we have them, and it tides us over for another day (and leftovers for lunch!). YMMV.

wing117

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #13 on: August 01, 2013, 09:57:06 AM »
I see that I have been severely under stocked! Yesterday evening I went on a giant shopping spree with a lot of recommendations pulled from this thread and will try to get creative and last 2 weeks till I need to hit the grocery store again. Also just started my first lentil soup in the crockpot, so we'll see how that goes!

Keep the lists coming, these are great!

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #14 on: August 01, 2013, 09:33:06 PM »
I've got quite a stockpile, and I'm sure that nearly everything in it is on at least one of the lists above.  After 20+ years of shopping to feed our family of 7, my routine is to shop once per week and I cherry-pick the loss leaders I regularly use (canned goods will keep until I need them, meat goes in the freezer, baking items are stored in totes, etc.), and replace items (especially perishables/short life) that we are just about out of/need more of: milk, eggs, bread, veggies, fruit, oatmeal, etc.  Then I just pull whatever meat I want out of the freezer in the morning to thaw for dinner that night.  Since big packs of meat are usually cheapest, I'll break them up to individual dinner servings before freezing. 

I'm very opportunistic when shopping - if breakfast sausage has a $2 off sticker on a $2.65 package, I'll snap up what I can fit in the freezer, even if I didn't plan to buy any.  I may not buy any meat for a week or two, and eat out of the freezer, then a store is getting rid of holiday hams at $5 off each.

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #15 on: August 02, 2013, 05:46:25 AM »
My cooking has changed (evolved?) over the last few years, and now I plan meals for the full week, Saturday-Friday and go grocery shopping on Saturday or Sunday to buy ingredients. So I buy pantry items when they go on sale now. I imagine you'll get to this point too.

Some of my mandatory items:
-tortillas (quesadillas are great for using up random leftovers)
-shredded cheese (surplus kept in freezer)
-all baking ingredients (yeast/flour/sugars/extracts/cocoa/etc)
-popcorn kernels + coconut oil (delicious popcorn any day of the week!)
-whole black peppercorns to refill the pepper grinder
-a variety of rice, grains, and lentils
-dried beans (I cook these in the slow cooker, then portion them off and stash them in the freezer)
-eggs
-almond milk
-annie's mac & cheese
-unsalted almonds
-sliced almonds
-tomato paste in a tube AND cans
-'better than bouillon' stock concentrate
-homemade bulk pancake mix
-homemade bulk brownie mix (this is new to my repertoire and I LOVE it)

I make heavy use of our upright freezer to store food items. I make stock when I have enough scraps and store that in the freezer. When bread is BOGO I store it in the freezer. I buy butter when it's on super sale and store it in the freezer. And on and on.

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #16 on: August 19, 2013, 08:56:16 AM »

We have a bread making machine, which costs about A$100, and my wife buys two sacks of flour at a time, one whole meal, the other white flour, and we mix about 5 kg of each into a large plastic airtight container. She also buys 4 or 5 kg rice at a time, and stores that in a plastic airtight container. Lesser amounts of porridge oats, which we cook with sultanas and honey, all of which store well.

The bread flour makes bread, but also, on the dough setting, we get raised dough which is tipped onto a floured board, rolled fairly flat, topped with chopped salami, cheese, tomato, olives and put in the oven to make focaccia. If we go out to friends for dinner we usually take a loaf of freshly made bread, or a freshly made focaccia. Once you make your own bread you will eat more bread.

In cooler weather we make casseroles and stews, seasoned with chilli preserve, that is a strong chilli sauce, available in jars; or curry sauce, also strong and available in jars. A favourite curry sauce is Rogan Ghosh. Casseroles and stew are chopped meat, chopped potato, carrot, swede, turnip, frozen peas, chopped broccoli or cauliflower (the last two have florets which absorb flavours well), spiced with curry sauce, and liquid enough so that when poured over a slice of homemade bread soaks into the bread.

We buy packets of frozen puff pastry. Defrost 2 sheets and blind bake the lower, (bake by itself for ten minutes to dry it out), then put in sliced apple or a jar of minced fruit, then put the other sheet on top and bake for 45 minutes. Minced fruit is a strong taste by itself, so we usually add sliced apple.

Use puff pastry to make vegetable pies, consisting of layers of sliced potato, alternating with frozen beans, the top layer of cut broccoli, with a lot of cheese on top. When cooked, the cheese melts and trickles down the layers and soaks into broccoli or cauliflower florets. Perhaps some chopped bacon as well.

Pumpkins make beautiful soup, but you may need a small axe to cut them up and certainly a sharp knife to peel, but it is worth the effort. Cook with chopped potato, swedes, bacon and frozen peas, and at the end stir through pepper and a large spoon of curry sauce.

Stews, casseroles (much the same), soup and pies store well.

EK

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #17 on: August 19, 2013, 10:22:25 AM »
We buy perishable proteins (for us basically just tofu, mushrooms, and eggs) and fresh fruits and veggies on a weekly basis based on meal plans.

Stuff we keep on hand in the house:

Basic baking ingredients:
- sugar
- flour
- baking soda
- baking powder
- yeast
- cocoa
- flavoring extracts
- fun stuff like sprinkles & chocolate chips

Grains/starches/dried products
- rice
-quinoa
- farro
- couscous
- white rice
- brown rice
- lentils
- potatoes
- bread
- pasta
- tortillas
- dried black beans
- dried pinto beans
- dried northern beans
- dried garbanzo beans
- oatmeal
- polenta
- couple cans of condensed soup
- cornstarch
- pancake mix

Cooking stuff:
- big selection of dried herbs and seasoning mixes
- olive oil
- vegetable oil
- butter
- earth balance
- soy sauce
- balsamic vinegar
- hot sauce
- stir fry sauce
- coconut milk
- vegetable bullion
- peanut sauce
- sirracha
- mustard
- ketchup
- dried onions

Fridge/ freezer have-on-hands:
- milk
- almond milk
- cold water
- yogurt
- pesto
- tomato sauce
- curry paste
- tomato paste
- frozen puff pastry sheets
- mozzarella cheese (buy in bulk and freeze in smaller portions)
- cheddar cheese (same)
- garlic
- salsa
- pb & j
- maple syrup
- selection of salad dressings
- vegan mayo (so much tastier than regular mayo!)
- plain yogurt
- American cheese

We also always have coffee beans and a nice selection of tea.


Once you've got a good selection of pantry and fridge items built up based on what you like to eat, and what you like to cook, it's super easy and cheap to pull together meals at home!!  If we could start growing some of our own fruit & veg combined with the great deals we get on pantry stuff at Costco our grocery bill could be pretty tiny.  Something I'm working towards!
« Last Edit: August 21, 2013, 08:46:23 AM by Evakatharina »

Random

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #18 on: August 19, 2013, 03:59:18 PM »
I get nervous if my freezer looks unstocked.  Right now I have no need for nervousness.  Still have large portions of the half beef and half hog from last year.  Just put in about 25 salmon, including some smoked.  Have ~10 meals of shrimp from summer harvests.  Need to somehow make room for frozen produce from the garden.

So:  beef, pork, salmon, shrimp wind up being the staples....if I remember to thaw something out.

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #19 on: August 19, 2013, 08:07:48 PM »
I'm pretty boring.

Freezer
Ground beef
Chicken thighs
Frozen veggies

Fridge
Lentils
Pinto beans
Rice
Eggs
Milk

Cupboard
Canned tomato paste
Canned tomatoes/peppers
Popcorn
Flour
Sugar
Oil
Spices
Protein powder

That's generally all I eat. Usually a frozen pizza and sherbert on the weekends.
« Last Edit: August 20, 2013, 05:54:11 AM by Kriegsspiel »

Mike

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #20 on: August 20, 2013, 02:58:12 AM »
Freezer:
Chicken drumsticks or thighs
Peas
Green Beans
Ground Beef
Mozzarella cheese
Extra loaves of bread

Fridge:
Milk
OJ
Eggs
Lettuce
Strawberry Yogurt
Butter/margarine
Gatorade

Pantry:
Pasta
Tomato Sauce
Tomato Paste
Canola oil
Sugar
Flour
Canned beans
Cereal
Various spices

kkbmustang

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #21 on: August 20, 2013, 04:08:41 PM »
Not exactly what you asked, but might be helpful:

I don't keep a set list of items in my pantry. Nor do I find recipes and then shop based on that. I do something a little less rigid that allows me to be flexible and take advantage of sales.

I usually cook some variation on the following:

1. Pasta with sauce (or butter and parmesan) and a side salad.
2. Tacos/Quesadillas with a side salad and beans.
3. Protein/Vegetable/Grain.
4. Protein/Vegetable/Fruit.
5. Soup or Stew.
6. Sandwiches with salad/vegetable/fruit or soup.

This allows you to substitute in whatever you have on hand. It also allows you to make use of your crockpot. Adaptable based on food preferences (vegetarian, gluten free, etc.) and seasoning preferences (greek, italian, indian, mexican, cajun).

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #22 on: August 21, 2013, 08:13:47 AM »
I cook a lot, so I generally have quite a bit more than this on hand, but here are my staples:

Pantry
Flour
Sugar
Olive oil
Rice
Beans
Pasta
Canned corn
Salt
Spices and seasonings
Ramen
Cocoa
Baking soda
Yeast
Tomato sauce/crushed tomatoes/tomato paste

Freezer
Ground beef
Frozen vegetables
Butter
Vanilla ice cream

Fridge
Milk
cream cheese




sloof70

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #23 on: August 21, 2013, 10:23:43 AM »
Pork butt, hot sauce, beer (no light shit), cigarettes.  Maybe some corn if you're into that whole vegetable fad.

wing117

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #24 on: September 03, 2013, 09:47:06 AM »
Thanks to everyone who has replied! Great advice! I am working on becoming more proficient with going to the grocery store for a weekly stock up now and have started making impromptu dinners/lunches with whatever is around.

We'll also be drying a significant number of our own herbs this year, so that's one less thing to worry about at the store.

Rural

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #25 on: September 03, 2013, 03:11:38 PM »
I've got one, inspired by this afternoon. Canned chicken soup for those sick days. Helps if you have crackers, but I'm out, and I've discovered they're not absolutely necessary.

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Re: Groceries - "Always Have On Hand"
« Reply #26 on: September 03, 2013, 06:11:49 PM »
I eat the same breakfast every morning so I stock these staples:

Low carb bread
Peanut butter
Canadian bacon
Seasonal fruit
Whole bean coffee with milk

Lunch - chicken salads or soup and sandwiches

Lettuce
Cooked chicken breast
Berries or apples
Blue cheese or feta
Chopped pecans
Dressings - oil and vinegar based
Sandwich thins
Low salt turkey
Cheese
Sandwich pickles
Seasonal fruit
Carrots
Hummus
Canned soups or chili

Dinners
I rotate between about 15-20 dinners
Usually I try to keep on hand
Brown rice
Whole grain pasta
Tomato sauce
Frozen meatballs
Frozen chicken, ground beef, steak
Canned and frozen veggies
Various spices and bread crumbs
A frozen lasagna
Parmesan cheese
Rolls
Various sandwich meats on sale
Tex mex fixings : cheese, sour cream, salsa, tortillas
I can make a lot of meals from those basics

I like to keep some frozen meals, mostly trader joes variety, on hand because although not ideal, when I am just too tired to cook, it is still cheaper and usually healthier than take out.

I buy a few boxes of processed snack stuff that the husband insists on, tons of fruit in season,
And snacks and drinks for the kids