Grocery Shopping ~ Tuesday 4

Hello friends and welcome to Tuesday 4 in honor of Toni Taddeo.

Here are some questions for you on the topic of shopping.

1. Where do you like to buy your groceries and do you buy by the day, week or month?

 I do not drive to the supermarket so my shopping is done locally and within walking distance. I use a shopping trolley to carry my groceries home and I will take the bus if I go a little further afield but usually still in my part of the city. Generally I shop every few days for fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products. I try to buy other things like dried goods (beans, pulses, rice, flour etc.) in bulk so I don't have to shop for those very often. Meat, fish and chicken are purchased 2, sometimes 3x per month.

2. What foods would we always find in your kitchen?

In my kitchen you will always find bananas, oranges, apples and strawberries or other berries though sometimes I buy frozen berries rather than fresh. To a lesser extent you'll find pears, grapes and gooseberries, otherwise it's whatever fruits are in season. It also depends on the prices each week. Bananas are usually the best buy. I don't eat many bananas but my husband eats quite a lot of them as well as all the other fruits. I mainly use the berries in fruit smoothies but also love to eat strawberries plain. You'll also always find eggs, bread and milk/cream in the refrigerator and potatoes and rice in the pantry and a variety of canned goods, especially tomatoes, crushed or diced and canned fish. You'll always be able to make an easy meal at my house even if it's nothing fancy.  As for all other foods, those will vary depending on costs.  I'd like to make more varieties of dishes but it usually means I'd have to buy more ingredients and condiments than I already have on hand. I simply don't have room to keep it all.  Sometimes I experiment with the cooking but within reason given the limitations.

3. Do you buy anything online and if so what kinds of things are you most likely to buy there?

I do shop on line but never for food.  I prefer to inspect and choose food myself.

4. Do you shop with a list on paper, on your phone or do you just shop without a list and maybe come home with things you never planned to buy?

I often shop with a list on paper especially if I'm buying more than the basic items or I have to go a little further afield for food items. I've tried keeping lists on the phone too but that doesn't work as well for me. Sometimes I take screenshots of the flyer items so I can look at those when I shop. I've found it useful to have the photos and dates if there is an issue with getting the advertised price and that issue does come up once in awhile. I often shop without a list and I always come home with things I never planned to buy. I can't seem to pass up a good offer; especially if the item is something that will keep over a longer period. I buy far too much and have tried different ways to limit myself. I get the habit from my mother.  She didn't over buy though.  She had a smaller selection of items she bought and she had a larger family to feed.  She always purchased in bulk.

Bonus question:  What will you be cooking in the coming week?

I didn't prepare a meal plan for the week ahead though I often do. I do have some salad greens and tomatoes that I need to use up soon.  I was thinking of making beef patties and salad for Monday night.  Meals we had last week included home made and take away meals:  stir fried vegetables and noodles with Tiger Prawns, KFC (take out), Salmon & Tuna Onigiri and Gyoza (take out), Curried Coconut Lentils and Chicken with steamed rice, cabbage and ground beef soup and spaghetti with meat and lentil sauce.

Curried Coconut Lentils & Chicken

Cabbage and ground beef soup

Spaghetti with ground beef & lentil sauce

It can sometimes be a challenge to figure out what to make. If it isn't a hearty meal, my body cannot stay warm and I'm always hungry. I also like to incorporate a lot of vegetables into the dishes otherwise it's hard to eat enough vegetables.