Hi everyone, so glad we are almost at the weekend!
This morning I decided to have a bit of a later start at work so I could get a few things done. I started with my yoga and core workout (5 min cardio warm up, yoga for runners podcast and core exercises) then made myself a tasty breakfast:
Big bowl of Dorset Cereal High Fibre Muesli (yum) with 3 chopped plums and rice milk plus a fabulous fresh juice made with an apple, carrot, celery, spinach, ginger and lemon.
I got a quick grocery shop in then headed up to my local farm shop for more veggies:
All organic: bag of kale, bananas, courgette, peppers, pears, mushrooms, garlic, broccoli, farm fresh eggs
I am really loving being able to get an additional cheaper organic shop of fresh produce to top up my usual grocery shop and the organic veg box delivery I get once a fortnight.
Lunch was leftover black beans with brown rice, mango and coriander from last nights dinner on top of lots of spinach. I also had an orange and some red grapes:
Mid afternoon snack was more of my tasty squash dip with carrot and cucumber for dipping:
Dinner was a mix of veggies with chickpeas and pesto inspired by Tam. I steamed some broccoli and brussel sprouts then stir fried them alongside mushrooms and red pepper then mixed in some chickpeas, spiralised courgette and two heaped teaspoons of calorific La Sacla vegetarian organic pesto and served up with some steamed kale:
I think I may have gone a little overboard with the veggies – this plate was huge! It tasted wonderful though and I actually ate the lot :-)
Dessert was two chopped apples with some coconut flour paste for dipping (1 tbsp of coconut flour mixed with water):
So good!
Now that I’m having to take a serious look at my finances I need to start reigning in my grocery shopping again. When I did my big budget challenge last year I found it really useful to look at what my regular must have grocery items are so that I can identify the most cost effective method of purchasing them. As my diet (and the hubby’s) has changed dramatically since then I thought it might be worth taking another look at this:
| Item | Best value place to buy it |
| Greens: kale, spring greens, cabbage | farm shop, veg box, market, green grocer |
| Salad greens: spinach, rocket, lettuce, watercress | farm shop, veg box, market, green grocer |
| Organic pink lady apples | supermarket |
| lemons | supermarket, green grocer |
| ginger | supermarket, green grocer |
| Selection of fruit and veggies on offer | supermarket, discount supermarket such as Aldi or Lidl, green grocer |
| Frozen fruits (bananas, blueberries, cherries, mixed berries, mango) | supermarket |
| Frozen soya beans | supermarket |
| Tofu – firm / silken / organic / flavoured | supermarket, health food shop |
| Beans and lentils - tinned / dried | supermarket, ethnic store |
| Nut butter – peanut, almond, cashew, hazelnut | health food shop / online |
| Green tea | supermarket |
| Almonds – to make almond milk | supermarket, ethnic store, health food store |
| Non dairy milk – soy, rice, kara coconut, oat | supermarket, health food store |
| Oats | supermarket, health food store |
| Tinned chopped tomatoes | supermarket |
| Brown rice and quinoa | supermarket, health food store |
| In addition for James: | |
|
Skimmed milk |
supermarket |
| Eggs | Farm shop, supermarket |
|
Ham |
supermarket |
|
Cheese |
supermarket |
|
Strawberry yoghurt |
supermarket |
|
Tuna |
supermarket |
|
Tomato pasta sauce |
supermarket |
|
Pasta |
supermarket |
|
Potatoes |
supermarket, farm shop, organic veg box |
This list tends to represent the things I buy on a weekly or at the very least monthly basis. I do try and buy organic whenever I can afford it if its not vastly more expensive than the regular option. In addition to my organic veg box delivery I do try and get fruit and veg from the supermarket that is on offer – today I got some strawberries and cherries for £3 (although I do feel guilty for the food miles). The cheaper supermarkets such as Aldi or Lidl can sometimes have some real bargain fruit and veg as well as random finds – I recently bought a load of cartons of rice milk on the cheap from Aldi!
I also know that organic pink lady apples aren’t a best value option, but I love them and don’t mind forking out extra pennies on one of my favourite foods!
Obviously it would be incredibly time consuming to shop in all these different places each week so I’m going to try and get myself organised so I can take advantage of the better value options when I can. A weekly supermarket shop is a given, however I’m going to try and get around some of the other cheaper sources of groceries when I can too. I also need to think about having a balance between eating more expensive foods like the flavoured tofu and instead eating more beans which are cheaper.
As long as I have a fridge, freezer and cupboards stocked with this stuff I’m happy I can whip up a healthy meal for the both of us. Luckily I already have a crazy stash of chocolate, frozen baked goodies, grains, noodles, pasta, dried fruit and nuts and snack bars that could probably see me through a nuclear winter and I plan on eating my way through these as best I can!
What are your key grocery items? How do you approach grocery budgeting?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for a really interesting post! On a weekly basis most of my money goes on fruit and veg, so I need to look for some cheaper sources. Some more of my staples are quite cost-effective, like beans, pulses and grains. I almost never buy meat, partially because I prefer plant-based food and partly because it’s so expensive! I eat meat as a treat at restaurants and when I go home to my parents.
Some other things I buy are a bit more expensive – mainly the health food stuff.
We order stuff online which means if the total is too much we can take stuff off. We also always plan our meals and only buy things for those meals- we tend to eat fairly cheap things-half our meals start with an onion, courgette, peppers and a tin of tomatoes, then various beans/ spices being added in! Oats for my breakfast and cornflakes for Andy, and then sandwiches (which we make) for lunch means we dont spend too much. I spend more on additional things like nakd bars etc, which I order in bulk from websites, and I dont mind spending more there. :)
In terms of managing my grocery budget, I…err, don’t. It’s something I really need to work on, so thank you for the helpful tips. I’ve found some real bargains in the ‘cheaper’ shops too.
Why do you have to tease me with your lovely massive plate of veggies? I wish we could swap stomachs so I could handle all of that fibre…obviously not massive calorie-wise at all, even with the pesto, but I’m getting really depressed being deprived of my beloved veggies. My IBS might be happier but my waistline and tastebuds are not. Oh well, I shall live vicariously through your nutrient-filled dinner.
xxx
i seriously am horrible with grocery planning!!!! i just go to the health food store.. the reg store like 5 times a week because i either forget things.. or i crave things.. blah!.. ps.. that coconut flour paste is SO cool! does it really taste like coconut?
I agree with Jess, I don’t budget at all and I really need to start learning how to as I am enjoying my Dad’s money too much whilst I’m at uni but I need to start learning the value of money for when it’s all my own! I am really good at finding bargains though and getting certain foods where I know it’s cheapest e.g. fruit and veg at the market and the latest deals in the supermarkets for certain foods. My trouble is that I’m a ‘hoarder’ and buy things when I just don’t need them – I can’t ever just have one type of anything!
I think it is important to budget, especially when it comes to buying food. It’s so easy to let things spiral out of control. I’m awful for buying health foods and tonnes of fruit and veg. I have given myself a monthy allowance to but health food goodies and I now try and get my fruit and veg from the market or the green grocers as they have some amazing deals. When the supermarkets have deals on thing that I buy regularly I like to stock up too whether I need them or not.
I don’t know if you know, but Tesco’s have buy 3 for 2 across all of their cereals, including the Dorset range!! I stocked up on Sunday so I’m assuming that it would still be on. :-)
So jealous of your farm shop. And absolutely aghast at your organisation with your shopping! You should be a wedding planner ;-)
I’v actually tried setting myself a budget as of last week, I just haven’t had the time to blog about it! I know that it is really easy to lose track of how much money you spend on food, especially when you are me, and you work in a supermarket! I tend to pick up a few items that I ‘need’ every time I finish work, but a fiver or a tenner here and there really do add up!
I’m like you and fork out extra for pink ladies, they really are the best apples! Definitely worth the splurge!
This post has inspired me to take another look at mine and Mike’s food budget.. We’ve been totally blowing our planned budget! I find going to different shops makes me spend more even if I save money on some items ’cause I just can’t help myself when I spot other ‘bargains’
I do must of my food shopping online, I find I’m less likely to impulse buy that way – and boy do I like an impulse buy or two…or three!
I love Pink Lady apples, I think they are the best apple around :-)
I really SHOULD look at my budget more…I’m terrible!! I tend to buy expensive branded stuff, but save money by buying value everything else! I think snack bars are my biggest enemy when it comes to budgeting though…! :P
Sarah – we are the same, obviously I eat mostly vegan so I know I save money that way but what I save I end up spending on more expensive health and foodie foods!
Maria – I’ve often thought about shopping online – I get so easily distracted by special offers or buy too much fresh produce just because it looks so good!
Jessica – I know, I think I’m lucky as my body handles that fibre really well – it was gorgeous!
Carrie – the coconut flour is fab, it tastes really coconutty – I’m guessing its kinda like peanut flour – I think if you mixed it with coconut oil it would be more like coconut butter!
Nicky – I am a terrible horder, I have quite a few things that are approaching their use by date to get through! My kitchen is litterally stuffed full of food to use up!
Jemma – I would have been all over the dorset cereals is tesco – only problem is that I still have three boxes or muesli and two boxes of cereal! haha! I’m terrible in health food shops although I am getting a little better at showing some restraint!
Alison – oh yes I’d love to plan weddings! Seriously, if I wasn’t organised I’d be walking round with my head up my arse most of the time ;-)
Ffion – glad I’m not the only one that forks out for the apples! I would be terrible if I worked in a supermarket, I’d be buying stuff left right and centre!
Laura – I’m the same, I can’t help myself when I see things on offer
Debbie – I think online shopping makes a lot of sense to help budgeting!
Emma – I love the snack bars too but I’m going to try and start making more of my own from scratch!
Great timing with this post – I’ve recently been worrying about the silly amounts of money I seem to spend on fruit and veg. I just can’t stand not having a selection of fresh fruit and veg in my fridge, like, it literally sends me into a panic! As well as doing a big weekly shop I’ve also gotten into the habit of nipping to supermarket during the week to pick up fruit/veg as it starts to run out… good for my fridge but definitely not for my wallet! I need to plan better and cut out the mid-week fruit/veg splurges.
I’ve really pared back my grocery spending of late, and I’m glad to say it’s been working well for me. Fruit and veg can be so expensive so I try to get more use out of things that tend to be cheaper like carrots and potatoes. If Aldi and Lidl are doing a special on a fruit or veg item that I like I’ll buy as much as is feasibly possible (without it going off!). I keep an eye out for cut price bunches of bananas as well – I got two mahoosive bunches in Tesco this week for 80c. They hadn’t even ripened at that stage but just because it was the date on the bag then they got put in the reduced section. Made me happy anyway! I keep a stash in the freezer for smoothies but I love the brown and black ones too, mash mash mash! I have an a really cheap f&v market around the corner from my office but I can’t face carting the stuff to the train etc most of the time so I have to be realistic about it too.
Asian shops are brilliant for lentils, beans etc. I buy all my tofu from there but if you want to eat the organic stuff you’ll probably not get that in those kinds of shops (I did see some organic tofu in an asian shop today but it was a tiny carton for €3.50 so just as expensive as a health food shop really)