Parents: How do you deal with grocery shopping for the family or the list etc?

I, or we, always have trouble every single week. Either buy too much and it goes to waste, don't buy enough and that causes early grocery trips, and/or actually forget to buy something.

I don't know about most other adults but i still eat like a kid. Well i kind of am still a kid! Lol I will have a phase that i go more than a month munching on Gold Fish, suddenly get bored and go to another food, and the rest goes to waste. My husband and I don't like all the same foods, im a lot more picky than he is. But i waste the most food. I have gone through phases with Progesso soup (still do), chocolate chip cookies, Kashi cereal, Cheetos etc. Basically just snacks.

We use to spend $60-$80 per week for 2 adults and an infant. I understand that my son eats more and he's toddler now BUT now spend $90-$110! That's too much of an increase. The last time we went shopping, Monday, we spent $100 but $60 of it was groceries. It's Saturday and there's practically nothing to eat. Please give me some suggestions! :o)

PS: I do a grocery list but still fail to get everything on it or to write everything on the list! I also cook like once a week because my husband says he'll eat at work instead but on his 2 days off he has that "Im hungry look" but he always says not to buy for him just for our son and me!
The white board on our fridge is to write down my son's meals for when im gone! Lol But the note pad is on the fridge too but he never write down what we need.

FREEZER! I need to remember to do that! Sometimes when i do cook it goes to waste to. FREEZER.


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Do the list. Make sure you get everyone in the household to participate and tell them to tell you what it is that they want.

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I'm not great at sticking to a list but what has helped me remember what I need from the store is to keep a white board on the fridge so me and my husband can jot down what we want or need that week. We are also snackers. We make 3 large meals a week and if you don't want leftovers the next night it's a fend for yourself night which means pb&j, cereal, mac and cheese, or grilled cheese. I also love my goldfish.

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I have found out that "junk" food or snacks are a lot more expensive than "real" food. We have gotten to where we buy and freeze stuff that can be frozen. That way we have the makings for whatever it is we want to cook for dinner, we just have to thaw it out. Cook meals and save left overs. Plus try buying the store brand in some items, it is usually the same just not the fancy packaging. If you want to make lasagna or something and don't think you need the big dish just separate it into two smaller dishes and freeze one of them for a later date...

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I make a menu each week using the sale flyer as a guide. Then I make my grocery list based on my menu and what I have on hand. Of course, I always add a couple "quick meals" in case something comes up and I don't have time to cook what I had planned.

Don't worry, when I was a younger woman I was making DAILY trips to the grocery store!!!!! You'll get into the swing of things.

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Go through what you have already. Try to get what is really needed like say milk but with the FOOD FOOD You take what you already have and then figure out meals to make up until next week Plus the extra for your hubby's day off.

EXAMPLE:

You have in your kitchen:
a bag of rice
chicken
french fries
corn

You buy:
Some hamburgers (goes with french fries)
Potatoes (a hole meal with the chicken and corn)
Pork chops and bean (with your rice)
That is three meals but you get the drift

You just make a meal plan not just what you can think you need.

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I understand you. I try list but half the times doesn't work or I get things that not on the list. My 7 year old and my 4 year old eats peanut butter and jelly for breakfast. Which I let them since the doctor don't see any problems. Once in while they ask for cereal. And I have cereal. Way to much of it. And I have a 9 week old baby girl that hardly let me eat at all. So I just fix sandwich and eat cookies which shouldn't be good to eat all day has well. Well I got myself a new crockpot. I been looking up online for recipes to fix in it. So I have supper ready on time.

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I agree with jen1846, junk food actually cost much more than real food. For example, a pack of chip costs $3.50, but you can use that $3.50 to buy a pack of pork to make dinner for whole family. Snack for babies also cost much but some do not provide much nutrition.
About meat, in my area, an "expensive" grocery store usually discounts a lot, you can get better deals than buying in a cheaper one.

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I really try to keep a going list on the fridge, then we I use something up I just write it down...plus we have things that I always get every week like milk, juice, butter, soda, bread, lunchmeat and fresh veggies.
Before you go shopping just take a minute to calmly look through your kitchen and see if you recognzie that something is missing. Seeing all the mustard you have might remind you that you don't have any ketchup. Or you might notice that you only have one can of soup left :)
Another thing I do is go down every isle in the market and and look at everything. Sometimes it reminds me of something I need, or have been wanting. Also, I try to limit myself to only one or two snackie items that I don't really *need*, and I try to force myself to finish things even though my desire for them is over..(like I have 2 frozen dinners in my freezer right now..that I *really* don't want...but I know i'll have to eat them soon)
Buy store brands as much as possible. Also, like other people mentioned, you can freeze most left-overs. In addition, make sure you're keeping your left over snacks in zip-lock baggies so they stay fresh longer.
We used to spend about 100-120 a week on groceries, but now that my daughter is 2 and eating reg. food we spend about 160-200 a week. So we made a big jump too.
It really comes down to knowing what will trigger your memory. That's what works for me. Hope it helps!
EDIT: I too used to make daily trips to the store..but eventually I got the hang of it, and now I only go every Thursday.

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My hubby and and I, both young with a toddler, we do not buy buy snack foods. That way we do not eat them and keeps down my weight. My son eats his jello, and popcorn, that is all the snacks we have. we spent 105.17 on groceries, that is for 2 weeks. All meat we buy is on sale and everything else is store brand. I feel that the "coupon mom" deals are for suckers. It is always cheaper to buy store brand. I also check my local grocery store for offers. (Normally I shop at walmart) I make it a point to get those deals, no coupons involved. It has taken us 4 years to get it down. I have also learned to buy the good freezer bags, and freeze the meat that day. Huge expense, worked great. Daddy gets the baby while mommy deals in the kitchen.

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