Grocery shopping for one or even two people, without wasting food or money is simple, if you know the secrets. A jar of pasta sauce or a loaf of bread is fine when you’re feeding four. But four servings isn’t practical when you’re trying to save money, not waste food or hate leftovers. I’ve even passed up recipes for this blog because I knew I would have too many ingredients that would go to waste, or worse…I’d have to buy an expensive spice for just one meal. I feel your pain!
So… here are my top 10 shopping secrets to save you time, money and help you eat healthfully when you are on your own.
First buy these three items to store ingredients that you can’t use right away. They will save you time and money in the long run. I’ll explain how to use them…
- Resealable quart freezer bags
- Resealable gallon freezer bags
- Wax paper
1.When shopping for deli meat and cheese, the SERVICE DELI is your best friend. You can buy small portions of deli meat and cheese here instead of a large package. Ounce per ounce, buying from the service deli is cheaper compared to prepackaged deli items. Trust me. Buy a few slices of roast beef and cheese and try my Roast Beef Dip Sandwich.
2. Don’t forget the MEAT BUTCHER BLOCK for single portions of meat, fish, shrimp, bacon and other dinner ideas. Want just a few slices of bacon or one pork chop? Easy! Just visit the butcher block at your grocery store. Prices are the same or lower than prepackaged meat. At Albertsons they will even season the meat for you or add a marinade before they wrap it up. NO EXTRA CHARGE! Be sure to ask.
3. Does your grocery store have BULK BINS for rice and grains? If so, use the bins to buy only what you need. No bulk bins? Try this. Buy a medium bag of rice and cook several portions at once. Pack what you don’t use flat in a large bag and just take out what you need the next time and reheat in the microwave.
4. Look for the bulk bins in the produce section too. Lettuce, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, etc, can all be purchased in handfuls instead of large amounts. A whole head of lettuce can be daunting for one, but a couple handfuls of mixed greens lettuce in a bag would be perfect.
5. Buy a rotisserie chicken and make a quick enchilada for one, tacos, pasta dishes and salads. One rotisserie chicken, shredded and skin removed makes about 3 cups of meat. Try this: first day eat a few chicken pieces for dinner, then shred the rest and use in an BBQ Chicken Sandwich or make a loaded Chicken Quesadilla the next few nights.
For more money saving shopping tips (Part 2) along with easy meal solutions click here. Heidi
