If I didn’t have a perfectly good apartment, I’d consider setting up camp directly outside of the grocery store. I’m there often enough that I would save a lot of money on gas; I could then use that money on food. Who’s with me? I’ve actually been trying to reign in my grocery store frequency to 2-3x a week instead of the nearly every day run because ‘I forgot one item.’ To accomplish this I’ve been buying more than normal each trip and making sure I have enough food for at least three days.
On a side note…does anyone else call the grocery store “the market?” My family and I have always called it “the market” but no one knows what we are talking about. They think “flea market.” Not sure if it’s a New England thing or what (I grew up there).
Last weekend I took pictures of a very typical food stock-up for me. Nothing too fancy, just the basics. I had a lot of other things already that I don’t need to buy weekly (oils, nuts/seeds, most nut butters, granola) in addition to some chicken breasts in the freezer that I defrosted and cooked for lunches. I threw away my receipt but I know I spent $80 and change, and that included a $12 almond butter and mostly organic food. If you haven’t realized, I “splurge” on food and don’t (really) feel guilty about it.
I’m linking up to Jenn’s blog for What I Ate Wednesday to show a day of meals from this grocery run. In total I got six dinners worth plus snacks and lunch additions. I tend to eat the same things for a few days because it’s easier logistics wise.
First, what I bought from Whole Foods. Oh, and these pictures were taken with my iPhone 5 in bad lighting. I will never claim to be a good photographer.
Vegetables
(All organic) Super green salad mix, cucumber, 2 purple sweet potatoes, celery, parsnips, carrots (for the crock pot) and carrots for snacking
Fruits
Strawberries, bananas, avocados and frozen blueberries
Meats/Seafood
Chicken for the crock pot, two pieces of salmon
Extras
Pacific vanilla coconut milk (so good!), almond butter, kombucha, rice cakes, oatmeal
Now for some of the meals I made from this grocery run…
Breakfast
Oatmeal with fruit and almond butter
Lunch
Super greens, baked rosemary chicken (from the package I had frozen), 1/2 avocado, cucumbers, baby carrots and sunflower seeds with a lemon and olive oil dressing
Snack
Smoothie bowl made with frozen blueberries, 1/3 frozen banana, and vanilla coconut milk. Topped with Purely Elizabeth granola.
Dinner
Rosemary-Dijon baked salmon, a purple sweet potato and kale (cooked at 400 degrees for 7 min)
Other things I ate/made:
-Crock pot chicken flavored with lemon and rosemary + carrots (enough for 4 dinners)
-Rice cakes and almond butter (for snacks)
-Celery and almond butter (for snacks)
-Roasted parsnips (vegetable for lunch/dinner)
I’m not the best or most creative person in the kitchen, but I like what I eat and I’m making cooking progress! Simple and quick is (and probably always will be) my motto. I like to put food in the oven or crock pot with a few seasonings and call it a day.
And with that, I’ll call this long ass post a day, too.
I try to go to the grocery store 1-2 times every 2 weeks…I don’t like to waste food, so I make get creative and make things happen, even if they are strange but good. :) Do you know that I have never had a purple potato…yours looks DELISH!
She Rocks Fitness recently posted…My Relationship With SQUASH
GET ON IT! Actually, they are hard to find so stock up if you find them.
I can’t believe I’ve never ever had a purple sweet potato!!
Whole foods flagship today it is!
Carla recently posted…5 healthy habits for beating energy VAMPIRES.
This season is the first time I’ve tried them and I’m OBSESSED.
We go every other week or so with the occasional trip in between. I can’t imagine going as frequently as you do!
Cassi recently posted…Final Week of Super Heroine Fitness
I just never bought enough or the right things. It was $15 here and there and never enough to get me through.
Do you ever write a shopping list?
Cassi recently posted…Final Week of Super Heroine Fitness
Yes, sometimes I make a list in the “notes” app on my phone!
I usually try to only go to the grocery store every 2 weeks since I don’t have one within walking distance from me so I go when I can get a ride or when I am at home. If I lived near a Whole Foods or a Trader Joe’s I would be there so much more, especially for their prepared foods. There has been a Whole Foods being built by me that has been under construction for the last year and a half and it still doesn’t look close to being done… it’s like they are waiting for me to graduate before they open it… whomp whomp
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…Chocolate Chai Tea Smoothie
That is torture in my book! I have a Whole Foods pretty close to me and that may have been a huge factor in deciding to go to school here :)
I can’t believe how deeply PURPLE your sweet potato is! I just tried a Japanese sweet potato for the first time, which is white on the inside, and it was so good. It tasted totally different, though. How are the purple ones?!
Liv @ Healthy Liv recently posted…Healthy Whole Wheat Pumpkin Spice Bread
I LOVE Japanese sweet potatoes too. I’ve been alternating between those and the purple. You have to try them!
i got to the grocery store once a week but divide my time between shoprite, tj’s and sometimes whole foods. I try to change up my dinner as the weeks go by but you will see me eating the same thing for a good few weeks before i get sick of it haha!
rachel @ athleticavocado recently posted…Creamy Sweet Potato Spice Oatmeal with Pecans and Cranberries {GF + Vegan!}
I do the same thing with dinners…once I find a recipe I like that is easy to make, it sticks around for a while!
I LOVE purple sweet potatoes! I drive 30 minutes to sprouts every week just to get some.
And I splurge so much on groceries, but I never go out to eat so I don’t feel bad at all. And fueling your body well is much more important than a lot of other things that we could be blowing our money on.
Your pictures are beautiful, you are so talented!
Margaret @ youngandrungry recently posted…Tips on Finding the Right Training Plan for You
The day my Whole Foods stops selling them I will be driving out of my way to get them too. I very very rarely go out to eat so I think it all balances out!
Yay for purple potatoes. The color is so striking that it draws you to the picture right away. We usually shop about once or maybe twice a week. :) I have a goal to get some purple sweet potatoes sometime soon.
Emily recently posted…Eating is Not the Enemy
It’s the epitome of nature’s beauty. Stock up if you find them!
I go to trader joe’s once a week and then usually to safeway once or twice if I’m missing veggies or something. Some weeks I do end up there every single day and my grocery bill skyrockets… whoops haha your meals look so legit!
Sarah @pickyrunner recently posted…Rock n Roll Philly Half (1:39:05)
I should do a comparison of what I spend on weeks when I go 4-5x versus weeks when I go 2-3x. I feel like it’s about equal but I’m not sure.
I grocery shop about once a week, usually, but I’d love to go more :) Grocery shopping is (strangely?) one of my favorite things to do. I’d love to find some purple sweet potatoes! I’ve had the white (Japanese), but the purple are so pretty!
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday recently posted…Day in the Life #8
Not strange, I LOVE it too! Japanese sweets are tied with purple for me now. The purple make the plate look prettier though :)
I definitely go close to every day because I forgot one thing, and then I end up getting like nine other things I didn’t need….rinse and repeat. I don’t call it ‘the market’ but that is adorable and sounds kind of British or something! Hahaha
Story of my life! I go for strawberries and leave with a million other things. People have asked if it’s a British thing- no clue where it came from!
I hope you didn’t leave that PSP naked!!!
We always called it…the food store. hahaha! Now, I myself, just call it the grocery. Simply, the grocery. I think it sounds classier :P Hahaha!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Pumpkin Spice Roasted Chickpeas
It had coconut oil on it! What else should I have put? I love it plain!
Hah I feel you with going so often! As a graduate student no longer on her sororities meal plan, still trying to figure out this whole food prep thing and how much I need to buy every trip :p I just bought a whole turkey and cooked it (froze some)..so I love seeing someone else buy a whole chicken! Its so much better that way :)
xo
Sarah Grace recently posted…Sarah Spann Overcomes an Eating Disorder to Inspire Others
I love cooking the whole chicken! Then you get all of the good parts and not just the breasts haha
That purple sweet potato is BEAUTIFUL
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me recently posted…WIAW: The ENTIRE Halloween Weekend
It honestly makes me happy to eat it. Weird?
Whole Foods…Seriously, they eat my wallet up every time!
Thanks for the meal ideas- I’ve been slacking so bad lately and need a good grocery run. Aka bars and bites don’t count as meals.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…3 Ingredient Flourless Banana Bread Cookies
I’m so impressed I managed to spend under $100 this time! Not a normal thing but I bought a few items on sale.
I love this kind of post!! I’ve never seen anyone do it quite like this- showing the products then how they used it. This would be a fun monthly post :) I call it the grocers, or just say I’m going to the store!
I’m so glad you liked it! I was wondering what people would think. It seems like “grocery” and “store” are the most common words.
We used to live a quarter of a mile away from the grocery store. I was there easily 3 times a week because I would never plan what I needed! It was nice to be able to walk over there though. Now we are 8-10 miles away so it is not quite as convenient and requires so much more planning!
Kristin recently posted…A Summer Like No Other
I would go every day if I lived that close! No need to plan at all.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who always has to go to the store because I forgot something – I go to the grocery at least 3 times a week. I need to find purple sweet potatoes – what a beautiful pop of color!
Laura @ This Runner’s Recipes recently posted…6 Tips for Eating Healthy When the Weather Gets Cold
I will fully admit to going to the grocery store yesterday to buy only two things, which I probably didn’t “need.” Purple sweet potatoes make whatever I’m eating so pretty because of their color!
i got once per week and am mad if i have to stop 2x due to my poor planning. it just takes so much time out of my day to stop for just one thing. i call it “the store”. i feel like its very fancy you say market though ! what do you call the cart ? my grandma used to call it a buggy. but people never know what that means !
i normally cook for volume to have at least lunch and dinner out of one meal for the two of us so 4 portions but often i make soup or crockpot something to get 6-8 meals out of it. u know the drill…for a celiac generally speaking you gotta cook for yourself if you want to eat good !
I don’t call it the buggy but that’s so cute. I call it the shopping cart. And oh yes, I completely understand the celiac thing.
WOW! I love this! Your groceries are so fresh, healthy and delicious! All of your eats look amazing btw!! SO great! …also, a purple sweet potato?!! WHAT?! That’s so awesome. I need one! I’ve had white sweet potatoes before, but never purple! Def need to give it a try!
Cailee recently posted…New Beginning November!
It’s my new favorite. Ranked above regular sweet potatoes (and I’m a huge fan of those).
That purple sweet potato though! I go to the grocery store once (sometimes twice) a week and try my hardest to stay within my budget but this week I totally failed. Oops! I’ve been buying a whole chicken lately and love roasting it with a bunch of veggies. Feels like the perfect comfort meal.
Lauren recently posted…Tuesday Night Mini Chocolate Donuts
Roasted chicken and veggies is such a comfort meal for me…it’s my favorite meal that my mom makes! Feels like home.
Ok. Purple potatoes. I’m seeing them everywhere. Do they taste different/better? I’m so interested. I might have to pick some up from the store this weekend!
Lindsay @ A Runnaroundd Life recently posted…i hate to tell you this.
GET THEM! I don’t want to go back to regular sweets now.
Ya know if there were a TJ’s, Whole Foods or Fresh Market by my house I would be broooke. Thankfully the nearest of any of those is about 40 min away (as you know). Publix it is… *meh*
Christina recently posted…20 Food Blog Topics for When You’re Uninspired
I didn’t realize how far you lived from them! Fresh Market is a new favorite of mine. Come live by me in Tampa, please!
All looks great to me! Love Trilogy Kombucha <3
Lately I've been going either every 2 weeks with 1 mini trip in between to refresh my greens supply.
Georgie recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday: You Make the Choice
I run out of fruits and vegetables so fast! They are the usual culprits on quick run-ins.
As a future RD, I truly believe you should splurge on food because not only is it nourishing your body, but it is providing happiness and health! Especially whole foods, yummm. I’m such a fan of frozen blueberries – they’re a much better bargain for your money and don’t go bad. So perfect for breads, cereals, oatmeal toppings! Did the purple sweet potato taste any different?
Sarah @ BucketListTummy recently posted…Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake & WIAW
I’m glad to hear a professional agrees :) The frozen organic berries were on sale for 2 packs for $4, which I think is a steal. It tastes more like a Japanese sweet potato than a regular one, but a little sweeter!
Why set up shop outside? I fully plan on living inside one. And that purple sweet potato is GORGEOUS
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Dealing with Injury: Scared to Move
I knew I liked you :)
I’m at the supermarket pretty much everyday as I happen to live withing walking distance of five! It’s good to go about an hour before closing time as they tend to reduce the fresh fruits, vegetables and meats that have a sell by date of that day. A lot of the fruit and veg is still absolutely fine to use for a couple of days after and I freeze the meat and fish for a later date!
Generally, I think ‘grocery store’ in the US means the same as ‘supermarket’ in the UK but in conversation we tend to refer to them by their brand name like ‘Tescos’, ‘WholeFoods’ etc.
xx
Charlotte recently posted…TOL…’Wish I’d never grown up’
That’s such a good idea! I didn’t know they did that with the prices. I usually go first thing in the morning so they might jack the prices up then haha
I live wayy too close to a Trader Joes that I find myself there almost daily. I tried to do a better job with meal planning last week, and it was an interesting experiment!
Dani @ Dani California Cooks recently posted…WIAW – Back on the Road Again
TJ’s is out of the way for me (luckily!). Whole Foods is close but I still need to drive.
Sounds like you need to live in China! People go to the market everyday here. Also, purple sweet potatoes are my jam right now…so good!
Faith VanderMolen recently posted…WIAW: Long Run Day + First Chinese Guest
I didn’t know that! Also- so cool that you live there (I bet you get that all the time and don’t think it’s that cool now haha).
I love that I found your blog! I’m also a senior in college so I feel like we have a lot in common. My love for whole foods runs deep. Your shopping cart looks a lot like mine. Don’t you just love Kombucha?! So great!
Molly recently posted…Why Emily loves Decorating, and you can too!
Hi Molly! Thanks for stopping by. YES! I’m addicted to kombucha. I guess it’s ok because I don’t go to Starbucks at all? Balances out right?!
Whole Foods is my WORLD and I am going there this evening to pick up salmon and steak for the man-friend and I to GRILL – WOO WOO! My favorite eats with him, seriously!! :P Ugh, I could seriously take up residency in a Whole Foods!
Woah, never seen purple sweet potato before! Such a cool colour! Looks like an amazing haul of food – really impressed how you made $80 stretch so far! I’ve only just stopped shopping nearly every day, we live next door to a Fred Myer AND a New Seasons (so dangerous!) so we just kept on doing our shopping day to the day and it was getting so expensive! I’m going to try purple sweet potato now! Thanks
Georgie @ Healthy Pears recently posted…Zucchini, Quinoa & Edamame Salad