Before kids, the grocery store was sort of like my casual walk in the park before or after a busy workday. Grocery shopping relaxed me. I would go almost every day to see my friends in the produce section or meat case. Now with kids, relaxation looks more like a bubble bath or massage, not the aisles of my local supermarket. Because I’m short on time and could fill up one cart with two kids rather than food, I have gotten smarter about my trips to the grocery store. Hence, why I stick to my list. I highly recommend you shop with a grocery list too— kids or not—- and here’s why:
1. A grocery list saves you money. When you make a list before going to the grocery store, you’ll likely spend less on impulse purchases and stick to the aisles that have the foods you are looking for.
2. A grocery list saves you time. A list prepares you for navigating the aisles and helps to limit the mindless wandering or “what should I buy for dinner tonight” moments. Which could take more than a few minutes to ponder!
3. A grocery list helps with food waste. Your grocery cart is bigger than your stomach. Much bigger. Buying more than you and your family will eat may lead to food spoiling— especially if you don’t eat it in time!
4. A grocery list is a tool for meal planning. What should you put on your list? Take some time to think about what you need vs. what you want, research some new recipes, think of the staples that you eat daily, and voila! You’ve planned some meals for the week.
5. A grocery list saves your waistline. Planned shopping trips might just be healthier— if you want them to be. Making a healthy foods list at home vs. shopping without a list will help to keep you on track and away from the ice cream section!
And now I unveil the Serbinski weekly grocery list. Constant. Unchanging. And fairly cost effective.
This is what we buy every week assuming out kitchen is stocked with “the basics.”
How about you—- what’s on your weekly grocery list that isn’t on mine?
Plus, you won’t forget what you came for while trying to wrangle the kids! Lol!
Exactly!!
The grocery list MUST happen and this is a great reminder. We buy a lot of the same stuff every week. I feel a little boring but dependable is good these days. Great post Katie!
Dependable is key!! Maybe when the kids get older I’ll expand our grocery trip horizons more but we do what works!!
I’m not a big shopping list shopper, but your post has me rethinking my approach!
Grocery shopping used to be therapeutic for me before I had Johnny… ha ha not so much anymore! We always try to buy some sort of berries and cheese (string cheese is pretty typical). We also keep almonds and/or pistachios and peanut butter in our pantry!
Oh good one!! I need to add almonds. I’ll never run out of PB… We bought so much can last time it was on sale!
I don’t have kids, but if you see me at a grocery store, I’m def a woman on a mission to get in and out as soon as I can haha. Unless I’m going to the store with my husband to walk around after dinner (who are we kidding..to get ice cream), I always have a grocery list with me. Yup! All of those foods you have on the list are on mine too! I’ve been obsessed with pea shoots and arugula lately.
We love arugula on pizza! I should use it more in salads. And I’d love to join you two for a post dinner ice cream grocery shop!! Sounds like my kind of night lol!
I couldn’t agree with this post more and I have another benefit – it saves your brain cells – which are far and few these days for me – ha 🙂
Lol agreed Deanna!!!
I TRY so hard to get my mom to do this….but it never happens (or she forgets the list!) and then she ends up with no real food for herself….
Hahahaha!! Yep then you come home and are like “what did I just buy?!”
I am definitely a lot more efficient when I have a shopping list! I usually do one big shop during the weekend so I don’t have to worry about it during the weekend. That, however, involves meal planning… which I really need to work on! With the exception of meat, we have very similar shopping lists!
Now that I have THE list I try to meal plan from that or search for recipes with a few extra add ons!
I think we’re soul sisters! Totally with you on everything in this post. I even have the same meal planning notepad (thanks to the beef council)!
Hahahaha!! I’m not sure where mine came from. I think Santa.. Aka hubby!
This is great…and I completely agree that pre-children it was relaxing to shop, post-children I’m in and out as fast as possible so a grocery list is a must!
I’d prefer not to bring them but those trips are limited lol
I have to admit that I’m still at that wandering/relaxing grocery stage!! Guilty! But you are so right! I spend way too much money on groceries. Starting a list this weekend:)! Great post!!
Our monthly budget is 3/4 for groceries lol!!!
Awesome post, I couldn’t agree more with your reasons! Shopping with a toddler is anything BUT relaxing!! Having the cashier have to ring up a handful of half eaten fruit and open snacks is always fun 🙂
Hahahaha so true Sonali!! They always give me the “eye” 😉
I never considered how making a list helps you save money and buy less on impulse. My sister loves going shopping, and we just moved to a new area. I will make sure to pass these tips along for when she finds a new mall to do her shopping at.