Shopping list

[Wysiwig]

How do you do your weekly shop? ie do you know what you will be cooking for the week and buy accordingly, or do you look around the supermarket for inspiration? My shopping bag is like my wardrobes, loads of tops and no bottoms to match IYKWIM. Suggestions please...

I do a meal plan, works out a lot cheaper than trying to work it out as I go, as I need to factor in leftovers, and multi-use ingredients (I.e roast chicken one day, chicken risotto the next). Otherwise I end up buying too much stuff that goes to waste.

It also allows me to try new recipes as you can get the ingredients in advance rather than thinking what you can cook with x,y or z.

I meal plan for five meals. I write a detailed list and rarely buy anything else that isn't on the list. There is usually enough leftovers to stretch for the two other days! I cook at least one/two old favourites every week but I also try to do three new recipes every week. I keep a diary of the recipes I've tried, which book and page, how much they cost, how easy/hard they were, how long they took and whether we all liked it or not.

If I see a bargain at the supermarket a buy it to put in the freezer for the following week and I plan next week's menu to use it.

Is this nerdy?

I think the way forward is strategic meal planning. It has to be, I waste so much food/money, also if you know what you're going to eat at the beginning of the week then surely it makes life easier?!

Candleshoe..consider me a novice nerd

The question is whether money is an issue.

I've been extremely broke for several years. For the first year, I sat down on sun night and planned the weeks meals, writing a list for what I needed.

Now, I do it the other way around. I go to the shops, buy what is currently on offer (sometimes in bulk if it's a really good deal), and then come home and plan my meals around what I've bought.

My current way is massively cheaper (perhaps not for one week, but on average iyswim)

I have also become a master of cooking and freezing anything that looks like it may end up being wasted, and now throw NOTHING away.

candleshoe that is amazing. Is it not terribly time consuming. Are you at home all the time? 3 a week. If I do one new recipe a month, it is miraculous.

Yes money is an issue, need to cut back and be a more cost efficient foodie..
Ramble...can I shadow you for a couple of weeks :)

I work in the afternoons so I shop in cook in the mornings. We all have to have our dinners microwaved when we get in Mon-Fri. I feed 3 DC at 6pm and DH and me eat at 8pm.

That should say "shop and cook" - I really must use the preview button more.

Candleshoe..unbelievable...can I shadow you inbetween Ramble

Candleshoe...must admit, haven't been checking the spelling

With pleasure - I'm at Waitrose from 9.15 am every Monday!

(And btw - I spend a lot less than some of my friends who shop at Tescos!

Oooh I WORK at Waitrose, so I really can shadow you

I always think I'd love to work at Waitrose - would I?

I always state that a trip to Waitrose is a whole new shopping experience. Polite, attentive staff and quality produce. You may well like to work there...just steer clear of the patisserie counter

Save me a couple of Almond Croissants please.

Let me recommend the Lemon Yum Yums...tried and tested...frequently [grins]

oops added an 's

This week's menu is:

Monday - Nigella's minestrone with parmesan shavings and waitrose rosemary focaccia. (new recipe)

Tuesday - Nigella's spanish omlette with potato, onion, roasted peppers and manchego cheese plus salad (new recipe)

Wednesday - Mary Berry's Five spice mango chicken plus salad (old favourite)

Thursday - Mary Berry's Burlington beef casserole plus mash, carrots, asparagus and spring cabbage (new recipe)

Friday - leftovers

Saturday - '4 ingredients' tuna and tomato risotto (old favourite)

Sunday - Bought Waitrose chicken Kievs with peas and mash. (cheating on a Sunday as usual - unless we have visitors)

I spend nearly 50% less at the supermarket now that I am fully 100% nerdy/obsessive about my planning/shopping/cooking.

Candleshoe...I am suitably impressed! Do all the family eat the same thing? Do you all agree with what you're cooking? I do think you're right about the money saving aspect, it makes perfect sense and I don't know why I haven't done it before, well I have TALKED about it but that's normally as far as it gets .

It's great to get other peoples ideas, thanks candleshoe...

Nerdy obsesser in training ;)

oh my god I would love to be like you! Can I ask, do you work or are you a SAHM? And also, how old are your DCs

sorry that was at candleshoe

:( migola doesn't want to be like me...;(

Actually Migola...I could probably be like candleshoe if I didn't spend all my time on MN

ahhh wysiwig but I do!! (I want to eat all that lovely patisserie )

DTSs are 8 and DD is 5. I am at home every morning but work afternoons and weekends. It has only taken me 8 years to reach this level of organisation