Opinions wanted on best day to do a food shop

8 replies

BigWellyLittleWelly · 14/12/2013 13:21

I return to work in January after my second baby, I am FT hours spread over three days during the week as well as weekends and evenings. I have spent some of my maternity leave putting in place good systems to keep the house ticking over as far as washing and cleaning are concerned. DH has stepped up to the task as well doing his full share and more when needed.

The last great obstacle is food shopping and cooking. We buy meat from the butcher, and use both Aldi and Sainsburys. One child is on a restricted diet so processed food usually not an option meaning I batch cook once every 3-4 weeks with stews, casseroles, and mini meat and fish portions.

I am devising a four week rotation winter menu to see us through until Easter. On this will be every meal we eat as well as what needs to be cooked in advance in batches and what needs taking from freezer or buying fresh.

My question is - on what day of the week would you start the food plan and do the weekly shop? My work days are W/T/F/Sun so I could shop on a Monday for the week ahead (but this might make for an interesting packed lunch on Monday for DH and also mean the Sunday roast needing freezing) or I could shop on a Saturday which would be a bit stressful as so does everyone else!

This possibly sounds remarkably mundane but I'm interested in what others do. I spend a ridiculous amount of time doing the food for our family, DH is happy to take over all cooking but admits the food buying has a tendancy to get expensive when he does it!

OP posts:

Jinglejohnsjulie · 14/12/2013 13:49

I usually do my food shopping on a Tuesday. If we are having a ham on Sunday I buy that with the rest of the shopping, if its something else, I just pick it up in a Saturday while we are out and about. Dd gets some pretty unusual packed lunches at the beginning of the week too

specialsubject · 14/12/2013 16:55

if you have any chance of avoiding Saturdays, do so. Once you have the chance to shop outside peak hours, you'll never want to do it again.

Monday is good because you get the short-date items from the weekend, chuck them in the freezer. Or just eat it anyway...

gobbin · 14/12/2013 18:42

Have you considered getting it delivered (from Sainsbury's as you shop there already). You can shop/have it delivered to suit then. The only full-trolley shop I ever do now is the Christmas shop.

delasi · 15/12/2013 00:09

I second consider getting a delivery, if you can. You can continue to get meat from the butcher - I would guess that you can phone in an order each week and then collect, if you want to avoid any busy times? So if it's relatively close by you could pop in on a Saturday and have your food delivered the same day, if you think Saturday would be the most convenient.

As you are already so organised with your meal planning and menu rotations, could you build in a slight overlap alternatively? ie if the only reason currently not to shop on a Monday is the lunch issue, then you buy the week beforehand having covered that day's lunch so that you're all set until you get your next lot of food in.

We get home delivery - we don't have much choice! - but it has made food shopping much easier and I'm so glad that we don't spend a lot of time in the supermarket like we used to. Our bill hasn't increased compared with previously, in fact it's lowered. Also because you have a 4 weekly plan, you could save your shopping list/s and so you won't have to start from scratch each shop, then just edit as desired.

delasi · 15/12/2013 00:10

I mean, a lunch that will obviously keep for a week You can freeze sandwiches or a pasta dish or similar, then defrost Sunday night for the next day's lunch.

Original poster

BigWellyLittleWelly · 15/12/2013 14:12

Yes thats actually a very good point, the reason I haven't done deliveries in the past is I prefer to pick my own fruit, veg and meat - but we now get those from butcher and Aldi. If I were to schedule a monthly or fortnightly sainsburys shop then there is more flexibility.

Genius. Thank you

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shoom · 15/12/2013 15:31

I used to feel the same about choosing my own fresh produce. In my experience Sainsbury will deliver fruit etc with a better use by date than is on the shelves, presumably as they take it from the back. I tried it with a voucher for £15 off a £60 spend (there's usually one online e.g. hotukdeals. if you don't have one). I was impressed with the one hour delivery slots and helpful drivers. You can reserve a delivery slot in advance, say two weeks away, then choose your items the day before. The slots at the end of the day e.g. 8/9pm are cheaper and it can be handy to deal with the shopping when you're at home anyway and the kids are in bed.

whatshallwedo · 17/12/2013 07:36

If you get your Sainsburys shop delivered, could you then go to Aldi on a Saturday night? Not exciting I know but I tend to go on a Friday evening once dd is in bed (needs my input) and it is so quiet. You can easily do an Aldi shop in 30-45 mins at that time if not less. Most of them are open until 10pm.

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