You’ll Never Succeed at Buying Groceries for One
By Danielle McClements on October 23, 2023
But you can try.
Like many of my fellow college students, I have to buy groceries for myself. When I used to grocery shop, I would end up buying the most random ingredients and simply praying they would come together into meals. And they never did. Until I learned how to properly buy groceries for one.
There are a few things that can help you figure out how to prevent all your spinach from wilting in the back of your fridge after you impulsively buy it. Here’s how to become a grocery superstar.
1. Plan your meals before you step foot in the store
“The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one.”
Erma Bombeck
Here’s the thing. You can go to the grocery store with no list and no plan, just vibes. You’ll have a blast in there until you get to the checkout and you have $200 worth of junk in your basket (speaking from experience). You take the junk home and eat your snacks. The next day it’s dinner time and all you have is cookies, a head of broccoli, and a can of beans. Now what?
Avoid that conundrum by planning out exactly what you will eat for the week before you go to the store. Plan for the fact that you inevitably won’t want to cook by buying easy meals like soup or ramen. On the days when you are willing to cook, start with a simple outline. One protein, one starch, and one veggie is an easy place to start.
On Monday night, maybe you cook a pork chop in your air fryer, have a cup of minute rice on the side, and some steamed broccoli. It’s not gourmet but it will do. To avoid food waste, skip those jumbo packs of meat that seem like a better deal. Sure, it’s 85 cents cheaper for an extra chop, but unless you plan on doing a whole bunch of food prep and freezing your extras, it’s not worth it. You aren’t going to eat 6 pork chops in one sitting and the rest will likely go bad. The same applies to produce and dairy products.
You may be thinking, “Where do I start?” Start by grabbing a pen and paper (or the notes app on your phone) and making a list of the days of the week. Write down one protein, one starch, and one veggie for all the days you’re willing to be a chef. Then add extras, like mid-day snacks. Nuts and dried fruit are good snacks that’ll keep you satisfied.
If you want, you can utilize an online resource like this one to make your life easier.
2. Do NOT go to the store on an empty stomach
I am a victim of this very often and it never ends well. Going to the grocery store when you’re hungry is a death wish on your wallet. All those random little snacks look soooo delicious in the store, so you throw them in the cart. Once you see the next little treat, you forget about the last one immediately. The cycle continues until you’re at the checkout.
To avoid this happening, keep a strong head and a full stomach. Remember your plan and think about how accomplished you’re gonna feel when you leave the store with exactly what you need. If it helps, go with a friend who will vow to keep you on track. Make them smack the snacks out of your hands when you pick them up if you must.
This isn’t to say you should give up snacks altogether. Who doesn’t love an Animal Cracker at 3 a.m.? Just be aware of how easily you can disregard your meal prep and go nuts in the store, especially when you’re hungry and everything looks yummy.
It’s that simple to shop effectively for yourself. If you try to follow these tips, take them with a grain of salt. Everyone has a day when they need to throw some M&M’s in the cart. Don’t beat yourself up.
If you like this blog, check out my others here on NR92.com. The image in this blog belongs to nrd on Unsplash. All other photos are mine.