Grocery List

So I think the biggest problem I have when I go grocery shopping is I do not have a grocery list!  I just see and grab, see and grab....stomach grumbles, see and double grab.  Well, I happened to fall across this Scott's thing online that goes down the isles of a "normal" grocery store and you can input what items you like.  If you're like me and hate your own handwriting then it's nice and neat with the Scott's thing.  I forgot the website...anyway.  THe point to this is, maybe CC could get something similar and this could possibly help with the buying craze at the grocery store.  I'm not sure how it could be done, or where...it is a suggestion and I didn't know where else to put the suggestion except in a new topic. 

Online Grocery List...oh and it could be saved in your profile so you don't have to re-do the same things over and over again.  Anyhow, my head is twirling with ideas because iI'm at work and should be working, but i'm obsessing over how to not binge eat tonight, tomorrow...etc.

I'm sorry, what could possibly be so complicated about writing a grocery list?? LOL...come on, you can do it! Just think about what's healthy and filling and buy it.

I used to be REALLY bad at grocery shopping. But now I'm AWESOME at it and I think that has mostly to do with the fact that i cook EVERYTHING at home. Here are my staples to a healthy diet/Grocery "List":

• Whole grain breads and muffins
• brown rice
• veggies...tons of veggies/fresh and frozen
• fruits...tons of fruits
• Salmon, shrimp, chicken, beef (depending on the day of the week)
• soup
• oatmeal
• Kashi Cereals
• Yogurt
• Thin crust pizzas...they're not that bad in moderation and sometimes I need a day off from cooking.

Also, I don't buy groceries to last for weeks. I usually plan out what I'll have for dinner the day of and hit the store for those indredients.

Well, I guess what I was trying for here is, I am kind of new to buying groceries...yes, i'm 24 but still new.  I've had the college experience of fast food/cafeteria food.  Now I'm buying food not only to help me out with being healthy, but also for my boyfriend (who hates vegtibles and fruits).

I'm new to the site and just getting started and I had the idea of an online grocery list on CC that you could save and keep on record so you do not induldge in something you know later you will regret.  I know with me, if it's down on the paper to get i'll get it and only it. 

It isn't hard to write a grocery list...i could write several and have lots and lots of food on it.  I think the problem is the items on it.  It was only a suggestion/thought.

I'm sorry...I just thought it was funny. Look, I totally understand. In college I had no clue how to grocery shop...honestly, it wasn't until a couple years ago when I bought my own place.

I think the foods I suggested to you would work really well on your list, along with milk and eggs.

As for your bf not like fruits and veggies you can still buy them for yourself.  I do most of the cooking for me and my bf and if you're the same, feel free to cook what ever you want...trust me, he'll eat it.  My bf would rather eat the food I cook (which he thinks is delicious) then him try to figure out which pizza to pop in the oven.  Don't worry about what he likes and doesn't, he can get those later or tell you himself.

Good luck.

Original Post by marsheroyth:

Well, I guess what I was trying for here is, I am kind of new to buying groceries...yes, i'm 24 but still new.  I've had the college experience of fast food/cafeteria food.  Now I'm buying food not only to help me out with being healthy, but also for my boyfriend (who hates vegtibles and fruits).

I'm new to the site and just getting started and I had the idea of an online grocery list on CC that you could save and keep on record so you do not induldge in something you know later you will regret.  I know with me, if it's down on the paper to get i'll get it and only it. 

It isn't hard to write a grocery list...i could write several and have lots and lots of food on it.  I think the problem is the items on it.  It was only a suggestion/thought.

Buy what is good for you from the list you write out in advance and it will also save you money on top of all those extra calories, if myself or my wife go to the store without a list we end up spending much more then planned.  You can use the food browser on this site to get a bunch of great ideas, I used it to make complete lists of things we either like or would like to try and it has worked great.  Yes it will take some time to sift through it if you don't know exactly what your looking for but it worked great for me and altering my diet.

As for your boyfriend, if he doesn't like what you buy tell him to go to the store and get what he wants to eat :)  You should be eating plenty of fruits and veggies to help you get to your ultimate weight loss goal.

I wish you well on your journey!

why don't you plan your meals ahead of time, and go buy your groceries accordingly?

Spend 10-15 minutes a week planning your meals before you go shopping, it'll be well worth it!!

Also never go to a grocery store hungry, it's just a bad idea.

Some things on my grocery list I planned right now in 5-7 minutes to prove it can be done:

• Quaker Rice Snacks (I LOVE and I mean really LOVE the Ranch, Caramel, and Sour Cream and Onion flavors)
• LOTS of Vegetables (Spinach, Peas, Carrots, Zucchini, Broccoli, etc)
• LOTS of Fruits (Strawberries, Grapes, Apples)
• 100% Whole Grain Baked Goods, Tortillas, Pastas
• Beans and Lentils
• Cracked Wheat Bread (40 calories per giant slice)
• Healthy premade sauces (usually tomato and ones with lots of vitamins that are like 30-40 calories per tablespoon so I don't have to spend so much time making it myself); tomato pastes
  
• Fat Free Yogurts and Fruit Yogurts/Dannon Light 'n fit smoothies
• Fat Free cheeses (cream cheese, american cheese, etc... these taste great for low calorie cheeses)
• Desserts: Skinny Cow, Nutrigrain Bars, Kashi Bars, Quaker Bars
• Diverse Salad Ingredients: Baby Spinach Leaves, Lettuce (red, iceberg), cucumbers, pickles, tomatoes, olives, corn (I love to top even non-salads with some of these or put them as a side)
• Cereals: 100% whole grain, Kashi, Mini-Wheats, Honey Bunches of Oats, Special K, etc
• Toppings: Low Sodium Ketchup, Mustard, Low-Fat dressings (i.e. ranch)
• Crackers: Low Sodium whole wheat, wheat thins, etc
• Popsicles (15-30 calorie ones only)
  

Rule #1: Never shop hungry

I completely understand the need for a list and having a better way to make one.

As to the list making, here's what I do. Every Wednesday morning, I check the  sales for my grocery store, see what's on sale, check my cookbooks, see if anything looks good, ask the tummy "hey, how about...?" and open up a spreadsheet app. Here, I've started a list of items I need to buy in one column, next column has it's location in the grocery store, next column gets a 1 if I need to pick it up that week, last column is optional if I need a specific amount. When not in use, I keep the list sorted by the second column so I can easily find milk under the dairy location and mark it. So, it'll take you a while to build a good list, but come grocery day, sort by the need column, then by the location and you've got yourself a list arranged by location ready to print which will get you through the store faster and avoid those unplanned items.

Biggest thing is you do have to plan, otherwise you end up with half meals, a pantry full of stuff you can't do anything with and end up ordering a pizza. I would expand that 10-15 minutes of planning to a minimum of 30, easily an hour for starters. A whiteboard in the kitchen can be a great help. Plan out what you want for breakfast, with a few options if you don't like the same thing every day, another column for snacks, another for lunch and dinner. Treat it like a diner menu, why not?

Worry about what you want to eat, if the boyfriend doesn't like the week's menu, he can go forage for his own food, or you both can plan out the week together with extra fruits/veggies for you, and extra whatever he will eat.

Thanks everyone!  I really appreciate your time to reply and to help me make some better choices!  :) It's really appreciated.