Tech-Savvy Grocery List Tools
When you think of making a grocery list you may still picture a pen and paper, but technological advances have made making grocery lists even simpler. Sure you may now use your cell phone's notes app to remind you what to pick up, but there are tools that go so much further, you may never hand write one again.
Recipe Integration
Ziplist is an online resource that allows you to save recipes from around the web and make them into shopping lists and menu plans. Membership is free and there is also a mobile app. The site is connected to many popular recipe sites and allow for searching by the number of people served, number of ingredients, prep time, and user ratings. While the site doesn't allow you to search by a serving's calorie count, you can plug in your favorite recipes into the Recipe Analyzer to be sure you know how they stack up nutritionally. The perk of this is that it allows you to build grocery lists from recipes you choose in real time. If you see something on sale in the store, you can easily search for recommendations and recipes and get the ingredients added to your existing list. Other free apps that convert recipes into grocery shopping lists include AllRecipes.com's Dinner Spinner and ShopShop. If you already have a pantry full of ingredients and need recipe ideas based on what you have, check out Real Recipes from About.com.
Other People's Grocery Lists
It's easy to create a list of healthy foods of your own, but what's more fun is seeing other people's grocery lists. Calorie Camp allows you to view other people's detailed daily meals. Just click on "See Report" next to a person's daily comments, then "Food Log" and you can see a day's worth of choices. Find those with A nutrition grades and create a week's worth of nutritious meals without the calorie count guess work. Another way of seeing what others are eating is Grocerylists.org. Not only is the site great for searchable advice about grocery lists, it also provides an editable and printable grocery list in PDF format called The Ultimatest Grocery List. Replace listed unhealthy items like pizza or potato chips with healthier alternatives.
Before and After
Going grocery shopping wouldn't be so hard if you knew what you already had before you go. After your trip, knowing what you paid for certain items is also important to help you save money the next go round. Grocery Tracker and Out of Milk Shopping List are two free apps that will help you keep an inventory on the food you have and keep up with food prices for items you regularly buy. Another app to use to help you before you go to the grocery store is Eat Local. This app will help you figure out what produce is in season by month and state as well as where farmers' markets are in your area.
Maximize Your Calorie Count Membership
Mark familiar foods as favorites and create meals to make daily logging easier. You might also use favorites to inform your grocery list. List prices of your favorites and highlight any high-calorie options to help you limit certain food purchases. You can also list the serving size or number of portions per package on favorite items as well. This will remind you to make certain items last after the first serving. For added support use Facebook Connect to share grocery lists and comment about certain recipes with friends who are fellow members.
Your thoughts...
What strategies do you use to make grocery shopping a breeze?
Comments
I keep my grocery list template as a document on my computer. Each list is a column. I am able to fit 4 columns of the list on an 8.5 X 11 page, and print the page once a month and cut it into 4.
My grocery list must match the aisles of the store, so I list the items that I regularly buy by aisle, beginning with the store entrance and finishing with frozen foods.
Before my weekly shopping I go through my onhand items and cross them off the list and circle those items that are out of stock. I write in any special items. Of course the list needs regular updating as my families tastes change.
Our Groceries is by FAR the best grocery app out there for Android/iPhone. My husband and I share an account so whenever one of us updates the grocery list it is instantly updated to the other person. If I need my husband to stop and pick something up on the way home or if I'm out doing weekly groceries and he thinks of something we need he adds it and it uploads instantly. Also, you can add things from the computer which is incredibly helpful - it, of course, uploads automatically as well. Good luck!
LOL... I'm like mark. Spreadsheet printout of the items we usually buy in columns and grouped by the order in which I get them at the store. Always keep a list on the counter so when we're out, just mark the quantity needed next to the item. With some grocery stores, like Wegmans, you can even do it all online..
I use the app "Paprika" on my iPad and take it to the store. I can plan out my menu for the week on the app, save recipes that I find on the internet, and the app groups all of my groceries by category so I can find everything in the same section.
My Granddaughter uses a white board at home-- and takes a pic with her phone before leaving for the store... I thought that right smart!
Holy cow! Ziplist is going to be SO helpful!
I use www.howdoesshedoit.com . I put all of my recipes in the program, add it to my menu planner and it generates a menu and shopping list based on my recipes and snacks. Its a little time consuming at the beginning but the convenience is great, I will never forget a crucial ingredient to my recipes again.
I have used ZipList for a while and love it! It links right to Skinny Taste and I load recipies and lists right in! The phone app categorizes according to aisles in your fav stores!
now i really need a smart phone! LOL
i like how you can do a real time shopping based on what's on sale, that helps a lot budgetwise
Has anyone come across a tool/app that can get database information from your grocery store rewards card? So, a person can analyze their shopping trends over a period of time? I have tried to build my own, but have never been able to make enough time. Scanning receipts, weekly shopping lists, etc...
GREAT article!! I just Googled "healthy recipe grocery list tool," and the link for this article came right up. I'm glad you published it just last week! Just what I would be looking for! LOL I've been a CalorieCount member for a long time, and I just have to say this article is just one of the many things I like about CalorieCount. Such a good website!
GREAT article!! I just Googled "healthy recipe grocery list tool," and the link for this article came right up. Just what I needed! Just another reason that CalorieCount is such a great website. :)
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