Your grocery basics

LittleKatie13

I'm getting bored with the same old foods over and over, so please tell me the basics that you pick up at the grocery each week/make for lunch/dinner on a regular basic.  My newest favorites are:
Shepherd's pie
butternut squash and bacon mac and cheese
 

Thanks!

raynes

First off, please share that butternut squash and bacon mac and cheese.  That sounds very tasty.

Things I buy every week (by section)

Produce:
bananas (about 5 or 6)
big box of either spring mix or baby spinach
onions
apples
avocados (most weeks)
red peppers
green peppers

Dairy
4 L skim milk
2 big tubs of yogurt
eggs

Meat
precooked chicken
lunch meat (for my H)

Other than that I fill out the list with whatever I need for the meals I've planned.  Usually there are a few cans of beans, some other veggies and some more meat.

A typical lunch for me is usually a salad w/ the greens I bought, some of the precooked chicken and then toppings.  The toppings are often onion, beans and avocado.

Dinners we usually have eggs on the nights I go to the gym (either as sandwiches , omelettes or frittatas) and then a protein (chicken or pork most often) with a bunch of veggies.

One of my current fav's is spaghetti squash Bolognese with turkey or pork instead of beef.

LittleKatie13

Here you go!  It's very tasty-I think next time I will cut the amount of pasta (maybe by 1/3) and add roasted chicken or sausage for some protein.

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000000592277&cookbook_id=5875886

LittleKatie13

How do you keep your avocados from getting nasty after you've cut them?  Lime juice just doesn't ever work for me.

jennabob

I heart avacados...thanks for reminding me to grab some...on my way to the store now!!!!

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Mine is similar to Raynes

Salad
Tomato
Onion
Garlic
Avocado
baby carrots
hummus
salsa
baked tortilla chips
low-fat cheese
some kind of bread/pita/flatbread/tortilla
eggs
sometimes some kind of whole wheat pasta

My favorite go-to dishes are eggs over easy on toast with avocado and salsa, pasta with homemade pesto a veggies (artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, regular tomatoes, asparagus, olives, whatever), black bean tacos and paninis.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_grocery-basics?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:a1404599-17a6-4bc8-a986-df0da2931925Post:ca1221ed-3de6-46a8-b7b3-7e6d99bbd9ee">Re: Your grocery basics</a>:
[QUOTE]How do you keep your avocados from getting nasty after you've cut them?  Lime juice just doesn't ever work for me.
Posted by LittleKatie13[/QUOTE]

Oh I just eat them all. :-)

Really, they'll last a day or so if you keep the pit in the unused half and put plastic wrap on it. Make sure the plastic wrap touches the avocado. It might get a little oxidized on top, but you can scrape that off. Or use it. It won't hurt you. It's not the same as rotting.

raynes

If I'm making up salad toppings for the week I chop up the avocado, toss the chopped pieces in lemon or lime juice then add them to my container of other toppings.  Each container of toppings gets 1/2 an avocado.  When I make these on Sunday afternoon the last one is still looking pretty good on Thursday at lunch.

If I'm only using half of one at a time I leave the pit in the unused half and press plastic wrap against the rest of the exposed bit.  It usually lasts a few days in the fridge.

AshRouss

My basics include black beans, lentils, 99% Fat Free Ground Turkey, Salad, tomatoes, Any fruit, avocados (as well) corn tortillas, cheese...

I love making lentil tacos.  Squash is a great go to. Nice ideas. I am hungry now.

raynes

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_grocery-basics?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:a1404599-17a6-4bc8-a986-df0da2931925Post:27dfbfd2-2c33-4283-93a5-f74d7054ac35">Re: Your grocery basics</a>:
[QUOTE]My basics include black beans, lentils, 99% Fat Free Ground Turkey, Salad, tomatoes, Any fruit, avocados (as well) corn tortillas, cheese... I love making lentil tacos.  Squash is a great go to. Nice ideas.<strong> I am hungry now</strong>.
Posted by AshRouss[/QUOTE]

Me too!

LittleKatie13

Thanks ladies!  I have this ridiculous amount of veggies from the CSA and am having a hard time using them all (especially with DH gone most of this month).

crnota

Our weekly basics (from Trader Joe's) include:

Single serving greek yogurts
Reduced salt almonds
Baby carrots
Package of raw haricot verts green beans
Pre-grilled frozen asparagus that can be microwaved
Cinnamon applesauce
Crackers
Laughing Cow Light or a goat cheese log
Almondina  chocolate almond cherry biscotti thins (33 cals each!)
Frozen berries
Fresh fruit- whatever looks good
Unsweeted iced tea

Everything else, depends on what meals we cook. Just to give you an idea, some of our go-to quick weeknight staples are:

- Stir fried veggies with either tofu/chicken/fake meat with some sort of curry sauce and brown rice
- Whole wheat pasta with sauteed veggies and spicy olive oil (zucchini is my fave)
- Whole wheat pasta with meatless "meatballs" and marinara
- Soft tacos with corn tortillas, fake ground meat or beans or chicken, salsa, lettuce, lite cheese or black bean burritos
- Salad with grilled chicken and veggies
- Frittata with eggs and either zucchini, artichoke hearts, or other, plus goat cheese
- Breakfast for dinner- scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, potatoes
- Baked chicken with roasted potatoes and veggies

LittleKatie13

This week's veggies include;
arugula
sweet potatoes
potatoes
spring mix
squash (a few kinds)
onions
cauliflower
broccoli
tomatoes
carrots
spinach
cilantro
  I'm really not sure what to do with the arugula or the broccoli and cauliflower-I've been eating it raw with dip, I'm not a fan of just steamed broccoli and cauliflower.  I froze the spinach and cilantro.  But I have a TON of spinach, green beans, cilantro, tomatoes, cooked squash and basil in the freezer as well.  I think I'll probably make the butternut squash and bacon mac and cheese again this week.  But any squash recipes are welcome.  and I really really need DH to come home and help with my 10 lbs of veggies each week!

jenn.daniel

There aren't many things I buy every week b/c I try to stock up everything when it is on sale.  Things I can't stock up on:
bread
fresh fruit if it's on sale (if not on sale we use frozen that we're stocked up on)
bananas
yogurt (Greek and regular)
milk (every other week)
lettuce
looks like butternut squash will be a staple as well
cheese
sliced turkey

I know there's not much protein on the list.  I buy a LOT of pork tenderloin and chicken when it's on sale and freeze it.

I eat a lot of turkey and cheese sandwiches.  Lately we've been grilling pork and playing around with different herbs for dinner.  I got a new recipie for butternut squash casserole, so I'm looking forward to trying that.

raynes

That's a lot of veggies.

How about a broccolie and cauliflower soup?  You could probably make a lower fat version with skim milk instead of whole.

Cooked spinach is great in omlettes or fritattas.

Arugula I like just as a salad.  I find the peppery taste goes really well with a sweet onion vinaigrette.  I think I usually top it with red onion and mushrooms, but I could be off.

This is the squash mac and cheese that I like (well, the only one I've tired before)

http://brannyboilsover.com/2010/01/14/mac-and-cheese-with-squash-and-peas/

slubkin

Like a PP, we do our primary shopping at Trader Joe's because so much of what we buy as staples there are cheaper than the regular supermarket.

Salad
Baby carrots
Mushrooms
Onions
Red Peppers
Tomatoes
Garlic (not every week)
Basil

Goat cheese
Parmesan
Lite Jarlsburg

Thick cut applewood smoked bacon (this is for FI, not me)
Deli sliced meats like turkey, sometimes black forest ham
Hummus
Lean ground turkey
Chicken breasts
Steak (occasionally)

Fat free greek plain yogurt
Omega 3 eggs
Skim milk (not every week)
Orange juice (we buy two gallon-sized jugs!)

Pasta (I loathe whole wheat pasta so usually it's spinach pasta)
Brown Basmati rice


Typical dinners:

- Paprikash: red peppers and onions sauteed till softened, then add water and a ton of paprika, simmer covered for 15-20 min, cool and run through blender.  Add greek yogurt to taste, blend.  Over noodles or rice (traditionally with dumplings).  Can be made with chicken for more protein.

- Curry (I'd suggest this for your broccoli and cauliflower, this is how i use up veggies): sautee chopped onions and celery, when browned add a curry blend (1-2 tbsp depending on its potency), add some water, add assorted other mixed vegetables (I use broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, squash, etc) and simmer covered for about 10 min.  Cool and add greek yogurt to taste. Over rice. 

- Pasta: Sautee minced garlic on low heat in olive oil. Cut up a tomato or two into 1/4-1/2 inch cubes, add to skillet.  Let tomato cook down for about 5-10 min, stirring occasionally.  Add salt, pepper, basil if desired.  Sometimes I also add olives and capers.  Over pasta.   If you're feeling fancy you can do a cacciatore variation on this, sauteeing chicken in the oil before adding tomato, and then adding tomato paste and mushrooms, then covering it and simmering on low for 30-60 min.

LittleKatie13

Thanks for the recipes!  I'm definitely going to try them! 
Raynes-yes, it's a lot of veggies.  It's completely do-able when DH is home with a little bit of freezing and a good bit of planning, but he's been gone for 3 of the last 4 weeks and I swear, I'm starting to become a veggie.

jenb1205

I've never made them but I know a lot of people use cauliflower in place of potatoes to make mashed faux potatoes.  I would think those might freeze ok.  The gravy I'd put all over them would probably defeat the purpose though

I'm not a huge fan of plain steamed broccoli but I use it all the time in stir fries, pasta dishes or if I'm eating it steamed (H likes it that way) I sprinkle liberally with lemon pepper and a little fresh parmesan.  When I find that I end up with too many veggies, I make a big pasta dish with all of them and a protein and freeze in single servings for H to take for future lunches.  I also make chili with lots of beans and throw in all my leftover veggies.  My latest batch had a ton of peppers, carrots, cilantro and green onions.  You can use any meat you have on hand (my last batch had cut up steak pieces and shredded rotisserie chicken).  Chil and pasta are my big go-tos when I have a lot of veggies that need to be used. 

Arugula isn't really my thing but I think that you can use it in pasta dishes (like spinach). 

At Thanksgiving, my family always does a batch of butternut squash cooked exactly the same as mashed potatoes and I love them that way!  I also do sweet potatoes the same way with a tiny bit of cinnamon mixed in instead of salt and pepper.  If you take all my advice, you'd be eating a ton of "baby food" for a week

klynette84

I am so jealous of all of you who get to shop regularly at Trader Joe's! The closest one to me is an hour away, so I only go about twice a month.

Weekly staples:

bananas
baby spinach
apples
mushrooms
avocados
tomatoes
bell peppers
tofu
frozen veggies
edamame
almond milk
light chocolate soy milk
granola
beans (kidney, black, chickpeas)