Essential Ingredients
Slide 3 of 4
Every family has their favorite meals and snacks. However, having a rather small pantry, stocking up on too many essentials and goodies causes our family to run out of room quickly. Maybe you can relate? Or if you have a larger pantry, perhaps it tends to stay on the more disorganized, chaotic side of things. Regardless of your kitchen storage situation, stick with what you are able to store easily and safely in your pantry. Keep in mind, though, that it’s always a good idea to have extra essentials in case items run short or unexpected guests stop by. Take time once a month, bi-weekly, etc. to gear up for the grocery store and plan for what your family needs.
Below is an example grocery list of essentials:
Frozen: pizza, pancakes, waffles, fruits, vegetables
Frozen meats: meatballs, chicken
Fresh meat/protein: eggs, hamburger, fish, who chicken, lunch meat
Produce: bagged salads, fruits, vegetables
Canned goods: broth/stock, chicken, tuna, peanut butter, jelly, beans, soups, pasta sauce
Deli/grains: bread, tortillas, rice, pasta, cereal, oatmeal
Dairy: butter, milk, yogurt, sour cream, sliced cheese, shredded cheese
Baking goods: flour, sugar, honey, baking powder, baking soda, yeast, corn meal
Of course, your list might look different than mine. Perhaps you want to add a category specifically for breakfast ideas, healthy smoothies/drinks, or ethnic foods. Either way, creating a grocery list that highlights each food category will keep your shopping experience organized and your kitchen stocked with all the essential ingredients to make dinner a smooth success.