My pantry was consistently full and I found myself buying groceries all too frequently and with no rhyme or reason. I decided to see how long I could go without going to the supermarket. I used Supercook and added every food item I had in the house and it told me what recipes I could make.
I buy chicken breast and ground beef in bulk, and I know that helped a bunch. It might've also helped that I had just bought green beans, carrots and spinach a day or two before. Otherwise, frozen broccoli, canned corn and beans were my healthier aspects. It seems silly but it is amazing how many different ways chicken can be prepared with sauces/spices and the addition of pasta or broths.
Pasta with meat sauce, chicken parm, sesame chicken, oatmeal quite a few different ways, veggie soup and chicken noodle soup were some of the meals. I did have canned soup and instant mac n' cheese for times where I wasn't in the mood to cook. I am also one of those people that loves cereal 24/7 and had that a few times as well. Disclaimer, I do my best to eat healthy but calorie content isn't as much of a focus for me.
Overall I made breakfast, lunch and dinner each day and saved about $120 and learned how to buy smarter, not more/more frequently. Try the "pantry challenge" and see how long you can go without replenishing. Now when I go to the supermarket it is just to shop veggies and fruits and replenish the staples as I run out.
April 21, 2019 at 11:40AM
