Tips for Saving Time & Money in the Kitchen
Whether you love to cook and find the grocery store to be an exciting adventure or view cooking and trips to the supermarket as necessities, here are a few tips to make your food purchasing, preparation, and planning a little easier:
Make a list as you go. It’s not new information that shopping from a list typically yields a more productive and efficient trip to the grocery store. But, how do you come up with your list? Consider keeping a pad of paper somewhere handy in your kitchen to write down things that are getting close to running out or are empty. This takes most of the guesswork out of what you need to buy during your next trip to the supermarket.
Bulk isn't always cheaper. It would make sense that buying more of an item would make the per unit cost cheaper. However, this isn’t always the case. When considering the purchase of a ‘family pack’ of anything, check the price tag to make sure if it’s actually a better deal. It’s also important to consider how much of something you need when buying in bulk. If some of what you purchase in bulk goes to waste before it can be used, your unit cost could actually be more expensive than buying a smaller package that is used before the expiration.
Make your own single servings. Manufacturers typically charge a premium for items packaged into single servings. Instead of buying these products, consider breaking down a normally packaged item into your own single servings once you’re home. This can be done with a variety of things from bacon being stored in the freezer to canned fruit to be packed for a weekday lunch. This isn’t a time-saver, but it can definitely be a money-saver.
Prepare for the week. If you ever feel rushed to get out the door in the morning, consider doing what you can to prepare breakfasts and lunches ahead of time. This can consist of boiling five days worth of eggs to be able to eat breakfast on the go, having lunch bags packed for the week and ready to grab, having the coffee maker timer set, or setting out everything needed to make breakfast the night before. In addition, consider planning out your dinner menu in order to purchase everything needed for the week during one trip to the store.
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Eat Well Guide.org is a website devoted to helping people find local, sustainable, organic food. There is a place to enter your zip code to find information about stores, farmers, and online shopping amongst other resources in your area that support healthy eating.
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For help with these tips or another organizing project, please contact us!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Kind regards,
Jen Starbuck
Organizing Consultant | |
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