the perpetual grocery shopping struggle

Just when I think we’re making progress in cleaning out the pantry and minimizing our grocery shopping/spending, someone decides to make a run to the store because we don’t have the right pasta for the soup being made, and of course, someone else decides they need additional food….

It’s enough to tear my hair out, or at least turn it so very, very grey.

So, I’m back again this month challenging our family to eat out of our pantry, and challenging myself to make snacks and lunch box items for the kids for school. My youngest son is amenable to trying homemade items. My daughter needs her processed food which I’m trying to wean her away from.

But, according to the USDA, food prices were up 10.1% in December 2022; overall food at home prices increased 11.4% in 2022. The struggle is real, folks. Hence, my challenge to persuade my family to eat cheaper.

My ways to economize

• eat out of our pantry and freezers – we have a lot of food we can use up while I stock up on sales
• stock up on sale items we’ll use
• make homemade versions of requested processed foods
• learn new recipes from the many, many cookbooks I have
• make nutrient-dense foods
• keep a running list of food to use up on the fridge – these usually side dishes
• keep a running list of food to use up in the freezer and pantry by our butler’s pantry – these are items that get “lost”

Areas to work on

Dog Food

We have a Bernese Mountain Dog with elbow and hip dysplasia and a Labrador Retriever with undetermined food allergies. Both of these medical issues can impact our grocery budget. My Berner needs the right food and supplements to protect his joints and slow down the progress of arthritis in his bones. For the Lab, I need to figure out what he’s allergic to. We’ve already eliminated fish oil and fish-flavored dog food as 2 culprits, but he’s not out of the woods yet. As I figure out what to do for both dogs, I need to research first and test carefully and frugally.

Supplements

Yes, supplements are in my grocery budget. My husband and I take a variety of supplements for healthy living and exercise performance. My goal is to make sure we get what we need from our diet before using supplements to fill in the gaps. Since my daughter is dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, I’ll be researching ways to help her with nutrition and supplements to support any medications we decide to have her try.

Local Foods

We’ve only spent one full spring, summer, and fall in Virginia. I’ve seen signs for orchards and farms, and I’ve visited a few. I’ll be doing more research this year with an eye for nutrient dense foods, preferably organic or low-pesticide.