Did you see the article in the paper the other day about the young couple who lived in New York, who ordered their groceries on the internet, and had them delivered to their home? At first, I thought, how dumb. That must be really expensive. But then I considered the food bill effects of impulse buying which generally happens with multiple visits to the store, and certainly the cost of gas to drive to and fro. The notion is sounding more appealing all the time.
As a rule, I detest grocery shopping. With about fifty thousand items available in today’s supermarkets, it is no wonder we have so many decisions to make. Yet my frustration is over the lack of good options available. If it would help, I would scream like the woman on the commercial, hoping that the grocery-shopping geeks would arrive in their little Volkswagens. The constant onslaught of new products has me reading labels like a proverbial book worm, hoping for some open truth from the food industry instead of the sly, shrouding of facts and misleading statements. But alas, I have found the solution. I’m going back to the basics of my Home Economics training. Contrary to some who view cooking as a practice from the Middle Ages, some eternal truths do exist. Families who eat together at home are healthier and have better relationships. And meals with simple familiar foods are the way to go. I will continue to read food labels on new items occasionally, but only because it is my job to be aware of these things. Those I have read and rejected need no further pondering. Here is my plan.
Start by evaluating what food you have on hand. Normally spring is the recommended time to clean out your freezer. That was done at my house. Make a list of what you have and check it off as you use it. Do you have lots of meat, poultry, fish and seafood? My schooling taught me to start with the protein food and form a meal around it. Work in those on-hand frozen vegetables as you plan your menus. Now is a good time to make a dent in some of those reserves, in light of the possibility of yet another hurricane and power outage.
What is in your cabinets and pantry? Are you buying more of what you already have? Confession time. I bought three cans of cream of mushroom soup the other day, and it was not on sale. I already had three cans. At least it is not perishable, I justified. Do you have the basic staples for healthy meals?
Next, sit down and think about the foods your family enjoys and form some menus, yes, on paper. We all have things that we think go together. My family always likes field peas when we have rice dressing. I have learned to eat a baked sweet potato with vegetable soup. There are others. Put these menu plans on a calendar, noting any activities that may be going on that would challenge your time to prepare those meals. For example, your children may have soccer practice every Thursday. That means Thursday’s meals may have to be slow cooker meals, or some of the preparation done the evening before. Think about how you can skip steps, such as browning more than one pound of ground meat with onions and seasoning if you will need it back to back. This freezes well for about a month and will save time later if you have a casserole or dish planned that calls for ground beef.
Once you have your menus planned, develop your grocery list. You can also check the store ads to see what is on sale and work those items in that week. Some people grocery shop once a week. Some go to more than one store, and shop the sales. For most, the fewer visits we make to the grocery store, the less money we spend. Remember, we may need that extra money to pay for the increase in gas prices. Using what you have on hand and your menus, write a list of what you need. Then, shop the list. Buy the amount of perishable items you will use up that week, such as milk, fresh fruits and vegetables. That takes you all the way to meal preparation. It is as easy as that. Enter technology.
Okay. My menus and the list of items needed for the week are written. I am logged on to the internet. When can I expect my delivery? No geeks or gas needed. Life is so simple.
Debbie Melvin
Extension Agent (Nutrition)
Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. James and St. John Parishes