…Grocery list, that is. Any time I go to the grocery store without a list, I inevitably forget something, even if I’m only shopping for a handful of items. I would never do my weekly shopping without a detailed list.

 

Once you’ve chosen meals that will accommodate your family’s schedule, you must determine the ingredients you already have in stock and determine the amount you’ll need for the remaining ingredients. I like to write the names of the dishes, along with the book title and page number where they can be found, at the header of the list. I am also sure to indicate the amount I’ll need. For instance, if a recipe calls for two cups of spinach, I know I’ll need to buy one bunch. I list the ingredients according to the order of the recipes at the top of the paper. If I need one pound of ground chicken for the first recipe, and then need another pound for the last recipe, I’ll simply add “+1” to the first place I wrote it; there’s no sense in listing it twice. 

 

If a particular produce item happens to be on sale but is not on my list, I’ll buy it and find a recipe for it at home. Likewise, I’ll frequently buy pantry or frozen items such as dry pasta, stewed tomatoes, canned beans, or frozen vegetables even if I know I won’t be using them that week. Or I’ll buy an additional package of chicken breasts and freeze it. In addition to the items required for recipes, I also list items we consume every week like yogurt, whichever fruit is in season, eggs, cheese, juice, and the like.