I typically make two grocery trips per week: one big one, and one smaller one for perishable produce. Living in the city, it's hard to haul home an entire week's worth of apples, carrots and tomatoes, so I've found that the second trip is necessary!
I don't typically need to replenish every item every week, but my grocery list makes sure that I have these items on hand:
Produce
- apples
- grapefruits
- grapes
- lemons (for tea)
- bananas
- berries (if on sale)
- medjool dates
- carrots
- romaine lettuce/spinach (for salads and smoothies)
- tomatoes
- cucumbers
- red onion
- sweet potatoes
- broccoli
- brussels sprouts
Refrigerated Aisle (Usually near produce)
- tofu
- tempeh
- hummus
Grains and Cereals
- whole-wheat tortillas (whichever is cheapest with good nutritional stats)
- sprouted or 100% whole-wheat bread (Alvarado, Ezekiel and Vermont are favorite brands)
- whole-wheat sandwich thins
- quinoa or brown rice (purchased in bulk at Costco)
- rolled oats (Quaker or store brand)
- whole-grain, low sugar cereal like Kashi GoLean, Cheerios, Uncle Sam or Nature's Path SmartBran
Non-Perishable Goods
- unsweetened Almond Breeze almond milk (sold in cartons)
- dill pickles
- nut butters
- canned soups (I like Amy's and Health Valley)
- whole-wheat pasta
- canned pumpkin
- canned beans
- tea bags (herbal and black)
- Truvia packets
- ground flax meal
- dark chocolate bars
- protein powder (I purchase Sun Warrior or Vega online)
- nuts, such as almonds, walnuts or cashews
- chocolate chips
- nutritional yeast (available at health food stores)
- chia seeds (also available at health food stores)
Condiments- salsa
- yellow mustard
- olive oil
- coconut oil
- balsamic vinegar
- marinara sauce
Freezer Aisle
- veggie burgers (see this post for what brands I like)
- frozen fruit (peaches, strawberries, etc)
- frozen vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, peas)
- one or two frozen meals for convenience (I keep a few Amy's burritos on hand)
Of course, there are always a few non-planned items that slip into my cart! I'll typically buy a more exotic, non-sale veggie each week to switch things up, and it's not unusual for me to buy new-to-me items that look interesting. I take an inventory before I go to make sure I'm not forgetting anything, and I try to take into account the fact that I eat out fairly regularly, as not to overbuy! I'd rather make an extra trip to the store than have rotting produce on my counter.
As you can see, several of these items, like the nutritional yeast, chia seeds and protein powder, can't be purchased at my regular grocery store. I go to Whole Foods or health food stores probably once a month to buy those items- and usually end up spending way too much money on organic produce and gourmet chocolate in the process!!
What are the top three most important items on your grocery list? I'd say mine are apples, cereal and hummus. Can't live without 'em!!
