Due to the ongoing pandemic and per CDC recommendations, I have scaled back my essential tasks since last March. I know I am extremely fortunate that my life primarily consists of staying at home with my little family, cooking, trying to maintain my sanity, and walking my dog. The days of popping into my nearby grocery store multiple times a week are gone for now, and I have been working on streamlining my online food shopping. My goal is to make my shop last 10 to 14 days for a household of four. These groceries are supplemented by Sunday trips to the farmers’ market for bread, eggs, pickles, ground turkey, and whatever fruit or veg is in season, and an occasional trip to our local fish market for wild salmon, bass, or shrimp. Although, like most people, I have definitely hit Covid fatigue, we are at a moment that requires more vigilance than ever - and for me that means staying home as much as I can, and generously tipping delivery people. Here is an in depth peak into my typical grocery order and some dishes that we make.
Again, I want to acknowledge that I know how fortunate I am that I get to stay at home and cook, as well as have the means to do a large shop every two weeks, and have the access to do so. Hopefully, this provides assistance to those who are trying to figure out how to make their groceries last, and what to cook with them. We cook all of our meals except for one to two weekday lunches and Friday and Saturday dinners when we order from local restaurants.
When ordering groceries in bulk, my focus is on restocking pantry staples and purchasing fresh produce that have a shelf life of at least a week. Sometimes I have a few recipes that I want to make in mind, but I always focus on having lots of fruit and vegetables on hand as well as various sources of protein, whether plant-based, poultry, or fish. Some of the items which can last on the countertop for an extended period include onions, garlic, ginger, potatoes, and winter squashes. For the fridge I always stock up on carrots and celery, which can be used for the base of most soups and stews, citrus, apples, and durable greens like kale, romaine, broccoli, and brussels sprouts, which all have longevity. Eggs can last a month in the fridge if purchased fresh and provide many easy and delicious meal options such as frittatas, and can be used in baked goods, or simply scrambled. For items that don’t have as much shelf life such as berries, fish, herbs, and tender greens, I opt to use those first.
For my pantry I always like to have these items on hand:
Beans - dried and canned
Grains - rolled oats, quinoa, farro, rice, pasta
Nuts and seeds - roasted, salted whole nuts along with peanut butter and tahini
Unsweetened dried fruit
Jarred or canned organic tomato sauce, tomato paste, whole crushed tomatoes, and diced tomatoes
Spices - cumin, coriander, paprika, oregano, turmeric, and bay leaves
Oils - Olive oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, and avocado oil
Vinegars - red wine vinegar, white balsamic, white wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, rice wine vinegar
Soy sauce/ coconut aminos
Vegetable or chicken stock/bouillon
Flour - All purpose flour, whole wheat flour, yeast, baking powder, and baking soda
Tinned Fish - Sardines, anchovies, tuna
From this pantry list alone, you can make a diverse amount of inexpensive filling and nourishing meals such as grain salads, soups, and stews. You also have the essentials for baking projects, which give you a stay-at-home-activity - especially if you have a child. Freeze extra soups, stews, or baked goods for quick meals in the future. For my pantry items I stock up at Fairway market or order from Thrive Market.
for my freezer :
I like to always have a few bags of frozen fruit and vegetables for when I run out of fresh produce. I also have been bulk ordering chicken thighs, chicken sausage, and ground turkey, which I keep in my freezer. I defrost the meat the day before I intend to use it. I also have a few frozen pizza crusts for quick weeknight dinners.
What’s in my actual order?
Here is my actual order from Baldor foods. I am not sponsored by Baldor, I am just truly a big fan. Baldor is a restaurant supplier which pivoted to home delivery during the pandemic. The quality has been fabulous and the packaging minimal. My list remains pretty consistent from order to order with the variable of a seasonal speciality. Please keep in mind that I have two small kids who eat a lot of fruit and need snacks for school. A lot is not seasonal, and I do not love that, but I want my kids to have fruit and easy to eat veggies so that takes priority right now. I try and shop organic as much as I can, but if the option is non-organic or nothing, I go with non-organic.
Fennel
Celery
Coconut Water
Firm Avocados
Canned Cannellini Beans
Cold Brew Coffee
Organic String Cheese
Crumbled Feta Cheese
Organic Whole Milk
Lacinato Kale
Cantaloupe Melon
Lemons
Limes
Chicken Sausage
Organic Bone- In Skin-On Chicken Thighs
Sumo Citrus
Italian Parsley
Scallions
Wild Tuna Loin
Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine
Shelled English Peas
Stringless Snap Peas
Baby Zucchini
Bananas
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blueberries
Blackberries
Broccoli
Carrots
Persian Cucumbers
Star Ruby Grapefruit
Green Grapes
Red Grapes
Kiwi
Hydro Boston Lettuce
Romaine Lettuce
Whole Cremini Mushrooms
Baby Spinach
Brussel Sprouts
Yellow Onions
Golden Pineapples
Row 7 Organic Upstate Abundance Potatoes
Garnet Yams
Watermelon Radishes
Shallots
Organic Firm Tofu
Snipped French Beans
Gotham Greens Vegan Pesto
These are some of the easy dinners that I’ve made with the items that I purchase. To help form my mealtime framework, I always have a simply dressed salad alongside a protein, a starch (rice, pasta, potato, or grain), and an additional vegetable. My go-to dressing is dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. The vegetables are usually simple to prepare and range from roasted potatoes, sautéd green beans, garlic broccoli, or roasted cauliflower. For protein, we lean on beans and grains, tofu, seafood, or organic poultry. Here are some of the quick dinners we’ve thrown together with the ingredients I usually have on hand.
