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Grocery Shopping with DD

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I had a bad idea yesterday after work and picking up DD from camp–to make a quick stop at the grocery store for a few necessary items.  I’m already off to a bad start because I didn’t get the week’s shopping done as I usually do on the weekends AND I was sleep deprived.  I figured we’d zip in and grab a few items.  As you probably suspect–this resulted in a totally flustered Mom and Daughter and too much money spent! 

I know I must have a plan and a list when I go into a grocery store…but what do I do when there is nothing to eat at home AND I have no plan?!  I almost ran by a local vegetarian restaurant known for its real food but knew that would be expensive.  I told myself I could run in and out of the grocery store and grab just what I needed–the items on my mental list that I really should have put down on paper.  Add to this DD going through processed food detox and we had a mess of a time!  She isn’t normally one to ask for lots of things but that’s because she usually has all the junk she wants.  With the new rules and the post-vacation blahs…her requests were non-stop!  Wow!  Stuff she doesn’t even have a history of liking were being begged for with all out drama! 

It was an all-around bad idea and exhausting for both of us.  I spent $35 on random stuff—all “real food” except for the pringles I agreed to in a huge moment of weakness.  After I got home I confirmed that I did get some things for DD’s lunches for camp but other than that virtually nothing I got can create a meal.  🙁

Today is a new day and I’m not off to a great start.  I didn’t have time to make my oatmeal at home and paid $2 for oatmeal from the downstairs cafe.  They were happy to see me again but I was not happy to pay them $2.00 for a bowl of oatmeal.

I’m giving myself a break–and I’ll find some time to make a plan today!


14 Comments

  • Reply Karen |

    It’s a good idea to prepare ahead for times like this. Spend part of your weekend making whole grain muffins or waffles and freeze them for those hectic mornings. When you cook, make a double recipe and freeze the extra meal for times when “there’s nothing to eat.” You can even make burritos and sandwiches ahead of time and freeze them. That way you never really “have nothing to eat” at home.

    • Reply Claire |

      Hi Karen–thanks for the comment. I usually do what you suggest here but we went on a week-long vacation until very late Sunday night and I did not plan ahead. I’m looking forward to this coming weekend to get back to my routine.

  • Reply Juhli |

    Always a problem to go grocery shopping when you are hungry and tired but sometimes necessary. I don’t know what kind of job you have but can you use some of your organizational approaches/skills from work to help with your non-work life?

  • Reply Den |

    It happens to us all!

    Here’s a great trick – about a week before we leave on vacation I make an extra chicken casserole or lasagna and pop it in the freezer along with a loaf of breakfast banana bread. This way I know we have a breakfast and a dinner on our first day home – allows me to catch my breath after vacation but before I hit the grocery store to restock.

    Another easy trick before I run into the grocery store for “a few things” is to sit in my car for 2 minutes and make a list before I rush in. Those two minutes save me money and actually save me time in the store as I’m much more focused and organized.

    No one’s perfect – it’s what makes life so interesting!!!

    • Reply Claire |

      DEN! Yes! This is what I needed to do! Thank you for this idea. It would have been so simple to double up on a meal before we left and had it waiting. Next time…next time…genius! See–this is why I love blogging–I don’t think of this stuff but a reader comes through!

      • Reply Adam |

        Gosh these people are amazing. Cooking meals ahead of time to eat AFTER a vacation. What a great idea. I could never be so organized

    • Reply ib |

      Wow those are awesome ideas. I love the 2min before running into the grocery store. I’ll have to keep a small pad/pen in my car just for that.

      We buy “emergency” ready to make food. We eat as healthy as possible, but will buy one of those frozen lasagna from costco to keep in the freezer for when we’re too tired to cook or unexpected guests.

  • Reply Desperately in Debt |

    Don’t be too hard on yourself, Claire, we all have goof ups and you’ve come a long way in recognizing your weaknesses! I’m still impressed at how well your family stuck to the plan throughout the vacation and how well all family members are making these adjustments!

  • Reply JMK |

    We’re heading out on 2 wks vacation this Friday. I’ve got precooked hamburger in the freezer and pasta and a jar of sauce in the pantry for an easy dinner the night we return if we even feel like eating. There are also bagels,waffles and a can of OJ in the freezer, and the eggs and unopened yogurt have August expiry dates. Everyone can have breakfast while I’m out doing groceries the first day back.
    I also plan to spend an hour or so on the budget spreadsheet before I headback to work. Updating for pay that was deposited and all the incidental charges we ran up while away. I’ll pay the entire amount whether the items have even shown up on the credit card account or not, and the holiday will be compelely paid for before I go back to work. We used to come home to an empty refridgerator and then rush out to an over-priced corner store for a few items. No more. We often return home to an easy pasta dinner, but that’s fine. No stress and frankly after a lot of restaurant eating and unfamiliar foods, sometimes that’s exactly what you want.

  • Reply Katie |

    You are doing fine! Think of how much better you’re doing now than last year at this time. Accept that you will make mistakes, and move on. The guilt just gets you in more trouble. Humans make mistakes, it is normal. What we do when we make the mistake is the real key to success!

  • Reply Cheri |

    You are doing a great job!!!
    LOVE the freeze ahead meal for return home! That never occurred to me!
    Are you using a meal planning website??? 100 days of real food has a review of all the current sites.
    I am using Plan to Eat. It is AMAZING!!
    Keep up the great work!

    • Reply Claire |

      Yes Cheri!! I just started using the six o’clock scramble and so far am loving it! Wasn’t that review of all of the meal planning websites great?! I think I’m going to post on that right now! Thanks for the reminder.

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