Grocery Circus

For better or for worse, grocery shopping in our household is a multi-step affair.  After years of planning menus and making lists, we finally have it down to a science.  The Saturday routine involves one parent (we take turns), two munchkins, lots of samples, and (thank goodness) ZERO TRIPS TO SAFEWAY.  Here’s our formula:

Trader Joe’s: Go-to for organic dairy, bread, breakfast stuff, and limited produce

• Shopping list: Yogurt, milk, cheese, eggs, almond milk, nuts, bread, tortillas, rice, oatmeal, oranges, avocado, hummus, peanut/sunflower butter, frozen vegetables, frozen berries
• Favorite items: Middle Eastern Flatbread, Edamame Hummus, Fage yogurt
• Pitfalls: Inexpensive organic produce = often tasteless

Whole Foods: Go-to for fresh produce, high-quality meat and fish, special items

• Shopping list: Produce, meat, fish, fresh pasta, chocolate
• Favorite items: XOXO chocolate, RJ’s fresh pasta, kombucha
• Pitfalls: Beautiful displays –> “Whole Paycheck”

Other: Produce from the farmer’s market, coffee from Peet’s Coffee

We also use a few simple tools to help navigate the organic/natural/etc debate:

• The “Dirty Dozen” list of fruits + veggies you should buy organic
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Guidelines
• Weelicious (great school lunch inspiration)

How do you tackle the task of feeding yourself and your family?  And do you have any favorite items we should add to our list?