Grocery List

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Vegetables

For salads (How to Make a Delicious 400 Calorie Salad):
romaine lettuce
grape tomatoes
carrots
cucumber
red and green bell pepper
red cabbage

For dinner veggie sides
broccoli crowns (roast them please)
cauliflower (Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower or Curried Cauliflower with Sweet Peas)
frozen peas
frozen corn
sweet potatoes
white potatoes

Fruit

For one large fruit salad:
pineapple (fresh and frozen)
cantaloupe
watermelon
green grapes
strawberries
blueberries

Meat/Eggs/Poultry/Dairy

2 dozen large brown eggs (hard boiled for breakfasts and midday snacks)
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast (to be marinated and grilled)
2 lbs pork tenderloin (to be put in slow cooker for Slow Cooker Pulled Pork)
1-2 lbs extra lean ground beef (to be made into Honey Barbecue Meatloaf or burgers)
2% greek yogurt (Fage brand almost exclusively) or lowfat cottage cheese
1% milk
Extra firm tofu
Feta cheese

Beverages

1 lb Starbucks Verona or Peet’s Sumatra ground coffee
Coffeemate Lowfat Creamer
12-pack of cans of naturally flavored seltzer water (brands: Polar, Adirondack)
12-pack of diet soda (Diet Coke, Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet A&W Root Beer, Fresca)
Sugar free lemonade mix (single drink serving size- any brand)
*Note about sugar free/diet beverages: I don’t love the crazy ingredients, I don’t love the artificiality, I wouldn’t even recommend anyone drink them regularly because only God knows what they’re doing to my insides. But I can’t help it; I love them.

Starches

Old fashioned rolled oats (for the best 300 calorie bowl of oatmeal or Chewy Cherry Almond Granola Bars)
Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats
*Note about starches: We purchase very few grains/starches not because we’re haters, but because lunches are salads and dinner sides usually include a white or sweet potato- mashed, baked, or roasted. We’re potato loving fools, but other grains deserve love, too: brown rice, quinoa, pasta (for PJ’s Spaghetti and My Favorite Meatballs)

Snacks/Dessert/Etc

Salted, roasted nuts: cashews and almonds
Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream (the best of the traditionally stocked grocery store brands)
Stonyfield Frozen Yogurt
Bonne Maman strawberry preserves
Teddy or Smucker’s brand All Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
Marshmallow fluff

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You’re up! What are your grocery staples? Any favorite products that I should check out?

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74 thoughts on “Grocery List

  1. Sarah

    I love broccoli slaw! I beef up my salads, use it in place of pasta, stirfry it up. So versatile. Oooh, and don’t forget spinach for smoothies!

    Reply
  2. Randy Chong

    Bananas (to be sliced and frozen), oatmeal (ground in blender), skim milk and peanut butter for smoothies. Red or yellow potatoes for roasting. Black beans and corn (frozen or canned) to add to summer salads. Salsa — for everything!

    Reply
  3. Liz

    Sometimes cottage cheese is a nice staple to add to the salad instead of meat. I like it also used as a dip for bbq PopChips as a snack with a little protein.
    EGGS! I’m totally into eggs for breakfast lately. I used to do oats EVERY SINGLE MORN, but it’s so hot now the oats just don’t sound good.
    Agreement about the diet sodas. I know they’re not good for me. But I’m trying to be moderate and my life is just a bit better with them. Whoops.

    Reply
  4. Dorothy Gardner

    I went shopping yesterday until the heat got the best of me..I’ll finish it today…
    Started at the farmers’ market…red and purple bell peppers and poblano peppers, heirloom tomatoes and cherry tomatoes, romaine lettuce
    other veggies…portobello mushrooms, coleslaw mix

    meats…bone-in chicken breast, chicken Italian sausage, ground turkey, chobani yogurts, lite swiss cheese

    beverages..I’m lucky to have a boyfriend that works for Polar, and we get a nice discount on their soda..I love love love their seltzers..favorite flavor of the moment? mint mojito

    still to buy…red potatoes, sweet potatoes, summer and zucchini squashes, and a few staples

    Reply
  5. Jennifer

    A big bag of kale, a log of goat cheese, fuji or gala apples, meat, fish, and a veggie dish for every night of the week, and untold amounts of other vegetables. Something different for a salad every week, like arugula, spinach, or romaine…or a mix. Black beans, white beans, garbonzo beans, soybeans. So easy to throw on a salad with goat cheese and be set for lunch!

    And my new favorite discovery? Trader Joe’s Corn and Chile salsa. Oh…my…God. This stuff is ah-ma-zing. So good on salad, too. And tacos. And eggs. I have to get a jar every time I go to Trader Joe’s now. It’s a sick addiction, but totally worth it.

    Reply
  6. Kathy White

    Marshmallow Fluff? When we were kids my mum used to make fluffernutter sandwiches – and I thought these would be totally evil when weight watching?

    Reply
    1. Andie

      Kathy, true: fluff isn’t even close to health food but I love peanut butter and fluff together almost as much as I love Leonardo DiCaprio so I make it work :)

      Reply
  7. Julia @ cookandburn.com

    I always buy non fat plain yogurt (to mix with cereal or to bake with), Fiber One Original, puffed wheat cereal, apples, bananas, grapes, seasonal fruit, light bread, Unsweetened Almond Milk (either Almond Breeze or Silk) and eggs–those are staples that I must have on hand at all times.

    Reply
  8. Tamara

    Musts:
    Baby spinach (for salads, sandwiches, smoothies)
    Bananas (for snacks and to freeze when ripe for the aforementioned smoothies)
    apples
    bell peppers
    sugar snap peas
    eggs
    Chobani plain 0% Greek yogurt
    tempeh
    lean ground beef and/or turkey and barilla whole grain pasta for various dinners
    quinoa and couscous for various lunches
    coconut milk (for smoothies and overnight oats)
    almond milk (for tea)
    rooibos (herbal tea; I don’t do caffeine)
    caffeine-free diet coke

    Reply
    1. Tamara

      Oh yes, and beans, usually black and my favorite, garbanzo. I usually use canned but just bought a bag of dried… I’m hoping to get the hang of it!

      Reply
  9. Violet

    Zucchini (which I love with a love beyond understanding), Jazz or Honeycrisp apples when in season, and good, really sharp cheddar cheese.

    My cart would include a six-pack of 24 oz. bottles of diet Pepsi. I have cut way down on soda but I just can’t quit it! (12- or 24-packs are cheaper but I often didn’t drink a whole can and I realized I was dumping a lot of flat soda. With the bottles, I can pour out as much as I want and put the rest back in the fridge.)

    My favorite food these days is Terra sweet potato chips. (Plain, please – the “spiced” flavor tastes like feet.) 160 cals/serving, no salt added, 3g fiber, and the delicious, sweet-and-almost-burned flavor I love.

    Reply
      1. Beth

        I’m going more and more off the deep end with trying to eat locally and it’s really changed the way I approach menu planning. This past spring I realized I’ve become completely incapable of menu planning and grocery shopping from scratch, so to speak, because I’m so used to working with what’s available from local sources. So, I have to admit this post makes me wistful for the seeming ease of going to the grocery store and loading up my cart with whatever I feel like eating. :)

        To clarify, I’m not a purist! I live in Wisconsin and there’s not a lot of local fruit available. I’ve bought my share of fruits shipped in from California, bananas, and even Clementines from Spain. Just today I bought a head of Romain because salad’s from Swiss Chard are getting old.

        Reply
        1. Caroline

          I used to be obsessed with being local, but you can’t buy everything you need locally at all times. It is still very important to me, but I think it’s a balance. Andee, I LOVE this site!

          Reply
      1. Canadian Sunshine

        WOW!! Two weeks?? I am so envious, I am the mother of two 6 ft teenagers… I bought a similar list today and know I will be back at the store within the week… I bought exta meet, probably enough for a few weeks, but not gonna make it with anything else!! And… my bill was OVER $200!

        Reply
  10. Aubrey

    Veggies and fruit as far as the eye can see! I have no problem getting enough veggies, but geedangit, why does a bag of organic spinach have to cost my future first-born’s college tuition? I spent $100 yesterday and it’ll be gone in a week. :(

    Reply
  11. Suzi Balleisen

    Thank you for sharing your list, and of course the recipes. I will be making that pulled pork soon!
    Favorites at our house include: hummus, Persian cucumbers, salsa, crumbled goat cheese (great in salads), and garlic always makes my list.

    Reply
  12. Destinie

    I have a soft spot for diet soda as well! Lately I’ve been going through a grape phase. And I always have to have granny smith apples. Tortillas are a life saver when you’re in a pinch.

    Reply
  13. Annie B

    What I bought last night:
    Kabocha squash
    Cauliflower
    Grapes
    Tomatoes
    Romaine
    Spinach
    Papaya
    Raspberries
    Limes
    Lamb steaks
    Uncured turkey hotdogs
    Pork sirloin steaks
    Jerky
    Granola bars for the kiddos

    Reply
  14. Katy Brannen

    I like everything you have! I’m moving this week, so I’m going to print this off to stock my new kitchen. :) A few additions…

    Avocados!! To go with pretty much anything.
    Carrots & celery with lowfat cream cheese & salsa
    Ezekiel bread & peanut butter (one of my favorite protein-packed breakfasts…I add sliced banana and honey when I have time)
    Tilapia &/or salmon
    Quinoa is my starch of choice, like you mentioned
    Angel food cake with strawberries & light Cool Whip (my favorite summertime dessert)

    Reply
  15. Carole

    Really trying to give up diet sodas, but if I drink one with dinner I get full so much faster!

    Lowfat hazelnut creamer is WONDERFUL on oatmeal–almost tastes like dessert.

    Reply
  16. Emily

    I saw that you put tofu in your cart. I’m always looking for new recipes with tofu. I couldn’t find any under your recipe link. Any recommendations?

    Reply
  17. Beth

    After my comment above about eating locally I thought I should mention something else. Over the next month a staple in our house will be a salad made with your Lemon Parmesan Vinaigrette. Halved cherry tomatoes, chopped red, yellow, and orange bell peppers (or whatever we have) and raw corn cut off the cobb. Toss with the dressing and place on a bed of shredded chard or spinach. Tonight I’m replacing the tomatoes with sauteed zucchini because it’s what I have on hand.

    YUM!

    Reply
  18. cate

    Hi, Andie! I love your blog so much! My favorite recipes of yours are your many salad ones. I was wondering, since summer is almost over, what do you like to do in the fall and winter for salads? I feel less inspired to eat salads in these seasons, when produce is less abundant. Any favorite vegetables or add-ins for this time of year?

    Reply
  19. Lauren C

    You MUST try Smartfood brand chips. The garlic tomato basil hummus popped chips (wow that’s a mouthful!) are out of this world..and that’s coming from someone that doesn’t like chips.

    Also, I like tempeh. I make chili with it to mix things up a bit!

    Reply
  20. M

    Hey! not sure you’ve done this before or not, but since you put together a grocery list, it would be cool (if its not too personal) if you put together a sort of “meal schedule” showing how you use each of the items throughout the week- even if you don’t go by a schedule, but just write down what you ate after a specific week. I love your lists, i just wonder how i can apply each item to each meal throughout the week :)

    Reply
  21. Sara

    Triscuits, cabot 50% reduced fat cheddar, and hummus are always in my house. And I am not a diet soda or soda drinker, but I DO like a nice wine, sauvignon blanc in the summer, and pinot noir in the winter :)

    Reply
  22. Angie

    wraps, Philly light cream cheese, cucumbers, smoked salmon, grapefruit, berries, almonds, hummus, baby spinach, feta cheese, baby carrots, hardboiled eggs, Skyr (the Icelandic version of Greek yogurt), high fiber cereal to mix into the Skyr, lean ultra thin deli-sliced turkey breast, asparagus, colored bell peppers, quinoa, brown rice, dark chocolate, skim milk, chocolate soy milk, tangerines, shrimp, popcorn, tuna packed in water, cilantro, cantaloupe, Fage 0%, Trader Joe natural peanut butter with flaxseeds, Trader Joe harvest grain blend, broccoli

    Reply
    1. Katie

      Loving this list–yummy cheeses, healthy protiens, lots of produce, and a shout-out to TJ’s: perfection!

      Reply
  23. anita pierson

    Baba Ghanoush (eggplant dip) spread on french bread or pita. Hard boiled eggs sliced up in a salad.

    Reply
  24. Ana

    I definitely always get Chobani yogurt. The Strawberry Banana and Apple Cinnamon are particularly delicious.
    BUT, more importantly, I found a recipe for amazing pancakes made by mixing one container of Chobani, one egg, half a cup of flour, a teaspoon of Baking Soda, and a dash of milk. Of course, adding mashed banana, cinnamon, and vanilla make it extra heavenly. :)

    Reply
  25. TJ

    Espresso roast coffee beans, half and half, and hershey’s syrup = Iced Americano with two tablespoons of hershey’s and a splash of cream. It makes my world go-round. :)

    Reply
  26. Kayte

    I just bought the Fiber Plus Coconut Caramel granola bars for the first time this week. Only 130 cals in each one and tons of fiber for those late afternoon snack needs. Plus, they taste like a Samoa Girl Scout cookie!!! Oh heavens!

    The staples on my list every two weeks (because that’s how often I need to go shopping) are:

    Zucchini
    Carrots
    Baby Sweet Bell Peppers
    Sugar Snap Peas
    Yellow neck squash
    Cherry tomatoes
    Light String cheese
    Crackers of some sort
    Lunch meat of some sort.

    That’s pretty much my lunch every day. Plus, whatever fruit looks good for snacks and then whatever else I want for dinners. Every once in a while I buy lean cuisines or lean hot pockets to break up the monotony of lunch meat/cheese/crackers.

    Reply
  27. Tara

    peppers, onions, potatoes, corn, broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, berries, spinach, carrots, Atheno hummus, salsa, TJ’s greek yogurt, eggs, 1% milk, chicken, ground meat (tacos always!), canned tomatoes

    Reply
  28. Ann

    Bananas
    Plain 0% Chobani greek yogurt with tons of berries to mix in
    La Croix Sparkling water (usually coconut or peach-pear flavored!I drink this to offset my cravings for Diet Soda. Sometimes it works, but other times I just NEED that diet dr. pepper!)
    Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Almonds (great for an after dinner treat!)

    Reply
  29. Morgan

    Definitely try some Greek gods cherry honey yogurt! It’s my equivalent of a 300 calorie dessert…but ohsoworthit.

    I love Whole Food’s Allegro espresso. Can’t live without some “veggie” fries, Quorn’s gruyere “chicken” patties, or packaged dry pesto and tomato paste to add to veggie sautés.

    Blue Diamond’s salt and vinegar almonds? So hard to find but my version of Poor Brother’s salt and vinegar chips.

    Reply
  30. Dana

    Tzatziki is a new staple in our house!!! I like it on celery on on rice crackers. We were doing hummus for a while and still do but we wanted to switch things up a bit. I also love the polar brand seltzer. I just bought megrims key lime at target, i’ve not tried it yet but I can’t wait.

    Reply
  31. Caroline

    Several of your staples are mine as well, but a few additional:
    1) Fresh Cherries- I used to not like them but I retried lately and LOVE them.
    2) Lime Margarita Crystal Light and Crystal Light Natural Grape. They keep me from over doing it on caloric beverages.
    3) PB2- Andee have you had this? It’s amazing. It’s powdered peanuts that you can add to smoothies without as much fat and without the mess if peanut butter. The PB2 with Cocoa is my favorite in protein shakes. Also good with yogurt.
    4) Food for Life Brown rice tortillas used as a pizza crust. I like bigger portions so I can feel like I am eating a whole pizza for not a lot of calories.
    5) Luna Protein Bars, Archer Farms real fruit snacks, and Justin’s Almond Butter packs… I have blood sugar issues so I keep a “food pouch” in my purse with these three things at all times. That way I never have the excuse of being so hungry that I have to stop and get tator tots. :)
    6)Homeade chicken broth- I never let chicken bones go to waste. I always have this on hand so I can control the sodium.
    7)Queso Fresco, corn tortillas, and Pioneer Women’s homeade pico de gallo. I also have these on hand so I can throw together a healthier soft taco instead of heading to the local mexican joint. Pair with grilled chicken or steak and it’s amazing.
    8) Fresh Mozzerella- Caprese Salads are so satisfying!

    Okay. I think that’s it. :) Thanks for your website- I love it!

    Reply
  32. Melanie

    Diet soda is my kryptonite! Coke zero is my personal fave. In fact, I may or may not be sipping on a can as I type this… It’s refreshing to hear that someone as healthy as you is addicted, too :)

    Reply
  33. Michelle in N. Cal

    Oh and I LOVE St. Croix sparkling water. My current fave is Pear Peach and Cranberry Raspberry. Not sweet at all, just the essence of the fruit flavor. I get it at Target.

    Reply
  34. Christine

    *Note about sugar free/diet beverages: I don’t love the crazy ingredients, I don’t love the artificiality, I wouldn’t even recommend anyone drink them regularly because only God knows what they’re doing to my insides. But I can’t help it; I love them.

    There is a new zero calorie soda called Zevia made with stevia, so less artificiality ;) The grape even has no artifical coloring. But it still isn’t a substitute for Diet Coke :(

    Reply
  35. TracyDK

    Today, I bought tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, apple cider and dark chocolate almond butter from my local farmers market. I always keep 2% milk on hand for my son. We have cherries, pineapple, watermelon, bananas, whole grain bread, 2 pints of cremini mushrooms, 3lbs ground beef (I buy it in bulk on sale and cook it all at once with onions and mushrooms and divy it out and freeze it. Generally lasts me 2-3 weeks this way), chicken, fish, whole wheat flour, crushed tomatoes, green leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, carrots, hummus (or chickpeas)…and that’s all I can think of at the moment.

    Reply
  36. Lindsay

    Broccoli slaw and scallions added to any salad = a favorite of mine. Raw cauliflower with spicy hummus! Chick peas-roasted in oven with EVOO & spices! Chopped spinach added to lean ground beef for taco night. Guilt-free chocolate russians= 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce kahluah, 1 Tbsp organic cacoa powder, 3 ounces unsweetened almond milk: shake & serve over ice. YUM!!!

    Reply
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  40. Richa

    I love non-fat greek yogurt with frozen blueberries.

    As far as frozen ice cream/yogurt goes, I’ve had a couple flavors in Stonyfield’s non-fat frozen yogurt (gotta have java and after dark chocolate) and *really* don’t like them. Not sure how vanilla would be, but here are my picks (they’re available at most supermarkets…):

    So Delicious Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Ice Cream (100 cal/ 1/2 cup)
    Lifeway Frozen Kefir – Original tart (90 cal/ 1/2 cup)

    What I love about the coconut milk one is it has no sugar added AND no artificial sweeteners. Truly a decadent, natural, but low-cal treat.

    Reply
  41. Addi

    Hi there! I just started reading your blog and LOVE it so much already. I know this is an older post, but I’m trying to get into taking salads for lunches and I was just wondering, how much of each veggie should I buy if I’m just making it for two people? This will save me so much money– I’m in a bad habit of going to the deli for salad!

    Reply
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