It took many years for me to become efficient at cooking and shopping for six. As our children grew and became teenagers it was a challenge to be able to feed the family good healthy meals while following a budget. Just when it seemed like I had perfected the challenge our children grew up and left home. Now the challenge is cooking for two!
No longer can I make meals that feed six or more. If I do I have to freeze several small portions to enjoy later or my husband and I would be eating the same thing all week! Just like the single cook, cooking for two requires some particular challenges. The last thing you want is the browning, unused head of cauliflower in the back of the fridge because you didn’t find time to use it all up! Here are a few tips to help keep the excess and doldrums in check.
The fresh meat, seafood, deli, produce and bakery departments are perfect places to buy the exact amount you need without paying any more per pound than if you were buying for a family of six. If you buy larger packs of meat, divide them into smaller portions when you get home and put some in the freezer to use later.
When food sold by the pound is packaged in containers larger than you need, ask the department manager if he can divide a package. Stores are usually happy to help you buy only what you need. For example our local grocery store sells bags of grapes. They are all prepackaged so you can just grab a bag. However maybe you don’t need 2-3 pounds of grapes. The department manager told me I could just take the grapes I need and put them in a produce bag and just purchase what I need.
Many stores are now selling cartons that contain just six eggs. If you don’t see any on display, ask the manager to cut a carton in half. Better yet find a neighbor that sells fresh eggs and just purchase what you need.
The bulk food section of the store also allows you to buy small qualities. If you can’t eat a whole box of cereal or a whole can of nuts before they go stale, buy only the amount you need from the bulk bins. This will also allow you to get more variety as well!
Invest in a set of good storage containers to keep your leftovers fresh. If you’re going to freeze your leftovers, be sure to use bags or containers made especially for the freezer so your food won’t get freezer burn.
Cooking for a large family or cooking for just two have their challenges. By shopping smart and making good use of your leftovers you can eat well and maintain a food budget. What is your challenge when it comes to food shopping?
Nancy on the Home Front 