We got home late on Sunday from Savannah, which meant my weekly food prep wasn’t happening. Being the extremely flexible, easy going gal that I am (Ok, Ok, that I’m tryyyyying to be), I figured I’d take care of it all during nap time on Monday. Well, yesterday after the gym Hailey and I ended up at the farmers market, listless. Chaos ensued.
I’m not just talking about Hailey running around shoving handfuls of cherry tomatoes and blackberries in her mouth, though that did happen. I’m talking about ME shoving beautiful produce in my basket willy nilly, without a plan.
$28 worth of freshness
I know what you are thinking. Shopping without a list?! Woah guuurl, you cray!
Ha, kidding, but I always go in with a plan, so when I came home with all this beautiful food, I immediately got to work on a plan to eat it all before any of it went bad.
Even the eggplant. What the heck do I do with an eggplant?
The answer is grill it. The answer is always to grill.
Monday– Grilled steak, grilled marinated vegetables (zucchini, squash, onions and green beans) and sweet potatoes
Tuesday– Grilled salmon, massaged kale salad and sliced tomatoes
Wednesday– Grilled chicken wraps, grilled corn and roasted broccoli
Thursday– Chicken and bean bake with grilled eggplant
Friday– friends in town/grill out
Breakfasts– eggs, toast, avocado, berries, yogurt
Lunch– tuna salad wraps, veggie wraps, salad, leftovers
Clearly I’m all about the grill now that I know how to use it myself.
After nap, we headed to Whole Foods. I figured why not; we had to be in Charlotte to pick up Koda anyway!
Per usual, Hailey snacked while I shopped.
We packed the cooler, grabbed Koda and headed home. Unfortunately we hit traffic, but Hailey found ways to entertain herself. I cracked up when I glanced up to check on her and found this-
Back home, we unloaded the goodies.
I really am enjoying the quinoa pasta!
Don’t fool yourself into thinking marketing to kids doesn’t work. We bought the ravioli ONLY because H was so excited about Elmo.
Also, ORGANIC marinara at Whole Foods is only $3!! It usually runs double that at Harris Teeter, so I stocked up.
Wild Keta salmon was on sale for $9.99/lb
And a new item to try- brown rice tortillas!
Between the farmers market ($28) and Whole Foods ($98), our total grocery bill was roughly $126. It’s a little higher than usual, but I’m aiming on spending a little more on groceries to curb our weekend eating out. We’ll see how it goes!
Overall, I feel great that I was able to piece together the week backwards, but look forward to getting back to meal planning first next weekend!
Are you a loyal list user or do you wing it?
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
For not having a list, it sure looks like you ended up with ingredients for some great meals for the week! I love your solution to grill whatever you have but are not sure what to do with…SO smart during the Summertime!
Lindsey says
Loyal list user here 🙂 I have actually gone back home when I realized I did not have my list! I meal plan most of our meals so without my list I would forget lots I am sure.
Tiff @ Love, Sweat, and Beers says
You did well! I always have a list. Like… always. I’m a little OCD about it, really. Looks like you found goodies at the Farmer’s Market. The market I most recently went to didn’t impress me, but maybe there’s more stuff in season now than there was when I went a month or so ago.
Brittany Dixon says
It really just started to boom with the local produce so definitely go back and check it out. If it’s still no good, get your booty up to mooresville 🙂
Maria says
What’s a grocery list? Ha!
Food Should Taste Good Chips are so…well, GOOD! My husband brings me home the cheddar ones from work and we fight over them. I cannot seem to find them in stores or online anywhere, or else I’d recommend you pick some up. Or instead, you could just come visit. Easy enough.
Brittany Dixon says
I have never seen the cheddar! And you’re right. Why order them online when surely a plane ticket would be more cost efficient. I like the way you think!
Kim @ Cooking in the City says
I love my lists, but lately I’ve been shopping more like this. I’ll go to the farmer’s market and grab what looks good, then set my list and head to Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s to fill in the gaps. Your farmer’s market goods look amazing… and I’m super jealous of the affordable prices!
Brittany Dixon says
The more and more I blog about it, I realize my farmers market is pretty darn well priced. I’m so grateful and wish more people had it that way!
char eats greens says
Our grocery bill is about that this week also. I hope we can make it last. I think we have serious problems with keeping a grocery bill down. Something I must work on haha. That picture of Hailey cracked me up!!! What a little ham!!!
Karen says
Hailey is just adorable!! I “try” to keep with the list but usually go off it for an item or five…ha-ha!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
I’m a pretty loyal lister, but occasionally I’ll do the spontaneous grocery trip. I find that I always forget something if I don’t make a list, and I hate having to go back in the middle of the week for one or two things. And yes to grilling everything! We grill at least a few times a week during the summer months. Love it!
Beth Sheridan says
Looks like you’ve done great on your shopping! My mom and dad’s HUGE garden is about to be overflowing with free produce and I’m so excited!!
Brittany Dixon says
I hope to become a better gardener one day… or at least live by one 😉 There is nothing better than food STRAIGHT from the garden. I’m jealous of you overflowing, free produce! Enjoy 🙂
Gina says
I almost always bring a list! I would never remember everything without it!
Also, kudos to you for having Hailey still rear facing. Good safety, Mama!
Nicole @ FruitnFitness says
I tried to meal plan a few times but haven’t been too successful with it. I usually go to the grocery store and fares market without a list and end up eating random meals throughout the week. H is so cute, glad she can happily snack while you shop.
Danica @ It's Progression says
I don’t think I trust myself to wing it, I’d just get way too much produce! 🙂
Matt @ The Athlete's Plate says
Haha that’s about how much I spend per week on just me! Those specialty items at whole foods kill me.
Nausheen says
I love grocery shopping! I’m the oddest teenager there is….
I start with a list of things that I NEED to get but usually end up putting some extra things in the cart as I go. My mom isn’t amused 🙂
Liz says
Hailey is so cute. No I don’t always have a list when I shop, but it’s best to have one because I end up spending more and like you said need to use the vegetables quickly before they go bad. I just feel better when I have a list to follow.
Amanda says
We love those brown rice tortillas! I’ll break them in half and stick them in the toaster then flip them and do the same to the other half (that’s sticking out of the toaster). Then fill them with some sort of mixture I cook up…beans, any veggies, a can of roasted tomatoes, anything really…its pretty quick, easy and yummy!
Mer says
Quinoa pasta sounds good- I’ll have to give that a try!
Chantal says
I COULD wing it, considering I buy typically the same stuff every week and make various meals out of that… but I prefer a list. When I have surprise items, I always end up going back to the store.
Amy @ {Life to the Full} says
I’m a loyal list user! Otherwise, I get to the store and usually forget the reason I cam (usually for milk or eggs). Then I remember the missing items while putting groceries away at home :s
Eggplant is sooo good but I don’t use it enough! A friend made eggplant lasagna one evening and it was a hit 🙂
Harry says
I love grilling too. It just gives that yummy grilled flavor which makes food yummier. And it also uses less oil which can also be good for us.