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FOOD & WINE DISCUSSION

mes196

POSTED: Wed, 08/31/2011 - 9:20am

Basic Grocery List

This is my second run on the FWDGF lifestyle. The first time (about 2 years ago) I did great. Well, I fell of the wagon about 8 months ago and I am trying very hard to get things right again but I am really struggling this time....I am looking for tips on getting motivated to cook again....any staples that you always have on hand or simple menu planning options?

Farrah27

POSTED: Sat, 11/05/2011 - 4:41pm Stick to the Perimeters I stay on the outsides of the store, never the aisles unless I need flour. Dairy, produce, meat, and breads are all that's needed. If you go down the aisles you may be tempted like me for chips, sodas, and high sodium canned foods. I have a husband and 3 teenagers and they don't have those foods. Sometimes it's difficult for them to find a snack that is easy, but I will buy frozen hamburgers and it takes minutes for them to make a quick burger. Mrs. Guiliano's cookbook has many easy and basic recipes with fresh and small ingredient list. I typically purchase what I have decided for my weekly menu, which keeps my budget somewhat low and go from there. Good luck! By the way, I have definitely fallen off the wagon as I had an ankle surgery last year and going in for another in December, however, if you think easy and fresh you'll do fine.

Vintage1944

POSTED: Mon, 11/07/2011 - 10:56am Good advice Thanks Farah.A list is a great help as well.I tend to wander the aisles if I don't have one.I hope your ankle surgery goes wel.OXO

Meems

POSTED: Tue, 09/13/2011 - 4:06pm Basics change with the seasons for me. Summer: More fresh fruit, vegetables, rice & fish. Fall brings in the heartier veggies (root vegetables), denser cheeses. Winter: Dried fruits w/meats, more cheese, shell fish, more soups, home canned fruit & veg's. Spring: Ready for FRESH anything! We do eat more rice than potatoes; I bake bread rather than buy store made and can vegetables & fruit from our garden; butter, olive oil & cream rather than oleo & milk (although we do keep 2% on hand to drink). After re-reading the above, my vagueness (sp?) might not be too much help. I guess my rule of thumb is that I try to get as little of processed food a possible. One of the benefits is you can create any combination of flavors you like since you don't have it pre-packaged! Voila! Home cooking. @+

mes196

POSTED: Tue, 09/13/2011 - 9:30am Wanted to give an update. I Wanted to give an update. I used alot of the recoomendations given here and restocked my cabinets and fridge. Instead of doing one HUGE shopping trip to stock up I am going every couple of days which actually I am finding pretty enjoyable. I have definetly been eating healthier and my clothes are feeling looser already!

mes196

POSTED: Tue, 09/13/2011 - 9:30am Wanted to give an update. I Wanted to give an update. I used alot of the recoomendations given here and restocked my cabinets and fridge. Instead of doing one HUGE shopping trip to stock up I am going every couple of days which actually I am finding pretty enjoyable. I have definetly been eating healthier and my clothes are feeling looser already!

jas	POSTED: Thu, 09/29/2011 - 2:54pm Good job Mes Good work!

kit

POSTED: Fri, 09/02/2011 - 11:00pm Welcome back, Mes196 I'm fairly new here, but I know that with being off the wagon for no matter how long, you were never really gone. You already know the principles, now you are ready to embark on the journey again, congratulations! Everyone has great suggestions, I can only second the vote. Depending on your budget and whether or not you have a "big box" store like Elizabeth and me, namely Costco, I would suggest purchasing either a slow cooking utensil, such as a quality crock pot or dutch oven. I invested in a Staub (made in France, oui!)dutch oven. Costco and other bulk shopping centers sell name quality meats,cheeses and non-perishables. Personally, I buy what is in season with produce. I buy enough meat to use and make extra portions to freeze. I buy bulk hamburger for instance and freeze it in 1# portions. Read recipes on line(you don't even need to purchase cookbooks), you'll be lost for HOURS getting motivated by great sounding meals. I always try to keep soup or pasta ingredients on hand for a quick through-together meal. Mostly, figure out what you'd LOVE to eat, then make it. I don't worry about fat or calories because the French eat lots of rich foods, just small amounts, rounded out with beaucoup de veggies. Take care, bon appetit! Tina

vickie2

POSTED: Thu, 09/01/2011 - 1:41pm My staples I always try to keep the following on hand: meat in the freezer to defrost during the day for that night's dinner (chicken breast/thighs, pork loin, steak, white fish such as halibut or orange roughy), eggs (we love them scrambled or hard boiled and eat them for dinner once or twice a week), potatoes, unsalted butter, olive oil, dark bread (I love Trader Joe's European style bread) and sourdough bread, whole or 2% plain yogurt, cereal, 2% organic milk, honey, nuts (walnuts and almonds), lettuce, cheese (high quality cheddar, gouda, and goat), a sweet yellow onion, a few fresh herbs (but use dried when I am out of fresh), and some fresh vegetables (mushrooms, broccoli, green beans, carrots). One thing I cannot live without though is yogurt, honey, and nuts!

mes196

POSTED: Thu, 09/01/2011 - 9:10am Today is a shopping day! I Today is a shopping day! I cleaned out the fridge and cabinets last night and am ready to restock and get my act together. Once of the biggest problems I seem to have is that I eat the same thing over and over! I love yogurt. iate yogurt with fruit and walnuts pretty much every day for a year - so now I am completly sick of yogurt!

valerie51

POSTED: Wed, 09/28/2011 - 9:28pm repetition Mes196...there is absolutely nothing wrong with repetition in your diet...if it satisfies you. It looks as though most of us here have similar basics...foods that we can use for many different meals. My husband and I live alone, and we are on a very strict budget, so I shop for two or three days at a time. I try to keep brown rice on hand; lots of frozen veggies that can be used in soups, or stir fries; I make bread, bisquits, and if we want sweets I make those too. I also keep cheese of several varieties on hand; my husband likes American cheese...I know it isn't necessarily the best cheese available...but I buy it in the deli and have it sliced paper thin...that way he gets two slices instead of one, and I know that it is the best quality of American cheese I can possibly find. One pound will last us two weeks when I buy it this way. I make virtually everything from scratch...I make alot of pizzas, because when I make them myself I can control how much fat there is in them; also I can control the toppings and make sure they are mostly healthy! It is a good thing to sit down and think through what you like...what those you cook for like...and then start from there. I like shopping for one or two days, and it is a challenge for me to see how little I can spend and still get good quality, healthy ingredients. This is alot of rambling, isn't it? I hope it helped just a little.

Marilyn

POSTED: Thu, 09/29/2011 - 3:20pm Val51 So good to hear from you after a long while. How are things going? I hope all is well. x

valerie51

POSTED: Tue, 10/18/2011 - 10:32pm Things are well Things are well with me...staying busy with college and work, so there isn't an overabundance of time to chat. I check in here often to catch up and get some common sense...which seems to be in short supply in the area of weight loss these days! I hope this finds everyone here doing well...getting ready for the holidays already, no doubt!

snorklee

POSTED: Fri, 09/02/2011 - 7:43am A lot of yogurt... I eat a lot of greek yogurt, and love it, but there are times when I get tired of it, and choose another favorite breakfast instead. My other go-to breakfasts are oatmeal, an egg and toast, or bread and cheese. These are staples, but I like to accessorize. Just like a little black dress, I can change up the look (or taste...) by what I pair it with. I think of spices, fruits, veggies and special items like chocolate, as my accessories. So the same old thing is never exactly the same from day to day.

meneia

POSTED: Fri, 09/02/2011 - 4:55am Yoghurt I'm not saying that you have to eat yoghurt at all, but have you tried eating it a different way? I use it a lot in savoury dishes.

meneia

POSTED: Thu, 09/01/2011 - 4:11am Basic Grocery List My basic weekly list is eggs, bread, milk, fruit, veg and protein (fish, chicken, beef, tofu, cheese... it depends what looks good and is available). On top of that, I keep margarine, oils, vinegars, spices, pasta, rice, quinoa, beans, nuts, yoghurt, teas and chocolate on hand and re-stock as required. I grow fresh herbs so they are always available. With this I can throw together a healthy, tasty meal. On weeks when I am more organised, I plan my meals in advance, but otherwise it works out ok.

Vintage1944

POSTED: Wed, 08/31/2011 - 10:52am No Dead Ends Only Detours Welcome back.Malkan's shopping list sounds good.I like whole wheat pasta and organic peanut butter,as well.

malkan

POSTED: Wed, 08/31/2011 - 10:18am Shopping Smart Mes196 - Remake your kitchen and shop with a ist to build up a stock foods that will make your kitchen environment feel safe and friendly...and get rid of tempting trouble foods. Here are a few suggestions Fage fat free yogurt Fruit - lemons, bananas, apples, berries, melon (get what is in season and freshest) Vegetables - whatever you like best seasonal and at its best - tomatoes, zucchini, cukes Milk Eggs Oatmeal Herbs & seasonings Whole grains - quinoa, barley, bulgar wheat, pasta etc Good Luck!

Marilyn

POSTED: Wed, 08/31/2011 - 12:01pm A great list That list is a good one. To it I would add tinned tomatoes, good for quick pasta sauces without the fiddle of skinning and deseeding fresh ones (and cheaper!!). Don't forget pulses either.

Elizabeth G

POSTED: Thu, 09/01/2011 - 12:29am My Costco staples I don't even need to make a list anymore, as I always buy the same things at Costco to stock my pantry. Olive oil, marinara sauce, pasta, kidney and black beans, tuna, almonds, parmesan cheese. A couple whole chickens to roast and packages of chicken thighs (I find the meat more flavorful than chicken breasts). I generally don't buy fruit and vegetables there, except a container of romaine lettuce for salads and for our tortoise who eats a big handful of lettuce every day, because we don't eat it quickly enough and I abhor having it go to waste!

jas

POSTED: Thu, 09/01/2011 - 7:44am good question my staples are: olive oil, coconut oil, different nuts, fruit, flaxseed "flour" almond milk, occassionaly cheese, romaine lettuce, banannas (lots of them), black currents...from my garden now I have chard, tomatoes, lambsquarter, basil, other herbs, jalapeno and bananna peppers, cabbage, raspberries