I really need to learn how to grocery shop.

[Brainonska511]

If you can read and follow directions, you can cook. Start with simple recipes.

As for shopping, make lists. Quickly look through circulars to see what are actually good prices. Stock up on stuff (particularly dry and frozen goods) when its cheap. Don't buy as much junk box-premade food.

I've gotten bad with it because grad school is eating my life, but I used to look through the weekly circular, see what was cheap and then figure out something to cook based on what was cheap.

 

[Baked]

I don't see any "whole food" in that freezer. You sir, are full of fail.

 

[iamwiz82]

My problem is I don't know how to cook.

I can make a few things but those get old real quick.

What food do you like? I always found the science of cooking fascinating which really helped me. Alton Brown's early shows really showed me the way. A $5 whole chicken or flank steak can be made into amazing food fairly easily.

 

[zCypher]

my freezer
my fridge

there's some spicy italian sausages in the bag on top of the white boxes, and meat pies in the white boxes. i was still too lazy to make food and ordered pizza, which you see in the fridge.

 

[unokitty]

I just spent $85 on nothing at the grocery store.

I've never mastered grocery store etiquette either. Two items you might want to consider.

One
There are some excellent small cookbooks available. After I graduated from college the first time, I think that I lived off of what I could find in one of the Campbell's Cooking with soup cook books.

Which was a step up from my college diet where my favourite meal was chicken noodle soup and steamed broccoli. (Only pan I had was an electric wok. I would steam the broccoli as I cooked the soup.)

Two
Do you have, or have you considered, one of the small Weber gas grills? These don't take up a lot of space. And they enable you to cook a steak or a chicken breast in a matter of minutes.

Quick. No pans to clean.

Best of luck,
Uno

 

[ussfletcher]

I remember growing up my dad used to complain he spent a hundred dollars to feed all 3 of us for a month.

When I spend a hundred bucks its like maybe one week just for myself.

Well aside from the obvious inflation.. how the hell do you eat $100 worth of food a week? I eat maybe $80 worth every two weeks, not including ~2 lunches a week that I get out.

 

[tcG]

My advice if you want to start cooking is to focus on making big pots of stuff first - stew, rice and vegetables, beans, spaghetti - whatever is big enough for you to eat on for a few days to a week. That's faster, cheaper, and healthier.

 

[Leros]

If I try, I can feed myself for $30 a week while still eating reasonable food. That being said, I usually end up spending $70-80 a week.

 

[EagleKeeper]

My problem is I don't know how to cook.

I can make a few things but those get old real quick.

Can you read?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Looks like my freezer. I can't be bothered to cook big meals just for me. It's nice to be able to throw something in the oven, microwave or toaster and eat within less than 15 minutes, with no cleanup after. Once in a while I'll cook up something but not every day. I really should learn more stuff, just can't be bothered.

Cook for 3-4. Separate onto x portions. Put others into Tupperware, Ziploc, etc. Label and freeze. Do that for a week. You have a full freezer and a months worth of healthy food that just needs a nuker to be ready to eat. Even when you order take out, get largest size and repeat procedure. A $10 order contains twice the food as s $6-7.

 

[cronos]

#1 rule of grocery shopping: don't go hungry. eat first before you leave!

 

[Red Squirrel]

#1 rule of grocery shopping: don't go hungry. eat first before you leave!

This. I went hungry the other day for one thing. Spent over 100 bucks.

It's still not as dangerous as going to the hardware store though, at least I can control my spending at the grocery store by not going hungry. Hardware store, no matter what, I'll spend a couple hundred bucks. Eventually I will be able to look at tools and say "oh I have one already". It's a good thing there are no computer hardware stores within 1000km from here, that would be even more dangerous. Maybe I'm a bad shopping cart driver, but I find I constantly end up with stuff jumping right into it.

 

[IGemini]

WTF, seriously? I spent that much on groceries BEFORE my debit for eating out for the whole week, and that's in spite of whether I eat before shopping or not. You're right, it's all garbage. Drop the eggo waffles. I even have real maple syrup and I haven't bothered eating anything that would make using it desirable yet (and yes, if you can follow instructions to any degree, cooking is possible).

I can cook, but that's besides the point. That stuff doesn't even entail cooking. The reality is that I don''t have time to do it with the schedule I currently keep; after 9PM when getting home I really don't feel like cooking. And I've worked 21 days straight right now...but I still do something.

You want to focus on nutrient- and fiber-rich foods. I know what you're thinking: "FIBER foods? I'm not 70!" Well, they really don't taste all that bad, and you'll feel fuller longer. "Make foods that will last 3-4 days?" A pound of whole-wheat spaghetti, a small jar of sauce and 1/3lb of hamburger will last me for two meals. It's more expensive than ramen, but it's immensely more satisfying. Drink a lot of water with it. Spend a little more and you can get your fruit allotment for a while. Simple recipes really aren't THAT hard. As a bigger guy, getting one session of cooking to last up to a week is certainly wishful thinking, but either your fridge has something more substantial or you're a terrible shopper (or trolling?). I'm certain someone out there will have better recipes that will have better longevity, but this is seriously some lazy shopping.

 

[Sluggo]

Someone once told me a great rule of thumb for grocery shopping--only buy what is located on the inside perimeter of the store. Usually that's going to mean fruits, vegetables, fresh meats, bread, milk/juice.

Thankfully my store also puts beer on the inside perimeter.

 

[bradley]

Looking at your freezer, it makes my liver kidneys and pancreas hurt. You are better off buying 5lb bags of refined sugar. It's even cheaper.

Oh btw, I'm not trying to be mean or flippant, just honest.

 

[Sluggo]

To coin a phrase, picture is related:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2267217&highlight=diabetes

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2276334&highlight=diabetes

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2280216&highlight=diabetes

Unreal

 

[rudeguy]

To coin a phrase, picture is related:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2267217&highlight=diabetes

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2276334&highlight=diabetes

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2280216&highlight=diabetes

Unreal

are you saying diabetics shouldn't eat waffles?

 

[BladeVenom]

are you saying diabetics shouldn't eat waffles?

Yes.

Oatmeal is better for you. All you have to be able to do is boil water.

 

[notposting]

How much time do you have to cook, and how many do you cook for?

edit: depending on your answer, one of the Light recipe, the Cooking for Two, or 30 minute recipe books could be the best: http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Test-Kitchen/e/B004LSANTK/

The recipes are well tested, follow them and you will make a good meal. Usually pick up some knowledge as well. Start getting yourself some good cooking tools as you go also.

 

[JimmiG]

I find this procedure makes grocery shopping cheaper, as well as quicker, and you end up with actual food instead of useless stuff.

1. Eat
2. Write grocery list
3. Go to grocery store

 

[Nintendesert]

are you saying diabetics shouldn't eat waffles?

Fairly certain diabetics shouldn't eat waffles. D:


I mean, shit, it's just carbs and if you add syrup a bunch of sugar. Hopefully the syrup is at least sugar free!

 

[bigrash]

Write down what you need and follow the list.

 

[rudeguy]

Fairly certain diabetics shouldn't eat waffles. D:


I mean, shit, it's just carbs and if you add syrup a bunch of sugar. Hopefully the syrup is at least sugar free!

Why can't diabetics have carbs and sugar?

 

[rudeguy]

Yes.

Oatmeal is better for you. All you have to be able to do is boil water.

Why can't diabetics have waffles?

 

[BoomerD]

In moderation, as part of a balanced diet, carbs aren't terrible for anyone, even diabetics...

https://www.google.com/search?q=dia...:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=fflb

However, based solely on what's seen in your freezer, you don't have a balanced diet...