What groceries do you recommend?

[kranky]

Short version, I need to pick up groceries on Friday for someone who can't get out to shop. He has a microwave, refrigerator, and stovetop but no oven. I can use a mix of fresh and boxed/frozen items, but it can't be all fresh because it needs to stretch for two weeks. It also can't all be frozen because the freezer is tiny. He's living in an extended stay hotel for the next two weeks and has nothing to work with (i.e. spices, flour, or any other kitchen staples), so anything that needs to be cooked shouldn't require other ingredients.

I will be getting deli meat, cheese, bread, milk, juice, butter and some fruit for starters. I'm not the grocery shopper in the house so I'm kind of flying blind here.

Other suggestions?

 

[mobobuff]

Ramen. Lots of ramen.

Corned beef hash.

Cereal. Maybe some Cheerios, Frosted Flakes, or Fruit Loops (3 widely appreciated cereals).

 

[KarenMarie]

frozen veggies are best.. peas, carrots, string beans... etc. Pasta is good cause is last a long time, as does rice (brown rice is better than white rice). Canned diced tomatoes are very versatile. You get get dehydrated chopped onion and dehydrated chopped garlic that only needs water while cooking.

 

[blackdogdeek]

canned goods? you can get soups, pastas with sauces, chilli and stuff like that.

also how about rice? you just need a pot, water and a stove for that. same with pastas and sauces.

 

[Phoenix86]

2 weeks isn't long. Frozen diners and canned goods will tide you over for a while. If you get frisky you can do spagetti and meat sauce. Get a loaf of bread for sandwiches, cheese and deli meats.

 

[Kilgor]

Get some Pasta and sauce you might as well get fresh onions and garlic they will both last for 2 weeks and taste better fresh. How well can he cook? Get some hamburger and make some chili or buy some chili in cans get lots of soup the good thick kind like clam chowder or split pea chunky style. Don't forget to give him some pizza coupons. Some canned tuna or chicken so he can make tuna or chicken salad. Man the possibilites are endless when you think about it

 

[dabuddha]

Frozen pizzas are always good.

 

[azazyel]

eggs
potatoes
celery

Bring him a Forman.

 

[ggnl]

Get him 150 packs of ramen. It will cost about $4 and, more importantly, it will be fvckin' hilarious.

Don't forget to take pictures when you give it to him.

 

[HomerSapien]

Lean Cuisine.....Healthy (almost all are ~300-350 calories). Cheap. $3 max and you can always get them on sale some where for $1.50 each. And fast. The longest cook time i saw on one was 7 minutes. They actually taste pretty good too.

 

[BillGates]

this sure is a weird situation

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: ggnl
Get him 150 packs of ramen. It will cost about $4 and, more importantly, it will be fvckin' hilarious.

Don't forget to take pictures when you give it to him.

:thumbsup:

Lean Cuisine.....Healthy (almost all are ~300-350 calories). Cheap. $3 max and you can always get them on sale some where for $1.50 each. And fast. The longest cook time i saw on one was 7 minutes. They actually taste pretty good too.

Except the fact that they are intended for women and it takes 2-4 to fill up a guy

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

uh... maybe you should ask the recipiient of the food what he likes to eat?!?!?!?! and why do you need to buy 2 weeks worth at once? just make a trip each week, that way you will be less likely to overbuy or buy the kinds of food that won't be eaten?

 

[Mr N8]

Lots of Pasta and a few choices of sauce. Get some tomato/meat sauce, alfredo, and cheese sauce.

Jasmine rice. a 10lb bag is ~$6-$8. (You can add any Asian sauce to this, too)

Bagels / cream cheese is also a good idea.

Remember, generic will save you $$$, and its all going to taste the same.

 

[RossMAN]

CostCo is the answer.

 

[0roo0roo]

they have boxes of hormel chili on sale at safeway for a buck a box. yes..box instead of can now heh. rips open...no more can opener

 

[kranky]

The reason the situation is unusual is that my friend is going through a difficult personal time. He will not accept help (for whatever reason) but we know where he's staying and we know he has no money. He has no car and has physical issues so he can't really get around. If I asked what he wanted he would just tell me to go help someone who really needs it. Meanwhile, we found out he stretched one Subway foot-long sandwich over three days.

I need to get that much stuff because he will have no income until Dec. 6, he is hundreds of miles away and it's only by luck that I will be in his vicinity on Friday. It's the only day any of his friends will be close enough to get him something in person. We need to get him enough stuff to carry him over until Dec. 6, which is why the requirements are unusual.

We've been sending some things but this is a chance to get a nice pile there all at once, and some of it can be fresh.

I'm thankful for the great suggestions (minus the "hilarious" ramen idea :roll: ) - very, very helpful! Much appreciated!

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

gift certificates to places that deliver! plus some of the staples mentioned above.

 

[kranky]

It would be great if there were some places that deliver so the gift cert thing could work. But it's a small town that I know nothing about, and wouldn't know where to go. I can ask the clerk at the hotel for suggestions, though. Good idea!