The Power of 2: Grocery Shopping for Two Weeks and Two Toddlers

There’s one thing you need to know about me right off the bat –I ‘m a planner. I wasn’t born this way; in fact, I used to be a spontaneous, adventurous girl. And then…I had kids.

Now, the most spontaneous thing I do is go to the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover on a Tuesday afternoon without a pre-scheduled play date. And while I’m there, I look around like, “YOU GUYS! LOOK AT ME! THIS WASN’T IN MY PLANS TODAY AND I’M HERE! YAY, ME!”

It’s grocery shopping that’s taken the brunt of the new me. Every other Friday I do all of my grocery shopping for the next two weeks. Since I know this in advance, I carve out bits of time throughout the week to write down a meal plan, new recipes, or any reasonable requests the toddlers have made. There is also very little chance that I will go to the grocery store in a “hangry” state since I can see from my list that it’s not just a quick stop and will require patience and a satisfied stomach.

I’ve learned that this structure keeps my family balanced, both in diet and in mental health. I have two toddlers, so naturally meal times can be daunting. However, I’ve learned that predictability and structure go a long way in trying to get your child to eat what YOU want them to eat when they are constantly fighting to eat what THEY see fit. Both boys know that there will be a meat and vegetable, BUT I do allow for requests (a favorite is rice and beans) so that the three-year-old can feel like he has some say in what is on his plate. I’m hoping this tactic means he won’t desire more eclectic things when he grows up –l ike bleached hair or an “I heart Mom” tattoo.

So, you’ve taken notes of what your family likes, any special requests, and filled up a big to-go mug with strong, black espresso. Now what?

1. Write your list. Preferably on a big enough piece of paper, although a dried baby wipe will do in a pinch. This is THE MOST important step. Without this, your grocery trip will be frazzled, frantic, and it will look like a pregnant woman vomited in your cart and threw in a couple of wine bottles to make it better.

2. Find the best bargains. Try Tendercrop Farm for large quantities of quality meat you can throw in the slow cooker; Hannaford for canned goods and some produce; Fiddlehead Farms for more good meat and super cheap produce (call ahead with meats, they don’t carry the same things every day); Trader Joe’s for healthy dried fruit, pretty flowers, and more cheap-o wine. *NOTE: I don’t go to all of these stores in one day; I would lose what little is left of my sanity. TJ’s is the furthest and has the least important items, so I go whenever I’m in that area.

3. Remember that fresh produce is tricky. I buy a mix of fresh and frozen produce so that if I don’t have one, I have the other. But, in my experience, it seems that most fresh food will last the two weeks (i.e. carrots, celery, Brussel sprouts.) There’s also the blanching method where you partially boil the veggies and then freeze them. I’ve done this a few times and it works great. I just found that I’m too lazy for it.

4. Go home and shove it all in the fridge.

How do you tackle grocery shopping for your family? Please share any money-saving or toddler-loving tips!