I thought I would post this here, since it has been working so well for me. It seems kinda crazy...
First, I don't really shop from a list; I decide what to buy and make based on what is on special, what is available organic, what looks good, etc. But I had been having a couple of problems: forgetting what I had planned to make and also once I go to make something, sometimes someone has already eaten some of the ingredients.
So this is what I do:
In the store, I make a list of meals to be prepared from what I have bought. I post this on the fridge, so that I can look at it and easily see what I have ingredients for. I cross meals off once I fix them. That's my reverse grocery list.
Then, to solve the problem of folks snacking on, say, the cheese I need for lasagna or whatever, I use grocery bags. I put all the ingredients for my minestrone in one shopping bag and put that in the fridge; all the ingredients for red beans and rice in a bag in the pantry, etc. Everyone in my house now knows not to help themselves to things in the grocery bags. If it isn't sacked, it is free for snacking, but if it is in a bag, then mama needs to cook it.
Sounds crazy, and obviously my brain is disorganized or I wouldn't need to do this, but it has been enormously helpful for me, so I thought I should share.
First, I don't really shop from a list; I decide what to buy and make based on what is on special, what is available organic, what looks good, etc. But I had been having a couple of problems: forgetting what I had planned to make and also once I go to make something, sometimes someone has already eaten some of the ingredients.
So this is what I do:
In the store, I make a list of meals to be prepared from what I have bought. I post this on the fridge, so that I can look at it and easily see what I have ingredients for. I cross meals off once I fix them. That's my reverse grocery list.
Then, to solve the problem of folks snacking on, say, the cheese I need for lasagna or whatever, I use grocery bags. I put all the ingredients for my minestrone in one shopping bag and put that in the fridge; all the ingredients for red beans and rice in a bag in the pantry, etc. Everyone in my house now knows not to help themselves to things in the grocery bags. If it isn't sacked, it is free for snacking, but if it is in a bag, then mama needs to cook it.
Sounds crazy, and obviously my brain is disorganized or I wouldn't need to do this, but it has been enormously helpful for me, so I thought I should share.
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