By Mary Lynne Murray
Reprinted from Contra Costa Times, April 27, 2002
The phrase "shop till you drop" is not associated with
grocery shopping. The idea there is to get in and out before the
ice cream melts.
How can you shop faster? The best way is with what I call the
"Master Shopping List." Items are listed according to
the store's layout, and the list is your travel guide. No more
backtracking -- I'd rather spend those extra steps walking my
dog.
To make a Master Shopping List, first list all your favorite
main dishes (I call mine "Meals We Like"). Aim for 20
to 30 tried-and-true keepers. Next to the main dish, note a side
dish. This can be as simple as green salad and bread, or the more-elaborate
twice-baked potatoes -- my daughter's favorite. If the recipe
is in a cookbook, note the page number. You now have a planning
tool for stocking the kitchen.
Place your list in the front of a three-ring binder. Use clear
protective sheets to hold recipes that support your main dish
list. Use dividers to separate your favorites into main dishes,
soups, salads, side dishes, breads and desserts.
Use a separate binder or file folder for untested recipes that
you clipped and stuffed in various drawers. Try out new recipes
regularly, maybe twice a month, and discard recipes you haven't
tried in a year.
What about recipe boxes? They're cute, but most people find it
easier to get recipes from a binder.
Insert loose recipes in the sheet protectors. For odd-size originals,
copy the recipe on 81/2-by-11-inch paper or staple the recipe
to a sheet of paper, then insert it in the page protector. You
now have a meal guidebook.
Look through your cupboards, pantry, refrigerator and freezer,
and write down the items you use regularly. Take this list to
your grocery store and note the aisle where you find the item.
Go home and organize the list by aisle. Prepare the list on your
computer, with columns so it all fits on one page. You can format
it with boxes to check off for what items to buy, or skip boxes
and simply highlight the items.
Print multiple copies -- you'll be using one each week. Write
your menu choices for each day on the bottom of the list. Refer
to the list each day to see what's for dinner.
Avoid running out of staples by keeping a fresh copy of your
shopping list posted in the kitchen. The words "we're out
of milk" are not what you want to hear in the morning, so
before using the last drop of milk, note it on the list. (A magnetized
notepad on the refrigerator also works, as does a wipe-off board,
but don't forget to add those items to your Master Shopping List.)
Weekly grocery shopping works well for most households. Look
at the week ahead, take into account nights when you have meetings
or dates, and other times you won't be eating at home or need
fast, easy choices. Make store runs at quiet times -- early morning
or late evening -- and you'll breeze through the store.
Beware the coupon curse, which is: You carry around the coupon,
hand it to the clerk and find that it's expired. Or find that
even with the coupon, the item costs more than the store brand.
My theory? Coupons create clutter, and you save more money by
buying what's on sale and sticking to your list. If you aren't
ready to ditch coupons, print your standard list on the back of
an envelope, and stuff the envelope with coupons.
Final note: Don't get bogged down with bags. On your
way into the store, drop plastic bags in the recycle bin.
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