Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with groceries

The Budget Ethical Gourmet

whodatninja — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:28:53 -0800

Help me put together a shopping list that is 1) ethical 2) healthy and 3) under $50/week. One of my goals for the coming year is to be more ethically responsible in my food choices. I recognize that the first step is to eat more frequently at home, where I can control the sourcing for the most part. As a young person in a big city, I am on a budget- $50 a week for groceries is the most I can put out.

I am not a vegetarian or vegan, but I do want to reduce my meat consumption. I eat a lot of seafood (generally wild-caught and per the Monterey Bay Aquarium recommendations). I eat a lot of fresh produce, which I get from a variety of places. I lean toward local and organic produce, but local is more important to me than organic. I eat dairy in the form of yogurt and cheese, not so much on milk. I drink water, coffee, beer and wine. I also get bored easily and like to try new things, so rice and beans 5 times a week is not an option.

At my disposal are farmers markets, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Costco and standard grocery stores. I don't want to go to more than 2 stores a week for food (but I am willing to stock up, at say, Whole Foods for meat for the month, and go to 2 different sources on a different week). I like to cook and am very willing to try out new foods, recipes, cooking techniques, etc.

Where do I start? I am looking for help in menu planning, and acquiring the foods on a sensible, ethical and affordable way.

Menu planning and grocery shopping

mudpuppie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:47:57 -0800

I need help buying groceries. I'm going to try really, really hard, oh yes I am, to stick to a grocery budget this month. Pretty much all of my end-of-month poverty is due to the fact that I'm stupid when it comes to buying groceries. Instead of shopping post-payday at the beginning of the month for staples and such, and developing a meal plan from that, I tend to end up at the store almost every day in order to buy foods that satisfy what I start craving while I'm sitting at my desk at 3:30. This needs to stop -- it costs me too much money, and it means that I start cooking at 5:30 or 6:00 and I don't eat until after 8:00.

What works for you? How/when do you buy groceries? How/when do you plan your meals? What foods or staples do you keep around all the time so that preparing a meal at the end of the day doesn't require a grocery list of more than one or two things? What meals are on your no-grocery-shopping menu?

Just for informational purposes, I eat very little meat (and no seafood), and almost no processed foods. Pre-packaged "convenience foods" aren't something that would help me. Some frozen stuff is okay, though. I also really enjoy cooking, so ease of preparation isn't really as important as not going to the store every day.

Can I buy groceries in the USA and bring them back to Canada?

ninefour — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:58:00 -0800

I live in Vancouver, Canada and I am going to the U.S. for the day this weekend. I want to know if it's in fact true, that you can bring groceries back into Canada without paying duty or customs fees? A work colleague said that they pop down to the U.S. often to buy groceries in border cities like Bellingham.

Does anyone have experience doing this and are groceries in fact duty free even though I am just going down for the day?

I want to buy about a $100 worth of groceries.

thanks!

Tomatofilter: 2% chance I'm crazy; 98% chance something (good) is up with our country's tomatos.

jjjjjjjijjjjjjj — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:28:28 -0800

Tomato question: Did something happen late last Autumn that could have caused low-priced/budget tomatoes in (U.S.) fast-food restaurants and supermarkets to become radically better tasting? My perception of increased quality had a sudden onset, was not chain-specific, not geographically localized, and is shared by a handful of friends. (tl;drers, question is as stated above; the screed below is just the boring details. I suspect that help might come from food/soil/earth scientists, ag-economists, farmers, restaurant suppliers, or some other industry insider. Barring that, I suppose there's an outside chance that help might come in the form of two men in white coats dragging me to a rubber room.)

Last November a friend made a salad with sliced tomatoes that tasted amazing. I asked if she had sprung for some fancy brand or got them from a ritzy store; she said no, that they were the cheapest fresh type at the local chain supermarket. I didn't believe her but thought nothing of it at the time.

Within a few days I ordered a $2 burger at a fast food chain and was treated to a fucking amazing tomato there, as well. The floodgates then opened, and for, say, two weeks following, every tomato I ate (from whichever restaurant or grocery chain), tasted fantastic. At the time I chalked this up to some major regional (I live in St. Louis) supplier (Sysco?) stumbling onto a great shipment or something. Again, thought nothing further of it at the time.

At that point, and for the next 1.5 months, I traveled to: several New England states, Central Texas, and Northern California, eating at dives and fast-food joints for most every meal, and--I shit you not--in perhaps 70% of the meals I consumed was what I will call, for brevity "the SuperTomato".

I feel confident in the stark difference of the two; if you spend any amount of time eating tomatos, I'm betting that you'll agree that the difference between a "bad" and a "good" tomato is about as subtle as the difference between a whisper and a shout. The things I am describing taste like completely different things, it's not just a slight or stepwise increase in quality. I feel entirely confident that in a single-blind taste test I would correctly identify "SuperTomato" from "old-and-busted cheap tomato" 100 times out of 100.

My Question to food/soil/atmospheric scientists, agricultural economists, restaurant buyers and the like: Barring delusion on my part, what could be responsible for a flood of great tomatoes across the country at the bottom-end of the tomato pricing tier? This is either a real phenomenon, or the damndest case of my senses tricking me that I've ever seen.

Confirmation Bias? Maybe... hard to tell, obviously. But I've tried to screen for it at every step. I've asked, say, 8 friends and got 5 blank looks, 1 "yeah, now that you mention it", and 2 soul-piercing, thousand-yard stares of disbelief followed by a "You've noticed it, too?!"

I'm not a gastronome or a foodie or a "supertaster" or anything close. I'm just an average guy who eats average, cheap food. I have always eaten a normal amount of cheap store-bought tomatoes and until this happened, had uniformly normal reactions to them. I have no history of sensory hallucinations, no recent head-trauma, mental illness, or significant lifestyle changes. Please tell me what the fuck is up with my 'maters. Apologies for the length. Thanks.

In need of a solid errands bike

l33tpolicywonk — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:13:41 -0800

Need a budget priced new / used bike for grocery shopping and a bike bag to carry them in - tell me what I need and what brands I should look for. I live in DC. In January, I'm moving to a small town in northern Pennsylvania. I'll be looking to get a bike to make about a 3 mi round trip to the grocery store twice weekly, as well as run a handful of other basic errands and maybe get some exercise. Until January, I'll have access to the DC Craigslist market for used bikes (a little overwhelming) as well as any local bike shops. I'd like to spend about $150 on a bike and maybe around $50 on some pannier bags or some other grocery-toting solution that can carry about two bags of groceries. I'd prefer something able to deal with a little bit of snow in the winter and easy to carry up a flight of stairs. Please recommend brands / models of bikes to keep an eye out for, features I should consider when looking at a used bike, and particular storage solutions for groceries. Thanks!

I'm becoming my mother

kidsleepy — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:29:00 -0800

Online grocery coupons? This question was asked two years ago, but I'm hoping for an update. What's the best (cleanest, easiest) way to find grocery store coupons online that can be printed out and redeemed? Searchable by specific products, stores, and/or regions is a bonus.

Point A to Point Oh Dear God

notquitemaryann — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:10:53 -0800

Do you have your very own (non-pilfered) shopping cart? I may be selling my car soon, and need a liveable way of lugging groceries. It's not a long haul, but I live at the top of a hill and the grocery store is at the bottom. After carrying a 40lb bag of cat litter back to my place the other day, it became apparent that I need a little help. I'm clueless as to what's out there in the world of personal shopping carts, and more importantly how well they function in practice. In order of importance, my priorities are:

- Price
- How smoothly it rolls and how well it turns
- Bulkiness/portability when not in use- once I get it back to the apartment, there are stairs to negotiate, and I will occasionally have to take it on the bus
- How ridiculous I will look dragging it around

On an average biweekly trip, I tend to buy the equivalent of one of a well-packed over-the-arm generic shopping basket or 2-3 plastic bags, plus a 20lb bag of litter. Although it is not much, just carrying it in a normal, non-rolling basket/bag is not an option due to serious back/neck issues. I don't have a bike, or I'd just buy a basket for it.

Any recommendations for web-based or Windows compatible grocery price book software?

braveterry — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:28:16 -0800

I'm looking for web-based or Windows software that can help me track grocery prices over time. Kind of like an electronic grocery price book. I'm hoping for something a little more sophisticated that a spreadsheet. Any recommendations?

food, glorious food!

rinosaur — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:11:44 -0800

What to buy on the Ultimate Grocery Trip? The end of my husband's deployment is fast approaching, hooray! As part of my prepping for his return, I want to fill the fridge/pantry with some of the staples that he would want to cook with that I haven't had on hand while he was away.

Our cooking styles are very different. I'm a very basic comfort foods/meat-and-potatoes cook, and he opts for much more complicated fare requiring longer lists of ingredients and whatnots. While I like to cook, he LOVES to cook and is truly looking forward to being able to cook for himself again. AND SO, if he's so inclined, I want him to be able to come home and make almost anything his little heart desires for the first week or so without having to run out to the grocery store every time we need an ingredient.

So AskMe, what are your favorite ingredients? What foodstuffs do you always have on hand for a variety of different meals? Anything you can recommend is greatly appreciated.

Thank you, friends!

Where can I find these tortillas?

nitsuj — Sat, 09 May 2009 07:15:05 -0800

At a Walmart in Missouri, of all places, I found some pre-packaged, refrigerated tortillas that were very, very thin pieces of uncooked dough stacked together. You just peeled one off, put it in a pan to quickly cook it, and ended up with a delicious, home-made-tasting flour tortilla. Where can I find these in Chicago? I've tried making my own, and even when I use a tortilla press, I can't seem to get them thin enough.

These pre-packaged, uncooked torts are perfect, but I can't find them in Chicago. So far I've checked Jewel, Trader Joe's, and even Walmart out in Skokie with no luck. I'd rather not (unless it's my only choice) go on a wild goose chase, checking every single Mexican market in town, in hopes of finding them.

So, have you seen these anywhere, or do I need to go back to MO?

Incipient food crisis!

orrnyereg — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:40:11 -0800

DC-filter: Help me find a new grocery store! The Social Safeway on Wisconsin Ave is about to be closed for a year for renovations. It's been my grocery store for 4 years and now I'm at a loss. Whole Foods is too expensive and Giant is too sketchy; can anyone recommend a replacement?

What are your favourite ways to avoid waste in the kitchen?

orange swan — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:16:24 -0800

What are your favourite kitchen and pantry management tricks to avoid the waste of food and money? In my kitchen, I go through my fridge and freezer once a week to be sure I know what needs to be used up soon. I freeze leftover orange zest or chopped bell peppers. I make bread pudding from bread crusts, bannock bread (or my Grandmother Swan's awesome potato donut recipe) from leftover mashed potatoes, and banana bisque from elderly bananas. What are your favourite tricks for making sure you don't waste food or money in cooking?

Please do keep your suggestions oriented towards reasonably healthy cooking. There should not be any answers that feature the word "Spam".

We had a similar thread a few weeks ago on MetaChat, but I thought bringing the question to a larger audience would mean even better results.

Cheap Groceries in uptown Hoboken.

spacefire — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:45:08 -0800

Where can I do groceries on the cheap in uptown Hoboken? A&P and Shoprite are both a bit of a walk from our house, fine in nice weather but sucky during this season. Kings is a bit expensive for us right now.

Where in Chicago is Sweet Hot Mister Mustard?

AgentRocket — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:18:13 -0800

Where can I find Sweet Hot Mister Mustard in Chicagoland (preferably the western 'burbs)? Sweet Hot Mister Mustard is the best. Our grocer carries Hot Mister Mustard (also very good), but for whatever reason does not carry Sweet Hot. The last time I encountered it - on vacation in Michigan - I stocked up, but now I'm out.

Does anyone know of a place in Chicagoland where I can find Sweet Hot Mister Mustard? The western suburbs are preferred, but I'll go where I need to. And I thank you.

Where to buy cheap groceries in Vancouver?

Xianny — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:00:25 -0800

Where can I buy cheap groceries in the Vancouver/Burnaby area? I'd like to know where all the ethnic markets are, or smaller shops that offer lower prices than supermarkets. Economy-of-scale savings are out as I don't have a car. For the purposes of this question, I'll define "cheap" as "cheaper than Superstore".

How do Upper West Side grocery stores comare with one another?

HotPatatta — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:41:02 -0800

Fairway, D'Ag, Westside Market, Garden of Eden. What's the diff? Tell me all about Upper West Side grocery stores. I'm moving to the UWS soon and during my last visit I was shocked--and thrilled!--with my grocery shopping options. So how do those stores compare with one another? I'm mostly looking for price comparisons and differences in inventory.

I'll be living on 107th and Broadway, so are there any other grocery stores around me that I haven't yet discovered?

Where does a foodie buy his supplies in the middle of nowhere?

Jonsnews — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:39:00 -0800

I live in a gastronomic black hole . There is nowhere within a hours drive to buy decent cooking supplies, please reveal to me your secret sources of cooking supplies! I've googled and hunted and found some, but I want ones that you've had experience with, and know that I will be buying quality stuff from Things I would like to be able to purchase online are the following:

Frozen seafood.
Asian cooking supplies. Good mirin, shoyu, kombu, etc
Curry supplies
Anything else you can think of.

I really cannot get any good ingredients locally beyond fruit, veggies and meat, so any suggestion is welcome (I.E. "The X from www.Y.com is awesome, you should buy some" is more than welcome.) I'm looking more for ingredients, than finished goods. And not so much for "All in one curry packets" unless they are totally bitchin.

Which bottled peanut sauce is best?

chickletworks — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:25:39 -0800

Which brand of bottled peanut sauce comes closest to approximating the rich, coconutty taste of the peanut sauce served in most Thai restaurants? You know what gooooood peanut sauce tastes like: smooth and creamy, with notes of lemongrass and maybe a little bit of kick. Someone has to have bottled that wonderfulness.

I've tried House of Tsang Bangkok Peanut Sauce, which is good but definitely not what I'm looking for (too much spice, not enough peanut). Taste of Thai's Peanut Satay Sauce is close on flavor, but too thick for use as a salad dressing or on pasta. Whole Foods alone has about fifteen more brands, but at $6-$9 a bottle, I'm not going to try them all-- so which ones should I try?

Thanks in advance!

la croix on the cheap

ncc1701d — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:30:10 -0800

where can i find la croix sparkling water for cheaper than i am now? i live in houston, texas. at my local grocer, it's around 4 bucks for a 12 pack. i've tried google, but after shipping it doesn't get any cheaper than what i have. incidentally, i'd rather not leave houston to get it, but money-saving trips within the area would be welcome.

Groceries discount if you don't have enough money?

ClanvidHorse — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 09:37:16 -0800

Is it normal to be given a discount off of your groceries at the checkout if you don't have enough money? I went to a huge chain supermarket in the UK earlier today to buy some groceries. When I got to pay, it came to £27 altogether. I checked my wallet and I had £26.15 and I said to the cashier, 'damned, just short'. As I went to get my debit card to pay, she said 'Never mind' and pressed a button that knocked a £1 off my total bill then accepted the cash for the reduced amount. When I checked my receipt a manufacturers coupon code had been put through for £1.

What I want to know is: was this the kindly act of a good person doing me a favour? Is it company policy at these massive chains to knock off the odd few pence here or there occasionally to engender goodwill? Has this ever happened to anyone else? I have never heard of this happening before to anyone I know and it has certainly never happened to me.

*It's one of the four hugr chains in the UK but I didn't want to name it in case for some bizarre reason the cashier got into trouble: take your pick from ASDA(Wal Mart)/ Morrisons/ Sainsburys/Tesco.

What are some good, quick boxed international lunches?

nitsuj — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 12:58:04 -0800

I really love these easy-to-prepare, not-too-expensive A Taste of Thai/India/China meals for lunch. What else would I like? My local grocery stores don't stock very many things like this, but with Amazon Groceries, I figure I can get pretty much anything shipped to my door.

The Asian stuff is great, so any other brands/styles/flavor recommendations are welcomed. I'd also be interested some other international flavors, like Mexican, Spanish, Canadian, et. al.

Emphasis on easiness to prepare and quality of ingrediants.

Why is it easier to find cocaine than tofu?

cloeburner — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:22:17 -0800

Where might I acquire cheap tofu/groceries in Baltimore? Where I used to live, a far smaller town, there was two [2!] different Asian markets where you could buy 4 large blocks of tofu for one dollar total. Most cities I've been to have at least one Asian market with aforementioned offerings. In Baltimore I have had no such luck, it has been weeks since I've had tofu due to it being prohibitively expensive.

So does anyone know of a potential Asian market with cheap tofu [I've been up and down Greenmount/York to the Asian markets that litter that road, but I have not found any tofu bargains]?

Insider tips on cheap groceries are much appreciated. I've already developed a literally unhealthy affinity for SAve-A-Lot.

What grocery stores in Canada carry healthy(er) foods?

irishkitten — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 09:50:29 -0800

What grocery stores in Canada carry healthy(er) foods? Mr. Irishkitten here:

I recently moved from the USA to Canada (Ottawa specifically) and am having a rough time finding some of the healthier foods that I regularly bought in the states. The most confounding part of this is that what I'm looking for isn't that out of the ordinary.

What I'm looking for are simple things like turkey sausage, turkey bacon, fat free cheese, light (or fat free) salad dressings or marinades, and even things like light macaroni and cheese. I'm not interested in Soy cubes, organic produce, or anything that's typically found in specialty stores. Just stuff that I'm used to finding in local grocery stores.

Are there any Canadian grocery chains that keep these sort of things in stock? I've found some of them here and there but never all in one store and never regularly stocked. There's an A&P and a Loblaws near me but neither one have enough of these sorts of items to fill my list.

Missing the west coast already...

you're a kitty! — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:55:03 -0800

Help me find my favorite bean in upstate NY... I'm hungry! I've just moved to Ithaca, NY, and I'm desperate to find pinquitos (a small, pink bean) somewhere, either online or in the area. Back home it was just a matter of popping down to Safeway and picking up a can of S&W, but I can't find them in any of the grocery stores here (even Wegman's!) or at any of the online grocers who'll ship to the area. I realize this sounds slightly obsessive, but I'm craving this recipe that requires the cursed things, so any advice would be much appreciated.

How not to get malnutrition :D

Phire — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:18:49 -0800

Help me create the ultimate grocery list! I'm moving out next year, and while I do know how to cook, I am pretty clueless when it comes to a healthy diet. I've eaten Chinese food all my life and I get a pretty even portion of meats and vegetables and fruits, but since I will be doing my own shopping next year...

What I'm looking for is a complete (or pretty damn good) list of all/most essential nutrients, and which foods contain them. Ideally, I could eat all the items on the list over a month/two months and at the end of the year end up well-nourished and scurvy-free.

Failing that, could AskMe help list off the things that are essential to have in your diet over a reasonable period of time in order to remain healthy?

No allergies, overenthusiastic love of fruits and salty food.