Help me never forget to buy a staple at the grocery store again!
October 21, 2011 8:05 AM   Subscribe

I need a basic list to refer to every time I'm making a shopping list. I'm not looking for specific brands, but things like "milk, bread, toothpaste". Assume you're an average every day American, what do you buy at the grocery store?

There's a thousand websites out there that let you create your own grocery lists, but I haven't found one yet that just lists the most commonly bought items. Something I can quickly reference that will remind me of those Q-tips that I forgot to buy last week.

I tend to either (physically or mentally) walk through my house when I make my list, and sometimes catch things.. but I guess I'm just not an observant person. I always seem to remember I need to buy something when I can't write them down (in the shower, for example). I'm looking less for ways in which to remember what I need (because there are websites and apps for that) and more for actual items people buy.

Let me knock out some of the more easy ones:

DAIRY
  • Milk
  • Butter/Margarine
  • Yogurt
PRODUCE
  • Apples
  • Oranges
  • Potatoes
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Onions
BAKERY
  • Bread
  • Hamburger Buns
  • Hot Dog Buns
CONDIMENTS
  • Mustard
  • Ketchup
  • Mayo
GENERAL GROCERY
  • Fruit Juice (Orange, Apple, Cranberry)
  • Sugar/Honey/Sweater
  • Cooking Oil/Spray
PERSONAL CARE
  • Toothpaste
  • Mouthwash
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body Soap
  • Lotion
  • Q-tips
  • Toilet Paper
  • Kleenex
CLEANING PRODUCTS
  • Dishwasher Detergent
  • Dish Soap
  • Laundry Detergent
  • Fabric Softener
What do you frequently buy at the grocery store?
What do you always replace when you run out?
What are the item(s) you always forget to buy that I left out?
What do you consider a staple in your house?
posted by royalsong to Shopping (28 answers total) 22 users marked this as a favorite
 
The big thing you're missing IMHO is cheese. I buy alot of fancy cheese, cheeses to eat and ones to cook with.

The other things I always forget from the "cleaning" section are paper towels, trash bags, tin foil and plastic wrap. Sometimes a light bulb, or white vinegar+baking soda which are pretty great all purpose cleaners.

I think the best tactic is to look through your pantry, fridge, drawers and cupboards and make your own list. Or if you save receipts from the grocery store, look through those and see what your most common purchases are. Alot of what we might tell you might be irrelevant or something you go through much less quickly than average (like, maybe you're just not a cheese eater like I am. I'd pity you, but to each his own)
posted by slow graffiti at 8:13 AM on October 21, 2011


Loo roll, coffee, tea.
posted by dumdidumdum at 8:15 AM on October 21, 2011


I actually made a list like this when I moved out so I would always have food in the house / minimize the amount I ate out. I split it up by meals, though, and rotate between items depending on what I feel like:

Breakfast:
- Cereal
- Milk
- Oatmeal
- Eggs

Lunch:
- Bread
- Lunch meat
- Lettuce
- Onion
- Spreads (mayo, hummus)
- Veggies to snack on (celery, carrots, tomatoes, avocado)
- Salad

Snacks:
- Almonds/cashews/other nuts
- Fruit (apples, oranges, pears)
- Cookies
- Yogurt

Dinner: (I mostly eat stir-fry, so modify as needed)
- Chicken
- Pork
- Vegetables: broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, potatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, onions, green beans

Staples:
- Rice
- Pasta
- Olive oil
- Sauces: soy sauce, sesame oil, Teriyaki sauce, some sort of hot sauce
- Condiments: salad dressing, ketchup
- Spices: salt, pepper

Emergency food: (I try to keep these to a minimum)
- Instant noodles
- Canned soup

As for cleaning products and personal care, I just write them down on a post-it when I notice that I'm low and buy them as needed - I do'nt really stock up.
posted by Phire at 8:17 AM on October 21, 2011 [3 favorites]


You might like this sort of master grocery list pad. It's arranged by categories and does pretty much what you're trying to do here - lists generic commonly bought items. Even if you don't get one it'll give you lots of things to put on your list.
posted by radiomayonnaise at 8:18 AM on October 21, 2011 [4 favorites]


Best answer: DAIRY
Sour Cream (but this may just be a staple for me...)

PRODUCE
Lettuce

GENERAL GROCERY
Flour
Tea/Coffee

CONDIMENTS
Steak Sauce

PERSONAL CARE
Paper Towels
Razors/Shaving Lotion
posted by kittenmarlowe at 8:18 AM on October 21, 2011 [1 favorite]


Oh-- frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts are always good to have around. Also rice, cheese.
posted by kittenmarlowe at 8:20 AM on October 21, 2011


Best answer: Some staples (for my house) that are not on your list (you may be vegetarian):

Cheese
Eggs
Meat
Tomatoes
Cereal
Bagels
Rice
Jam
Nutella
Peanut butter
Oil
Tomato paste
Granola bars
Cat food
Cat litter
Sandwich bags/foil/saran wrap
posted by yawper at 8:22 AM on October 21, 2011


Forgot a couple items:
Pancake mix
Maple syrup
Pierogies
Frozen vegetables
posted by yawper at 8:23 AM on October 21, 2011


General suggestions are good, but try saving your supermarket receipts for a while, then go through them and find out what you actually buy.
posted by zamboni at 8:24 AM on October 21, 2011 [3 favorites]


Best answer: Eggs
Cheese
Bagels
Cream Cheese
Sour Cream
Salad Dressing
Salad mix
Baby Carrots
Cereal
Ketchup
Canned Soup
Ramen
Rice
Pasta
Dog Food
Shampoo
Soap
Laundry Detergent
Dishwasher Detergent
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:25 AM on October 21, 2011


Canned tomatoes.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 8:32 AM on October 21, 2011 [1 favorite]


In my house, tortillas and salsa are staples. (Though I never buy hamburger or hot dog buns.)
posted by willbaude at 8:32 AM on October 21, 2011


Best answer: I have a list like this hanging on our fridge. It's kind of crazy how much it has helped. We don't buy everything on the list regularly, but it helps keep the most liked/wanted stuff in mind. There are also spaces to write extra things in for recipes of the week or more randomly needed items.

FRUITS
apples
bananas
grapes
mangoes
melons
berries
oranges
mandarin oranges
applesauce
blueberries

DAIRY
milk
Stonyfield yogurt
Chobani yogurt
cheddar cheese
mozzarella cheese
mexican cheese
ice cream
parmesan

PAPER/PLASTIC
tissues
paper towels
freezer bags

VEGGIES/HERBS
baby carrots
lettuce
onions
broccoli
spinach
escarole
potatoes
bell peppers
jalapenos
peas
celery
cucumbers
frozen corn
kidney beans
black beans
fresh basil
fresh cilantro
brussels sprouts
chickpeas
garlic
canned tomatoes

GRAINS/STARCH
sandwich bread
english muffins
fresh bread
linguine
penne
ziti
jasmine rice
brown rice
oatmeal
tortilla chips

OTHER
peanut butter
earl grey tea
salsa
chicken broth
hummus
apple juice
orange juice
V-8
soups
cereal
Nutella

PROTEIN
chicken
ground turkey
pork
beef
sausage
eggs
shrimp
salami

HEALTH
deodorant
hand soap
shampoo
conditioner
baby soap

AND...
cat food
cat litter
_______________
_______________
_______________
posted by stefnet at 8:34 AM on October 21, 2011


A list of what *I* use may or may not match a list of what *you* use, so I'm unsure of how useful it would be.

Make a purposeful walk through your residence, not just a quick scan for 'stuff I need to buy'. All of it (undersink cupboards, laundry room, garage, pantry). Write down everything that gets used up (light bulbs, shampoo, windshield washer fluid, spices, coffee, ziploc bags, cat litter, fish food, printer paper, cream cheese). Now you know what you have, and what you use most of. If there's something missing, write it down as well. This is your master list. You can either print it out every week and use it as a shopping list (put checkmarks by stuff that you need to buy), or just keep it on file somewhere.

Really, the most important thing is to have a list somewhere. Otherwise, you will forget soemthing when you get to the store. At ChezR, there is a grocery list on the fridge door, and house rules are that when you open the last unit of X you write it down on the grocery list, and it doesn't get removed from the list until the supply is replenished.
posted by jlkr at 8:35 AM on October 21, 2011 [1 favorite]


Excellent plan. Way back in the day, my dad typed up a grocery checklist for my mom, organized by grocery aisle, that she could just mark what we needed and add special items at the bottom. There was a stack of purple mimeographed copies magneted to the fridge, with a hanging pencil. Ah, good times. :)

You'd be missing a lot of produce if you were me: garlic, ginger, bell peppers, bananas. I would also have a "lunch treat" line item that means I buy whatever is in-season and delicious (plums, strawberries, blueberries, clementines)

Come to think of it, I'm not sure if you want a list of everything you'd possibly need, or a list of things you get frequently, and some blanks to remind you on infrequent things:
For example, if you're into baking, you'd list out: flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, chocolate chips, whole wheat flour, etc. But if you're not into that, those tick boxes would always be empty, a total waste of space. So maybe your list would say "baking needs: _____________"
If you had a household full of people, you'd go through toiletries pretty fast, but as a single person I'd consider not listing all the toiletries separately... I probably buy Q-tips once every 2-3 years, no need to put them on the list. So my list might say:
BATHROOM:
toilet paper
kleenex
tooth stuff _________
shower stuff __________
etc ___________

I say, just make a list and start using it, keep the old lists after each shopping trip. Then you can sit down in a couple of months and use YOUR data to make YOUR list, without getting derailed by any of our favorite foods.
posted by aimedwander at 8:35 AM on October 21, 2011 [1 favorite]


I use a list making app on my phone, and I start with everything checked off. Each week, I read thru it and uncheck the things I need this week, so that I know to get them. I never delete anything, that way it's always there to remind me to think about if I need it.
posted by MexicanYenta at 8:36 AM on October 21, 2011


Also, I don't think this is chatfilter, btw - When I made my original list, I did have the stuff we usually bought in mind, but I searched out some other people's lists too and had a few moments of "oh crap! I love hummus! Why don't I buy it regularly?" Now it's on the list and I remember to buy hummus more.
posted by stefnet at 8:37 AM on October 21, 2011


You might want to check out listorganizer.com. Most of the site is paid content (but very inexpensive), but some stuff is free.

If you would like, I'd be happy to email you some of my lists. I used to be a prolific regular at the old AOL GOAL and Systems and Planners boards, as well as the old Organizedhome.com boards.

This might be helpful as well. You could just plunk it into a Word document and edit as needed.

I would add cold/cough/stomach remedies to any list. When you are sick it is so nice to have that stuff on hand!
posted by jgirl at 8:49 AM on October 21, 2011


Response by poster: I tried to make it as least chatfiltery as possible. It's a big question, I give you that. I asked that you consider yourself as an average american.. let me clear it up a bit about what I meant:

You eat meat
You have school age children and possibly a spouse
You attempt to eat a balanced diet
You attempt to keep yourself and your home reasonably clean and tidy
You occasionally eat chocolate, cake, french fries, and ice cream

Hope that helps nail it down a bit more.

(also, how in the world did I forget cheese and coffee!?)
posted by royalsong at 8:54 AM on October 21, 2011


Best answer: OK, I just looked, and KayLee is making this shopping list free for October. The bottom portion with non-food items is especially helpful, IMO.

Again, you can plop it into your own document and edit from there. My first computer list came from a boss from 22 years ago. (A hard copy that I used to compose my own; no email then.) His regular shopping list included eyebrow pencil. I thought that was odd, but then I remembered his wife was a cancer patient and probably relied on them. So you can just take what you need, delete stuff you don't, and add what you have that is unique to your household.
posted by jgirl at 9:05 AM on October 21, 2011


Best answer: Some other things to consider.

Chicken Breasts
Sandwich meats

Tomato Sauces/Paste
Pasta
Potatoes
Broth/Stock (or make your own and freeze)
Beans Tinned & Dried.
Tinned Soup (nice to have in Winter)
Salad Dressing


Rice
Soy Sauce
Ginger/Garlic
Mushrooms
Tofu
(I like a lot of Asian style foods)

Bleach
Cleaning Spray (I like to use these on kitchen counters)
Barkeepers Friend.
Ziplock bags.
Petfood/s

Snack foods like chips or crackers. (I find if I allow myself a bag of chips or something a week I am less likely to grab junk food when I'm out as my crap food cravings are being met at home)
Breakfast cereals.

Feminine Hygiene Products (if you're female obviously)
Condoms (if needed)
Any prescriptions.
Tylenol/Ibuprofen
posted by wwax at 9:35 AM on October 21, 2011


Best answer: Batteries
posted by Confess, Fletch at 9:48 AM on October 21, 2011


Garlic and almonds.
posted by backwards guitar at 9:52 AM on October 21, 2011


Best answer: Some things on my hypothetical list that aren't on yours:

DAIRY
Cheese
Ice Cream


PRODUCE
Mushrooms
Lemons
Bananas
Grapes/Berries
Daikon
Bok Choi
Chinese Cabbage
Cucumbers
Tomatoes


BAKERY


CONDIMENTS
Soy Sauce
Hot Sauce
HP/BBQ Sauce
Maple Syrup
Peanut Butter
Pickles
Vinegars

GENERAL GROCERY
Pasta
Pasta sauces (tomato/pesto)
Bouillon cubes
Salt/Peppers
Tofu

PERSONAL CARE
Razor heads
Deodorant
Toothpaste

CLEANING PRODUCTS
Windex
Bleach/Household cleaner
Paper towels
Serviettes
Kitchen bin liners
Baking soda
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 10:31 AM on October 21, 2011


I had a lot more success in this realm when I made a rule that every time before I throw away a package, I write it down on a grocery list. Having the empty package in hand and heading to the garbage then becomes your automatic reminder.

Put the notepad near the trash to make it a little easier on yourself.
posted by ErikaB at 10:59 AM on October 21, 2011 [1 favorite]


Our grocery store printed a brochure with a printed directory. I scanned that into a graphics file and shrunk down to about 2/3 of a page, and pasted on top of spreadsheet file.

Just as many posters visualize their shopping list while walking thru their house, it is easy to visualize walking the aisles of the grocery store. In the spreadsheet next to each aisle, I wrote our preferred items.

It has worked for us for almost 15 years!
posted by ohshenandoah at 11:18 AM on October 21, 2011


Do you take cream, sugar and/or their substitutes in your coffee? That's what I hate running out of more than anything else.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:16 PM on October 21, 2011


Best answer: DAIRY

Milk
Butter/Margarine
Yogurt
Eggs
Cheese
Sour Cream


PRODUCE

Apples
Oranges
Potatoes
Carrots
Celery
Onions
Lettuce
Seasonal veggies (ie, right now, hard squashes, pumpkin, sweet potatoes.)
Seasonal fruits (whatever is on sale)
Lemon
Lime

BAKERY

Bread
Hamburger Buns
Hot Dog Buns
Tortillas
Pita bread

CONDIMENTS

Mustard
Ketchup
Mayo
Hot Sauce
Vinegars
Sauces (bbq, etc.)

GENERAL GROCERY

BEVERAGES
Fruit Juice (Cranberry)
Tea (Green and Black)
Coffee
Cheapie light (generic Crystal light)

LUNCHES
AppleSauce
Lunchmeat
Fancy mayo (one every couple of weeks to help break things up for my husband)
SugarFree Jello and Pudding mixes

STARCHES
Brown Rice
Egg Noodles
Spaghetti
Elbow Macaroni
Fettuccine
Shells
Potato flakes (hush, husband likes them.)

BAKING ITEMS
Flour
Sugar
Artificial sweetener (splenda for drinks mainly but, with baking stuff)
Honey
Molasses
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Chocolate Chips
Any mixes used
Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, poppy.)
Oils (vegetable, olive, crisco at christmas time)

SPICE AISLE
Peppercorns
Salts
Whatever we're very low on.

CANNED GOODS
Tomatoes
Veggies
Fruits
Tomato Paste
Pumpkin
Pickles
Olives


Meat Counter
Ground beef
Ground turkey (all white)
Whole chickens
Roast (beef)
Pork (tenderloin, roast, butt, chops)
Steak (we like cheap cuts, just cooked properly)
Tilipia
Frozen Chicken breasts
Turkey Bacon
Sausage (kielbasa, smoked, breakfast)

PERSONAL CARE

Toothpaste
Mouthwash
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body Soap
Lotion
Q-tips
Toilet Paper
Kleenex

CLEANING PRODUCTS

White Vinegar
Baking Soda
Bleach
Ammonia
Borax
Washing powder
Fels Naptha soap
posted by SuzySmith at 11:19 PM on October 21, 2011 [1 favorite]


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