Groceries & Ideas

  • Hi All! Hope all is well all over the land! It's Saturday morning and a day where I usually head out and buy groceries! I thought it would be a good chance to get a thread going that gives us some ideas on the types of products or list of foods that one would get while following program. Yes I know that we can all eat anything ---- but it would be great to give some of the newbies an idea of the "basics" as well as those of us *ahem > moi* new ideas!

    These are some of the basics that I make sure I have on hand:
    • minced garlic (the one in the little jar -- for flavouring)
    • minced ginger (the one in the little jar)
    • fat free chiken broth
    • spices (currently I'm on a curry kick)
    • Frozen and Fresh Veggies - frozen bag of mixed broccoli and cauliflower is really handy -- fresh of the same is great, spaghetti squash, mushrooms (( buy a hug container of mushrooms and keep them in the fridge for everything), celery, you name it (I try and stay away from the starchy veggies but do have them)
    • whole grain everything -- steel cut oatmeal is really great and a totally different taste sensation (much better than those instant kinds). Brown basmatti rice (I cook in bulk and then freeze in portions -- great for lunches and quick stir-frys)
    Corn Bran (did you know a cup of this is 2 points? great crunchy snack for in front of the TV!, and it's good for you!)



    next???
  • Wow those first three you have listed... I never have those unless I'm making something specifically with it in there

    I always have (in the pantry or in my storage area in the basement):
    • Lots of fresh and frozen veggies and fruit
    • Nonfat Yogurt
    • Reduced fat cheese
    • Milk
    • Chicken
    • Whole turkey or turkey breast
    • Lean ground turkey
    • Chunk Light Tuna in Water
    • Reduced Sodium light soups
    • Almonds
    • Fiber One Bars
    • Whole wheat pasta and canned tomato products to make sauce with
    • Vegetarian baked beans
  • Things I keep in stock are...

    -french cut frozen green beans (atleast 2 bags)
    -canned black beans
    -LF cheese
    -LC bread
    -98% FF ham
    -chopped garlic
    -soy sauce
    -frozen cauliflower
    -Boca Grillers Vegan
    -squash
    -zucchini for making zuke noodles

    Oh I could go on and on LOL

    Excellent thread starter though!
  • I love threads like this, and it's really great timing because I'm back on track starting today and I need to go to the grocery store tonight.

    Here are some of my healthy staples....

    -Skim Milk
    -100% natural cranberry juice, 100% natural lemon juice
    -Claussen dill pickle spears (for when I crave salt, and I'm always craving salt!)
    -A decent 100% whole-wheat bread (still have to try WW brand)
    -Honey turkey breast from the deli
    -Low-fat provolone cheese from the deli
    -Skinless, boneless chicken breast
    -Whole wheat with flaxseed pasta
    -Lean ground turkey
    -Frozen veggies (Italian, Asian, Spinach, Brussel sprouts)
    -Fresh grapes, baby carrots, Russet potatoes, broccoli and Vidalia onions
    -Canned stewed tomatoes and crushed tomatoes
    -Canned vegetarian baked beans
    -A1 sauce, Worcestshire sauce, lower-sodium soy sauce, spicy mustard and extra virgin olive oil
    -a garlic-pepper, no salt seasoning
  • Oh, and I forgot to mention, I always have some "diet" frozen dinners in stock for when I don't have the time to cook, or simply don't feel like cooking...which happens way more often than I'd like to admit!

    -Lean Cuisine (just discovered they have WW points for all their food on their website!!)

    -WW Smart Ones (that veggie lasagne one is my favorite)

    -recenly bought a couple Kashi frozen meals, haven't tried them yet

    Anyone try the Kashi meals? Or how about any another brand of diet frozen meals that tastes good? Lean Cuisine is by far my favorite.
  • Great thread idea, Elan!
    I always buy bags of frozen chopped onion and pepper, if I am pressed for time these can be a lifesaver.
    I also buy egg whites in a carton
    Another tip is that I like to cook up a whole box of WW pasta when I make it, even if it's way more than we will eat in a meal. This way, I can must micro it when wanted.
    I also stock up on baking potatoes. I love my starches and a baked potato is only three points. I use the Olivio spray margarine that is zero points on my baked potatoes and it's pretty good. But, the best think is to bake extra potatoes when you are going through the effort anyway. Then, I cut them up and saute them in 2 tsp of olive oil, per potato. It's a great hash brown side dish thing, gets in those healthy oils!