Name: Ellen aka “Sunshine”
Location: Fort Mill, SC
Number of people in household: 2
Age: I just turned 78; my significant other, Tom, is 80
Occupation: Retired
Salary: Social Security; Pension
Where you shopped: Publix and Harris Teeter
Weekly food budget: $175
Amount spent: $189.13
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Where did you shop?
We just returned from our vacation in northern France, and our cupboard is pretty bare. I shopped at Publix and Harris Teeter, and made use of some items we’d previously bought and froze.
Wednesday is shopping day at Publix, and I go early to avoid crowds. It is senior discount day, which means 5% off, and the first day of all the new sales and Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO) deals. At our Publix, you don’t have to buy two items to get the sale; you can just pick up one item and pay half price.
I shopped at Harris Teeter on Friday. The grocer offers “member” discounts and sometimes, like this week, $5 off on a $30 purchase. (On Thursdays it also has senior discount day (also 5% off) and the first day of “member discounts,” sales, and BOGOs.)
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
What’s your grocery strategy?
I always plan around senior discount days and check the retailers’ ads before shopping to see if any grocery staples are on sale. I keep a running list of what items we need on my Alexa app and check them off as I buy them. I also update my shopping list when the stores send out their sale flyers the day prior to senior discount days.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
I typically purchase fresh produce and fruit for use in the coming week. I buy pantry items when my supply is getting low AND when I can get them on sale. I pick up proteins when I need them, but I try to only buy family packs on sale and especially when there is a BOGO deal. I’ll freeze them in smaller manageable packs for our meals. (My vacuum food sealer is an all-important tool.) Coffee and wine are not included in the grocery budget. There is a separate budget for those items.
We end up buying more than usual this week to restock and take advantage of numerous BOGOs at both stores.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
How do you meal plan?
We rarely eat out — maybe three or four times a year, except when we are on vacation. Cooking is something I enjoy and it is a calming activity for me. I make most of our meals from scratch, although I do use a few convenience items.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
I try to make meals that provide a variety of taste and texture, as well as being relatively nutritious. After all, Tom and I are what you would consider “elderly.” I am always experimenting with different combinations of vegetables and spices to create a dish, and keep enough variety on hand; I stock various proteins, marinara sauce, lasagna, pulled pork, etc., in the freezer and make large portions so I can freeze leftovers for future meals. I like being able to alter any planned dish or make something completely different if we desire.
What did you buy?
Publix
2 containers ice cream (BOGO), $6.53
1/2 gallon ice cream (birthday gift from Publix), FREE
1/2 gallon milk, $2.44
2 packs frozen stuffed chicken breasts (BOGO), $4.99
4 pounds boneless chicken breasts (BOGO), $13.84
1 pound hot honey ham (on sale), $8.94
1/2 pound muenster cheese, $5.28
Italian pizza dough (on sale), $2.99
2 packs center cut bacon (BOGO), $9.99
Mozzarella pearls (on sale), $3.99
Cheerios (BOGO), $2.56
Special K Protein (BOGO), $2.89
Multigrain Cheerios (BOGO), $3.20
Cinnamon Cheerios (BOGO), $3.49
2 boxes buttermilk pancake mix, $2.80
Lemon pudding, $1.58
Pizza sauce, $3.99
2 packs chicken stock (BOGO), $3.29
2 heads garlic, $1.55
Red petite potatoes (BOGO), $3.00
Red radishes (on sale), $1.79
Pasta (BOGO), $3.19
Avocado, $2.00
Red onion, $2.27
Russet potato, $0.86
2 dark chocolate giant bars, $7.00
Jumbo eggs, $3.99
2 cartons organic strawberries (on sale), $6.67
Green beans (on sale), $2.50
Broccoli, $2.99
Organic basil, $2.00
Organic blueberries (on sale), $3.33
3 lemons, $1.71
3 limes, $2.00
Baby carrots (on sale), $0.99
Mini sweet peppers, $3.99
Hot house cucumber (on sale), $1.67
Italian parsley, $1.69
2 ears sweet corn (on sale), $1.20
2 cartons cherry tomatoes, $7.98
Watermelon chunks, $3.83
Oyster crackers (on sale), $2.29
Spinach, $3.29
Pretzel slider buns, $5.39
Iceberg lettuce (on sale), $2.00
Pumpernickel bread, $4.99
Brioche bread (on sale), $2.24
Wheat bread, $4.29
Total: $164.74 (includes tax, senior discount, and digital coupon)
Harris Teeter
32 ounces vegetable oil (on sale), $3.97
2 packs gourmet hamburgers (BOGO), $15.94
2 packs chicken sausage (BOGO), $6.48
Total: $21.39 (includes $5.00-off coupon)
Grand Total: $189.13
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Wednesday: Cereal, Strawberries, Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Lemon Cookies, Dark Chocolate, Salmon with Farro and Green Beans, and Ice Cream
Breakfast is generally the same every day, except for Sunday after church. I have Cheerios oat crunch almond cereal dry without milk — my preference — and strawberries. Tom has multi-grain Cheerios without fruit (he likes bananas sometimes, but not berries) and adds milk. I also have a cup of coffee after breakfast every day. We shop for groceries at Publix, but only after we walk the dog (a Shih Tzu rescue named Abbie).
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Lunch is pretty standard for us: sandwiches with cold cuts and cheese, with pickle chips, followed by lemon sugar cookies from the pantry. This week we have hot honey ham and muenster cheese for sandwiches. Tom likes mayonnaise on his sandwich, and I like an open-face sandwich with spicy brown mustard. I drink water and Tom drinks Gatorade to help with leg cramps. (We try to purchase it on sale.)
I have another cup of coffee in the afternoon. Tom has some dark chocolate and considerately offers me some as well. He reads as I am on the computer going through my mountain of email.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
For dinner, we have salmon (from the freezer, previously purchased at Earth Fare) with farro and green beans, plus wine. The green beans are sautéed in olive oil and steamed in chicken broth and seasoned with white balsamic vinegar. We generally don’t eat until after Jeopardy is over, but Jeopardy is not going to be on once the Olympics start.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Dessert is ice cream.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Thursday: Cereal, Strawberries, Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Lemon Cookies, Chicken Kiev Roll-Ups with Parsley Potatoes and Broccoli, and Ice Cream
After walking the dog, we have breakfast. Tom has multi-grain Cheerios with milk and I have my oat crunch almond Cheerios with strawberries, no milk! Then I have some coffee and check emails.
Lunch is sandwiches with hot honey ham and muenster cheese with pickle chips. We have lemon sugar cookies, and I have another cup of coffee.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Dinner is chicken Kiev (chicken roll-ups stuffed with butter sauce) with parsley potatoes and sautéed and steamed broccoli, plus wine. The roll-ups are ready-made so I just have to heat them in the oven; I could prepare them from scratch, but that is time-consuming so these are a good alternative. Dessert is ice cream.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Friday: Cereal, Strawberries, Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Lemon Cookies, Dark Chocolate, Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza, Cucumber, Tomato and Watermelon Salad, and Ice Cream
For breakfast, Tom has multi-grain Cheerios with milk and I have my oat crunch almond Cheerios with strawberries again, no milk! I also have some coffee.
Lunch today is sandwiches with hot honey ham and muenster cheese, pickle chips, and lemon sugar cookies. I have another cup of coffee. We snack on some dark chocolate later in the afternoon.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Dinner is homemade sausage and pepperoni pizza with a cucumber, tomato, and watermelon salad, plus wine. Dessert is ice cream.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Saturday: Cereal, Berries, Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Cucumber, Tomato and Watermelon Salad, Lemon Cookies, “Chick-Fil-A” Sliders with Corn on the Cob, More Salad, and Ice Cream
We have cereal again for breakfast. Tom has multi-grain Cheerios with milk and I have my oat crunch almond Cheerios with strawberries and blueberries today, no milk! Then, I have a cup of coffee and start going through my pictures from France.
Lunch today is sandwiches with hot honey ham and muenster cheese, together with some of the cucumber, tomato, and watermelon salad. We finish the last of the lemon sugar cookies. I also have another cup of coffee.
Dinner is homemade “Chick-Fil-A” sliders on pretzel buns with the chicken breasts we bought this week. I coat them with a few panko crumbs, salt, and pepper, and fry them in olive oil. I make a “Chick-Fil-A” sauce of mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, honey, spicy brown mustard, and lemon juice. The sauce, together with a bread and butter pickle on the pretzel buns, mimic the taste of “Chick-Fil-A,” although the pretzel buns are just our preference. We eat them with corn on the cob and more cucumber, tomato, and watermelon salad, plus wine. Dessert is ice cream.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Sunday: French Toast, Bacon, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Garlic Bread, Salad, and Ice Cream
Breakfast after church is French toast with crispy bacon and orange juice; we forego lunch, but I still have an afternoon coffee.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Dinner is Italian spaghetti and meatballs (from the freezer) with garlic bread and salad, plus wine. (I make my own pasta sauce and add frozen meatballs to it.) Dessert is ice cream.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Monday: Cereal, Berries, Leftover Pizza, Dark Chocolate Cookies, Chicken Sausage and Pasta with Vegetables, and Ice Cream
Breakfast for Tom is more multi-grain Cheerios with milk and I have my oat crunch almond Cheerios with strawberries and blueberries, no milk! Then I have some coffee.
Lunch is leftover pizza from earlier in the week. We have double dark chocolate cookies with it. I also have another cup of coffee.
Dinner is chicken sausage and penne pasta with broccoli, corn, and tomatoes, plus wine. (I almost always have some leftovers from my “diversified” pasta creations. I often freeze small portions to have on hand for easy lunches or dinners.) Dessert is ice cream.
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
Tuesday: Cereal, Berries, Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Dark Chocolate Cookies, Hamburgers, Roasted Smashed Potatoes, Cucumber, Tomato and Watermelon Salad, and Ice Cream
After walking the dog, we have breakfast. Tom has his multi-grain Cheerios with milk and I have my oat crunch almond Cheerios with the last of the strawberries and blueberries, no milk! Then I have some coffee.
Lunch today is sandwiches again with hot honey ham and muenster cheese and pickle chips. We snack on double dark chocolate cookies after lunch and again later this afternoon. I also have a cup of coffee.
Dinner is hamburgers (buns from the freezer) with roasted smashed potatoes. I make more cucumber, tomato, and watermelon salad to go with it, plus wine. My hamburger has lettuce, tomato, and avocado on it. Tom has a cheeseburger with ketchup, red onions, and tomato. Dessert is ice cream.
As you can tell, we never seem to tire of ice cream! Maybe I’ll make some brownies this coming week to have WITH the ice cream … or peach cobbler because peaches are in season!
Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Credit: Courtesy of Ellen
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Publish date : 2024-08-15 06:00:00
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