Have you thought about how many times a week you swing by the grocery store and how much time such
errands take out of your day? Thirty minutes and a well-thought-out menu can be more cost effective than
all that hustle and bustle. Here are 5 time and money-saving tips to help you during the week! All,
while helping you reduce food waste. Enjoy family time around the table along with peace of mind at
last!
1. Stock up your pantry and freezer with essential foods
Make sure you always have some basic, non-perishable or long-lasting ingredients on hand. Think a variety
of pastas, sauces, grain cereals (rice, quinoa, couscous, etc.), canned or frozen fruits and vegetables,
etc. From breakfast to your evening snacks, a properly stocked pantry can be a real life-saver!
For a more comprehensive list, explore our top 20 kitchen essentials.
Money-saving tip:
Focus on
Compliments
products - they're sure to please food lovers . . . and bargain shoppers.
2 Plan the week's menu as a family
- Begin by considering what’s left from your previous grocery run. This can serve as some
inspiration. Vegetables in the fridge that are starting to wilt are great for soups!
If you're a proactive chef, you probably have a container of spaghetti sauce or a shepherd's pie in
the freezer to save you on those nights when you're stuck rushing from hockey practice to piano
lessons!
- Check out the IGA app. More specifically the TADA!
meal-planner feature for a variety of protein-packed and vitamin-rich recipes that will delight even
the pickiest eaters. Based on the weekly specials, these recipes will help you save money and offer
you peace of mind.
- Think about which recipes to double so you can have leftovers for lunch. For more variety, consider
doubling only your protein, which can then be used to make completely different meals in record
time. Here are some suggestions.
- Make a list of all your favourite recipes. As a family, rate your meal on a scale of 1 to 10 and
keep the highest-scoring recipes. During especially busy weeks, just pick five recipes from your
all-time favorites!
Some healthy tips
- Make your menu as colorful as possible. Fruits and vegetables at every meal will do the trick.
- Choose different sources of protein each day. Alternate between fish, legumes, tofu, meat, poultry,
and eggs.
- Vary your dairy products: yogurt, milk, fine and fresh cheeses, etc.
3. Make a grocery list
There’s nothing more frustrating than running to the grocery store in the middle of the week for
that ONE missing ingredient. Once you've planned most of your weekly meals and taken into account your
pantry, fridge, and freezer inventory, you're ready to write down the items you'll need to put in your
basket.
Tech-tip:
The IGA app allows you to easily create your grocery lists by searching through products
available online or by even scanning the barcodes of those you have on hand and wish to buy again. You
can even decide to transfer all the items to your virtual cart and have your order delivered to your
door. How cool is that?!
4. Prepare fruits and vegetables after your grocery run
When putting your items away, take the time to clean, trim, and cut the fruits and vegetables you plan on
eating within the next few days. Then, place them in airtight containers. This way, they'll be beautiful
and ready for those unexpected cravings or on busy nights when every second counts. If you don't end up
eating them all, freezing them is
a great alternative!
5. Pick someone to be the chef
Based on the week's activities, decide who will be in charge of cooking that week: it could be Mom or
Dad, and you can always enlist the help of your budding chefs! Kids love to cook with their parents and
there are many tips and
tricks to make it a fun and rewarding time for everyone. You can also plan who will set
and clear the table, as well as who will clean the dishes. Opt for teamwork to make the tasks enjoyable
and switch roles every day.