Let’s Look: What’s in our Grocery Carts?

Happy Wednesday! It’s another Let’s Look post. For those of you who are new here, Shay and Erika host a link up party every month where we can all share a little bit about our lives. Today’s topic is, what’s in our grocery carts.

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First, I want to share about how I plan out my list. On Sundays, I pull out my favorite meal planner and write out my grocery list for the week. The planner helps me map out what I will be making for the week so I don’t forget anything. I love that the shopping list tears off separately so I only have a small sheet of paper to take with me to the store. If you like to map out all of your meals for the day, this one is amazing, too! It has a place for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is magnetic.

Next, I check my coupon apps to make sure I have all of my discounts loaded. We typically shop at Kroger, so I use their app to download coupons. I also use the ibotta app to get additional cash back. It’s a great way to earn a little extra cash that can be redeemed for gift cards, deposited into your account, or PayPal. You simply select the offers you want to use and then upload your receipts. My lifetime earnings on this app are over $2,000 right now. I typically use it for grocery shopping, but you can also get cash back from many online retailers by shopping through the app. I always check the app before I travel because you can sometimes get great cash back from hotels and airlines.

Now onto what’s in our grocery cart this week. I actually did a big Costco run recently, so most of this week’s groceries came from Trader Joe’s. My FAVORITE place to grab quick and easy meals and snacks for the kids.

• Cookies for the kiddos. They love the crunch of these and that they can eat a small bowl of them as a snack.
• The BEST garlic olive oil. I use this in everything. Especially when I don’t feel like mincing garlic for a meal.
• Red pesto is great on pasta or crusty bread.
• Pepper Jelly is great on meatballs or over cream cheese as a quick spread for crackers. I keep this on hand at all times for a quick appetizer or to add to a charcuterie board.
• Unexpected Cheddar spread is great as a dip with the pita crackers. I’ve also used it as a cheese sauce for pasta.
• Spaghetti Carbonara is a new item that we are trying this week.
• Fresh Herbs for my new hanging planter (pics below).
• Macaroni for Chicken Macaroni Casserole this week.

I’m still working out how I want to hang it, but I love it so far. It’s a great way to add a little green to my kitchen and keep herbs on hand.

More for the freezer!

• Brown rice is ready in 3 minutes. It’s great for a quick side when you’re in a pinch. We also use it for meal prep.
• Chicken Chow Mein is a quick and easy dinner.
• I love the Fiocchetti for an easy lunch. The pink sauce is my favorite.
• Chopped spinach and Brussels sprouts for dinner sides.
• Hatch Chili Mac & Cheese
• I bought four packs of hash browns because the kids want them just about every day with their breakfast. I don’t know what it is about the TJ’s version, but they are the only ones my family will eat.
• Orange Chicken and Vegetable Fried Rice for another easy dinner.
• Cheese Curds and Jalapeño & Cream Cheese Wontons to keep on hand for appetizers.
• Frozen Mango for smoothies.

That’s it for this grocery tip. Do you have a favorite item from Trader Joe’s? Leave it in the comments so I can add it to our list!