For years I stressed myself out about going to the grocery store.
I wanted to make sure we had everything we needed in one trip for at least two weeks, most of the time three, so my grocery list was huge! I try and avoid small grocery store runs AT ALL COSTS. My husband can tell you!!
If I was gonna avoid that, I needed a way for my forgetful brain to keep track of the supplies.
ENTER: THE MASTER GROCERY LIST.
WHAT IS A MASTER GROCERY LIST?
A master grocery list is simply a list of all your groceries. It almost works… backwards.
It gives you a point of reference for buying groceries.
Here’s an example: I have potatoes on our master grocery list. Using the questions (below), I know this is a fresh staple we cook a thousand different ways to for weeknight dinners.
You can see here they’re running low.
I used to walk past my kitchen 5 times thinking “add potatoes to the list” (maybe my phone or a scrap paper). I had a to-do running in my head, yet still often forgot what I needed!
NOW I don’t even have to pay attention to my potatoes!! Why? The master list!!
Because I know I will check my fridge, cabinets, and pantry when I sit down for my grocery list review, for now I can just enjoy my latte with Kimi 🙂
IS A MASTER GROCERY LIST RIGHT FOR YOU?
Master grocery lists are for anyone who wants their daily routines to be a little easier. The kitchen and all the things that come along with it can be stressful.
The goal is to not have to use your brain when grocery shopping!!!!
This one’s for the girls who like to order pickup or delivery:
I like to bring mine up on a split screen when I am ordering my groceries online. I have been using Walmart pickup lately and loving it! Target and Harris Teeter also offer their own store pickup. Instacart works for Aldi or Publix!
Whatever way you choose, the master list makes it SO easy!
HOW DO YOU MAKE ONE?
Ok. Follow along to make your own!!!!!!!
FIRST. One of the easiest ways to start is to explore several different lists from Pinterest.
Create a board called “master grocery list” and pin anything that looks similar to what you do, or if there’s a layout that speaks to you.
SECOND. Get your laptop and or your notebook and BRAIN DUMP.
Don’t worry about categorizing things into groups yet – just list out everything you typically use.
Don’t leave anything out! It’s easier to take away things later than to add them in later.
The goal is to not have to use your brain when grocery shopping!!!!
Less decisions = more time for creativity.
Ask yourself questions like:
- What snacks is your family always eating?
- What meats or proteins do you typically eat?
- What are the ingredients of a few of your go-to meals?
- What do I run out of most often?
- What spices do you always want to have on hand?
These items go on your master grocery list.
THIRD: Take eeeeeverything from Pinterest and your brain dump. Review. Discard the items that don’t apply and add others you’ve missed.
FOURTH: Organize your list as it makes sense to you!
I like to divide my list up into sections:
- fruit and vegetables,
- meat,
- snacks,
- grains,
- cans and sauces,
- beverages, etc.
If you’re shopping in store rather than online, try organizing your list by the store layout. This is helpful too, when you’re sending another member of the family to the store to grab something.
HOW THE FAMILY CAN USE THE MASTER GROCERY LIST
OH, THAT REMINDS ME! This is so helpful when sharing the list with others in your house, too. When you have a master list, you can send it to someone else at a moment’s notice.
Post the list on the side of your fridge. Laminate the list so that you can use it time and time again using a dry erase marker. Or keep an editable google doc you print out each time you make a trip or an order.
LET’S DO THIS
So what do you think? What’s stopping you? Try it out and let me know what you think!!
If you love kitchen stuff, check out my favorite easy-to-make sweet bowls and this guide to tackling your kitchen sink cabinet!
If you need help setting up your pantry once you get your groceries in, check out these blogs here and here. If you’re ready to hand over the keys to someone else, I would love to get your kitchen and pantry set up for simpler cooking 🙂
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