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Over the last few months we’ve spent much of our time together talking about shopping and stocking real food. In order to live a real food lifestyle, it’s critical to change our buying habits, exchanging the packaged food for fresh ingredients. I know this information can feel overwhelming. Trust me, I’ve been there and I’m here to help.
Once you’ve learned the basics of real food (basically saying no to overly processed “food” and saying yes to real ingredients) you can begin stocking your pantry, fridge, and freezer for real food success. The stocking part takes time, so be patient! The goal is progress, not perfection.
Shopping for real food looks different for each family. For some, this may mean “shopping” from a backyard garden and supplementing from a market or store. For others, this may look like a trip to the only store in town. And for others, this may look like a trip to Costco and then visiting smaller stores. Finding a routine that’s doable, within your budget, and works for your real food lifestyle is important.
Today, I’m going to get really personal and share what a real food shopping trip looks like for me. My goal in sharing my shopping trip haul is to provide a real life example of what I purchase each week and how I use this food to nourish my family.
This week, I’m sharing my shopping trip haul. Next week, I’m going to share what a prep time looks like with the food I purchased.
A Few Notes About My Real Food Shopping Routine
1. I shop at two stores each week: a local health food store and Whole Foods. The local health food store is my main shopping destination due to the availability of food and affordable prices! I visit Whole Foods for a few items (like eggs) that I can’t find at my health food store.
2. Our farmer’s market season is October through May. I plan to start visiting the market again next week and will shop there on a bi-monthly schedule (the market is a 30 minute drive from our home).
3. I’ve been traveling a lot, so I haven’t had time to plant our fall garden just yet. When our garden is flourishing, we enjoy a small amount of veggies and lots of herbs from our backyard.
4. I’m a huge fan of Costco. I purchase tuna, bulk frozen fruit and veggies (peas and broccoli), Kerrygold Butter, toilet paper, rice, etc. I usually visit Costco every 2-3 months.
5. Most food purchases are based on my weekly meal plan. Shopping without a plan is a recipe for failure. Trust me, I’ve tried to “wing” my shopping trips way too times and the result is always bad news: overspending, rotten food, hungry family members, and a stressed out mom (oh hey!).
Okay guys, let’s get to the good stuff…a week of real food shopping.
My Meal Plan
As mentioned in the video, I shop according to my weekly meal plan. If you’d like to learn more about planning real food, I highly recommend taking the Real Food Planning Challenge.
Monday- Breakfast: Green smoothie // Dinner: Roasted Herb Chicken Thighs with White Beans and Rosemary (crock-pot)
Tuesday- Breakfast: Yogurt with Granola and Fruit + Hardboiled Eggs // Dinner: Salmon Burgers (salmon already in the freezer from my Costco trip) with Tuscan Kale Salad
Wednesday- Breakfast: Smoothie (green or fruit-based) and Muffins // Dinner: Sheet Pan Flank Steak Fajitas with Peppers and Onions (tortillas already in the freezer)
Thursday- Breakfast: Oatmeal and Fruit (chopped apples) // Dinner: Quesadillas with leftovers from fajitas (tortillas already in the freezer)
Friday- Breakfast: Oatmeal and Fruit (cinnamon pears) + Eggs // Dinner: Cheese pizza + Pear and Arugula Pizza (adults)
Saturday- Breakfast: Eggs in a Hole (sheet pan style) and fruit (probably pears or grapefruit) // Dinner: Cobb Salad with Homemade Bread (maybe)
Shopping for Real Food: Resources
In the posts below, you’ll find helpful photos, tips, and a printable to help you source real food.
Stocking Real Food: Resources
Hey Kristin, What company do you use to buy your kumbucha? I am trying to find a place near me…..
Thanks!
Hey Jamie, I purchase a local brand called Mother Kombucha.
Very interesting article and video.
I usually only buy real foods and actually buy them in bulk (here’s a link to my shopping kit: http://consciousbychloe.com/2015/09/22/the-ultimate-zero-waste-shopping-kit/) but for the last 3 weeks, I’ve been doing a cleanse and wasn’t allowed any sugar, meat, fish, eggs and nuts. This took meal planning to another level! I’m gonna start adding these foods next Monday but loved the challenge and the reflexion it implied.
Thank you for sharing your story!
Very cool, Chloe. Thank you for sharing!
Another incredibly practical and well-organized post. Thank you! I can’t wait for Part 2!
Thank you so much, Summer! I can’t wait to share part two ;).
Great post dear! I love it:)
Thank you, Irene!
I love the planner you are using. Where can I find one like that? Thanks in advance
Hey April, You can find the planner here: https://livesimply.me/real-food-planning-challenge/