Meal planning
A Grocery List That Reduces Waste
Check the refrigerator and pantry before writing the list. Build the first meals around ingredients that need using soon.
What you need
- Meal plan
- Pantry check
- Produce list
- One flexible backup meal
Put it into practice
Organize the list by store section and record quantities. Buying one bunch of herbs for several meals is easier than remembering several vague mentions.
The detail that makes a difference
Choose a shelf-stable backup dinner for disrupted evenings. This reduces the temptation to buy extra perishable food just in case.
Make it work in your kitchen
Start with a small batch and taste as you go. Keep a note of the ingredients and proportions you prefer so you can repeat the result. For substitutions, consider texture and cooking time as well as flavor; a softer ingredient often needs less time than a firm one.
These are practical cooking guides, not laboratory-tested recipes. Cooking times vary with ingredients, equipment and portion size. Follow package instructions where applicable.