While Johnathan and I are mildly broke instead of really really broke I still like to figure out how to get the best food for the best price. Like most clothing, there’s no reason to pay a ridiculous price when there’s great quality at a lesser price. Ok, here’s a few tips/recommendations I have for grocery shopping these days:

1. Target grocery is great! They consistently have the same brands as big grocery stores, but often for less. They also have they’re own brand - Market Pantry which is also great and even cheaper. I’ve saved a lot buying my dry/pantry stock stuff here - flour, coffee, soy sauce, salt, etc. I don’t prefer their meat, or produce, but they have a great price on OJ!

2. Bargain produce. I’m not sure if Whole Foods does this but our other go to grocery store, Berkeley Bowl has a section near the produce of discounted fruit and veg that is too ripe, or about to be. I bought a perfectly ripe cantaloupe for $.79 - cut it up when we got home and it still lasted a couple more days! This week I got 1lb of mushrooms for $.89 and a big container of strawberries for $1.99. This works well if  you can use these things right away but they are usually still ok for a couple more days!

3. Multiple trips. I know pretty much every other budget conscious commentator tells you to shop once a week and plan your meals for the entire week. I’m going to say the opposite! I’ve found from talking to friends and just how our daily lives go - you CAN’T always plan a whole week! You may stay late at work, a friend invites you out on Wednesday, you’re exhausted and your partner/roommate suggests you go out… Most weeks our menu changes and meals get pushed back or canceled. Life happens. So I’ve adjusted to plan for about 3 maybe 4 meals during the week. I also hear people throw out veggies, etc. all the time even with planning. If you go to the store another time during the week and purchase what you need for the next couple days, you could save money by NOT throwing out produce/fruit/dairy from your trip last weekend. I also like to make up new things to do with what I have left - a little spontaneity doesn’t hurt!

Going into my seventh year living in NYC I’ve noticed a funny “ism” you could call it about New Yorkers. As soon as the temperature in the fall drops below 75F people begin wearing jackets, scarves, long sleeves, boots, etc. In the spring, maybe March or April depending on the year when it rises to about 55F women especially break out mini skirts, tank tops, and sandals. So it actually doesn’t matter what the temp is outside, it’s about what season it feels like in fashion. On my way to Trader Joe’s on the train I noticed this girl wearing a long sleeve shirt, scarf, wool jacket, jeans and boots- very appropriate if it was 50! Today’s high was 78F. By the time I left Union Square it was about 72F. I wondered what that girl did for the rest of the day - I was glad I had my tshirt, sunglasses and flip flops still on - people from the South tend to never admit a season change and hold on to summer as long as possible, New Yorkers jump the gun. I also found this season-identity crisis at the farmer’s market. I still picked up great looking tomatoes, heirloom and beefsteak, and I still saw sweet corn! This was in addition to pumpkins, squashes, cauliflower - the usual fall harvest as well. I was still glad to pick up some tomatoes, and might as well take advantage. Again this week I was able to avoid Whole Foods all together, although Trader Joe’s didn’t have corn starch, I didn’t need it that bad. By making a couple meals this week vague - a big salad and pizza, I was able to be inspired by what was at the farmer’s market and picked up eggplants, parsnips (which I LOVE), kale, various greens, and fresh oregano, which I haven’t seen every week in the past. In this week’s total, I’m going to include the meats I bought last week and froze. Here are the totals:

Farmer’s Market

Carrots, Yukon Potatoes, 2 heads lettuce, parsley - $10.75

Fresh Organic Bread - $4

Kale, tomatoes, eggplant, parsnips - $9

8 Apples, 2 pears - $5.50

Duck legs - $7

Pork Ribs - $13

Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme - $4.50

Grand Total: $99.28/10 meals/2ppl = $4.96/person/meal