sticking to the basics.

Remember this?

Well, although Hot Pockets still hold a place in my heart, I’m happy to say that I’ve been making even more headway in the cooking department of my apartment. (Sorry, the urge to rhyme is one that I can’t resist).

My dinners, though somewhat repetitive, have included more whole foods.

And my breakfasts no longer come out of a Dunkin Donuts bag.

Funny thing is, I still don’t have that much food in the house. What I do have, though, is the right foods.

the single/lazy/cheap girl’s grocery list.

First of all, if you want to play by my rules, you have to accept repetitive eating to an extent. If you’re a creature of habit like me, this shouldn’t be much of a problem, but if you’re a food blogger who posts every meal, you might want to warn your readers.

This grocery list includes what I’ve found to be the basics – just enough to hold me off from ordering takeout every night. It’s is based on a) cost b) required effort and c) versatility (well, and taste, but that’s a given). Some of the items need to be restocked weekly, while others last a month or two. But, in general, I try to always have the following on hand in order to put together wholesome and tasty meals.

produce.

frozen spinach
frozen brussels sprouts
bananas
sweet potatoes

dairy.

milk (whole)
milk alternative (coconut or almond)
yogurt
butter
some sort of cheese (right now I have mozzarella and Laughing Cow wedges)

protein.

chicken (I usually cook some and freeze the rest)
canned tuna
eggs
beans

grains.

oats
cereal
bread of some sort (oftentimes frozen)
pasta/couscous/rice

etc.

nut butter(s)
nuts
jarred tomato sauce
oils – olive and canola
canned soup
baking supplies (flour, sugar, etc.)
condiments
spices

Like I said, that list is pretty much the basics, but you’d be surprised how many different meals can be made from those items. In fact, I actually think it’s fun trying to get creative with not-so-creative ingredients.

What does your basic/lazy/cheap grocery list include?