Lifestyle Journey – Grocery Haul

Since the COVID-19 shutdown I’ve been ordering my groceries using PC Express and either picking them up or having them delivered using Deb’s Grocery Delivery service, a new local business. I have grown to really love this and it’s great for keeping me on track because I don’t see any triggering foods in aisles and I’m better able to control impulse purchases. And if you don’t have unhealthy food in your house, it’s a lot easier to eat the healthy food that you do have in your house.

I tend to purchase the same fruits and vegetables, but I shop the sale and use PC Points and choose things in season. Here are some things I purchased in my most recent grocery haul:

• Carbonated Water – Because I am really focused on losing weight, boosting my immunity and having the healthiest most nourished body I can possibly have, I’ve pretty much quit drinking wine. Anyone who knows me knows I love my red wine, so it hasn’t been easy to always make better choices, and I’ve been looking for healthier alternatives when I want a little something special. So, I’ve been trying some sparkling water. And I’m super surprised that I actually like some brands! I prefer San Pellegrino or Montelier, plain or lime flavoured. I also don’t mind the PC brand that is just carbonated water and flavouring. I don’t like any of the ones that are sweetened. I like to pour a drink of sparkling water into my wine glass with a wedge of lime, for a little decadence at dinner. And all my research indicates that simple carbonated water is just as good for you as regular water, which is a bonus. (2 L + 24 cans = $9)
• Salsa – I usually pick up a jar of salsa, even if I have some in the pantry already. I should start making my own, but for now it’s PC Extra Chunky Hot salsa for convenience. (2 – 650 ml jars = $5.50)
• Frozen Blueberries – I always keep frozen blueberries in the freezer for my oatmeal. Frozen fruit is convenient and nutritious. Blueberries are a great source of anti-oxidants. Frozen fruit and vegetables are a great option, full of nutrition because they are frozen when they’re first harvested at their peak and best condition. And especially where I live they are often a more affordable alternative when fresh fruits and vegetables are out of season. ($4.99)
• Frozen Whole Grain Bread – You can’t get Ezekiel anymore at the Superstore, so I buy Silver Hills Sprouted Power bread now. I don’t eat a lot of bread, but it’s there in the freezer in case I want a piece of toast or if I’m making sandwiches for my boyfriend to take in his lunch to work. A loaf of bread usually lasts me a few months before I need to replenish, which is why I was fine paying $7.99 for a loaf of Eziekiel. It lasted ages. The Silver Hills is only $3.99 a loaf though, so even better. ($3.99)
• Tomatoes – I like to buy organic tomatoes because they are on the dirty dozen list for 2020, little ones that are easy to add to salads or a tofu stir-fry. This time I got a pint of PC Organics Mixiany tomatoes, which is a nice variety of colours. ($4.99)
• Mushrooms – I got some whole white mushrooms (the organic were on special) and some portobello mushroom caps. I chop the white mushrooms and add them to a stir-fry or tomato sauce for pasta. I like to drizzle balsamic vinegar on the portobello mushroom caps and grill them whole on my paninni press. They make a nice meaty like burger or steak, and are super easy to cook. Just a few minutes on the grill. ($2.99 + $5.99 = $8.98)
• Greens – I always get some kind of fresh greens. I try to get ones that will last for awhile. No field greens usually because they go bad quickly. Kale, chard, spinach, romaine, are more hardy. But this time I got some living lettuce because I’d read it will last longer and doesn’t need to be refrigerated. The verdict is still out on that one for me. And I got a bunch of kale. I like to make a kale salad with red onions and carrots. For a dressing I just massage an avocado into the leaves mixture with the juice of a fresh lime. It’s important to massage kale because it helps to break down some of the tough texture and make it easier to digest. It also releases some of the strong bitter taste. This simple salad tastes even better if you can let it rest in the refrigerator for a few hours before eating. I have made this and eaten it over the course of three days. It holds up well! ($3.99 x 2 = $7.98)
• Green Onions – scallions, spring onions, whatever you call them, they are a great taste addition to almost every dish. I chop them up raw and throw them on pretty much everything. (2 bunches = $1.99)
• Apples – they’re in season! And I’m obsessed with Empire apples this year. I slice them up and eat them with a little natural peanut butter as a dip or add them to a salad. ($4.99)
• Grapes – Organic grapes were on sale, so I eat them while they’re still affordable. As soon as grapes come into my house I wash them in vinegar to get rid of any pesticide residue, then I dry them and put them in the fridge in a bag. They will last for several weeks before they start to go soft. I add a few to my salad and sometimes just grab a handful if I want something juicy and sweet. I requested red grapes, but they delivered black grapes, which I haven’t tried yet. Fingers crossed! (Bunch $7.99)
• Carrots – I buy them already shredded or chipped because if I need to do anything to prep them, the past has shown me that I will never do it. I add them to salads and stir-frys. ($2.99)
• Avocado – I love avocado! If I was at my goal weight and active I would probably eat a whole avocado every day. At some point I am sure I am going to try to grow avocados. As I lose weight I try to limit myself to a quarter of an avocado serving. I will add that anywhere I want a little creamy fat. I purchase two avocados every week or two. (2 = $3)
• Baby bok choy – These little Chinese cabbages are awesome in stir-fry. I make a big stir-fry every couple of weeks. I eat it on its own usually, not served over rice. (10 heads = $2.27)
• Snow peas – Another stir-fry staple ingredient. I generally do the vegetables with herbs and spices, no oil, a little water if it’s needed to keep it from burning. Then I’ll add a little sauce directly to my plate when I serve. This not only allows me to control how much sauce I’m eating, but it means I am not eating the exact flavours every day and I can prepare my meal very spicy while my boyfriend can’t tolerate any heat and prefers more savoury and sweet flavours. ($2.99)
• Bean Sprouts – My boyfriend actually loves these, I just add them to the stir-fry for added protein. I could take them or leave them, but lately I’ve been taking them. ($2.49)
• Squash – It’s in season now so I usually pick up a spaghetti squash and this time I also got an acorn squash. Squash is super easy to cook by just chopping in half and baking in the oven. (2 = $3.89)
• Sweet Potatoes – I always have these on hand, I love them! (5 lb bag = $8.99)
• Tofu – I buy firm or extra firm. It’s very affordable at $1.99 or $2.99 a package depending on which brand is in stock. A package will provide me with servings for 3-4 meals depending on how I prepare it and what I’m eating with it. I never used to enjoy tofu, but the more I’ve learned how to prepare it, the more I enjoy it. And it’s a great inexpensive meat alternative, I mean where could you buy enough steak or chicken for 4 meals for under $2? ($1.99)
• Yves Hot Italian Sausage – These types of meat substitutes are more expensive – four big hot Italian sausages for $4.54. But I buy these things sparingly, so the extra expense is like a treat. My plan for these was to add them to a pasta sauce I was making, the sauce will provide 4-6 meals so the cost is actually very economical. ($4.54)

Total cost = $93.55

This was a pretty big haul with lots of things that will last awhile, with my pantry staples, I will need to pick up some greens next week but probably won’t have to do another grocery haul for 2+ weeks. I know it’s mostly just me eating this food, but sometimes I am feeding a man with a healthy appetite and he just eats whatever I’m eating. I tend to believe that eating healthy is not only affordable but even cheaper than not eating healthy.

Image by ElasticComputeFarm from Pixabay