The Single Gal's Grocery List • Lex Eats

This one goes out to all my single ladiezzzzz…

But really though, I’m talking grocery shopping as a single gal (or guy.) One of the hardest thing about living on your own is grocery shopping! I have roommates, but we usually don’t share groceries and all have pretty different eating habits, so I’m a party of one when it comes to the grocery store. I hate wasting food, but also get bored of leftovers fast. It’s takes a lot of effort to find foods you can use in different ways without waste, but over the past few years I think I’ve honed the art of grocery shopping for one. Read on for my tips including the full list at the end.

Protein

Chicken breast from the deli counter
Fully-cooked chicken sausage
Canned beans or chickpeas
Bacon
Eggs

Protein is a tough one, as cooking meat just for yourself can be daunting/a lot of work for little reward. You don’t want to cook a whole pound of meat only to let the leftovers sit around in your fridge. One of my go-tos is chicken breast from the deli counter, that way you can get just one. If you do buy multiple at a time, wrap them individually and put them in the freezer so that you can take out one at a time. I also usually keep chicken sausages in the fridge. The pre-cooked variety are so easy to throw in the oven or on the grill for a quick, no effort dinner. Alternatively, canned beans or chickpeas are a great shelf-stable item. Add them to salads, tacos, soup, etc. and you have an easy protein-packed meal.

Now onto breakfast/brunch/brinner.. Bacon is always on my grocery list, because, well, bacon is good for me. Forreal though, a little bit of bacon goes a long way. You only need one strip for a lot of flavor! I eat breakfast for dinner all the time, but I also love adding bacon to pasta or salads. Last on the list, but certainly not least, is eggs. I eat eggs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Truly, my life motto is “put an egg on it.” Slap an egg on top of pasta, hash, stir fry, fried rice, sandwich, pizza.. the options are endless. Eggs have a pretty long shelf life, but if you find yourself with a carton about to expire, make a frittata or breakfast casserole and then you have breakfast (and dinner) for the week!

Produce

Kale or spinach
Baby peppers
Baby carrots
Potatoes
Oranges
Apples
Bananas
Frozen vegetables
Herbs in a tube

Produce is also tricky when you’re shopping for one, because you’re so likely to be left with rotten produce if you don’t plan carefully. I stick to items I know that I can use in multiple dishes or that will last longer. I usually pick up some kale or spinach every week. Little tip – I find the greens in plastic containers stay fresh longer than those in a plastic bag. I use greens in smoothies, pasta, eggs or breakfast casseroles. Oh, and I guess salads, ha! If I’m left with some about to go bad, I wilt it and then store it in an air-tight plastic bag in the freezer. You can add the frozen greens to pasta, soup or a casserole! I also usually buy bags of mini peppers, these stay fresh much longer than full size peppers and they’re much more convenient for cooking for one! I also love to snack on these with hummus. Same goes for baby carrots! You can also roast the carrots with potatoes or add them to pasta sauce.

As far as fruits go, I tend to stick to apples, oranges and bananas. They stay fresh much longer than berries and are easy to grab and go. I love an apple or banana with peanut butter for breakfast/snack and an orange after dinner satisfies my sweet tooth. If bananas get too ripe before I can use them, I freeze them for smoothies or make these ice cream bites!

Frozen food gets a bad rap, but don’t be afraid of frozen veggies! Frozen vegetables are usually picked at their ripest and flash-frozen, so you’re actually probably getting something fresher than what’s in the produce section. Frozen veggies are a life-saver when trying to eat healthy. You can steam them for a simple side dish or stir fry, add to pasta, roast with chicken sausage, the list goes on. Last on the list is herbs in a tube. These little guys are so handy when you’re cooking for one! It’s essentially impossible to keep fresh herbs on hand, but I love cooking with them. I found these tubes and am hooked.

Grains

Whole-grain or gluten-free pasta
Rice or quinoa from the bulk bin

I don’t think I’m making a revolutionary statement when I say pasta is an easy dinner to make for yourself. I’m gonna trust y’all don’t need me to expand on that one. I will say this brand is my favorite gluten-free pasta! I do want to talk about the bulk bin, though. It’s a game-changer for the single shopper. You can buy as much or little as you need, and it’s priced cheaper than if you were to buy the same item in a package. I usually have rice or quinoa on hand for a simple side dish or base for a casserole. I also love to make a big batch of quinoa or orzo salad on Sunday then eat it throughout the week.

Snacks

Hummus
Salsa
Almond or peanut butter
Popcorn from the bulk bin

Gotta have snacks! If at any point you open up my fridge, you are very likely to find hummus and salsa. To be honest, I often eat hummus and carrots for dinner. Actually to be completely honest, I often eat popcorn for dinner too! Go for the real thing from the bulk bin though. Pop it on the stove top so that you can control how much oil you use and avoid all that nasty fake butter stuff.

Dairy

Greek yogurt
Almond milk
Some kind of cheese

Last but not least! I usually buy Greek yogurt for smoothies or I add some fruit and granola for a parfait. It also makes a great substitute for mayo or sour cream to healthify a recipe, like my chicken salad. I recommend almond milk or organic milk if you’re grocery shopping for one because it lasts much longer than regular milk. And I wouldn’t be being honest if I didn’t say that I always, always have some kind of cheese in my fridge. Know yourself, people.