Grocery shopping can be an unpleasant experience. There are so many choices and the total at the checkout can be shocking. Not planning meals and not creating a shopping list are two mistakes that can cost you. Planning is important to eating well, especially when dollars don't reach as far as they once did. Start by writing down a week's worth of meals on paper or in spreadsheet (I find Google Docs to be a great tool). Use this as a starting point for your grocery shopping experience.

Meal Planning Tips:

• Check your fridge, freezer and pantry to see what you already have on hand.
• Plan meals around the best weekly store specials. Stock up on sale items if space allows.
• Use coupons only for items you already buy.
• Get inspired by using online recipe finders or a food blog. I typically use Food Blog Search or Google. Search based upon your desires or vegetables that need to be eaten. (i.e. chicken and fennel recipe)
• Check out a cookbook from the library.
• Follow this movement, Meatless Monday. Meat is the most expensive part of the meal.
• Embrace leftovers, to save time and money. Check out my article, Post Run Nutrition and Leftovers.
• Keep a running shopping list and jot down items when you run out.
• Keep all your weekly meal plans. You'll have a monthly menu cycle and a "go-to" list of quick meals and favorites.

*Email me if you are interested in receiving a 7-Day Meal Planner Template. It is a great tool to help you organize your meals and shopping.

These energy bars are so easy to make in the food processor. As we were climbing up the steep slope of South Twin Mountain, I told Ken his reward was one of these bars, and he turned into a billy goat ascending the mountain with speeds I hadn't seen the entire climb. That's a pretty powerful motivator.  

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