Grocery Shopping List: Back to Routine Edition

It’s that time of the year when schedules begin to fill up, after-school activities are the norm, and a steady flow of chores occur from week to week. This busy and exciting season comes with its challenges, especially when it comes to grocery shopping. Making a shopping list that’s full of wholesome and delicious foods can make this process a little easier and dare we say, fun! Check out some of the ways you can streamline your shop with staple foods that are nourishing and easy to prepare. We’ll also give you some tips on how to get the most out of the things you buy with suggestions from our selection of long-lasting produce, multi-use foods, unique snacks, and scrumptious lunch items. Get your list started and make shopping a breeze this school year with a little help from us!

Shopping tips

List & Items

Always organize your shopping list according to items, department, and store layout.
- fruit, vegetables, proteins, dry goods etc.
Invest in a set of re-usable mesh produce bags.
- This not only limits the usage of single use plastics, but also helps fruits and vegetables last longer by allowing gases that cause ripening to escape.
Don’t forget your grocery bags at home or in the car!
- We’ve all been in that situation when you’re ready to cash out but have forgotten to bring in the bags.

Food

Purchase ingredients that can be used for more than one dish.
- This helps you to get the most value out of what you buy.
- It also lowers the frequency of shopping trips!
For fruits, choose a range of ripeness to extend their use through to the end of the week.
Less ripe bananas can be spread out and eaten throughout the week.
With fruits like apples, pears, peaches, and nectarines, it’s best to select more firm options so that they can be enjoyed over a longer period.
Carefully select fully ripened fruit that you know will be eaten within a few days of purchase.
With berries, tender fruit, delicate vegetables, and other sensitive produce, refrain from washing until you are ready to eat or cook them.
- Often, these fruits need to be stored in a single layer and not stacked on top of one another.
In-store specials and awesome deals are just as fun for us as they are for you!
- Look for reduced-price items that can be saved, used immediately, or even frozen for later.
- Turn overly ripened fruit into muffins, loafs, or turnovers to not only extend their usage, but also for quick and easy homemade snacks or breakfast.

Vegetables

Fennel: has a slight licoricey, minty flavour and is known to be good for digestion.

Veggie Sticks (celery, cucumber, carrot): crisp, nourishing, and delicious, enjoy with hummus and dips!

Bell Pepper Slices: are sweet and refreshing snacks that can be enjoyed on their own or within pasta salads.

Fruits

**Bananas:** Are a known source of potassium which aids in heart health and blood pressure. They also are a source of fibre and antioxidants that aid in gut health.

**Cantaloupe and Honeydew:** These melons are a great source of hydration as well as vitamins and minerals that contribute to healthy skin, hair, and bones!

**Oranges:** A single orange (140 grams) can provide 90% of your daily Vitamin C. This vitamin helps immune function, collagen production, and iron absorption.

**Apples:** Are a great source of fibre and have a host of other essential vitamins that promote overall health and of course, learning! Brain food anyone?

Tips:

Select a variety of fruits with different levels of ripening times and ripeness, this will give you options throughout the week!
If you are slicing fruits such as apples, bananas, pears, or other fruits that brown quickly, toss them in a little lemon juice to slow down the oxidation process and pack into air-tight containers or sandwich bags.

Prepared Foods

Enjoy with: With our selection of cold cuts, salamis, or pepperoni sticks.

Enjoy with: A home-made vinaigrette or your favourite Farm Boy Dressing.

Enjoy with: Fresh veggie sticks and a container of hummus for a nourishing lunchtime meal.

Cheese and Deli

Try it: With fresh toppings and a soft bun for a tasty sandwich.

Try it: With crisp veggies, cheese, and fruits.

Try it: Enjoy with grapes, crackers, and cold cuts.

Try it: On a caprese salad or with salami and veggie sticks.

Snacks

Farm Boy™ Garlic Parmesan Baked Pita Chips

Farm Boy™ Dill Pickle Delightfully Delicious Dip

More info in the links here:

Drinks

We have a wide variety of tasty sips that deliver great taste and hydration! Whether you are looking for sugar-free, low-sugar, or caffeine-free beverages, there are plenty of options to give you fruity and refreshing taste without the worry of additives. Pure fruit juices, flavoured water, teas, and more are all available in convenient cans or bottles that make them perfect for packed lunches or dinners on-the-go.