How to make a grocery list on a budget + batch cooking plan

Rate this post

Why to make a grocery list before batch cooking

First of all, before you start making your grocery list, you need to be clear on what foods you should buy and what foods you like and don’t like. After making your list of desired foods you can start batch cooking.

Let’s breakdown the categories you should add into your grocery list for batch cooking. They can be divided into four categories:

Grains (optional)
- White rice, brown rice, quinoa, sweet potatoes, pasta (gluten free options).
Veggies
- Broccoli, Kale, roast vegetables, mushrooms, asparagus, aubergine, courgette.
Protein
- Boiled eggs, chicken, beef, fish, legumes, tofu, salmon, mackerel, sea bass.
Healthy fats
- Nuts (almonds, macadamia nuts, cashew nuts, pistachios, etc.) avocados, extra virgin olive oil.
Sauce
- Hummus, salad dressing, pickle vegetables, pasta sauce, stock.

Each time you batch cook, you should choose one ingredient per category at least, combining them to make a healthy, tasty meal. Grains are optional, and you can add as many veggies as you want.

Example: Quinoa, roast vegetables, chicken, avocados, and pickle vegetables

Once you decide the items you would like to combine in your meals, tick them on the below sheet that you can save on your device or print:

Why batch cook?

If you batch cook, you are simply preparing a larger amount of food each time you cook, so you can store the leftovers in the fridge or freezer to use it on a different day of the week. This process saves you time and money since you don’t have to cook all the time and because you always have something ready to eat.

If you batch cook rice, sweet potatoes, veggies, chicken, fish, or beans and sauces only once a week, then you can combine different elements into a meal. This will give you more freedom and creativity at lunch or dinnertime.

Batch cooking is great if you have a busy life and are short on time to cook, but you still want to eat healthy and avoid processed foods from pre-prepared meals.

What kitchen supplies do I need?

You only need to have some containers available to store the food in the fridge or freezer. You’ll also need a big pan and saucepan, as well as a large baking tray to roast food in the oven.

Thanks for checking my blog! I hope you start batch cooking soon, and if you enjoy it, please leave a comment below 🙂