Time Saving Groceries For When You’re in a Pinch
The time you will save by having these items on hand for last minute cooking emergencies is worth it. These are foods I would not usually serve or eat, due to the fact that they don’t cut it as far as is it healthy, is it frugal, etc. You can use these suggestions but you should get what works for you and your home, without feeling a stigma or pressure to always-only-ever buy the most wholesome natural foods. Eating healthy and whole is a lifestyle, it is a good habit, and most importantly it is a tool and resource for you. I always am wary of routines and habits that end up being ruling you and controlling your life instead of helping you and adding to your quality of life. That being said, these are the foods I keep in my back pocket for when life just happens.
Instant Oatmeal
My kids love oatmeal. The flavored kind, that is. They will drink it raw straight out of the packet like a pixie stick if I don’t stop them. They like it hot or cold, day or night, prepared the traditional hot water way or simply pouring milk on oats and eating it like cereal. Despite the fact that there is a lot of sugar in the flavored ones, oatmeal is a whole grain and high in fiber, and it is a very quick breakfast with minimal prep time and cleanup. If everyone is sitting down to eat I will boil a pot of water to pour into each bowl, but often I just put a bowl of hot water into the microwave for 2-3 minutes and then add their oatmeal. Usually I mix it half and half with plain oatmeal to lessen the sugar impact.
Cereal
I enjoy making my own granola at home because I can control the amount of sugar going into it, and I tried many times until I could get it at a chunky texture like the store bought kind instead of the crumbly muesli type that the homemade kind always seems to turn out as. But store bough cereal is a good breakfast backup to have. Obviously trying to avoid the overtly sugar packed candy bar cereals – if you know me, added sugars are my nemesis – but not being too strict that I buy something that literally no one will eat. Happy mediums (which I technically count as a splurge) include cheerios, frosted shredded wheat, rice krispies, raisin bran, or Life. I used to have a household ban on all cereals and I felt like I was killing my family if I bought any, but I would find myself it’s better than sending them off with nothing.
Canned Black Beans, Chick Peas, Lentils, Etc.
As far as frugal goes, these are not as cheap as buying bags of dried beans, and dried beans can be finicky on the stove but pretty basic in an instant pot. However, I like to have the canned legumes on hand in case I need to quickly whip something up and don’t have time to cook them. Theres also the added bonus of having assurance they will turn out good, since I feel like it’s easy to overcook or undercook beans.
Deli ham or turkey
When it comes to school lunches, my kids prefer turkey and cheese over peanut butter and jelly. My husband works on a job site where there is no access to a refrigerator or microwave, and he likes something he can eat quickly with his hands while in a machine. Many of the workers buy lunch, which he does if I don’t send something with him, but it’s more expensive than buying ingredients for a high quality ham and cheese. So, although I would love to send him some cute organized lunch box with spaghetti and meat sauce or chicken drumsticks and salad, ham and cheese sandwich is usually on the menu.
Pre-cooked Bacon
Sams club sells a bag of real pre-cooked bacon crumbles, and I love to have it on hand to throw into scrambled eggs, breakfast burritos, salads, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, on top of homemade pizza, or sprinkled into pasta with butter and Parmesan cheese.
Naan bread
If you want to make your own naan bread at home, this is a quick and easy recipe. But sometimes I decide to make Indian food and I need it done in a half an hour, and making the naan bread at home takes at least a half an hour just to mix it and let it rise, so I like to have store bought naan bread on hand.
Ramen
Ramen is inexpensive and handy to have, because it is so quick to cook. Obviously, as with everything on this list, it can’t be used as a day in, day out meal but for times of being hindered by morning sickness, busy schedules, newborns, or heavy workloads, it’s great to have for a fast resort.
Ready-Rice packets
Rice is relatively fast to make, but there are some situations where having these comes in handy. One bag is only enough for one or two people, so if I am making a meal for everyone or if rice is the main portion I don’t use it, I just make a pot of rice (3-4 cups dry). However, suppose some are out at sports or some have eaten or some are sick or the adults are wanting no carbs or some other extenuating circumstance arises where I have a lot of meat/veggie entree but no side, I like to just heat up one or two of these really quick and it saves 15 minutes and having to wash a pot.
Popcorn
Microwave popcorn can be unhealthy or relatively healthy, although not as pure as popping it on the stove in a pot (which I love to do). Popcorn is healthier than most other snacky type foods and has a lower glycemic index and no sugar. Whether you get the minimal fuss popcorn kernels and pop them yourself in a pot with a little salt and oil, or the zero fuss popcorn that requires no cleanup whatsoever, it’s a great option. Its an enjoyable, kid-friendly snack and what is nice is they can’t easily/covertly raid the stash because each bag requires microwaving. It’s something I usually save up for special occasions like a movie night, so that I am not bound to spend time in the kitchen making snacks for everyone and we can all just sit down and relax.
Pizza
Whenever I am at Aldi and I forsee that the evening will be chaotic or I will need a quick and easy dinner at some point that week, I grab a couple of their premade pizzas. Yes, I can make pizza from scratch, and yes, I could make it healthier and cheaper, but it is so worth the mental peace to know that I have something I can throw in the oven without any prep work, and with paper plates, have no cleanup. Just an easy, no fuss dinner on the fly, plus the pizza makes for great leftovers.