Friends, I’ve discovered something amazing. And that’s a grocery outlet store.
I’ve been waiting for one to open in my area, and now there’s one only 15 minutes away and I’m THRILLED.
I’m definitely excited about their coolers and freezers, because they stock random meats and frozen veggies. Oh, and gluten-free bread at times, too. For only $2.00.
What got me though, were the snack bars. I’m a sucker for easy snacks, and when I saw bulk bags of them, I kind of went crazy.
Now, this is a grocery outlet, which means most of these items are either right at their Sell-By Date, or past it. That’s why you can get this stuff for over 50% off. The deli meat and bread were in a freezer set at -15 degrees, so those went straight into my freezer and are safe. The snack bars are a couple months past their Sell-By Date, but that doesn’t mean they’re expired. In fact, they taste great and I’m going back for more in a couple weeks!
I think this store is a game-changer and I’ll be visiting maybe once a week to see what they have. One thing I want to do is challenge my creativity, which means buying random meats and veggies dirt cheap and seeing what I can come up with. Sounds like a blast, right? If I can save money, I’m happy!
Here’s what I bought this week:
Mr. Mac’s Grocery Outlet
2 packages Oscar Mayer deli turkey: $1.50 each
Udi’s gluten-free bread: $2.00
Planter’s almonds: $1.75
Bag of 12 kids Clif bars: $2.00
Bag of 12 ZonePerfect bars: $2.00
Bag of 10 RXBars, adult and kids: $3.50
Cupcakes: $1.75
Total: $16.00
Aldi
2 gallons of milk: $1.49 each
2 dozen eggs: $.58 each
Flour: $1.15
Orange juice: $1.99
Pancake syrup: $1.29
2 cans diced tomatoes: $.35 each
Canned biscuits: $.99
Spinach: $1.19
Corn tortillas: $1.29
Salami: $3.49
Tomato paste: $.39
Chicken apple sausages: $2.99
Baking powder: $.99
Sliced cheddar: $1.79
Gluten-free pasta: $1.49
Carrots, 2-pound bag: $1.29
2 packages zucchini: $1.39 each
3-pack multi-colored bell peppers: $2.89
3 packages strawberries: $1.99 each
Raisins: $2.85
2 pineapples: $1.29 each
Cottage cheese: $1.59
Bananas, 3.36 pounds: $1.48
Total: $45.31
Kroger
2 packages Johnsonville turkey sausage links: $1.99 each from the 2-day sale
Ricotta cheese: $4.69
Diced chiles: $1.19
Refried beans: $1.00
Nutpods creamer: $3.79
Total: $14.65
Weekly Total: $75.96
Menu
Lunch is always leftovers. Items marked with an asterisk (*) were purchased in previous weeks.
Dinner
Small group, making breakfast food for the kids: Carrot Pancakes, sausage links, Oven-Baked Biscuits, strawberries, orange juice
Deli sandwiches* (Bread in freezer), frozen veggies*, fruit
Chicken sausages, roasted potatoes* and zucchini
Mexican Lasagna
No-Boil Creamy Pasta Bake, frozen veggies*
Pancakes
Leftovers
Breakfast
Waffles or french toast casserole from freezer*
Mini bagels from freezer*, scrambled eggs
Eggs and veggies, cottage cheese
Allison’s Lunch
Salami, string cheese*, strawberries, crackers*, Brownie Larabar Bites
Miscellaneous
Slow Cooker Biscuits and Gravy Casserole for a church brunch
What’s on your menu this week? Share in the comments below!
Jaime is a Nutrition Coach through the ISSA and professional writer. She has 4 years experience coaching and 9 years experience in writing. She enjoys cooking easy meals, running, and learning more about food.
Jaime specializes in helping women with ADHD learn to meal plan and cook healthier meals without getting overwhelmed.