updated: here is a downloadable word file so you can customize this list for yourself!

I know a lot of bees have created great systems for their meal planning – like index cards with the needed ingredients for go-to recipes, creating a master list of aforementioned recipes (I really should do this), freezer meals, doing the whole week’s worth of cooking on Sundays, making the most of the crock pot, and so much more. There are some real great gems they’ve written tagged with meal-planning, and while I do a lot of cooking, I actually don’t do enough on the planning end of things to streamline my time in the kitchen.

I was constantly starting recipes and running into missing ingredients, like making cookie batter only to find out we had no eggs. And then I would try and remember the item I needed, or jot it down on a random piece of paper that would never make it with me to the store. I’d come home from Costco and realize I’d forgotten the bag of onions.

Enter the perpetual grocery list. I made a quick fun sketch, created a word document and divided it into three columns, picked a couple nice fonts and found bullets that double as check-boxes and bam! Done. I would like to laminate a copy to use over and over, but for now I (really should) stick one on the fridge so I can mark down what I need when I need it. I tried to organize the items into the various areas of the stores. I think it’s an especially great tool to have on hand with a newborn because you can just hand the list off to a kind friend or family member that offers to help out and they can do the shopping for you.

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What are your must have items for your pantry and fridge?