I loved Mrs. Chipmunk’s perpetual shopping list and decided to make one for myself because I’ve tried various apps, but good old-fashioned paper lists just work better for me. I shop at a bunch of different places, so customizing a list according to what I buy where makes the most sense. I plan to laminate it, stick it to the fridge, check off what I need as I run out, and take a picture of the list with my phone before I head out to the market.
I thought I would share the portion of my list that specifically pertains to breakfast and packing the kids’ lunches because that’s what makes up the bulk of our purchases (plus I love seeing what other people are buying!). Charlie and Olive get most of their daily calories at lunch so I always pack big lunches consisting of a protein, vegetable, fruit, cheese, olives or pickles (Charlie’s favorite food), and a small treat. I’ve shared some of our lunch ideas and favorite brands below!
P R O T E I N S
breakfast sausage (from butcher)
ground turkey (meatballs)
ground beef (meatballs or pasta)
beef stew meat (seaweed soup)
rotisserie chicken
cornish game hens (chicken porridge)
eggs (boiled or fried)
Applegate Farms Organic Bacon
Applegate Farms Organic beef hot dogs
Applegate Farms Pepperoni
Applegate Farms Organic Ham (DIY lunchables)
D A I R Y
cream cheese
string cheese
Babybel cheese
Laughing Cow cheese wedges
american cheese slices (grilled cheese sandwiches)
yogurt pouches, smoothies, and squeezers
grated parmesan cheese
shredded cheddar cheese
V E G E T A B L E S
onions (pasta)
mushrooms (pasta)
asparagus (sauteed in butter, salt, pepper)
sweet potatoes (baked @ 400 degrees)
cucumbers
avocados
cauliflower (baked w/ Olive oil, salt & pepper)
broccoli (sauteed w/ soy sauce, garlic, & sesame oil)
pickles/cornichon/olives
F R U I T
bananas
apples
oranges
pears
grapes
strawberries
raspberries
blueberries
watermelon
mango
peaches
kiwi
F R O Z E N
kale (green smoothies)
spinach (green smoothies)
peas
corn
pizza (on pizza Fridays)
waffles
Ajinomoto shumai pork dumplings
Applegate Farms breakfast sausage
Applegate Farms Chicken Nuggets
Dr. Praeger’s spinach littles
Dr. Praeger’s fishies
G R O C E R Y
bread (cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches)
rotini pasta
oatmeal
crackers (for DIY lunchables)
Envirokidz cereal
Pamela’s Ultimate baking and pancake mix
S N A C K S
seaweed
sunflower seeds
squeeze pouches
raisins/dried fruit
freeze-dried fruit from Trader Joe’s
natural candy-coated sunflower seeds
Envirokidz organic Koala Crispy Rice Bars
B R E A K F A S T
When we have less time it’s oatmeal, waffles, or cereal. If they haven’t had much breakfast, sometimes they’ll drink a yogurt pouch or smoothie while walking to school.
L U N C H
I try to pack a protein and vegetable leftover from dinner the night before, so I just have to cut up some fruit, throw in cheese, pickles or olives, and a little treat. But there are some things the kids will eat for dinner and will never eat if I put it in their lunchbox (like salmon), so often I end up cooking something specific for lunch. For proteins we always have eggs on hand, hot dogs are easy because I boil them, and deli meats are ready to go. For vegetables I pack cucumber and avocado most often because they don’t require any cooking. I also keep a stash of frozen foods that I rely on when the refrigerator is empty: Applegate Farms chicken nuggets, Dr. Praeger’s fishies and spinach littles, and Ajinomoto’s shumai dumplings (available at Asian grocery stores).
I usually go to the grocery store 3 times a week because we don’t have a car and I’m horrible at planning dinners. But at least breakfast and lunches are pretty streamlined!
What are your little ones eating for breakfast and lunch these days?
blogger / nectarine / 2600 posts
Oh need to look at those Spinach Littles look yum!
honeydew / 7589 posts
Vi licked her first Spinach Little, shivered in horror, and wiped her tongue on the couch to rid herself if the flavor. Fail.
This from a kid who eats brussel sprouts and spiders. I don’t get it.
apricot / 340 posts
@Mrs. Bee – Great list! can I ask how you bake the sweet potato? Do you wrap foil around it? How many degrees and how long?
clementine / 806 posts
@Arden: hahaha …. Paige took a bite, spit it out and said, “yucky, I don’t eat this. throw it away mommy”. Hahahaha … but she’ll eat broccoli and spinach without any issues. I don’t get it either!
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
@DisneyBee: it depends on the size of your sweet potato. i wash them, poke a couple holes in them with a fork, line a baking dish with aluminum (they leak juice), and bake them at 400 degrees for at least an hour. I poke a fork in them to make sure they’re done.
The kids love it even more if I top it with a little butter and pepper. I also prefer asian sweet potatoes which are a little sweeter and have a white flesh vs. orange sweet potatoes. i bake like a dozen every week and the whole family eats them as a snack.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
@Arden: @aegie: haha maybe if you served them alongside nuggets? i keep them on hand because they’re great when I don’t have any fresh veggies to pack.
cantaloupe / 6669 posts
Great ideas! Adding these to my list!
We do a lot of Applegate Farms Organics – deli meat, shredded cheese, sliced cheese. It’s quick and easy. We might have to try their chicken nuggets… do they have hot dogs?
LO has not tried mushrooms or asparagus so I am going to get those soon. The standby veggies I always have for her are peas, carrots and broccoli.
Where do you get Spinach Littles? I have never seen them in my store! EDIT: Just looked them up & they contain eggs. LO is allergic
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
@daniellemybelle: yup they have hot dogs! Charlie and Olive love them.
asparagus is their favorite vegetable and so quick and fast to cook! just sauté in butter with some salt and pepper.