4 x 2 Grocery Method (with Free PDF)

ByJennifer

Our next grocery method is all about focusing on certain foods for inspiration for your recipes. We will pick certain types of items and then use them to be the muse for our meals.

This plan also is set up for 4 meals, but you can easily double up on the amount of the meals so you can have them twice.

The theory here is that if you only cook 4 nights a week, you are much more likely:

  • to actually cook
  • to waste less food
  • to want to try new dishes

I think those are all pretty awesome ideas, so let’s dive in!

Grocery List

For our grocery list this week, we will pick 2 of each of the following types of foods. You can easily pick up more than one of each item since you may want to ensure enough food for multiple meals.

For example: You can pick avocado as an item and purchase 2-3 of them.

  • 2 Veggies
  • 2 Fruits
  • 2 Fats
  • 2 Proteins

Now remember these will be our “focus foods” and we can still purchase other additional items as needed.

I would recommend that you try to utilize items that you already have at home. As well as make sure any supplemental items that you purchase can be used later on as well. (For example, if you buy a sauce or seasoning for a recipe, make sure it is something you will want to use later!)

Free PDF Template

4-x-2-Grocery-Method-Download

Picking Your Recipes

Once you have your “focus foods” picked, then you will want to find items that really showcase those foods. So don’t just pick a recipe that happens to use that food, pick one where it is the star of the show!

Places to check for recipes that I have found work the best is Pinterest, Google, food manufacturers websites, and even recipe collection sites like Taste of Home and All Recipes.

Pros and Cons of this Grocery Method

As with any grocery shopping and meal planning method, it may work for some and not work for others. So, let’s take a look at some good and bad points.

Pros:

  • I think this will work really well for single or 2 person households. (maybe not kids depending on their taste levels)
  • Great for those just starting to meal plan
  • Encourages you to try new dishes
  • Great for those focusing on whole foods
  • Simple dishes will be the key here. (Don’t go crazy with super complicated recipes)

Cons:

  • Not a great plan for those that struggle with being creative
  • May not save money for those that like more complex recipes
  • For those needing more structure, this is pretty small boundaries to work with
  • May not work well to save money without a stocked pantry of basics

Overall, though I think this plan can work as a great starting point for being intentional with your grocery shopping! This will help keep you focused and on track for meal planning.

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