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Yay for Adulting! Podcast - Grocery Stuff, pt 1
11 Plays16 days ago
Welcome back to Yay for Adulting, the podcast for people who are technically grown but still Googling basic stuff. In Episode 2, Part 1, your host Lisa (Gen X) sits down with a Baby Boomer and Millennial to tackle everyone's favorite topic: groceries. We're breaking down the basics like menu planning that doesn't feel like a chore, smart shopping strategies, and how to actually find deals on the staples you buy every week.
Plus, we're launching the Yay for Adulting Meal Planning Challenge to see who can plan, shop, and cook their way to a win. Expect real talk across generations, practical hacks you can use today, and proof that adulting (even the grocery aisle part!) doesn't have to be complicated.
No shame, just small wins.
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Transcript
Convenience of Instant Pudding
00:00:08
Speaker
Okay, I've got a story. Okay. Okay. I went into the store to get ingredients to make a banana pudding, which is my favorite. I went in to get eggs, flour, milk, cookies, and I came out with a box of Jell-O pudding. Insta-Jell-O pudding.
00:00:29
Speaker
Okay.
00:00:31
Speaker
instaelo puie It's quick, it's easy, and it was delicious. Oh. Okay. Yeah, I've had something similar happen a few times where I like, you know, I could get the ingredients to make this one thing, or they just have it already pre-made right in this
Grocery Shopping Challenges
00:00:50
Speaker
box. I could just go home and heat this up in a microwave instead. Mm-hmm.
00:00:57
Speaker
Yep. And that's how they get you. It is. So once I'd gone in for eggs and because of the way that the grocery store is set up, the eggs are completely diagonal to where I need them. So I'm going through and I accidentally, but no, actually that time I didn't pick up a cart. I'm just walking through and I'm seeing all these sale items because who can resist a sale? So I'm picking up all these items and then my arms are so full by the time I get the eggs, I'm like, oh, well, let me go to the front and get a cart.
00:01:26
Speaker
Um, so I have all these items and I'm kind of, you know, the struggle to get back at the the front and I'm going to get a car and I'm like, you know what? don't actually need a car. Let me just check out. So don't get anything else. So then I go through the checkout. I ring everything up.
00:01:38
Speaker
I get it in the car. i get home. Where are the eggs? Of course, I did not go back for the eggs. So, um, I really hate when that happens.
Introduction to Grocery Planning Episode
00:01:47
Speaker
Music Welcome to the next episode of the Yay for Adulting podcast. I'm your host, Lisa. And today we are talking about groceries, staples, anything you need rear regarding budgeting, planning, and having an in-store strategy. And we're going to be providing real life examples.
00:02:06
Speaker
and And today we're actually joined by three different generations representing today. So you're going to get all different perspectives.
00:02:15
Speaker
So we're going to start off with Gen X and I am Gen X.
Meal Planning: Gen X Style
00:02:20
Speaker
For recipes for me, when i actually not so much recipes, but for planning, I like to plan the same thing every single week.
00:02:30
Speaker
It's just easier for me. It's easier for me to shop. And it is just it's just one less thing I have to think about, right? Every Monday, we have chicken wings and macaroni and cheese. Every Tuesday, we have tacos.
00:02:46
Speaker
it's just It's just much easier for me.
Baby Boomer's Meal Planning Tips
00:02:52
Speaker
All right, next so we have our baby boomer. Mom, how do you typically do meal planning for your week? First, I look in the freezer and because I get things that are on sale that I can freeze and I think, what do I want? Do I want? ground beef, chicken, vegetables, and then i pick a meal with that. So I look at what I have in the pantry and that'll take me a couple days and then I might need to grow go to the grocery store after that.
00:03:27
Speaker
But I make a meal with what I have first. That makes sense. That makes sense. um Taking care of the items that you have.
00:03:38
Speaker
um the The groceries already, the the staples that you typically have already in your in your freezer refrigerator and use those and then ah get whatever you need to if from the grocery store later, I guess, to make a meal, to make a full meal.
Millennials' Grocery Store Struggles
00:03:52
Speaker
and Yes. Yes. I've tried to only go to the store once a week.
00:03:57
Speaker
o Yes. i hope I've tried that too. you do it uh fairly uh consistently i think i i try yeah um definitely it's it's much better in my budget when i when i have a list and i and i go into the store um yes yeah yeah
00:04:21
Speaker
um ah how do you track your menus or your recipes throughout the week mom
00:04:29
Speaker
Well, I have a whiteboard on the fridge that has the week. And so I write down at least two days ahead what I'm having.
00:04:40
Speaker
And that way I know that I need to go to the store if I don't have an ingredient or um pick something else. So I try to stay two or three days ahead.
00:04:54
Speaker
That makes sense.
00:04:59
Speaker
All right. So next um to our millennial. When you have a shopping that's going to the store, um what items or what key pieces of information that are missing um that that kind of make shopping harder for you?
Enhancing Grocery Lists
00:05:17
Speaker
For me, a think the things that mainly given me the most trouble is like knowing if the store has changed or not, for one, or if they move moves things around because they tend to do that all the time at stores, for one.
00:05:34
Speaker
Like, at first i thought I thought to myself, oh, how bad? It's not that bad. They don't do it that often. Oh, no. It's almost like once every other every like other month they are changing around store layouts or where certain ah foods are.
00:05:50
Speaker
And sometimes, like, the ah apps don't ah reflect that accurately on the you where the aisles are, where a certain shopping items are.
00:06:02
Speaker
I use the, like, whenever I'm going to Walmart, sometimes I'll, like, look for a certain thing on the app, and it'll say, oh, hey, it is an aisle A13. I go to comb through all of A13, up and down three separate times. Like, this isn't here.
00:06:18
Speaker
And I walk the left, like, oh, this was where the sauces were, right next door to an a fourteen or something like that. Okay.
00:06:29
Speaker
Yeah, that that I can see that being really frustrating.
00:06:35
Speaker
So, and and the next issue we're going to talk about is what would make a list easier to follow in the store? And it sounds like if grocery stores could make their, could stop rearranging um all the time. And then when they do, updating their app so that people can actually find the items that they're looking for in the store.
00:06:56
Speaker
Yes, because when the app works, it has been amazing. has made like when actually has like a property up to date, it has made it a lot easier for me to find exactly where it is. Because like, again, going back to Walmart, when it's properly up to date, it will point to you exactly where in the aisle it even is. If you tap on the specific ah product or item you're looking for in this in your specific store.
00:07:21
Speaker
And that has helped me loads.
Ingredient Substitutions
00:07:24
Speaker
I bet. I don't think I knew that Walmart did that. That's that's pretty cool.
00:07:30
Speaker
And then, um so if the store is out of an ingredient, how do you know what to swap for? Well, with most recipes, it's fairly easy to, like, replace something or just skimp out on it.
00:07:44
Speaker
For example, I remember, like, one time were, like, looking for one ingredient at love Kroger. I think it Bang Bang Sauce. in I was like looking throughout the entirety of the year. I found, I didn't find bang bang sauce, but I did find bang bang sauce with shrimp.
00:08:02
Speaker
Unfortunately though, folks in our household have shrimp allergy. So at which point you just have to take the loss. they Well, I guess we're having some other sauce dinner tonight. And we use that and and we use like, I think it was a mushu sauce for it or hoisin sauce for the dinner that night.
00:08:21
Speaker
Yeah, I think we did. Yeah, you're right. Ingredients that rely on proteins and the like, they can be replaced fairly easily. Like a beef protein can be replaced with like chicken, protein, Alzheimer's. I remember most of those times, man, I don't have any ah beef.
00:08:36
Speaker
Well, I guess we'll have chicken fajitas tonight.
Exploring Vegetarian Proteins
00:08:39
Speaker
Right. Or vice versa. Yep, and sometimes I like to swap in um like mushrooms, or I think maybe once I've done, a couple times I tried to swap in um ah that impossible meat.
00:08:54
Speaker
you know Did not go over well. With people who have really amazing taste buds, they can tell. so... and so Didn't really go over well. um But yeah, and then, you if you don't have any meat, um then you can always just have ah have ah have a veggie dish. Proteins are important, but if you don't have any part of it.
00:09:15
Speaker
Yeah, but also, and again, that's where mushrooms come from. They come in handy because mushrooms are a nice source of protein. Mushrooms, peanuts, tofu. I feel like there's another, like, you know, vegetarian option for protein that I'm forgetting off the top of my head.
00:09:31
Speaker
But yeah, but you're right. There are lots of there are lots of veggie options for protein that you can swap out. And sometimes they're they're yeah like beans. They're a lot less expensive. Beans. That's what I forgot. Yeah.
Couponing and Bulk Buying Strategies
00:09:46
Speaker
All right. Well, so then back to our... Our baby boomer. So let's talk about budgets and deal rules that actually fit real life. So what's your rule for coupons? um Do you like digital ones or paper ones? Both?
00:10:02
Speaker
Just like to mix it up a bit and have some chaos? Yeah.
00:10:06
Speaker
I use digital coupons before I go to the store. to i search Publix my favorite store, and I search to see what they have on sale that there's a coupon for.
00:10:19
Speaker
But I also like to go up and down the aisles and see the two-for-ones. And if I see something that I need or that I know i will need on down the line and it's on sale, I will get one because it'll be half price. Or if it's something that I use, then I will get both of them. And it's like getting two for one.
00:10:45
Speaker
So that's mostly what I do, the signs in the store and digital. Okay. And Kroger used to have, if you get 10 items, you can get them $4. But they used to have specific items. And I said, I'm not going to look for 10 different items. But now they have It's more general, like 10 canned vegetables or 10 sauces or whatever. So that's a good one to look for those sales that say $10 for a dollar or $5 for a dollar.
00:11:20
Speaker
Yeah, good point. Good point.
Impulse Buying and Bulk Purchases
00:11:22
Speaker
Although that's that is why I run into some issues because I'm like, oh, these are... These are 10. If I get 10 of these, they're only a dollar. Okay. And then maybe I should get 20 or maybe 30. And then I ended up running out of space.
00:11:35
Speaker
I remember at one point you ordered like an entire shipment of like of Stroopwafel that like lasted off us for months.
00:11:46
Speaker
Yes, yes. That was ah that was an impulse buy through math.com. And yes, I want to say that they sent 120. Kind of like the time I got the the little packages of graham crackers.
00:11:59
Speaker
um There are about 150 of those. Like the gummy bears that are still we still have a huge box of because who can eat 80 packages of gummy bears?
00:12:10
Speaker
Seemed like a good deal at the time now.
Staple Purchases: Sauces and Condiments
00:12:12
Speaker
Exactly.
00:12:17
Speaker
Okay, so you kind of touched on our next topic, which is what do you always buy on sale and stock up on? Are there any staples that um that always seem to have some kind of sale that you you just will not pass by if it's on sale?
00:12:35
Speaker
A condiment. Ah, okay. Sauce. If I see ah spaghetti sauce, ah because they have so many different flavors, you know, with mushrooms, with ah green peppers. And if I see that on sale, I always get two of those.
00:12:55
Speaker
I get the small bottles of condiments, um ketchup and mustard. So if I see that on sale, I will get that. And if I know I'm running low on something, I see it on sale.
00:13:06
Speaker
Because I've gotten to the point where I can go up and down each row without grabbing everything that I like.
00:13:16
Speaker
And just ah looking for those two for one signs and anything that I i might need. but But I'm like you, Lisa, when you cook, if I see a recipe, I i don't go buy it.
00:13:32
Speaker
B-Y. b y by if I don't have a certain ingredient, it's like, oh, I can use this.
00:13:41
Speaker
You can have everything that's on that list. And then it's your own recipe by that point.
Flavorful Cooking Tips
00:13:49
Speaker
Well, every time I pick meatloaf, which is my staple, um I make it different every time. Hey, I mean, yeah surprises are good. The Mystery Meatloaf.
00:14:03
Speaker
Here's the tip. No, it's not the meat. But not with Mr. Meat. You know, instead of cutting up the green peppers and the onions and all of that, I use salsa.
00:14:15
Speaker
Because salsa has onions and that bell peppers in it, and it has a little kick to it. I get the the medium. And i'll also use spaghetti sauce, you know, like Prego, one of those.
00:14:29
Speaker
But salsa is my secret in ingredient. Mm-hmm. So I always get that when it's on sale. That is a really good tip. Because it's already, don't have to worry about the chopping and all of that. It's already got the flavor. And it seems so well into the ends of the rest of the meat, too, I'd wager.
00:14:49
Speaker
ye Yes. And anything that has meat in those vegetables that are all cut up, go with the salsa. Yeah. Mm-hmm. That's really good.
00:15:00
Speaker
Sounds like meatloaf is going in the rotation. Thank you so much. Meat's back on the menu, boys. Yeah. And it might go well with the impossible meat because, you know, salsa has a lot of flavor to it.
00:15:14
Speaker
That's true. That's true. I think the complaint over the impossible meat wasn't so much the flavor. It was more the texture. It's hard to mask that. I remember way back when one of my ah teachers tried to get their daughter to eat lentils. So they like tried to hide it into like, you know, one of their things, that ah one of their soups or whatever. it's like, are you trying to make me lentils? Like, how did you know that? I pounded the super fine.
Money-Saving Grocery Tips
00:15:40
Speaker
I can still taste. like's like
00:15:45
Speaker
So next question for you, mom, if you had to save $20 today, what changes would you make? to your standard grocery cart? I would probably put back a meat because i can have a vegetarian dish or I can use less meat in a recipe that called for the meat and bulk it up with some vegetables or rice.
00:16:12
Speaker
So that's what I would put back. Yeah, that makes sense because whenever I like look at meats, are the ones that have like the biggest price tag whenever you're ah check ah counting everything up, Yes.
00:16:22
Speaker
Yes. All right. That's a good job. Anything else? Don't get stuck on buying name brands. m if If you don't have a coupon for it, go with a store brand because a lot of the store brands are just as good. And sometimes you have to try them out because some of them are not.
00:16:48
Speaker
but But a lot of them are. Right. Right. I remember, you know, growing up like, you know, Big K instead the Minute Maid. It's like, it's still pink lemonade. i don't see the
Store Brands vs. Name Brands
00:16:57
Speaker
difference. it's it's It's lemon, lime, and a lot of sugar. on Right.
00:17:03
Speaker
And pink. Pretty much. And I think a lot of the name brands are made by the same by the same company that makes the store brands.
Essential Grocery Staples
00:17:14
Speaker
Right. So all they're jane doing is changing the label and it's and they're charging you're charging more dumb like mustard.
00:17:21
Speaker
To me, mustard, all mustard tastes the same. yeah So if it's got Heinz label or if it's got some other label on it ah versus the generic, it it's it's mustard. Mm-hmm. So...
00:17:35
Speaker
normal staples in your pantry that you've seen throughout your entire life. Okay, mom, you want start? you to take that one first? Okay, now this doesn't have to be for dinner. This can be for lunch or breakfast.
00:17:51
Speaker
um Milk and bread are staples I like to have. A fruit like apples and then cheese and turkey slices.
00:18:03
Speaker
those are all really good um okay I am going to say um ramen noodles the ramen noodle packs that comes with the seasoning and a green leafy vegetable we'll say spinach um eggs salsa and um ah it ands um canned chicken.
00:18:38
Speaker
Alright, so for Nana, yeah you you you said milk, fruits, meat, cheese, and bread? Yes.
00:18:49
Speaker
So I can, I have, ah so yeah, he that's a very good, yeah, that's a nice little meal. I can make a nice little sandwich from that with the ham and cheese and I can have like, you know, some fruits and ah milk to drink.
00:19:01
Speaker
But to your points, mom, your ingredients, you said ramen noodles, chicken, spinach, salsa? Yes. Ruben? Am I forgetting a piece?
00:19:12
Speaker
Eggs. Eggs. Perfect. Perfect. You give me the greens for a fully loaded ah ramen bowl right there. because you yeah take some ah Take some ramen, cook up some of the spinach into the ramen, and then also add the chicken in there.
00:19:29
Speaker
Have a soft-boiled egg inside that. It's very filling and very hearty. And you can tap it with a spoon of salsa. True. There you go. thought you were going to go for a for a loaded omelet. But yeah, I like the ramen. Although I've never had an egg and ramen. I've seen it, but i've I've never had it. That's actually good. Like I was, I have i had my reservations where I had like ramen with egg and it's like, oh, this is actually good.
00:19:57
Speaker
Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes it's soft boiled. Okay. It definitely makes the soup base thicker, a little more fuller as well if you break it open. Okay, I can
Episode Wrap-up and Teaser
00:20:07
Speaker
see that. well Yeah, and ramen is like, and especially but in the samples y'all gave me, that's are those are two things I can make in like, well, the ramen I can make in 10 to 15 minutes, just depending on fat how long it takes for wild toboard water to boil.
00:20:21
Speaker
And the sandwich I can just make in like ah five seconds or so. mil Yeah. I can just make them in advance. And if I am, I really want to, I can just forego the meat and just have myself a nice grilled cheese.
00:20:34
Speaker
Well, that sounds like a with just 10 items, it sounds like you have some some pretty filling meals there. Mm-hmm.
00:20:46
Speaker
And that's a wrap on part one of grocery stuff. We covered a lot and we jumped around a little and I think that's the most realistic grocery experience possible.
00:20:57
Speaker
Thanks for hanging with us and thank you to my millennial and baby boomer co-hosts. In the next episode, we'll be talking about pantry staples, in-store strategies, and real life grocery scenarios. Until then, plan two meals and one panic meal and see you next time. Music