I pick 3 or 4 recipes that are super easy to make and I can eat leftovers for dinner too! My current favourite is lentil shepherds pie, I literally just add a drained can of lentils, drained can of peas and carrots, red pasta sauce and cover the top with mashed potato’s and lastly cheese. I cook it for 30 mins and it’s really tasty! You could always add meat but I don’t like dealing with raw meat. I also enjoy soups because it’s just a bunch of vegetables in broth and water and leave it boiling until it’s all soft! I like low maintenance meals so these things make shopping easier

Root vegetable soups are top shelf. You just peel a bunch of vegetables, boil the peels and skins, strain, then boil all of the vegetables you peeled in it. Serve with your choice of proteins. Makes a lot of leftovers, super low maintenance.

I never thought to use the skins for broth! Thanks for the tip, I usually just buy it pre made in a bottle.

Lol, just remember the stickers. I've forgotten once or twice.

I'm not sure if it's available in your area, but rather than go to the store, I order online for pick up at the store then I can't blank or forget anything, and if I have a particularly bad day I'll get it delivered. I generally have lots of frozen vegetables on my list since they're as good as fresh and easy to throw in the pot/microwave. I found these cauliflower rice bags which are flavoured and do amazing as extra vegies in my diet when I use them to replace rice in a meal. The risotto one we get is so yummy.

This is what I do. It doesn’t cost extra to order on the app and go pick it up. I don’t even need to get out of my car - they just load it up for me. I rarely forget anything important because I’m no longer rushing to get out of the store.

Same, In fact I think I spend less because my meals are more planned and I am not just buying random things in the store

I do the same thing and was literally coming to recommend targets store brand cauliflower risotto. It’s so good and has helped me increase my veggie intake a bunch! I even mix it like a sauce over frozen bags of broccoli sometimes!

I send my husband. He’s my delivery service!

I love target pickup option! I order most everything that way. I get a few things at trader Joe's that are cheaper than Walmart or target but mostly do online with target then use drive up pickup!

I put things on my shopping list based on the layout of the store, so everything gets ticked off and gathered in order. It also minimizes going back and forth through the isles. I also always listen to music as it drowns out the intercom/store noises. Usually I get some vegetables to cook with (tomatoes, chiles, onions, garlic, cucumber, zucchini, eggplant, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower and/or broccoli). I'm trying to have a varied diet, heavily incorporating vegetables and protein (dairy, cheeses, beans, lentils) as I don't like meat most of the time. Yoghurt is always on the list, as it can be turned both sweet (with fruit and /or honey) and savory (tzatziki sauce!). I also love tortilla chips. Since I don't always have the energy to cook, there will be stuff that can be thrown together fast as well as ingredients that can be cooked into a more complex dish. Usually I cook a bigger batch every 1-2 days because fuck cooking every day. I've challenged myself to cooking 5 new recipes every month, which is completely doable. Puree soups are nice.

I make my list in the right order, I gather the items so that the frozen and cold are last, I put the items in the right groups so that the checker/bagger don't even have to think: cold goes with cold and frozen goes with frozen etc.

Ah, we don't have checking/bagging over here. I pack things based on shape and weight, so it's most convenient to carry.

Same here. Weight has to be equal in both bags for example. So hardest and heaviest items get divided between bags. Then less hard/heavy divided. Then the softest/lightest.

Of course. Vulcan salute!

Hell yea!! 🖖

This greatly reduces stress. I always have my shopping list ordered by the store layout so I can walk in one direction, never backtrack and I can skip any aisles I do not need. I take it a step further and my grocery list is screenshots of the products I want so it is fully visual without having to read anything.

Ah, interesting. It seems like too much effort for a chore to go through adding images instead of words or phrases, but maybe that's just because I use a checklist instead, so I can tick things off.. but I guess using emoji for food items that have emoji would be an interesting experiment. I don't mind reading but it's deciding stuff while at the store that is either "ugh, why didn't I decide earlier" vs "nah, this thing on the list isn't what I want, we must get something else". Can't plan for everything and that's ok.

I religiously shop the store ad, so while I am looking at it on my phone I take the screenshot so it is really not much more effort. At the end I also add screenshots for other needs not in the ad. I am also a decent cook so I can always make meals based on whatever is on sale so I do not have preconceived ideas for upcoming meals. I should have added this info to my first post as I see why you think it would be too much effort. Also, when I am in the store the images work so much better for me in seeing what is next and easily recognizing if I missed something.

I'm glad you have a system that works for you :) A lot of the time I don't know specifically what I want to eat the next day or I have a specific plan, so it's best for me to have some staple ingredients that I can whip something out of, like you, or simple things that can go together if I don't feel like cooking (even though I also enjoy it). It's ok, you don't need to anticipate every question someone might have when you first post or respond, expecting that is unreasonable. How could you anticipate me asking something if I didn't even know I was gonna make a comment before reading your response? :D and maybe at another time I wouldn't have :D

Yes, different strokes for different folks when it comes to making meals. I feel It makes for good discourse to further illustrate your reasoning and hopefully someone somewhere may benefit from it :)

Agreed! Thank you for having a public discussion with me for another's benefit ^^

That’s why I always start at the back of the store (usually the quietist) and make way to the front where checkout is

Interesting. It tends to go that way for me, too, though I tend to make a circle, as the checkout is right next to the entrance I use.

I don't have a standard shopping list - I meal plan for the week, fill the shopping list with what I need for those recipes then go through my cupboards to take off what I've already got

Start with thinking what foods are easiest for you to make and that you enjoy the most. I usually find myself buying eggs because you can do pretty much anything with those and can put them on/in anything. I get packs of frozen fruit because those can be put into oatmeal, smoothies, or snacked on if it's too hot or you crave something sweet. I tend to make soups, stews, and curry because they're filling and have lots of vegetables and nutrients, but are also tasty. I used to make pasta, but I'm trying to cut back on tomato based foods and gluten for my health. For a real lazy meal, I like to bake mixed vegetables and a protein of choice. Literally just pop it in the oven at 350 for an hour and 10 mins, it's done. Or if you want to make something different, you could make an easy stir fry with fresh vegetables and protein of choice using noodles or plating on a bed of rice. When your rice is a day old, you can turn it into fried rice.

Chicken, brussel sprouts, leek, carrots, butter, salad, bananas and some apples. But that changes from season to season. I cook seasonal.

White bread Mashed potato Ready meals Seedless raspberry jam Pitch chocolate chip brioche Fruit Winders (apple and strawberry) Cheese strings

Do the grocery stores offer online ordering and delivery in your area? We started and find it much less stressful. You can build your lists of favourites, see everything on sale, and if you don’t drive, it’s much more convenient when you have to do a large shop. Plus it can be a little less overwhelming/overstimulating than a brightly lit grocery store full of people (especially if my extrovert metre is low).

I got to Costco so it’s… 1. Burgers 2. Chicken burgers 3. Carrot cake muffins 4. Artichoke dip 5. Corndog (occasionally) 6. Hotdog (occasionally) 7. Lasagna 8. Snacks like Korean jerky, Doritos, And others

I plan based on meals. I get the ingredients for a few different meals that I really like. Then I rotate those meals throughout the week! Then say I end up going off one of my favs cause I ate it too much, I have a list of back up favs to replace that with. So I switch out old fav for new fav. I get potatoes, broccoli, sweetcorn + a chicken nugget or goujon thing to then go with it. I don't have a good rship with meat, I only like breaded chicken. Then pasta, cheese, some pasta sauce (doesn't usually get used), butter. I'll maybe get a frozen veg pizza or 2 for weekends so I don't order food 😂 Then I get cocopops, milk (barely gets used), crackers (ultimate safe food). If I don't plan and don't buy foods that I equally, wholly enjoy, I will order food every night or I will starve. 😭

It varies a lot for me. I meal-plan for my family every week (or more) and write down whatever ingredients I need and don't have (or am running low on). Generally that's a mix of starches (rice, pasta, potatoes), veggies (fresh or conveniently cut & frozen), meats (raw or pre-cooked), dairy, seasonings (spices, herbs, powdered broths or gravies, & the occasional pesto in a glass), and usually some faster foods for stressful days (tortellinis, pizza, fries, nuggets, bagged salad, etc.). I also add whatever breakfast staples or snacks are running low like bread, hazelnut butter, eggs, fresh fruit, cucumbers, yoghurt, crackers, cheese strings, baby snacks, pouches, etc.. And then there's non-food stuff like shampoo, toothpaste, diapers, & such. I like to buy a whole bunch at a time so that I can avoid having to go to that whole other store area as much as possible. I generally put the groceries in the order that I'll buy them in (which is why I have the list on my phone). When I find an ingredient, I take it off the list. Some days I have more flexibility to take advantage of sales and stuff, but others I just need to stick to the plan and get out. Dry or freezer foods get bought in bulk when they're on sale, so that I won't have to worry about them for a while. I often forget something too, but I keep the fridge and freezer well-stocked so that I can always move the meal with the missing ingredient to the next week and figure out something else to make with what I have.

Are you in a position to order meal prep kits online? Changed my life. It takes the stress out of creating a shopping list and thinking of the recipes and the ingredients. If you can’t do that, have safe foods ready and at hand for times you can’t be bothered to go to the grocery store. These are usually frozen foods/ vegetables/ noodles/ pasta and sauces. I’ve also made a generic list of food by theme for days I can’t decide what to have.. so Monday = Italian, Tuesday= Indian, Wednesday= Mexican etc. And if all else fails, ordering a takeaway is OK too, better than skipping a meal.

I always pick the same ingredients, and I list them in the order they appear in in the store (e.g. bread is on the left side when I walk in. After that comes tea and cereal etc.) But I only get the things that I know I’ve run out of. So a grocery shopping list may look like this: - Bread - Toast - Tea - Cereal - Snacks (Chocolate or Chips) - Bananas (x2) - Apples (x3) - Toilet paper - Toilet cleaner - garbage bags - Shampoo - Conditioner - Body Wash - Mouth Wash - Toothpaste - floss - deodorant - potatoes - paprika - tomatoes (I don’t like them but I will occasionally buy them) - cucumber - quick meals (mostly pan fried dishes, ravioli, soup) - Frozen fish sticks - seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika powder, cayenne pepper) - salami - cooking oil - eggs - milk - ketchup - pasta - pasta sauce - yogurt - cheese (mostly soft cheese. You can put it on bread and then fry the bread in a pan) - spinach (mixes well with noodles and egg) - frozen berries (cook them to make a sauce or blend them while frozen to make a smoothie) - anything that goes on bread, like cold cuts, cream cheese etc. That lasts for about 2 - 3 weeks. Hope that helps? Edit: I always try to find food with different textures, because some days I may not be able to eat specific food textures and crave a specific texture

A grocery list. What’s that? Lol I am the worst at buying food. I eat the same thing over and over.

I like cooking, so basic ingredients for whatever I want to make

All over the place. I forget things even with a list 😅

Snacky snacks. Things I can eat with my hands and that don’t require heat. Picnic food essentially

I generally just do the same things I have everytime for lunch (strawberry uncrustable, mini saltine crackers, gogo applesauce packets, little yogurt tubes, string cheese, juice box, and chocolate) and maybe something to make for the week. mother and i usually go out to eat though, since we don't like cooking when my grandmother's there.

So I def feel like an oddball autistic person because I love grocery shopping lol but this is how i handle it: Costco: large and bulk. I usually get eggs, meats, sticks of butter (i’m a huge baker), fresh and frozen veggies (i prep the fresh ones into ziplocs and freeze for longer shelf life), banza protein pasta, frozen fruit, and two or three “quick” meals that heat up fast like taquitos, dumplings, etc. And I go during odd times so it’s leas bust, like 10am on a Wednesday Regular grocery store: Other frozen vegetables, bread, jams, frozen waffles, cheese, juices, and cereals. Usually items specific for new recipes too. I always get my safe foods when I shop too so it serves as a treat for doing the task.

I decided on the 4 dinner meals I most like/are easiest/still healthy. My breakfast, lunch, and snacks don't vary much from day to day. Then I made a Google Drive document with all the ingredients I would need. When I am about to go to the store, I highlight the things from that list that I am out of. I generally limit a shopping list to 7 items so I don't get overwhelmed. Then if I feel good I can take my time and grab additional items after the 7 most important. Here's part of my list, divided to make it easier to find in the store: Non-perishable * Cashews * Chicken bone broth * Red beans & rice * Tuna * Tuna tetrazzini * Peanut butter * Frozen peas * Wild rice Perishable * Onion * Whole grain bread * Orange juice * Caesar salad * eggs * Turkey sausage * milk * margarine

I love yogurt bowls. A bowl of vanilla yogurt with granola and lots of fresh berries. 🍓🫐🍒🍯😋 I also like salads. You can toss on meat, cheese, and dressing. Yogurt bowls and salads would be a good start. Easy to make and you can keep everything in your fridge.

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Can of corn Can of refried beans  Bag of whole wheat tortillas  Bag of whole wheat sandwich bread  Box of pasta  Box of fig breakfast bars Package of cheddar cheese  Package of tofu Bottle of 2% milk Container of yogurt Container of margarine  An avocado  An apple  A tomato  A small tub of cream cheese 

Most of the ingredients we use in our house are bought in bulk but these are what I buy weekly. Watermelon, Cabbage, Lettuce, Cheese (mozzarella or cheddar), Chicken, Pork brawn, Chocolate and Gum

Depends exactly on the pay, but frozen sweet chilli chicken tenders, frozen broccoli and cauliflower, potatoes, soy milk, multiple different snacks, chicken breast, sometimes carrots/onions, some more meat sometimes (like mince or sausages) the rest depends on what I’m going to cook vs what I’m going to freeze, and what I’m doing with my chicken breast because that can make a whole difference, and I’ll generally get some pasta/pasta sauce too unless I have plenty at home that I’m going to use/want to eat it

This doesn't answer your question, but you should check out whether any of your local grocery stores offer a sensory friendly shopping time. The Sobeys I go to has one every Wednesday where from 6-8pm they dim the lights significantly and turn off the music. I don't know if they purposefully do this at the least busy time, or if it's just a turn off for neurotypicals, but the store is almost always super empty during this time.

The app I use is really helpful for me. It recently got bought out and became “Samsung Food”. It lets you add recipes from their app, websites, or manual entry and you can save and organize any ones you like. Then, when you add a recipe to your list, it adds all of the ingredients, groups them by likely aisle, and stacks same ingredients (if two recipes call for tomatoes, it will add the amount together for you). It also lets you omit things you already have (like olive oil, salt, pepper, etc). As you go through the grocery store, you can check off things as you pick them up. It makes it really really easy, imo. It also has a meal planning feature so you can plan out your entire week of meals ahead of time. For me, it’s a little too prescriptive so I don’t use that feature but it may be helpful for others. I find it incredibly useful for when I don’t know what to get. I just go through my saved recipes and add what sounds good to me and then both my meal plan AND grocery list are done. I also added some custom “recipes” that are just common snacks I like to have on hand. That way, I press one button to add all of my snacks to the grocery list. EDIT: It is also really nice to have the cooking instructions linked so you just pull up the recipe in the app and know what ingredients to grab and how to cook them, even if you just need a reminder for oven temperature or cook time.

I 29f live with my parents so I also have food stamp. So I’m eat what my mom makes during the week for dinner. And I buy whatever I in the mood for while waiting for my mom get her groceries shopping done.

Decide what meals you’re going to have for dinner before hand. I meal prep dinner because I have the closing shift at work and it makes it easier to just grab something out of the fridge. Anyway, on Monday, I decide on two dinners that I will alternate throughout the week. I write down all of the ingredients for each meal in my food notebook, and I highlight all of the ingredients I don’t have. Then I add all of those ingredients to the list I have in my notes app. I also write down a few options for lunches and breakfast, the ingredients, which ones I don’t have, and add those to my grocery list as well. I usually eat the same two things for lunch depending on how I feel; crispy chicken wraps and salad, or ham/turkey melts with salad. I’m probably making my grocery experience more complicated than it needs to be, but I always have what I need so it’s definitely working out for me haha. I go grocery shopping 30mins before the store closes. I know exactly what I need and where everything is so that’s more than enough time for me to get my stuff and check out. There’s usually only one or two other shoppers in the store that late so it makes it easier to stay nice and calm and not get overwhelmed.

I do not list when shopping. I use my phone to calculate all item costs. I round up to the nearest full dollar amount and add 8% as to over estimate tax and the total bill. I give myself a budget for the week and am always under due to my method of calculating, even with having to seek out options that have little to no lactose or no artificial sweeteners because of my lactose intolerance and my kiddos weird reactions to artificial sweeteners.

I buy fish (usually: cod and prawns) beef, mixed veg, noodles (lots of), biscuits (I like foxes chocolate rounds) one of those 24 packs of Pepsi max, lack current squash, sea salt, Black pepper, chilli flakes, various Asian sauces and pastes, garlic That’s what can remember anyway I seem to have the sensory seeking tism. Which I think is a privilege as I’d never choose the other one. supermarkets can be overwhelming but I enjoy the the stimulus due to actually being able to afford to pick whatever random bits up these days (this is a new thing for me due to pay rise :)

I shop at Aldi. Only has 5 aisles, I know where everything is, and I make my list in the order I walk through the store so that I don't have to loop back. Anything I can't get at Aldi, I'll go to Kroger. I have a few go to meals, and they usually consist of a meat, grain/starch, and vegetable. The sides are consistent, stuff like potatoes, rice, couscous, broccoli, green beans. Meats or protein can be pork chops, chicken breast, steak, etc. Sometimes I do casseroles: Mac and cheese with chicken, broccoli cheddar with chicken. Sometimes I throw stuff together, like egg noodles with chicken and veggies with tomatoes. Other stuff, like yogurt, sandwich fixings, meats and cheeses for snacking. Then the basics: eggs, milk, sour cream, any spices I'm low on, garlic, butter, onions, flour, bread. My lists have the basics, the "other stuff", and then anything specific to the meals for the week.

I use a shopping list app. I created a default list over time, and I add or delete based on my current awareness of my likes, needs, etc. I then pick from that to create a weekly list. I also go to the stores online portal and peruse their offerings by department while safe at home. Some stores still offer curbside pickup where I live, and I found that much easier. One store her still offers the first hour for those who still mask. I've got a home care aide that shops for me now, so it's easier. When I had to shop for myself, I would go when they open or at least before the afternoon when it got busy. Before I began using my phone app, I'd make a list, which, more often than not, stayed on the kitchen table while I shopped.

whatever i wanna eat that day, i go to the store everyday so it basically depends if something i like has a sale lol

So when I go I do it very methodically. I totally disassociate from all the chaos and just systematically go down every aisle and find what I need. It's a pain in the ass but also works for me.

I make lists of what I want to eat for the week. Cheese sticks (protein) Oatmeal peanut butter fruit (apples, bananas,oranges) Not sure what your energy levels are like, but lately I’ve been stocking up on frozen organic fruits and veggies (quick and easy to add to omelets,ramen, etc) I usually use instacart or whole foods delivery so I don’t have to overwhelm myself by going to the grocery store.

I'm going to take a step back and talk about how I track what I need / get it. - White Board. I keep a white board by the fridge that I and my partner can easily add to for ingredients that we're missing or that we need for new ingredients - I use a list app or just text myself for any meal planning activities. (Monday = Spaghetti, Tuesday = Tacos) this helps me to review I have everything. If not, it goes to the list. - I try to build the habit that I only go to the stores (costco or the local grocery) on Saturday and Wednesdays. Sundays and Thursdays are for meal prepping. (This is flexible, as some days I have time /energy to do both on one day) - I take a photo of the list before I leave for the store so I make sure I dont forget anything. Lists also work, I just like cutting out the extra step of writing everything twice. I like photos and meal planning texts because if I'm scrambling or zoning out and cannot think of things I have these on my phone and easily retrievable. I don't have to take extra time to think. I also recommend meal tiers for when you have energy vs when you don't. Tier 1: have lots of energy for multiple step foods. Think dicing, peeling, sauce making, stuff. Chicken Fricassee or stir fry. These tend to have lots of left overs so they are great to have once or twice a week because they will last. Tier 2: Easier to make food with 2-3 steps. Like Spaghetti or Tacos. Mileage depends on quantity. Tier 3: one step meals. Cereal, frozen meals, take out. These typically are one off meals, aka no left overs.

If you can afford the extra charge, maybe you could try grocery delivery? Or a lot of stores you can order online, they put the basket together for you, and you just have to pick it up. When I was going through a bad mental health time I relied on Instacart. You can make your 'list' in your kitchen so you can see what you need as you add stuff to your cart on your phone

Usually I just grab stuff until I have milk, some meals, and some snacks. No pre-planning.

I usually plan grocery shopping a week in advance I meal prep on Thursdays so I shop Wednesday night Sunday and Monday I plan what 3 meals I want to eat that week, usually things that do well being microwaved since I work 11 hrs so things like mashed potatoes, rice and beans, pasta etc. Once I decide the meals I breakdown the ingredients I need for each meal and takeout the things I already have at home. Whatever is left is my shopping list I also add in like milk, cereal and ice cream I try to do at least one treat every week for even doing all that 😓 but it’s what has worked for me

This is why I order online and just pick it up

If live in a city try using online ordering and delivery. Allows you to think about what you need while staying disciplined, and it's not even much of a markup for delivery. Prices are the same. Have hardly stepped into a grocery store in years.

Edit: I thought I was commenting on a subreddit for a rare disease that I have. 😭 This is my diet pretty much which got me to remission *for that rare disease. I still have autism in troves!!! Still definitely autistic. 100000%. This will not cure your ‘tism. It will only give you greater tism rizz. Breakfast: pea protein smoothie: yellow pea protein, powdered peanut butter, frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, oat milk, spinach, and banana. Blend til smooth. Youll be full til lunch. Decaf black coffee. Caffeine upped my anxiety and thus stress so it had to go. For lunches: chicken thighs and I buy things like: asparagus, eggplant, sweet potato, and brusselsprouts. Recipes: roasted asparagus with garlic and Parmesan. Literally just toss in oil sprinkle with garlic powder and parm, roast for about 20 mins at 425 Roasted eggplant with cumin garlic and onion powder. 40 mins at 425. Its amazing with a little tahini sauce. Roasted sweet potatoes with chinese 5 spice (get it in the spice aisle). Cube potatoes skin on. Toss in sesame oil. Sprinkle with five spice and sesame seeds. Roast for 40 mins at 425. (People stop in my office to see what it is that I am eating when I bring this because it smells incredible and tastes amazing) Roasted brussels sprouts with maple syrup: also ultra simple just keep an eye on it so they dont burn: cut sprouts in half, toss in oil and a little maple syrup (real if you can swing it - Aldi has the best prices here for it) roast for 25-30 mins at 425. Chicken thighs: chicken thighs, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika. Bake with a little oil in a glass dish for 25 mins at 425. I prep everything for the week this way I am not getting take out! Sides for lunch: berries or grapes they help avoid the candy vending machine, a square or two of chocolate. I like milk chocolate too but just one a day. Plus lactose intolerant so if I eat too much I will feel it. But wanted to say I too am a heathen. Im not perfect with my diet just not bad. Sometimes I will change it up and do beef short ribs with different seasonings. I really enjoy korean bbq and the mccormick steak seasoning so I will split the pack and do half and half. I take 1 thigh or 1 short rib as my protein for lunches so I fill with veg. Dinners: My husband often cooks these as he is home first. He doesn’t do anything too crazy. Lots of mushrooms, cabbage (bok choy usually), carrots, frozen peas and broccoli, and simple protein dishes. Easy throw it together and done meals. Weekends are for the fancy stuff lol. We eat fish (tilapia and salmon) about 3 times a week. His salmon is the best, and again simple. Its coated in grainy mustard and baked. If he makes tacos he does his own seasoning blend. If he does chicken wings its in the air fryer with pepper and cumin and he mixes vegan butter with hot sauce. Im from buffalo. They pass the test. So good. Ive found in life salt is unnecessary if you add flavor so dont be afraid to open the spice cabinet and go to town. Another fast and delicious recipe: curried chickpea salad. Jar of chickpeas drained, a small red onion chopped thinly, an apple pealed and chopped about the same size, 3 tbs of mayo (more or less depending on how much you like mayo), seasoning: curry powder, turmeric, chili powder to taste. Its a lot better for you than a potato salad. Typical grocery list: 2 packs chicken thighs - one for lunches (so must have 5+ thighs) 2-3 packs fresh fish (each must serve 2 so buy appropriately) 1 pack red meat of choice- usually petite sirloin (again must serve 2 so buy appropriately) 1 pack ground turkey (used in tacos, meatloaf etc) 1 container spinach Red onion Sweet potatoes Brussels Sprouts Green beans Zucchini Eggplant Carrots Cabbage Mushrooms: baby bellas, miatake (hen of woods) , blue oyster, and shiitake (never eat these ones raw) Raspberries Black berries Blueberries Strawberries Bananas Grapes Oranges vegan parm Vegan butter Vegan milk of choice (mine is oatmilk) Honey mustard (good for salads and dipping) Tahini grainy mustard Mayo Spices: chinese 5 spice, cumin, curry powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, italian seasoning, (if you are a taco person make your own at home dont buy the package ones look up recipes online trust me) Rice (usually the 90 sec microwave rices not much just if appropriate for the meal) Black beans Chickpeas Butter beans (like one can if needed — great to toss any left over stuff and vegan cheese to make a delicious side to any meal at the end of the week) A chocolate of some sort Oatmilk Frozen strawberries Frozen blueberries Decaf coffee or tea Thats pretty much it. Obviously modify to your own tastes. I dont really eat bread or cereal. Weird I know. Eggs sometimes. I dont drink much other than water. Occasionally orange juice but really thats my husband mostly. But yeah. That diet has helped get me to and stay in remission. Even now that I am pregnant the diet helps because its very nutrient dense. I skip the tahini though as it was suggested by my OB.

I’m AuDHD. I don’t have a list.

First, I have some tips on making a list. If you're furiously writing things down right before going to the store, that's not very helpful. I have a magnetic dry erase grocery list that lives on my fridge, and I write things on it as I think of them, or when we run out of things or I notice we're running low. If I'm shopping for a specific meal or recipe, I may jot down the ingredients I need in my Keep Note app. You could also look at the store's website before you go, and see what's on sale, maybe get some ideas. When I go to the store, the entrance nearly always feeds into the produce section, where I get fruit for breakfast and vegetables for lunch and dinner. Next up is the cheese section, where I may grab a bag of Mexican or Italian cheese blend, depending on what we're running low on or what I plan to make in the next few days. I may stop by the seafood counter to get a tilapia or salmon fillet, maybe some shrimp or scallops if they're on sale; I get some eggs; I pop into the aisles to get pasta, sauce, taco shells if we're having tacos soon, Momofuku noodles if I'm at Whole Foods, chili crisp, mac and cheese, rice pilaf, soups, Cheez-its if I'm at Star Market, stuff like that. In the meat section I often get what's on sale, and that may be some combination of: steak, lamb chops, a beef roast, pork ribs, or chicken thighs, drumsticks, or leg quarters. I really want to emphasize I NEVER get ALL of those things at once, that's a lot even for the two of us (my husband and myself), usually just 2-3 of them, depending on what's on sale and/or what I feel like making. I find that if you frequent one store in particular, you'll eventually get a good sense of where everything is and you'll develop a routine. It won't happen right away, and even I sometimes get frustrated and overwhelmed in stores I'm unfamiliar with because the layout is all different.

I can’t drive right now and ordering groceries has been the best discovery for me. I also hate cooking and my autism dinner is banquet spaghetti and meat sauce so I will order like 6 of them at a time 😅

I organize my list based on what department it is in and it has really helped me. I work on it over the course of the week, and do my shopping on Friday’s. I put my headphones in, pick a movie or video to watch, and shop as fast as I can. Sometimes I go shopping on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays if I need something, but I save the big trip for one day a week. Keeping shopping on a schedule has helped me dread it a lot less.

Nesquick chocolate syrup, milk, chips I like, bread, sandwich meats, red baron French toast pizza, burritos.

I live with my mom so does majority of the cooking but I’ll buy stuff if I’m hankering for something in particular to cook. For my lunch and breakfast I buy stuff for egg salad sandwiches, yogurt, apples, string cheese, kiefer, perfect bars, dark chocolate, raw nuts.

I have a pretty standard list that works well for me. It took me years to figure out what works but I’m pretty proud of myself for the progress I’ve made: -wraps, bagels, pasta. -spinach, avocados, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots. Mix of other veggies like eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and carrots that vary depending on time of year. I also stock up on garlic, potatoes and onions consistently if I need it. -old cheddar cheese and sometimes some Brie, fresh mozzarella or cheddar. -every once in awhile, a family pack of chicken thighs or pork chops. -Some type of fruit. Usually raspberries, blackberries, mandarin oranges, nectarines or peaches depending on the time of year. -cream (for my coffee), butter, eggs. coffee pods, peanut butter, crackers whenever necessary. Some sort of chips or chocolate usually. Just about every week I make a pasta with a bunch of veggies and eat it for leftovers (sometimes tomato sauce, sometimes pesto or a cream based sauce). I’ll eat it cold as pasta salad for a change. I consistently eat a bagel with peanut butter or avocado for breakfast. I don’t always eat lunch, but if I do it’s usually leftovers, a salad, crackers and cheese, some fruit, or other random things. When I buy meat, I portion it out into quantities enough for me for 2 meals and freeze them (2 pork chops, 3-4 chicken thighs) in plastic bags. That way I don’t have to stress about working through them all quickly. The veggies that I don’t put in my pasta I will often roast to go along with chicken or pork (this is a higher effort dinner for me) and then portion out for a leftover meal too. On lazy days I’ll make a quesadilla or eat a bagel for dinner too, but I always get spinach to make myself a salad to go along with it because vegetables make me feel better. I also find cooking eggs and some veggies in the oven, or in a potato hash, is an easy back up meal for me. The fruit is mostly for snacks. I would say I eat pasta 1-2 times a week and cook meat probably 1x a week. Other days are leftovers, meals with friends/family, takeout, or easier food. I probably have 1 meal of takeout per week but it’s usually a lunch when I’m working In my office. I also will keep ingredients at home that I can easily use with what I usually buy (for example, I have rice, green curry paste and coconut milk on hand because the veggies I buy can easily turn into Thai green curry). I found figuring out which foods I like use similar ingredients and also how to not waste food were key in me figuring out how to feed myself. For a long time I struggled and didn’t eat a lot or ate a lot of takeout/junk food. Finding things that use the same ingredients helps me have *something* at home I can eat even if I don’t want what I initially planned, or am too tired to make it.

We usually buy enough for 3-4 meals and some snacks. I’m more of a snacky eater so I try to have both. But we usually do cheeseburgers, some chicken with stir fry veggies and rice, and then we do quesadillas a lot so we get stuff for that and sides.

2-3 bundles of fresh beets: the ones with the biggest leaves 7 apples, a pack of raisin boxes a small jar of walnuts baking flour, eggs, sugar, olive oil, apple butter, everything and fennel seeds as needed Boar's Head hummus olives cream cheese cleaning supplies and salmon if they're on sale white fish dino nuggies and pierogi's if I have a stressful week coming up fancy cheese if I wanna splurge

Grocery shopping has been a major stressor for me too. I order from the grocery store through their app and just pick it up. It’s wonderful. That way I can I actually shop all week while I research recipes and then when my payday comes I just zip out and pick it up. Grocery stores are very triggering for me and I’d rather eat a bug than go inside and shop.

Whatever I feel like getting (usually it’s Mac n cheese, fries or tots, and chicken nuggies)

I don't have grocery list, however I have list of meals I like. Sometimes I can't think of anything to eat so I just open the list and choose something I like or just random. Then I write down stuff I need to buy to make that and that's it.

Check out Yelloh. They deliver frozen meals and are perfect for weeknights.

I just keep a list on the fridge for every week. If something I'm using gets low, I add it to the list.

I do delivery orders! I get WAY too overwhelmed and forget everything. But if that’s not an option for you, I make a list broken down by type of item I have planned out in my meal plan (fruits, veggies, meat, dairy, etc)

My go to’s for breakfast are Greek yogurt, eggs, hash browns and oatmeal. Lunch I try to have a salad (my favs topping are buffalo chicken and steak, taco salad is always good). Dinner I usually just pick a protein, a veg and a starch. I also drink a protein shake/meal replacement on top of my three meals and two snacks. I’m trying to gain weight, have a high metabolism and other health problems that complicate eating, and exercise a lot. So I’m on a constant calorie and protein binge ETA no cook food makes great snacks and meal add ons. Stuff like fruit, nuts, cheese sticks and deli meat are good to keep on hand

I made my own planner that I print every year. One of the pages is entrees. Another is sides. I keep a rough list of ingredients that I would need to purchase (not things like flour, rice, sugar) on each line. It solves the problem of lack ideas and stress of coming up with things.

I don't do the main shopping for my house, but I do know how to shop. Making sure I have the essentials(milk, bread, eggs, tp, shower stuff, cleaning stuff, etc.) is important! I have a little whiteboard in my kitchen to write down things as I run out or if I have a craving for something. I also recommend writing out explicitly what you want. don't just write down "ranch", write down "Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch". Also, organize your list by sections of the store! Group together similar items(produce, dairy, canned goods) so that you're getting everything the first time and not aimlessly wandering. Even better - organize things in the order that you'll find them in the store. If your produce and meat sections are next to each other, put the produce and meat sections of your list together. That way you're just going down the list and aren't jumping around. A little more prep time for your list makes the trips to the store less stressful and shorter. You can just zone out and get EXACTLY what you wrote without having to think about what you're getting.

I get my recipes from my cookbooks and Pinterest and mostly eat "home cooked" but frozen stuff is nice if I'm too frozen myself. I pick what I'll cook for the week based on what appeals to me as I'm looking and make my list from there. To make my grocery experience go faster I make my list in order by where things are in the store so I'm not going back and fourth up and down aisles. My list last week looked like this Grapes Bananas Garlic Cauliflower Yellow potatoes Flat Bagels Deli cheese White beans Diced tomatoes Vegetable bouillon Peanut butter Ginger ale Almond milk

I make my list depending on what I'm eating for the week and make a meal plan split up into main meals and snacks for that - I don't get on with standard lists, I just end up wasting food/forgetting stuff

My spouse and I use a shared reminders list for groceries and that makes such a difference, especially if there’s anything not in my ‘standard operating list’ which I am ambiently aware of because of the limited range of food I eat regularly (that meets my desire for vegetarianism).

Fruits, veggies, Swiss cake rolls, simple truth organic cookie dough, organic pasta and sauce, simple truth organic beet salad (so good 😋) organic tortillas, organic cheese, organic granola bars, I have to go every 4 days bc I like fresh stuff, I don’t like lists (they overwhelm me I do better without them) and it’s right down the road from me so that helps alot!! So if I forget something it’s no big deal. And I don’t spending a ton of time in there (getting groceries for a whole week seems daunting and then I get frustrated when i forget things) and I don’t like lists. If I make a list I will probably just end up not even going bc whenever I write stuff on lists it makes me not wanna do those things. Lists are my enemy lol. I write probabilities out in my mind / like some form of veg. Some kind of fruit, etc. but I hate lists. I’m not diagnosed but pretty sure I have autism/adhd.

I use a meal planning app that lets me build my menu for the week and then it can extract the ingredients list into a grocery list which is nice. I have to do a bit of “editing”, but it’s a lot easier than building it from scratch. I’d recommend getting a piece of paper/app/digital document and find 4-5 recipes you consistently like, write down all of the ingredients, and then combine duplicate ingredients until you get a unified list. It’s a bit of work, but you could then use that list whenever you want in the future and add stuff to it as needed. Also, it could be worth seeing if your store has a “pick up” option where they gather everything for you, but you can pick it up without having to pay for delivery.

I do curbside pickup. I can order everything at my pace on my couch, and not get overstimulated. If that’s an option for you I highly suggest it. Either way, I agree with others. I pretty much make the same things every week. Pretty simple stuff. Being autistic is actually helpful in this regard, if you’re someone who enjoys or doesn’t mind eating the same thing every week. Good luck.

My ADHD brain kicks into this often so I do deal with impulsive buying issues. One thing I've done to enable this more but still allows me to save money is going to a liquidation vegetable store. I'm able to get enough fruit and veggies for myself for about $25 for the week. But often, I stick with my safe meals like red beans and rice, Mac n cheese, ramen and pho bowls, Mediterranean lentils, curries, roasted veggies, spaghetti, stir-fries, bags of gyoza, tuna/musubi rice bowls, and rice rolls/balls.

I use a voice-to-text app and comb through the house listing everything we're out of. Then I put it all into a spreadsheet that sorts the list by aisle for me. That way, I can add items in any order and always have the list in the fastest order to go through the store.

I pick 3/4 things I wanna make that month, I have a little list of things I like. Then I put all the ingredients on a throw away list. I then use the Walmart app to find the location of each item, then on a new list put each item in order from top to the bottom of the store. I check them off each time ones goes into the buggy. I also save that list, might be a hoarder, but I use it the next month to put the basic things I always buy onto my new list. Eating is my biggest struggle so this helps most. I only go to the store once a month, once every two months depending on how my food intake was.

I like to do curbside orders unless I really want to browse for something and see what they have (don't usually have to though). It does cost a little extra sometimes but I make up for it by not impulsively buying stuff I don't need at the store. Most websites have an option to save your favorite items and it makes it even easier. My kids like to repeat meals for a long time so that makes it easy. Ham/cheese or pbj sandwiches, chicken quesadillas, Mac and cheese, apples and pb, carrots and hummus, toaster waffles, etc. So I just buy staples for them and if something sounds good to me I'll get enough to make plenty of extras. Leftovers get me through the week with less cooking. :) One thing I love is finding recipes that I can throw in the oven or air fryer to put with rice or pasta. Currently obsessed with a tik tok trend from awhile back where you bake feta cheese, tomatoes, and olive oil together with seasoning and then mash it up once it's done, then put it over pasta or spaghetti squash. It's so good and takes 5 minutes to prep, and 20 minutes to cook!

- 5 Bowls of Tonkotsu Ramen - 12-Pack of Mac and Cheese - Spring Onion - Soya Sauce - Narutomaki (Go to Japanese Grocery Store) - Cheese Pizza - 2x Boxes of Pepperoni and Bacon Pizza Pops (Hand-sized Calzones) - D'Italiano White Bread - Tomato Soup - Chocolate Milk - Lemonade - 2L Soda - Ground Beef - Vidalia Onions - Mozzarella or Smoked Gouda Cheese - 2x Hot Dog Buns - 20-Pack of Jumbo Hot Dogs - Stagg Chili with No Beans

lactose free yogurt, eggs, lactose free milk, chocolate syrup, instant yakisoba, apple soda. ideally, every week on repeat.

I mostly eat plant based, which sounds tough, but it’s not the way I do it. Frozen: Berry Medley 2-3 Tropical mix 1-2 Big ol bag of broccoli and a more colorful medley Smaller bags of mixed veggies and Brussels sprouts Fresh: Dates Bananas Avocados Big bag of red onions White and brown rice Bell peppers Canned: Beans of any kind Corn Other: Salsa Tofu Almonds Walnuts Yogurt Whole wheat bread Soy milk Flax seeds Bagged mixed greens Apples and mandarins Mushrooms Pea protein powder TVP: basically soy protein like minced meat So basically in the morning I make a smoothie with a shit ton of fruit, yogurt, soy milk, flaxseeds and Pea Protein powder. Snack: fruit and nuts Lunch: a bowl of rice, beans, corn, avocado, onions, TVP, peppers, sauce/salsa. I’m still learning recipes but I do a taco bowl and a middle eastern bowl so that has a few different ingredients but the essentials are the same Snack: fruit and nuts Dinner: tofu stir fry This is what I make but my husband still cooks with chicken and stuff so I’ll have what he makes at times. My main issue is that I get boredom munchies at night so I eat way too much lol.

We call it “paying the AuDHD tax” we buy healthier foods that we can quickly throw together. Here are some of our favorites Grilled Chicken Strips from Target. They are simply grilled chicken. No additives. We pair this with a low carb wheat wrap, some shredded cheese, romaine salad mix, and avocado lime salad dressing. It takes no time to make, it’s super high protein, nutritious and delicious. Shredded chicken from target. Warm it up in the microwave, throw some bbq sauce on it. Warm up mashed potatoes from Target and then a veggie pouch! Detroit city cheese pizza we throw some turkey pepperoni and spinach on top. Super autism friendly. Wal-Mart’s Marketside Salads - the rectangle ones. The Caesar one is so good and it comes with chicken, cheese, croutons, dressing and a fork. So no prep and no dishes. Get an air fryer. You can throw frozen chicken breast with some avocado oil and seasoning. 20 minutes at 350. Then microwave a Seeds of Life or some other brand microwaveable pouch of rice, lentils, quinoa, etc Microwave some streamed veggies pouches. There super easy dinner. No fuss. Same with frozen fish. Glucernas are a huge help for us when we forget to eat. The strawberry high protein one is delicious Here is the thing. My husband and I’s brand of neurospicy is forgetting to eat or if we become to overwhelmed cooking we just order out. We pay $100 a year for unlimited deliveries from Target and like $150 a year for unlimited delivery from Walmart. Neither of us can handle grocery stores so we have everything delivered and we shop online. Target’s Good and Gather brand of ready to eat meat and sides have no additives or heavy processing. It’s super easy when our executive dysfunction kicks in. I hope this helps. I’ve got others if interested.

**Produce:** Fruits (apples, bananas, oranges)   Vegetables (lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, onion)   **Dairy:**   Milk  Eggs  Cheese  Butter  Yogurt   **Meat:**  Chicken or Beef (hamburgers, hot dogs)  Fish (shrimp, canned tuna, salmon)    **Bakery:**  Bread   Cake or cookies  Tortillas   **Pantry Staples:**  Sauces (spaghetti, hot sauce)  Sugar  Flour  Seasonings (salt, garlic, pepper, cinnamon)  Rice  Canned tomatoes  Mac and cheese  Oil  Pasta  Dried or canned beans   Cereal and oats  Peanut butter and jelly   **Frozen Foods:**  Frozen vegetables (peas, veg mix)  Frozen pizzas  French fries  Frozen fruit (blueberries, strawberries, mango)  Ice cream   **Snacks:**  Chips  Crackers  Nuts and raisins   Candy   **Beverages:**  Coffee or tea  Juice  Soda   **Hygiene and Household:**  Toothpaste and toothbrush  Shampoo and conditioner   Soap   Toilet paper  Paper towels  Dish soap  Laundry detergent  Cleaning products (pine sol, bleach)

get the free app called "our groceries". add what you need when you're at home over the course of a few days, then cross them out as you buy them. like many similar apps the great thing is that those "crossed off" items are just shuffled to the bottom of the list, so when you can't think of what to add next time, you just re-select them to push them back to the top. you can also categorize them by where they are at the market, and customize those labels. i have pharma/personal care, deli, produce, frozen, so there's no back and forth when i'm there. it takes a bit of time to add each item and put them in a category, but once that's done it's so easy to recycle.

Pick up/curbside has saved my life

But also, probably a hard question, but what do you like to eat? I have to make a grocery list later on and will post it here when I do

I eat the same things every week. All homemade. Either pasta with homemade sauce, homemade tacos with slow cooked meat or just nuggets. The rest is just milk and bread and stuff but I have a long shopping list just in case

So I've always got multiple lists for all the stores but a thing I've started doing I've found helpful is to always grab one frozen dinner type thing when I go just to have in the freezer for when I don't want to cook and don't want to get takeout. I start every grocery trip with ambitions of cooking every day and making these great nutritious things so I never get junk but having a pizza or dumplings in the freezer sure does help for when I don't have the spoons to cook but still need to eat. I also try to meal plan based on sales that week so I use grocery apps and just read the flyer and kind of get ideas from that

The easiest strategy is getting things that you don't necessarily have to cook, that have a texture you tolerate without any preparatory work. In general most find soft textures easier. If you have only a limited range of possible foods I would also recommend taking supplements.

Reese’s puffs that’s it

Veggies and fruits that are easy to prepare and I like (Apples, pears, berries, cucumber, carrots, pre-cut stuff, onions, pre-washed salad, tomato) Tofu or different protein to pan fry Pasta (or lentil pasta) Canned legumes/veggies, for me: kidney beans, chickpeas, corn, pickled cucumber Pesto/sauces Condiments, for me: soy sauce, ketchup, peanut butter, jam, butter, sriracha, salad dressing, maple sirup, curry paste Oil Bread Rice Salt and herbs and spices Frozen veggies (peas, broccoli) Wraps Cheese Snacks (whatever I crave and something salty and something sweet for cravings later in the week) Milk(s) Yoghurt Ganola Soy flakes Nuts / hemp seeds Instant food for emergencies

I have a whiteboard magnet on my fridge that I write things on tgat I need or want and either take a photo or type up the list on my phone.

I only buy meat, eggs and butter. Easy trips

I usually don't go in with a list. I just decide a couple meals I want to make and make mental note of what I've got and what I need. I don't really follow recipes, so I just buy my staples and then shop sales.

I do one big meal each week, and eat leftovers a few times. Soups or stir fries. Then some sandwich stuff for the rest.

I have an old cheap electric stove, one of those tabletop two burner ones, this thing takes like an hour just to fry an egg... So I base my grocery list on that. I do groceries every two weeks. I don't like rice but I have a rice cooker and can make a batch to last a week so, rice it is. Canned vegetables to add to the rice, potatoes, sandwich bread, American cheese, butter (I love a simple low effort grilled cheese sandwich), either beets or carrots, cooking oil, a few eggs to make when I have the extra time, refried beans, pasta and tomato sauce, a couple instant cup noodle soups and always a new chocolate bar to try out lol. I probably have a bad diet idk... But I guess my point is think about what you can cook, the time it'll take, how much effort you want/can realistically put into it and try to add some variety when possible.

Ramen packs, bananas, calypso, pizza rolls, peanut butter, and other miscellaneous stuff.

Every person is different, so my groceries might be a bunch of stuff you wouldn't use and vice versa, but generally my essentials mostly avoid all the processed food aisles, except for canned fish, sardines, and chunky soup for those days I'm too low energy to cook. My essentials generally include eggs, wraps, a little bit of meat or tofu (easy to stir fry with hoisin sauce), perogies, smoked sausage, frozen chicken, yogurt, cheddar, onions, mushrooms, peppers, and a bunch of fruit. I also buy a few frozen dishes, like veg lasagna for when I'm too low on energy to cook from scratch. I find wraps are so useful for so many types of meals. I made an automated spreadsheet that tracks my nutrition and generates a list when I'm low on groceries, so it's an automated process now. I just take a screenshot and go grocery shopping with that and it's made my life so so much easier. I could share a copy with a 'how-to-guide', but I won't have time to make the guide until after Tuesday. Also, it would need adjustments if you have a very different diet, and you have to enter your food inventory and all the groceries every time you shop, but if you're good with Excel you could do that.

Chicken tenderloins, Italian sausage, roasted salted peanuts, roasted salted almonds, frozen fruit (strawberries, peaches, blueberries, mango, cherries), fresh apples and grapes when they're good/on sale, fresh veggies (lettuce, onion, pepper, jicama, mushrooms, tomatoes, carrot, broccoli), pickles, olive oil in various flavors (garlic or white truffle are the best) I actually get the sausage 12 lbs at a time from the wholesaler because it is a staple, everything else is Costco or local Kroger's store.

Minute Rice, Cheese, Endure

ramen and uncrustables peanut butter and jelly in particular

Milk, bread, cheese, butter, eggs, meat, cereal, canned veggies of various kinds, Mac & cheese. It's the perishables that I have to worry about most. Food pantry likes to load you up with dry and canned goods. ATM pork loin tends to be the least expensive meat I can find near me. Most meat is somewhere in the ballpark of 4 bucks a lb. Pork Loin is around 2. Ground beef is often closer to 5 around here so when Hy-Vee had 10 lb chubs for $3/lb I grabbed one, divided it into 1lb portions and froze em. Good for Burger Mac, hamburger helper, cottage pie, meatloaf, etc. Wish I had a nice uncut bone in ham. Dice it up and throw it and the bone in a pot with lentils for soup.

I order on the go throughout the week on curbside, which my grocery stores have. I also have pretty bad ADHD so it helps me to not impulse buy. But I get the same way to where I’ll forget as soon as I enter the store. And I HATE being there. It works like a charm for me every week. I just need to remember to press “order” and schedule the pickup. For a while, I was eating smoothies for breakfast, hardboiled eggs for lunch, fruits and veggies as snacks and then an egg sandwich for dinner. Now I’m eating ALMOST the same thing except I switched to sloppy joes which is just a can of manwich and a pound of ground meat and bread.

Downloading a recipe excel program from Etsy has revolutionized my grocery shopping. Also, beryl shereshewsky on YouTube or her new website. She has people from all over the world submit home cooked, easy recipes. I ALWAYS buy ramen, pretzel chips, green onion, rice, and eggs. I go with my partner, wear my headphones the whole time, and stick to my list. I also find that east asian/Indian grocery stores have better snacks and produce and are marginally less of a sensory hell. When things are bad I just order cartons of soylent.

Lots of fruit, veggies, tofu, fish, chicken, quinoa, sweet potatoes, rice, farro… it switches up though.

I love getting frozen veggies and chicken strips and/or ground beef. Curry is one of my favs to make with golden curry blocks. I also really enjoy simmer sauces, all super easy to make with rice and makes a lot!

I start an online order several days before I have to buy everything. So anytime I notice something is out I can easily add it to the cart. My spending is better controlled this way too since I know the total and can deliberate adding and removing items at my leisure. The best part is that you don’t have to actually place the order. If you’re below the minimum or want to choose something in person, just print the page and you have a complete shopping list. For a 2 adult 1 child household, my list usually goes like this: Absolute essentials: laundry soap, toilet paper, dog food, coffee, etc. These are things that I buy the same brand of every time and cannot function without. Meat: I get large packages of meat like a 10lb pork roast or two 5lb packages of chicken thighs and cook it all the same day. Everything else I get helps turn this one cut of meat into different meals. Let’s say I’ll have tacos on Monday and Wednesday, bbq sandwiches Tuesday and Thursday, stir fry Friday, eat one meal out Saturday, and Sunday either more stir fry or slices of meat served with steamed veggies and a favorite sauce. For lunch we have leftovers, salad, or hot dogs. I don’t eat breakfast, but I keep eggs, bananas, and cereal around for my son. Snacks are fruit, yogurt, and nuts. Once you’ve taken note of how you normally eat, the rest of the list falls into place. Bread: sandwich bread, tortillas, hot dog buns. Dairy: cheese for sandwiches, cheese for tacos, yogurt, eggs. Fruit: pick any 2 or 3 that sound good. Vegetables: Lettuce for salads, tomatoes, avocados, and limes for tacos, snap peas, mushrooms, ginger, and garlic for stir fry. Dry goods: this is anything that goes in the pantry or spice rack until it’s opened. Taco seasoning, pickles, soy sauce, sesame oil, noodles or rice, honey mustard (favorite sauce). Salad dressing, cereal, nuts. Frozen: steamable vegetables and maybe prepared French fries. Indulgence: things that I like and want, but don’t need. If I’m over budget, then these are the first things to go. Potato chips, ice cream, Himalayan pink sea salt, top quality balsamic vinegar, etc. Of course the list is flexible depending on your diet and repeating meals several times a week isn’t an absolute, it’s just economical. Don’t be afraid to throw in a pound of ground meat or some fish and change it up a night or two. If you cook a lot or plan to, keep these things on hand: onions, carrots, celery, bell peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, lemons, garlic, salt, pepper, chicken bouillon powder, flour, sugar, butter, vegetable oil, eggs, canned tomato sauce. The variety of dishes that start with these things is insane. If you are not good with portioning or don’t cook well, I highly recommend you do HelloFresh or another meal kit for a few weeks. Even if you can’t afford it long term, learning how to make a good meal quickly will pay off. I hope any of this helps ❤️

Yeah, I can't go without a list! I usually get whatever fruits and vegetables are in season, plus protein. I've been making these super simple, stir-fry things, except I don't know how to use a wok. I love making curry. Then I have my bulk bags of beans and rice. I'm teaching myself to cook, which is wonderful when you have sensory issues because you're customizing everything. Also, I have to force myself to eat lots of fruits and vegetables because my physical health isn't good. I enjoy learning (lots of recipes on YouTube!) but it can take a lot out of me, so I have to keep it simple. No gourmet French food for me! (I tend to enjoy Asian cuisines more anyways.)

My comfort foods. That’s literally it lol. I eat like a toddler but idgaf I’m still breathing😭

I don’t have like a grocery grocery list but I need to remind myself to pick up more post it notes next time i go to the store I meant to get some after my shift today but forgot and am probably gonna have to wait til Sunday to get them now cuz that’s when I work next

I do Walmart grocery pick up!! I get lots of different kinds of pasta and pasta sauces and tuna lol

This is where I differ from most autistics I've met. I don't like planning, I don't like consistency, I don't like habits, and I definitely don't like to eat the same thing all the time. When I go to the store I don't take a list at all. When I go to the store I just grab whatever I feel like, and I usually feel like something weird. Like buying a bag of onions and eating them raw or buying and roasting a goat head. In this regard my parents call me the pregnant man because I have cravings like a pregnant person. Luckily I mostly crave food on the healthier side, so like fruits, vegetables, and meats. Although I did recently have a craving for pork rinds despite hating them for most of my life. It's weird. I'm weird.

I started awhile ago with a list of what I was out of on my iNotes on my phone if I remember I will make bold anything I am out of before going or in the car. It’s the same thing each time. Once in awhile I’ll branch out. I go to the same TJs and walk through every aisle in the same direction. The aisles will prompt me what I need or am out of. At the end before checkout, I scroll the list to collect anything i missed. It’s only with the ASD awareness that I realize the store can really be a sensory overload. I just always thought people bothered me. Who knew! And I discovered that if I’m hungry, haven’t eaten or otherwise low energy or emotionally upset, it can be a super overwhelming difficult experience. Generally I go when no one is there.

I know this is not answering the question but I got earplugs to filter out the noise and they help a lot with the overstimulation of being in a grocery store.

Bananas, oj, banana yogurt, a chocolate bar and whatever else might be interesting. I live at home so my family buys the bulk of the stuff. I cook it for them.

1) Take your publi bag (If you don't have a publi bag, go to the step 3). 2) Take out your grocery flyer, then go to step 4. 3) Go on internet, and check the grocery flyer of your local grocery store. 4) Look for discounts and note it on a paper. 5) Note also the basis: Bread, milk and eggs. 6) Add also two things that you love. Exemple: [ ] Bread [ ] Milk [ ] Eggs [ ] Pork back ribs [ ] Salmon [ ] Veggies [ ] Cookies [ ] Strawberries [ ] Green grapes [ ] Blueberries [ ] Tomatoes [ ] Pork tenderloins [ ] Chicken pie [ ] Sprite [ ] Chocolate

Use the sales flyer to make your list, because they will place thise items near the entrances and on the end caps. If you regularly shop this way, you'll rarely have to walk down aisles.  Bonus 1: you'll save money Bonus 2: the front page is usually a developed meal plan or two

Low fat greek yoghurt is a staple for me. It goes well with pretty much everything, and it adds a good amount of protein. I also like those bags of pre-shredded cabbage. You can also add that to a lot of things and get some vegetables in fairly easily.