Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. I feel like a total idiot. 🤦🏻‍♀️

You're not an idiot. You asked a question-that's what this forum is for.

I'm actually leaving on a roadtrip tomorrow. My dc and I live with my 78yo mom, who is sharp and had an accomplished career. We're all going (so, no one will be here at home). I told her this past weekend, that we would plan to use up stuff we have and in the freezer, and shop very lightly (we did need milk and a few things).

So at the grocery store, I found myself having to monitor stuff Mom was picking up! She literally said 'oh look, these bags of peaches are buy one get one!' Yes, but we can't eat those in 3 days! Then she snuck in 3 large tomatoes-when I asked her about that, she said 'we'll take them on the road'. No Mom we won't LOL (I do not want juicy drippy items in my car) . So I can relate to OP because my mom is similar.

Anyhow OP, here's what I'd do. Buy a half gallon of milk. Get one loaf of bread, but freeze the remainder before you leave. Get a bag of frozen veggies to use, and buy like 2 bananas and 2 apples (or something like that). That should minimize waste.

Depend on how long the vacation is, I usually leave some fresh food ( not the leafy vegetables, but things like potatoes, carrots, eggs, apples etc) at refrigerator, even milk and yogurt since some have longer expiration date, so we have something to eat right after we get home. I also like to bring some snacks for kids to eat on flight.

Purchase less
Eat out

I'd buy 1/2 gallons of milk, bread and eggs and then do take out for the rest of the meals.

I can't believe you needed to crowd source how to meal plan and shop for only 2 days vice 7. How do you function in real life?!!

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how any good fruit can last a week. I shop multiple times and get a few things. Milk comes in 1/2 gallons, eggs don't go bad unless you are going on a month long trip, turkey bacon, bread etc can be frozen what you don't eat. My kids will eat a packet of cucumber and tomatoes and baby carrots in 2 days anyway.

Try a different store with better produce! I am not saying raspberries are going to last a week but many items should. I only have time to go once a week. We eat tons of fresh fruit and veg.

Your kids will be fine without fruits and vegetables for a few days. My kid didn't consume vegetables and most fruits for years and he's (mostly) fine. Lol. If you don't want to buy a smaller container of milk, everyone has frozen waffles for the days before you leave.

I do a few things:

-only buy what you need for 2 days

-make meals that do not have leftovers

-vary meals (buy individual bagel for breakfast which doesn't require milk)

-buy smaller quantities if available (small milk)

-freeze things (leftover milk can be frozen, leftovers can be frozen, fruits like blueberries can be frozen; if the family doesn't like the post-frozen taste of something then I use it in recipes or smoothies and not in cereal

-take the fruits and veggies that are leftover on the plane or car for snacks while traveling

-compost (if you can) things that won't keep

-offer things that will go bad to neighbors or friends (I have a few people that are happy to skip the grocery store and use things that won't keep like tomatoes)

I don't understand how any good fruit can last a week. I shop multiple times and get a few things. Milk comes in 1/2 gallons, eggs don't go bad unless you are going on a month long trip, turkey bacon, bread etc can be frozen what you don't eat. My kids will eat a packet of cucumber and tomatoes and baby carrots in 2 days anyway.

Small shop, smaller quantities. Meal plan carefully for the remaining days so you don’t overbuy. Use freezer items as needed.

Anonymous wrote:Skip that last shop all together by buying a bit extra the week before. Fruit is apples or frozen berries. Veggies are frozen. I bet your pantry has plenty.

This is what I try to do. I usually try to skip the regular grocery shopping the week of a trip. I’ll either just buy stuff for the trip if we’re driving or mentally add that money to the vacation food budget.

Skip that last shop all together by buying a bit extra the week before. Fruit is apples or frozen berries. Veggies are frozen. I bet your pantry has plenty.

Buy smaller amounts to only last you three days on Sunday OP. You can buy a smaller size milk, half or less of the usual types of produce and meat. Maybe buy canned veg and fruit instead of fresh this one half week.

Anonymous wrote:How do you function every day? This has to be the dumbest question I've ever seen posted here.

And that's saying a LOT.

When we face this situation, we rely on freezing stuff. We belong to a CSA and always end up with the best produce right before big trips, and we've learned how to manage it to avoid feeling wasteful.

We'll focus on buying fruit that can easily be frozen for later- berries, stone fruit, bananas, etc. Even vegetables are easy to freeze. I keep a bag for stock and whatever last carrots or celery pieces get cut into chunks for stock in the fall. Greens, including kale and even lettuce, can easily be frozen for green smoothies. Just wash and pat dry. We just recently found out that avocado can be frozen for smoothies, too. It gives us some healthy options to look forward to when we return from a trip and don't have time to shop the next morning.

Two smoothie combos my kid likes:

-frozen kale, blueberries, strawberries, banana, pineapple juice, yogurt

-frozen lettuce, frozen kale, kiwi or pineapple juice, fresh ginger. can add frozen pineapple chunks or avocado if you have some.

For green smoothies, adding an acidic juice like pineapple or kiwi makes it much more appealling and removes any bitterness