I don't have a set shopping day but I try to skip the last time I'd normally shop before a trip. Or even the last two shopping trips.

I kind of make it a game to empty out the fridge so in the last couple weeks before a long time away, we eat a lot of dishes you can just throw lots of random things in, like soups, stew, stir fry, fried rice. I also use the time before a vacation to eat down our emergency pantry food and freezer stock food. Then before refilling when we return I do a deep clean of the fridge, freezer, pantry shelves.

It's a nice reset.

I get overwhelmed and can sort things sometimes too. Brain overload. It’s ok to ask.


Have a good vacation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?!!

No need to be mean. We have all asked questions we should probably know the answer to. Nobody is perfect and on top of things all the time. Let’s not pile on the op.

I agree with this. Plus I often read tips that I haven't thought of. For example, I admire the person above who freezes pre-trip extra produce to provide immediately handy post-trip smoothies. That's a great idea.

Regarding milk, a tip I haven't seen here is to keep some Horizon organic shelf-stable milk packs around (check and monitor expiration dates). That is a good "emergency" source of milk for inflexible little kids. My kids would drink Horizon chocolate milk at fast casual restaurants so I knew it would be okay with them. The white milk is fine in cereal.

My husband would underbuy milk right before trips. That would often leave us short. And the smaller containers can be priced up. Sometimes it makes more sense to throw away a few inches in a gallon jug. We've finally agreed on this.

Eggs, apples, and canned soup are useful to have readily available post-trip until you can get to your shopping.

Purchase significantly less amounts.
Give what you don't finish to neighbors.
Freeze what can be frozen.
Take out.

We make sure to empty out fridge & counters, and clean up the kitchen - before we go on a vacation because the last things we want is to attract critters in our absence. I also try not to cook on the stovetop the last day, so the food is mainly takeout, fresh veggies, yogurt, smoothies and fruits.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?!!

No need to be mean. We have all asked questions we should probably know the answer to. Nobody is perfect and on top of things all the time. Let’s not pile on the op.

Nope. This is one of the dumbest questions asked on DCUM. Seriously. Just because a question pops in your head doesn’t mean it needs to be posted.

I’m sure you are so proud of yourself for feeling superior. Can you reach your back by yourself or do you need help?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?!!

No need to be mean. We have all asked questions we should probably know the answer to. Nobody is perfect and on top of things all the time. Let’s not pile on the op.

Nope. This is one of the dumbest questions asked on DCUM. Seriously. Just because a question pops in your head doesn’t mean it needs to be posted.

I have frozen milk successfully, just leaving some room for expansion in the plastic jug from the store.

Yogurt keeps as does frozen food.

Anonymous wrote: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?!!

No need to be mean. We have all asked questions we should probably know the answer to. Nobody is perfect and on top of things all the time. Let’s not pile on the op.