May Grocery Challenge

So this month I participated in the May Grocery Challenge. I was listed on the site but for some reason can’t see myself there now. My budget was £80 = $160 for all my groceries in May and I am thrilled to say, I managed to do it! I thought I’d share my top tips:

For the month I purchased:

• 1 bag of onions
• 1 bag of potatoes
• 1x 4 cans of crushed tomatoes
• 1 large bag of lentils
• 1 large bag of pasta
• 1 large box of cereal
• 1 large bag of frozen berries
• 1 tub of margarine
• 1 pack of 8 pitta bread
• 1 x 4 cans of mandarin oranges
• 1 bag of frozen peas
• Large pack of cheese
• Large bag of carrots
• 3 easy meals so that I wasn’t tempted to get a pizza in or eat out
• 1 tin of peaches, 1 tin of pineapple
• Pack of 3 fresh salmon
• Bag of rice
• Olive oil
• Balsamic Vinegar
• 2 cans of chick peas

Each week I got the following staples:

• Bag of spinach
• Bag of raddishes
• Cherry or plum tomatoes
• Loaf of fresh bread
• 4 fresh apples from the market
• 1 corgette aka zuccini
• Grapes
• 1 seasonal fruit – i.e. strawberries
• 1 seasonal veg – i.e. asparagus
• Soya yogurt
• Milk

Each week I made a homemade soup with enough for four portions – one I ate the night I made it, with fresh bread and fruit on the side. Then I would have it for lunch the following day @ work and the other two portions I froze and ate when and as needed. I also made a pasta dish each week, with homemade pasta sauce – this gave me 3 meals, again a dinner, lunch the following day and a frozen meal for later in the week.

My total spend for all the food which was all organic and/or fair trade was £65 = $130. NOT BAD!!!!