How to shop once a week and prep all meals on ₹1000?

Question

How can you shop once a week and prep all your meals with a ₹1000 budget? Get a sample grocery list and menu for a frugal yet fulfilling week.

Answer 1

Shopping once a week and prepping all meals on ₹1000 requires careful planning, prioritizing affordable staples like grains, lentils, and seasonal vegetables, and minimizing food waste. Focus on batch cooking and versatile ingredients.

Detailed Explanation:

To successfully shop once a week and prep all meals on a budget of ₹1000, follow these steps:

1. Plan Your Meals: Before heading to the store, create a detailed meal plan for the entire week. This will prevent impulse buys and ensure you only purchase what you need. Consider breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all seven days.
2. Inventory Check: Check your pantry and refrigerator to see what ingredients you already have. This will help you avoid buying duplicates.
3. Create a Shopping List: Based on your meal plan and inventory check, create a detailed shopping list. Stick to the list while shopping to avoid overspending.
4. Prioritize Affordable Staples: Focus on budget-friendly staples like rice, wheat flour (atta), lentils (dal), beans, potatoes, onions, and seasonal vegetables. These ingredients are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes.
5. Buy in Bulk: If possible, buy staples like rice, lentils, and flour in bulk as they are often cheaper per unit.
6. Shop at Local Markets: Local markets often offer fresh produce at lower prices than supermarkets. Visit your local market to find the best deals on fruits and vegetables.
7. Minimize Meat Consumption: Meat can be expensive. Reduce your meat consumption and incorporate more vegetarian meals into your diet. Lentils, beans, and tofu are excellent sources of protein.
8. Batch Cooking: Dedicate a few hours each week to batch cooking. Prepare large quantities of dishes like dal, vegetable curries, and rice. This will save you time and effort during the week.
9. Proper Storage: Store your prepped meals properly in airtight containers in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage.
10. Utilize Leftovers: Don't let leftovers go to waste. Repurpose them into new dishes. For example, leftover rice can be used to make fried rice or rice cutlets.

Pro Tip:

Plan your meals around seasonal vegetables, as they are typically cheaper and fresher. Also, learn to make your own spice blends instead of buying pre-made ones to save money.