Printable Grocery List Resources

According to studies done at the University of Pennsylvania, making a grocery list and sticking to it can help you save up to 23% on your grocery bills! Follow grocery shopping lists and you could end up saving big on your groceries in the long haul. Additionally, you can use technology to your advantage by finding grocery lists to print online. A printable grocery list can save you lots of time by providing you with an easy-to-read, foolproof list.

Benefits of Printable Grocery Lists

Why should you look into downloading a printable grocery list? There are plenty of reasons:

  • Printable grocery lists are easily legible, unlike our rushed, rapidly-written grocery lists
  • Finding a grocery list online allows you to personalize your list to your tastes
  • You can easily find a grocery list that fits your shopping tactics, whether you shop by nutritional content or by price
  • Printing out a grocery list that’s easy to read will get you in and out of the store in no time

Printable Grocery Lists Available Online

There are many printable grocery list templates and tools available on the web. Here are three options available to assist in your busy life.

#1 GroceryLists.org

GroceryLists.org is a website dedicated to the world of grocery lists, messy and crumpled, misspelled and misprinted, stained and forgotten. However, this delightful site also provides us with the “Ultimatest” Grocery List in Deluxe, Editable, and Vegetarian forms so that you never have to have a messy, crumpled, or misspelled grocery list again. These three lists provide you with neat, printable lists that are fun and colorful, too.

#2 ZipList.com

ZipList is an online service that makes assembling your grocery list a breeze. Features include add and delete item options, sharing list with others, saving recipes, and adding contents of recipes to your shopping list instantaneously. ZipList doesn’t require registration, which is good for those who want a simple list, downloaded and printed in a flash.

#3 Grocerylists.com

Grocerylists.com is a website that posts all kinds of grocery lists online. They have deluxe version as well as a grocery list targeted for vegetarians (much like GroceryLists.org). The lists are divided into common categories, such as meat, snacks, dairy, etc. Under each category are relevant food items with boxes next to them to check off the items you need. Once you print out the list, you can fill it out at your own convenience so that you don’t have to remember everything you need all at once. You can print out lots of the templates ahead of time and just fill them in as things run out.

There are many printable grocery lists available on the web. Try and look for a list that integrates a service and an app too, like Food on the Table. This function will help you access your grocery list from anywhere or even discover grocery store deals and save money. Just get online, fill in your list, print, and you’re ready for a stress-free trip to the grocery store!

A Master Grocery List and the Perfect Pantry

Do you know what’s in your pantry?

According to Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab, only about 41% of inventory estimations are accurate when it comes to our pantries. These “biased inventory estimates” can increase overstocking and spoilage or result in “unmet demand,” depending on our individual consumer tendencies. Instead of over- or under-stocking, try creating a master grocery list to better take inventory in your pantry.

What is a master grocery list?

A master grocery list is a grocery list with items that you always need, the essentials of your home. This grocery list also contains accurate numbers of each item, creating a tangible, easy-to-read inventory list. From household to household, the master grocery list could differ extremely, depending on tastes and lifestyles. Regardless, everyone should have a master grocery list that allows them to accurately take inventory in their homes.

How do I make a master grocery list?

Making a master grocery list can be time consuming initially. Take a Sunday afternoon to make an inventory of your entire pantry (you’ll be shocked at how much stuff is actually in there!). Then, compile this data in either a written sheet that can be tacked onto your pantry door or put the data into a spreadsheet that can be printed and updated on the computer. After compiling all of your initial data, make sure to update your master grocery list every time you make a purchase, use an item, or clean out your pantry.

What are some other ways I can avoid food waste and check inventory?

Dr. Brian Wansink, lead author and Director of the Food and Brand Lab, has some suggestions that could prevent consumers from wasting food. He says consumers can do the following to make sure products are either visible or used:

  • Rotate products from the back of the shelf to the front during cleaning.
  • Plan new uses for abandoned products.
  • Dispose of expired products.
  • Donate non–expired, abandoned products to the local food bank instead of throwing the product away.

After taking these factors into account, cleaning out your pantry, creating a master grocery list, and accurately taking inventory, you’ll eliminate under and over stocking and hopefully never waste food again!

Downloading and Using a Grocery List Generator

About 73.3 million people in the U.S. now own smartphones, according to eMarketer, and about 70% of those people actively download apps. We use the internet and our phones for everything else. Why not use them for grocery shopping, too? Grocery list generators, available both online and on your smartphone, can make grocery shopping easier from recipe to checkout line.

So what the heck is a “grocery list generator,” exactly? Grocery list generators allow you to download and store recipes, then get the right amount of ingredients straight to your grocery list, hassle free.

How the Grocery List Generator Works

Grocery list generators can be found either online through websites, through plug-ins, or in apps. Most of these apps, plug-ins, and online generators are completely free. Many basic grocery list generators allow you to:

  • Map out the aisles of your supermarket
  • Share your recipes on the web
  • Alter existing recipes or grocery lists
  • Add photos that accompany your recipes and show the final result
  • Customize and print your grocery list
  • Sync your grocery list generator with your supermarket to optimize savings and find deals and coupons

Whether a grocery list generator boasts all of these functions or only a handful depends solely on the caliber of the tool.

 

 

 

Comparing List Generator Technology

After you’ve decided what functions you need on your grocery list generator, go out there and try to find one that will work best for you. Our favorite grocery list generators typically have an archive of delicious recipes, then allow you to decide on recipes you want to make and generate a grocery list from there. Generators that cost money will generally allow you to use a free trial, or “light version,” so you can try before you buy. The iPhone app store has plenty of reviews on iPhone apps, including grocery list generators, so inform yourself of the pros and cons of each generator. Most importantly, make sure the interface of your generator is clean and approachable.  If you don’t have the time to write out a list to take with you to the grocery store, a grocery list generator may be the solution. Generating a grocery list online will help you plan out your nutritious meals quickly and effectively, and it will make your grocery shopping experience a pleasure rather than a chore.

Minimizing Food Waste With a Grocery List Maker

According to Jonathan Bloom, creator of WastedFood.com, Americans waste as much as half of the food produced every year. That’s enough food to fill an entire, 90,000 seat football stadium to the brim at least once a day. This is not only food wasted, but dollars wasted. Imagine: we’re throwing our money right in the trash! Instead of wasting money on uneaten food, look into a grocery list maker that can help you minimize food waste. A grocery list maker is a device that can help you make grocery lists. A grocery list maker can often be found in food applications or on databases online. In a grocery list template you can specify meal plans, which could, in the long run, serve to minimize waste. While minimizing waste can be a challenge, taking some factors into account could help you significantly reduce your food bill when using a grocery list maker:

  • Don’t include items that are totally out of the norm in your grocery list maker. A study done at the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab found that more than 63% of unused products are bought for specific recipes, like Beef Wellington, that were never made. While you may think that you’ll eventually use the product for a specific occasion, 9 times out of 10, that product wastes away in our pantries. Don’t try and convince yourself that you’ll eventually make certain, bizarre recipes. Instead, stick to your guns and stay practical.
  • Keep your fruits and veggies fresher instead of letting them rot or throwing them out. This will help you greatly reduce your food waste. For example, keep apples in refrigerator, potatoes and tomatoes on counter, and put your asparagus and broccoli in water (like flowers). Try to avoid putting grocery store items on your grocery list maker that last for only a couple days, like berries and mushrooms. Citrus fruits, potatoes, and apples last much longer and will help you minimize your food waste.
  • Make a budget and be ambitious with it! Your budget should be a number that you never think you will plausibly reach (within reason), but that you would love to achieve. You will be shocked at how much you can save at the grocery store when you’re staying diligent. Making a budget will prevent you from straying too far from your grocery list and buying things that will just go to waste at your home. Put your budget for the grocery store trip on your grocery list so that you have a number in mind as you enter the store.
  • Find versatile ingredients that can be used in multiple recipes to avoid food waste. These items could include chicken breasts, spinach, cheddar cheese, and eggs.
  • Make sure your meal plan is visible so that you’re held to it.  Whether you put a meal plan on a menu board or simply write down your meals on your kitchen calendar, make sure they’re in plain sight so you’ll stick to it.

Just follow these tips and get your hands on a grocery list maker to minimize food waste and save big on your next grocery store bill. A grocery list could help you stay organized and stick to your budget next time you’re hittin’ the aisles.

Using an Online Grocery List

Is it just us, or has grocery shopping gone tech? With grocery shopping apps, coupon codes, self-scanning checkout lines, and online grocery shopping, we are surrounded by sophisticated technology from the time we grab a shopping cart to checkout. There is even technology, like “memory sensors,” that is being developed to track food from farm to store, and indicate how fresh your food really is. Now, you can even upload your grocery list online so that the whole family can edit, delete, and add items that they need or want. Online grocery lists can help you collaborate with the family and make sure that everyone has exactly what they want in the pantry.

How to Find and Use Online Grocery Lists

The first step to using an online grocery list? Getting one, of course! You can get online grocery lists by searching for apps or websites that give you a login and allow you to access your grocery list from your mobile phone, tablet, or laptop. These apps can also allow other members of the family to access the grocery list and add (or delete) what they do or do not want or need. Through these apps, customize your online grocery list and get the whole family involved. For example, let’s say that your husband picks up milk at the corner store. He can easily cross milk out of the grocery list, notifying the grocery shopper of the family that you no longer need milk. It’s easy as that! Many apps also allow you to save your grocery list and convert it into a printable grocery list, if you prefer looking at your list on paper rather than on your mobile device. Whoever takes on grocery store duty can simply print out the family’s list, and then head to the store.

When looking for your grocery list online, make sure that you have an idea of features that you may want or need. Some features of an online grocery list may include:

  • Checking out sales at the supermarket
  • Finding recipes that integrate those sale items
  • Selecting meals based on your personal preferences
  • Making an organized, online grocery list

If you find a grocery list app that fits the needs of your family and gives you the option to have an online grocery list, you should look into downloading the program and syncing it to your phone. Online programs, like Food on the Table, can make grocery shopping, meal planning, and recipe collecting a breeze.

 

When to Use a Blank Grocery List

About one-third of consumers polled for Shopping for Health, an annual study from the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) employ smartphone apps in the creation of grocery lists. While fancy grocery list apps may be extremely helpful, you may want to keep your eyes peeled for applications that include a blank grocery list. A blank grocery list is one that does not provide a list of ingredients for you, but instead has blanks in which you can write your own grocery list items. Here are some reasons why you may need a blank grocery list:

  • You prefer obscure grocery list items, like tempeh, tofu, or panko, which cannot be found on pre-made grocery lists.
  • If you want to specify brands, you may want to stay away from pre-made grocery lists. With grocery lists online that list all the ingredients for you, they probably won’t indicate particular brands that you may prefer.
  • If you want to create a grocery list that’s geared towards weight loss, an online, already-made grocery list may be for you. Instead, find a blank or customizable grocery list, which could allow you to specify calories.
  • Perhaps you’re only baking for two people, or maybe you’re baking a feast for 12. If you want to indicate servings on your grocery list, a blank grocery list is definitely for you.
  • If it’s for a specific recipe (in which case you need a grocery list that’s linked with your recipe bank).
  • You would like to hand-decorate your grocery list. Some people tend to gravitate toward grocery lists that are colorful and hand-crafted. If this is you, then print out a blank grocery list on colorful, beautiful paper or doodle on your blank grocery list.
  • You shop at a unique or small grocer, and therefore need to lay out your items based on a different grocery store experience. Many grocery lists online to print are based on food groups and how they are universally laid out at a supermarket. However, if you do much of your shopping at the farmers’ market or the Asian grocer down the street, you may not be able to find a grocery list online that divides food up based on these grocery layouts.
  • You shop at multiple grocers for different items and you prefer to lay your grocery list out based on these specifications. You may get your produce from a bulk supplier, your specialty-goods from a high-end grocer, and your fish from the market down the street. If this is the case, get your hands on a customizable or blank grocery list to indicate your multiple, grocery store stops.

A blank grocery list can come in handy if you have any or all of the above criteria. Next time you’re checking out a grocery store app, make sure it has functionality that allows you to quickly and effectively translate what’s onscreen to printable grocery lists.